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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6328.txt b/6328.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8910320 --- /dev/null +++ b/6328.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14763 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Junior Classics, V5, by Edited by William Patten +#3 in our series by Edited by William Patten + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Junior Classics, V5 + +Author: Edited by William Patten + +Release Date: August, 2004 [EBook #6328] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on November 27, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUNIOR CLASSICS, V5 *** + + + + +Produced by Ralph Zimmerman, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE JUNIOR CLASSICS + +A LIBRARY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS + +[Illustration: "AND I WILL WIND THEE IN MY ARMS" _From the +painting by Arthur Rackham_] + +THE JUNIOR CLASSICS + +SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY WILLIAM PATTEN MANAGING EDITOR OF THE +HARVARD CLASSICS + +INTRODUCTION BY CHARLES W. ELIOT, LL.D. PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF +HARVARD UNIVERSITY + +WITH A READING GUIDE BY WILLIAM ALLAN NEILSON, Ph.D. PROFESSOR OF +ENGLISH, HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SMITH COLLEGE, NORTHAMPTON, +MASS., SINCE 1917 + +VOLUME FIVE + +_Stories That Never Grow Old_ + +Acknowledgments of permissions given by authors and publishers +for the use of copyright material appear in Volume 10. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PREFACE + +ARABIAN NIGHTS + +Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves + +The Story of Aladdin; or the Wonderful Lamp + +Sindbad the Sailor + +ROBINSON CRUSOE + +Robinson Crusoe is Shipwrecked _Daniel Defoe_ + +Alone on a Desolate Island _Daniel Defoe_ + +The Building of the Boat _Daniel Defoe_ + +Finds the Print of a Man's Foot on the Sand _Daniel Defoe_ + +Friday Rescued from the Cannibals _Daniel Defoe_ + +Robinson Crusoe Rescued _Daniel Defoe_ + +GULLIVER'S TRAVELS + +Gulliver is Shipwrecked and Swims for His Life _Jonathan +Swift_ + +Gulliver at the Court of Lilliput _Jonathan Swift_ + +Gulliver Captures Fifty of the Enemy's Ships _Jonathan +Swift_ + +Gulliver Leaves Lilliput _Jonathan Swift_ + +Gulliver in the Land of the Giants _Jonathan Swift_ + +Some of Gulliver's Adventures _Jonathan Swift_ + +Gulliver Escapes from the Eagle _Jonathan Swift_ + +THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE + +A Midsummer-Night's Dream _E. Nesbit_ + +The Tempest _E. Nesbit_ + +As You Like It _E. Nesbit_ + +The Merchant of Venice _E. Nesbit_ + +PILGRIM'S PROGRESS + +Christian Starts on His Journey _John Bunyan_ + +The Interpreter Shows Christian Many Excellent Things _John +Bunyan_ + +Christian's Fight With the Monster Apollyon _John Bunyan_ + +Christian and Hopeful are Captives in Doubting Castle _John +Bunyan_ + +Christian and Hopeful Arrive at the Coelestial City +_John Bunyan_ + +IVANHOE AND GUY MANNERING _Sir Walter Scott_ + +Ivanhoe _Sir Edward Sullivan_ + +Guy Mannering _Sir Edward Sullivan_ + +THE STARTLING ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN + +An Adventure With a Lion and a Crocodile _R. E. Raspe_ +Crossing the Thames Without the Aid of Bridge, Boat or Balloon +_R. E. Raspe_ + +Two Strange Adventures in Russia _R. E. Raspe_ + +Shooting a Stag With Cherrystones _R. E. Raspe_ + +The Baron's Wonderful Dog _R. E. Raspe_ + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"AND I WILL WIND THEE IN MY ARMS" + +A Midsummer-Night's Dream + +_Frontispiece illustration in color from the painting by Arthur +Rackham _ + +DISGUISED AS A TRAVELLER AND A STRANGER + +Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves + +_From the painting by Edmund Dulac_ + +HE DESIRED I WOULD STAND LIKE A COLOSSUS + +Gulliver at the Court of Lilliput + +_From the painting by Arthur Rackham _ + +THEY WERE VERY TIRED WHEN AT LAST THEY CAME TO THE FOREST OF ARDEN + +As You Like It + +_From the painting by Charles Folkard _ + +CHRISTIAN NIMBLY STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND FOR HIS SWORD + +Christian's Fight with the Monster Apollyon + +_From the etching by William Strang _ + + + + +PREFACE + + +Consciously or unconsciously we are influenced by the characters +we admire. A book that exerts a deep as well as a wide influence +must produce changes in the reader's way of thinking, and excite +him to activity; the world for him can never be quite the same +that it was before. Such books have an important part in moulding +the character of a people. + +It is because the books represented in this volume have been doing +just that for many years that they have become so prized. In the +characters of Crusoe, Gulliver and Christian, to mention only +three, English-speaking people recognize pictures of the +independent, self-reliant men, often self-educated (at least in +many important particulars), adventurous and daring by nature, +dependent upon themselves and the use of their faculties for +happiness, who made England great among nations, and wrote the +Constitution of the United States. + +With the passage of time the books have lost nothing of the charm +and fascination which they have ever possessed