The emperor and his whole court stood on the shore, expecting the issue of this great adventure.  They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water.  When I advanced to the middle of the channel, they were yet more in pain, because I was under water to my neck.  The emperor concluded me to be drowned, and that the enemy’s fleet was approaching in an hostile manner:  but he was soon eased of his fears; for the channel growing shallower every step I made, I came in a short time within hearing; and holding up the end of the cable, by which the fleet was fastened, I cried in a loud voice, Long live the most puissant[27] emperor of Lilliput!  This great prince received me at my landing, with all possible encomiums, and created me a nardac upon the spot, which is the highest title of honor among them.

His majesty desired I would take some other opportunity of bringing all the rest of his enemy’s ships into his ports.  And so immeasurable is the ambition of princes, that he seemed to think of nothing less than reducing the whole empire of Blefuscu into a province, and governing it by viceroy; of destroying the Big-endian exiles, and compelling that people to break the smaller end of their eggs, by which he would remain the sole monarch of the whole world.  But I endeavored to divert him from this design, by many arguments, drawn from the topics of policy, as well as justice.  And I plainly protested, that I would never be an instrument of bringing a free and brave people into slavery.  And when the matter was debated in council, the wisest part of the ministry were of my opinion.

[Illustration:  “AND CREATED ME A NARDAC UPON THE SPOT.”  P. 58.]

This open, bold declaration of mine was so opposite to the schemes and politics of his imperial majesty, that he could never forgive me; he mentioned it, in a very artful manner, at council, where, I was told, that some of the wisest appeared, at least by their silence, to be of my opinion; but others, who were my secret enemies, could not forbear some expressions, which by a side-wind reflected on me.  And, from this time began an intrigue between his majesty and a junto[28] of ministers maliciously bent against me, which broke out in less than two months, and had like to have ended in my utter destruction.  Of so little weight are the greatest services to princes, when put into the balance with a refusal to gratify their passions.

About three weeks after this exploit, there arrived a solemn embassy from Blefuscu, with humble offers of peace; which was soon concluded, upon conditions very advantageous to our emperor, wherewith I shall not trouble the reader.  There were six ambassadors, with a train of about five hundred persons; and their entry was very magnificent, suitable to the grandeur of their master, and the importance of their business.  When their treaty was finished, wherein I did them