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Gulliver's Travels Book 1, Chapters 7-8
As Gulliver prepares to flee to Blefuscu, a Lord from the high courts makes a private visit to him. He informs Gulliver of Flimnap and the other leaders' pending impeachment for him. The Lord interrupts an anxious Gulliver to thank him for all his gratitude and help over the time he has been in Lilliput, and felt obligated to tell Gulliver in advance of the Courts' proceedings. He offers his service privately to Gulliver and informs him of the four articles in the proclamation of Impeachment against the Man-Mountain, who they have named Quinbus Flestrin. They consist of making water in a public place, as Gulliver did on the palace in order to extinguish the flames of the burning building, refusing to obey the Emperor's every command of enslaving the Big-Endians after his capture of the army at sea, acting as a traitor by diverting the Blefuscuan ambassadors from capture by the Lilliputian army, and finally of making plans to visit and aid the empire of Blefuscu against the empire of Lilliput.
The Lord stops reciting the articles, stating that these four are the most grave to everyone. He explains of the meeting in which they discussed plans to kill Gulliver in a vicious and painful method, by setting fire to house with 20,000 men, shooting poisonous arrow into his face and hands, and more. However, Reldresal interjected, illustrating Gulliver's good nature and of their strong and benevolent friendship. He offered the suggestion of simply taking both of Gulliver's eyes, so that he may still live and serve Lilliput, but simply without his eyesight. "That blindness is an addition to courage, by concealing dangers from us; that the fear you had for your eyes, was the greatest difficulty in bringing over the enemy's fleet, and it would be sufficient for you to see by the eyes of the Ministers, since the greatest princes do no more" Book 1, Chapter 7, pg. 107. However, the Lord continues recalling the meeting. Nobody believed Redresal's comments and still wanted Gulliver killed, for taking out his eyes would only enrage him more, making him an even greater Big-Endian.
After discussion, the Lord explains to Gulliver that they agreed on taking out his eyes as punishment, and that they will come to his house in days to do so with twenty surgeons armed with arrows. The Lord gives Gulliver his news and leaves quietly, as not to be seen. Gulliver realizes that he could very easily destroy the metropolis with stones; yet stops himself from doing so because of all the kinds deeds done for him by the Emperor. He decides to flee to Blefuscu in search of safe territory, where the Emperor and kingdom await him there. He makes his own raft and arrives in a new land, one who is thrilled to see him, greets him openly and friendly, but has no provisions for him. Gulliver falls asleep that first night alone, on the ground, with no bed, blankets, or home.
Three days after he arrives in Blefuscu, Gulliver spots an actual ship overturned in the sea. He requests ten vessels and three thousand men to bring it to shore, where all the inhabitants of Blefuscu watch in awe at such a majestic vessel of such grandeur and size. He requests the continual help and resources of the people so that he may fix the ship and return to his native land. After several days of deliberation and simultaneous worry about the Lilliputians, the Emperor decides to have his men help Gulliver set sail in a ship of his own, for Gulliver had been kind and instrumental in the country's attempts at peace. In one month's time, Gulliver is prepared to leave the lands he discovered. There are grand ceremonies bidding him farewell and good luck. His ship is stocked with hundreds of ox carcasses, corn, barrels of hay, and other such food and wine that should feed him over several weeks until he reaches his next destination.
He leaves Lilliput and Blefuscu on the 24th of September, 1701, having spent nearly two years there. After some two and a half days, he sees a British ship and climbs aboard, with some livestock in his pockets and money and portraits in his gloves. He describes his journeys to the captain, Mr. John Biddel of Deptford, who believes him to be mad. When Gulliver shows proof of the tiny cow and money, they believe him. At home in London, Gulliver spends a short two months with his family. His son Johnny is studying in grammar school, while his elder daughter, Betty, is married herself with children. Despite this comfort, Gulliver is ready to embark upon more adventures and joins the merchant ship, Adventure, under Captain John Nicholas of Liverpool. The stories of his next journey, he claims, must be told in the second part of his book of Travels.