for young and old. +"Was there ever yet anything written by mere man," said Dr. Samuel +Johnson, "that was wished longer by its readers, excepting +Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim's Progress, and Don Quixote?" + +At this time, when the subject of vocational training is receiving +so much attention, and public school instruction is being +criticized because, its critics say, it does not prepare boys and +girls to meet the demands which life makes upon them, it is +interesting to read what was said almost a hundred years ago by a +man whose influence on education has been both deep and lasting in +character. + +They have just been celebrating in France the centenary of Jean +Jacques Rousseau. In the early chapters of "Emile" we read: "Since +we must have books, there is one which, to my mind, furnishes the +finest treatise on Education according to nature. My Emile shall +read this book before any other. It shall for a long time be his +entire library. It shall be a test for all we meet during our +progress toward a ripened judgment, and so long as our taste is +unspoiled we shall enjoy reading it. What wonderful book is this? +Aristotle? Pliny? Buffon? No; it is Robinson Crusoe." + +There is no more useful talent than the ability to think and speak +(or write) clearly and simply, no matter what our vocation in +life. None know better how difficult it is to find writers with a +good narrative style than those editors whose training and +experience have made them realize its value and importance. If we +examine the experience of those who, in comparatively recent days, +have stirred men with the force and directness of their simple +speech, as Lincoln, for example, we find that as boys they were +great readers of the Bible, and Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's +Travels, Shakespeare, Bunyan, and Scott. As examples of English +these books stand preeminent. + +Lord Brougham relates that one of his friends, a professor in a +university, consulted one of the ablest historians of his time as +to what would be the best discipline for acquiring a good +narrative style, as a prelude to writing a book of travels through +Asia. The advice given him was to read Robinson Crusoe carefully. +When the professor expressed astonishment, supposing it to be a +jest, the historian said he was quite serious, but that if +Robinson Crusoe would not help him, for any reason, he recommended +Gulliver's Travels. The late Donald G. Mitchell once said: "If you +should ever have any story of your own to tell, and want to tell +it well, I advise you to take Robinson Crusoe for a model!" + +Parents and teachers who do not read aloud to young children, or +who do not practise telling stories to children, probably do not +realize what simple but extraordinarily valuable opportunities for +self-education they are ignoring, to say nothing of the help they +can be to children. In order to be successful we have to try and +put ourselves in the child's place. + +The average reader does not concentrate sufficiently to get the +thought clearly from the text, and does not imagine himself to be +actually in the midst of the scene he is describing. The +consequence is that his voice and actions are not, except perhaps +in a slight degree, affected by the emotions he is supposed to be +experiencing. Dramatic rendering of dramatic passages is worth +striving for, and should be encouraged on the part of children. + +The story-teller who roars with the lion and bleats with the lamb +is sure to be rewarded with shouts of enthusiastic delight from +the audience. + + + + +THE ARABIAN NIGHTS + + +_All nations have their fairy tales, but India seems to have +been the country from which they all started, carried on their +travels by the professional story-tellers who kept the tales alive +throughout Asia. In Bagdad and Cairo to-day, that cafe never lacks +customers where the blind storyteller relates to the spell-bound +Arabs some chapter from the immortal Arabian Nights, the King of +all Wonder Books. + +No one knows where the tales were written, except that they came +out of the Far East, India, Arabia and Persia. Haroun Al Raschid, +who was called The Just, was a real Eastern monarch who lived in +Bagdad over eleven hundred years ago, about the same time that +Charlemagne was King of France. We can believe that the tales are +very old, but the most we know is that they were translated from +Arabic into French in 1704-17 by a Frenchman named Galland, and +that the manuscript of his translation is preserved in the French +National Library. American boys first had the chance to read the +notes in English about the time President Monroe was elected._ + + + + +ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES + + +There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named +Cassim, and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided a small +inheritance equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, +and became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as +himself, and lived by cutting wood, and bringing it upon three +asses into the town to sell. + +One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, and had just cut wood +enough to load his asses, he saw at a distance a great cloud of +dust, which seemed to approach him. He observed it with attention, +and distinguished soon after a body of horsemen, whom he suspected +might be robbers. He determined to leave his asses to save +himself. He climbed up a large tree, planted on a high rock, whose +branches were thick enough to conceal him, and yet enabled him to +see all that passed without being discovered. + +The troop, who were to the number of forty, all well mounted and +armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and +there dismounted. Every man unbridled his horse, tied him to some +shrub, and hung about his neck a bag of corn which they brought +behind them. Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which +seemed to Ali Baba to be full of gold and silver from its weight. +One, whom he took to be their captain, came under the tree in +which Ali Baba was concealed; and, making his way through some +shrubs, pronounced these words--"Open, Sesame!" As soon as the +captain of the robbers had thus spoken, a door opened in the rock; +and after he had made all his troop enter before him, he followed +them, when the door shut again of itself. + +The robbers stayed some time within the rock, during which Ali +Baba, fearful of being caught, remained in the tree. + +At last the door opened again, and as the captain went in last, so +he came out first, and stood to see them all pass by him; when Ali +Baba heard him make the door close by pronouncing these words, +"Shut, Sesame!" Every man at once went and bridled his horse, +fastened his wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them +all ready, he put himself at their head, and they returned the way +they had come. + +Ali Baba followed them with his eyes as far as he could see them, +and afterward stayed a considerable time before he descended. +Remembering the words the captain of the robbers used to cause the +door to open and shut, he had the curiosity to try if his +pronouncing them would have the same effect. Accordingly, he went +among the shrubs, and perceiving the door concealed behind them, +stood before it and said, "Open, Sesame!" The door instantly flew +wide open. + +Ali Baba, who expected a dark, dismal cavern, was surprised to see +a well-lighted and spacious chamber, which received the light from +an opening at the top of the rock, and in which were all sorts of +provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade, and valuable +carpeting, piled upon one another, gold and silver ingots in great +heaps, and money in bags. The sight of all these riches made him +suppose that this cave must have been occupied for ages by +robbers, who had succeeded one another. + +Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the +gold coin, which was in bags, as he thought his three asses could +carry. When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over +them in such a manner that they could not be seen. When he had +passed in and out as often as he wished, he stood before the door, +and pronouncing the words, "Shut, Sesame!" the door closed of +itself. He then made the best of his way to town. + +When Ali Baba got home, he drove his asses into a little yard, +shut the gates very carefully, threw off the wood that covered the +panniers, carried the bags into the house, and ranged them in +order before his wife. He then emptied the bags, which raised such +a great heap of gold as dazzled his wife's eyes, and then he told +her the whole adventure from beginning to end, and, above all, +recommended her to keep it secret. + +The wife rejoiced greatly at their good-fortune, and would count +all the gold piece by piece. "Wife," replied Ali Baba, "you do not +know what you undertake, when you pretend to count the money; you +will never have done. I will dig a hole and bury it. There is no +time to be lost." "You are in the right, husband," replied she; +"but let us know, as nigh as possible, how much we have. I will +borrow a small measure, and measure it while you dig the hole." + +Away the wife ran to her brother-in-law Cassim, who lived just by, +and, addressing herself to his wife, desired her to lend her a +measure for a little while. Her sister-in-law asked her whether +she would have a great or a small one. The other asked for a small +one. She bade her stay a little, and she would readily fetch one. + +The sister-in-law did so, but as she knew Ali Baba's poverty, she +was curious to know what sort of grain his wife wanted to measure, +and, artfully putting some suet at the bottom of the measure, +brought it to her, with the excuse that she was sorry that she had +made her stay so long, but that she could not find it sooner. + +Ali Baba's wife went home, set the measure upon the heap of gold, +filled it, and emptied it often upon the sofa, till she had done, +when she was very well satisfied to find the number of measures +amounted to so many as they did, and went to tell her husband, who +had almost finished digging the hole. While Ali Baba was burying +the gold, his wife, to show her exactness and diligence to her +sister-in-law, carried the measure back again, but without taking +notice that a piece of gold had stuck to the bottom. "Sister," +said she, giving it to her again, "you see that I have not kept +your measure long. I am obliged to you for it, and return it with +thanks." + +As soon as Ali Baba's wife was gone, Cassim's wife looked at the +bottom of the measure, and was in inexpressible surprise to find a +piece of gold sticking to it. Envy immediately possessed her +breast. "What!" said she, "has Ali Baba gold so plentiful as to +measure it? Whence has he all this wealth?" + +Cassim, her husband, was at his counting-house. When he came home +his wife said to him, "Cassim, I know you think yourself rich, but +Ali Baba is infinitely richer than you. He does not count his +money, but measures it." Cassim desired her to explain the riddle, +which she did by telling him the stratagem she had used to make +the discovery, and showed him the piece of money, which was so old +that they could not tell in what prince's reign it was coined. + +Cassim, after he had married the rich widow, had never treated Ali +Baba as a brother, but neglected him; and now, instead of being +pleased, he conceived a base envy at his brother's prosperity. He +could not sleep all that night, and went to him in the morning +before sunrise. "Ali Baba," said he, "I am surprised at you! you +pretend to be miserably poor, and yet you measure gold. My wife +found this at the bottom of the measure you borrowed yesterday." + +By this discourse, Ali Baba perceived that Cassim and his wife, +through his own wife's folly, knew what they had so much reason to +conceal; but what was done could not be undone. Therefore, without +showing the least surprise or trouble, he confessed all, and +offered his brother part of his treasure to keep the secret. + +"I expect as much," replied Cassim haughtily; "but I must know +exactly where this treasure is, and how I may visit it myself +when I choose; otherwise, I will go and inform against you, and +then you will not only get no more, but will lose all you have, +and I shall have a share for my information." + +Ali Baba told him all he desired, even to the very words he was to +use to gain admission into the cave. + +Cassim rose the next morning long before the sun, and set out for +the forest with ten mules bearing great chests, which he designed +to fill, and followed the road which Ali Baba had pointed out to +him. It was not long before he reached the rock, and found out the +place, by the tree and other marks which his brother had given +him. When he reached the entrance of the cavern, he pronounced the +words, "Open, Sesame!" The door immediately opened, and when he +was in, closed upon him. On examining the cave, he was in great +admiration to find much more riches than he had expected from Ali +Baba's relation. He quickly laid as many bags of gold as he could +carry at the door of the cavern; but his thoughts were so full of +the great riches he should possess, that he could not think of the +necessary word to make it open, and instead of "Sesame" said, +"Open, Barley!" and was much amazed to find that the door remained +fast shut. He named several sorts of grain, but still the door +would not open. + +Cassim had never expected such an incident, and was so alarmed at +the danger he was in, that the more he endeavored to remember the +word "Sesame," the more his memory was confounded, and he had as +much forgotten it as if he had never heard it mentioned, He threw +down the bags he had loaded himself with, and walked distractedly +up and down the cave, without having the least regard to the +riches that were round him. + +About noon the robbers visited their cave. At some distance they +saw Cassim's mules straggling about the rock, with great chests on +their backs. Alarmed at this, they galloped full speed to the +cave. They drove away the mules, who strayed through the forest so +far that they were soon out of sight, and went directly, with +their naked sabres in their hands, to the door, which, on their +captain pronouncing the proper words, immediately opened. + +Cassim, who heard the noise of the horses' feet, at once guessed +the arrival of the robbers, and resolved to make one effort for +his life. He rushed to the door, and no sooner saw the door open, +than he ran out and threw the leader down, but could not escape +the other robbers, who with their cimeters soon deprived him of +life. + +The first care of the robbers after this was to examine the cave. +They found all the bags which Cassim had brought to the door, to +be ready to load his mules, and carried them again to their +places, but they did not miss what Ali Baba had taken away before. +Then holding a council, and deliberating upon this occurrence, +they guessed that Cassim, when he was in, could not get out again, +but could not imagine how he had learned the secret words by which +alone he could enter. They could not deny the fact of his being +there; and to terrify any person or accomplice who should attempt +the same thing, they agreed to cut Cassim's body into four +quarters--to hang two on one side, and two on the other, within +the door of the cave. They had no sooner taken this resolution +than they put it in execution; and when they had nothing more to +detain them, left the place of their hoards well closed. They +mounted their horses, went to beat the roads again, and to attack +the caravans they might meet. + +In the meantime, Cassim's wife was very uneasy when night came, +and her husband was not returned. She ran to Ali Baba in great +alarm, and said: "I believe, brother-in-law, that you know Cassim +is gone to the forest, and upon what account; it is now night, and +he has not returned; I am afraid some misfortune has happened to +him." Ali Baba told her that she need not frighten herself, for +that certainly Cassim would not think it proper to come into the +town till the night should be pretty far advanced. + +Cassim's wife, considering how much it concerned her husband to +keep the business secret, was the more easily persuaded to believe +her brother-in-law. She went home again, and waited patiently till +midnight. Then her fear redoubled, and her grief was the more +sensible because she was forced to keep it to herself. She +repented of her foolish curiosity, and cursed her desire of prying +into the affairs of her brother and sister-in-law. She spent all +the night in weeping; and, as soon as it was day, went to them, +telling them, by her tears, the cause of her coming. + +Ali Baba did not wait for his sister-in-law to desire him to go to +see what was become of Cassim, but departed immediately with his +three asses, begging of her first to moderate her affliction. He +went to the forest, and when he came near the rock, having seen +neither his brother nor the mules in his way, was seriously +alarmed at finding some blood spilled near the door, which he took +for an ill omen; but when he had pronounced the word, and the door +had opened, he was struck with horror at the dismal sight of his +brother's body. He was not long in determining how he should pay +the last dues to his brother; but without adverting to the little +fraternal affection he had shown for him, went into the cave to +find something to enshroud his remains; and having loaded one of +his asses with them, covered them over with wood. The other two +asses he loaded with bags of gold, covering them with wood also as +before; and then bidding the door shut, came away; but was so +cautious as to stop some time at the end of the forest, that he +might not go into the town before night. When he came home, he +drove the two asses loaded with gold into his little yard, and +left the care of unloading them to his wife, while he led the +other to his sister-in-law's house. + +Ali Baba knocked at the door, which was opened by Morgiana, a +clever, intelligent slave, who was fruitful in inventions to meet +the most difficult circumstances. When he came into the court, he +unloaded the ass, and taking Morgiana aside, said to her: "You +must observe an inviolable secrecy. Your master's body is +contained in these two panniers. We must bury him as if he had +died a natural death. Go now and tell your mistress. I leave the +matter to your wit and skilful devices." + +Ali Baba helped to place the body in Cassim's house, again +recommended to Morgiana to act her part well, and then returned +with his ass. + +Morgiana went out, early the next morning to a druggist, and asked +for a sort of lozenge which was considered efficacious in the most +dangerous disorders. The apothecary inquired who was ill. She +replied, with a sigh, Her good master, Cassim himself, and that he +could neither eat nor speak. In the evening Morgiana went to the +same druggist's again, and with tears in her eyes, asked for an +essence which they used to give to sick people only when at the +last extremity. "Alas!" said she, taking it from the apothecary, +"I am afraid that this remedy will have no better effect than the +lozenges; and that I shall lose my good master." + +On the other hand, as Ali Baba and his wife were often seen to go +between Cassim's and their own house all that day, and to seem +melancholy, nobody was surprised in the evening to hear the +lamentable shrieks and cries of Cassim's wife and Morgiana, who +gave out everywhere that her master was dead. The next morning at +daybreak, Morgiana went to an old cobbler whom she knew to be +always early at his stall, and bidding him good-morrow, put a +piece of gold into his hand, saying, "Baba Mustapha, you must +bring with you your sewing tackle, and come with me; but I must +tell you, I shall blindfold you when you come to such a place." + +Baba Mustapha seemed to hesitate a little at these words. "Oh! +oh!" replied he, "you must have me do something against my +conscience, or against my honor?" "God forbid," said Morgiana, +putting another piece of gold into his hand, "that I should ask +anything that is contrary to your honor! only come along with me +and fear nothing." + +Baba Mustapha went with Morgiana, who, after she had bound his +eyes with a handkerchief at the place she had mentioned, conveyed +him to her deceased master's house, and never unloosed his eyes +till he had entered the room where she had put the corpse +together. + +"Baba Mustapha," said she, "you must make haste and sew the parts +of this body together; and when you have done, I will give you +another piece of gold." + +After Baba Mustapha had finished his task, she blindfolded him +again, gave him the third piece of gold as she had promised, and +recommending secrecy to him, carried him back to the place where +she first bound his eyes, pulled off the bandage, and let him go +home, but watched him that he returned toward his stall, till he +was quite out of sight, for fear he should have the curiosity to +return and dodge her; she then went home. Morgiana, on her return, +warmed some water to wash the body, and at the same time Ali Baba +perfumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the burying clothes +with the accustomed ceremonies. Not long after, the proper officer +brought the bier, and when the attendants of the mosque, whose +business it was to wash the dead, offered to perform their duty, +she told them that it was done already. Shortly after this the +imaun and the other ministers of the mosque arrived. Four +neighbors carried the corpse to the burying ground, following the +imaun, who recited some prayers. Ali Baba came after with some +neighbors, who often relieved the others in carrying the bier to +the burying ground. Morgiana, a slave to the deceased, followed in +the procession, weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair. +Cassim's wife stayed at home mourning, uttering lamentable cries +with the women of the neighborhood, who came, according to custom, +during the funeral, and, joining their lamentations with hers, +filled the quarter far and near with sounds of sorrow. + +In this manner Cassim's melancholy death was concealed, and hushed +up between Ali Baba, his widow, and Morgiana, his slave, with so +much contrivance that nobody in the city had the least knowledge +or suspicion of the cause of it. Three or four days after the +funeral, Ali Baba removed his few goods openly to his sister-in- +law's house, in which it was agreed that he should in future live; +but the money he had taken from the robbers he conveyed thither by +night. As for Cassim's warehouse, he intrusted it entirely to the +management of his eldest son. + +While these things were being done, the forty robbers again +visited their retreat in the forest. Great, then, was their +surprise to find Cassim's body taken away, with some of their bags +of gold. "We are certainly discovered," said the captain. "The +removal of the body and the loss of some of our money plainly show +that the man whom we killed had an accomplice; and for our own +lives' sake we must try and find him. What say you, my lads?" + +All the robbers unanimously approved of the captain's proposal. + +"Well," said the captain, "one of you, the boldest and most +skilful among you, must go into the town, disguised as a traveller +and a stranger, to try if he can hear any talk of the man whom we +have killed, and endeavor to find out who he was, and where he +lived. This is a matter of the first importance, and for fear of +any treachery, I propose that whoever undertakes this business +without success, even though the failure arises only from an error +of judgment, shall suffer death." + +Without waiting for the sentiments of his companions, one of the +robbers started up, and said, "I submit to this condition, and +think it an honor to expose my life to serve the troop." + +After this robber had received great commendations from the +captain and his comrades, he disguised himself so that nobody +would take him for what he was; and taking his leave of the troop +that night, went into the town just at daybreak, and walked up and +down, till accidentally he came to Baba Mustapha's stall, which +was always open before any of the shops. + +Baba Mustapha was seated with an awl in his hand, just going to +work. + +The robber saluted him, bidding him good-morrow; and, perceiving +that he was old, said, "Honest man, you begin to work very early: +is it possible that one of your age can see so well? I question, +even if it were somewhat lighter, whether you could see to +stitch." + +"You do not know me," replied Baba Mustapha; "for old as I am, I +have extraordinary good eyes; and you will not doubt it when I +tell you that I sewed the body of a dead man together in a place +where I had not so much light as I have now." + +"A dead body!" exclaimed the robber, with affected amazement. +"Yes, yes," answered Baba Mustapha; "I see you want to have me +speak out, but you shall know no more." + +The robber felt sure that he had discovered what he sought. He +pulled out a piece of gold, and putting it into Baba Mustapha's +hand, said to him, "I do not want to learn your secret, though I +can assume you you might safely trust me with it. The only thing I +desire of you is to show me the house where you stitched up the +dead body." + +"If I were disposed to do you that favor," replied Baba Mustapha, +"I assure you I cannot. I was taken to a certain place, whence I +was led blindfold to the house, and afterward brought back again +in the same manner; you see, therefore, the impossibility of my +doing what you desire." + +"Well," replied the robber, "you may, however, remember a little +of the way that you were led blindfold. Come, let me blind your +eyes at the same place. We will walk together; perhaps you may +recognize some part; and as everybody ought to be paid for their +trouble, there is another piece of gold for you; gratify me in +what I ask you." So saying, he put another piece of gold into his +hand. + +The two pieces of gold were great temptations to Baba Mustapha. He +looked at them a long time in his hand without saying a word, but +at last he pulled out his purse and put them in. "I cannot +promise," said he to the robber, "that I can remember the way +exactly; but since you desire, I will try what I can do." At these +words Baba Mustapha rose up, to the great joy of the robber, and +led him to the place where Morgiana had bound his eyes. "It was +here," said Baba Mustapha, "I was blindfolded; and I turned this +way." The robber tied his handkerchief over his eyes, and walked +by him till they stopped directly at Cassim's house, where Ali +Baba then lived. The thief, before he pulled off the band, marked +the door with a piece of chalk, which he had ready in his hand, +and then asked him if he knew whose house that was; to which Baba +Mustapha replied, that as he did not live in that neighborhood he +could not tell. + +The robber, finding he could discover no more from Baba Mustapha, +thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and left him to go back +to his stall, while he returned to the forest, persuaded that he +should be very well received. + +A little after the robber and Baba Mustapha had parted, Morgiana +went out of Ali Baba's house upon some errand, and upon her +return, seeing the mark the robber had made, stopped to observe +it. "What can be the meaning of this mark?" said she to herself; +"somebody intends my master no good: however, with whatever +intention it was done, it is advisable to guard against the +worst." Accordingly, she fetched a piece of chalk, and marked two +or three doors on each side, in the same manner, without saying a +word to her master or mistress. + +In the meantime, the robber rejoined his troop in the forest, and +recounted to them his success, expatiating upon his good fortune +in meeting so soon with the only person who could inform him of +what he wanted to know. All the robbers listened to him with the +utmost satisfaction; when the captain, after commending his +diligence, addressing himself to them all, said, "Comrades, we +have no time to lose: let us set off well armed, without its +appearing who we are; but that we may not excite any suspicion, +let only one or two go into the town together, and join at our +rendezvous, which shall be the great square. In the meantime, our +comrade who brought us the good news and I will go and find out +the house, that we may consult what had best be done." + +This speech and plan were approved of by all, and they were soon +ready. They filed off in parties of two each, after some interval +of time, and got into the town without being in the least +suspected. The captain, and he who had visited the town in the +morning as spy, came in the last. He led the captain into the +street where he had marked Ali Baba's residence; and when they +came to the first of the houses which Morgiana had marked, he +pointed it out. But the captain observed that the next door was +chalked in the same manner, and in the same place; and showing it +to his guide, asked him which house it was, that, or the first. +The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make, +but still more puzzled when he and the captain saw five or six +houses similarly marked. He assured the captain, with an oath, +that he had marked but one, and could not tell who had chalked the +rest, so that he could not distinguish the house which the cobbler +had stopped at. + +The captain, finding that their design had proved abortive, went +directly to the place of rendezvous, and told his troop that they +had lost their labor, and must return to their cave. He himself +set them the example, and they all returned as they had come. + +When the troop was all got together, the captain told them the +reason of their returning; and presently the conductor was +declared by all worthy of death. He condemned himself, acknowledging +that he ought to have taken better precaution, and prepared +to receive the stroke from him who was appointed to cut off +his head. But as the safety of the troop required the discovery +of the second intruder into the cave, another of the gang, +who promised himself that he should succeed better, presented +himself, and his offer being accepted, he went and corrupted +Baba Mustapha, as the other had done; and, being shown the +house, marked it in a place more remote from sight with red chalk. + +Not long after, Morgiana, whose eyes nothing could escape, went +out, and seeing the red chalk, and arguing with herself as she had +done before, marked the other neighbors' houses in the same place +and manner. + +The robber, at his return to his company, valued himself much on +the precaution he had taken, which he looked upon as an infallible +way of distinguishing Ali Baba's house from the others; and the +captain and all of them thought it must succeed. They conveyed +themselves into the town with the same precaution as before; but +when the robber and his captain came to the street they found the +same difficulty; at which the captain was enraged, and the robber +in as great confusion as his predecessor. + +Thus the captain and his troop were forced to retire a second +time, and much more dissatisfied; while the robber, who had been +the author of the mistake, underwent the same punishment, which he +willingly submitted to. + +The captain, having lost two brave fellows of his troop, was +afraid of diminishing it too much by pursuing this plan to get +information of the residence of their plunderer. He found by their +example that their heads were not so good as their hands on such +occasions, and therefore resolved to take upon himself the +important commission. + +Accordingly, he went and addressed himself to Baba Mustapha, who +did him the same service he had done to the other robbers. He did +not set any particular mark on the house, but examined and +observed it so carefully, by passing often by it, that it was +impossible for him to mistake it. + +The captain, well satisfied with his attempt, and informed of what +he wanted to know, returned to the forest; and when he came into +the cave, where the troop waited for him, said, "Now, comrades, +nothing can prevent our full revenge, as I am certain of the +house; and in my way hither I have thought how to put it into +execution, but if any one can form a better expedient, let him +communicate it." He then told them his contrivance; and as they +approved of it, ordered them to go into the villages about, and +buy nineteen mules, with thirty-eight large leather jars, one full +of oil, and the others empty. + +In two or three days' time the robbers had purchased the mules and +jars, and as the mouths of the jars were rather too narrow for his +purpose, the captain caused them to be widened; and after having +put one of his men into each, with the weapons which he thought +fit, leaving open the seam which had been undone to leave them +room to breathe, he rubbed the jars on the outside with oil from +the full vessel. + +Things being thus prepared, when the nineteen mules were loaded +with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, the +captain, as their driver, set out with them, and reached the town +by the dusk of the evening, as he had intended. He led them +through the streets till he came to Ali Baba's, at whose door he +designed to have knocked; but was prevented by his sitting there +after supper to take a little fresh air. He stopped his mules, +addressed himself to him, and said, "I have brought some oil a +great way to sell at to-morrow's market; and it is now so late +that I do not know where to lodge. If I should not be troublesome +to you, do me the favor to let me pass the night with you, and I +shall be very much obliged by your hospitality." + +Though Ali Baba had seen the captain of the robbers in the forest, +and had heard him speak, it was impossible to know him in the +disguise of an oil merchant. He told him he should be welcome, and +immediately opened his gates for the mules to go into the yard. At +the same time he called to a slave, and ordered him, when the +mules were unloaded, to put them into the stable, and to feed +them; and then went to Morgiana to bid her to get a good supper +for his guest. After they had finished supper, Ali Baba, charging +Morgiana afresh to take care of his guest, said to her, "To-morrow +morning I design to go to the bath before day; take care my +bathing linen be ready, give them to Abdalla (which was the +slave's name) and make me some good broth against I return." After +this he went to bed. + +In the meantime the captain of the robbers went into the yard, +took off the lid of each jar, and gave his people orders what to +do. Beginning at the first jar, and so on to the last, he said to +each man: "As soon as I throw some stones out of the chamber +window where I lie, do not fail to come out, and I will +immediately join you." After this he returned into the house, when +Morgiana, taking up a light, conducted him to his chamber, where +she left him; and he, to avoid any suspicion, put the light out +soon after, and laid himself down in his clothes, that he might be +the more ready to rise. + +Morgiana, remembering Ali Baba's orders, got his bathing linen +ready, and ordered Abdalla to set on the pot for the broth; but +while she was preparing it the lamp went out, and there was no +more oil in the house, nor any candles. What to do she did not +know, for the broth must be made. Abdalla, seeing her very uneasy, +said, "Do not fret and tease yourself, but go into the yard, and +take some oil out of one of the jars." + +Morgiana thanked Abdalla for his advice, took the oil-pot, and +went into the yard; when, as she came nigh the first jar, the +robber within said softly, "Is it time?" + +Though naturally much surprised at finding a man in the jar +instead of the oil she wanted, she immediately felt the importance +of keeping silence, as Ali Baba, his family, and herself were in +great danger; and, collecting herself, without showing the least +emotion, she answered, "Not yet, but presently." She went quietly +in this manner to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she +came to the jar of oil. + +By this means Morgiana found that her master Ali Baba had admitted +thirty-eight robbers into his house, and that this pretended oil +merchant was their captain. She made what haste she could to fill +her oil-pot, and returned into the kitchen, where, as soon as she +had lighted her lamp, she took a great kettle, went again to the +oil-jar, filled the kettle, set it on a large wood fire, and as +soon as it boiled, went and poured enough into every jar to stifle +and destroy the robber within. + +When this action, worthy of the courage of Morgiana, was executed +without any noise, as she had projected, she returned into the +kitchen with the empty kettle; and having put out the great fire, +she had made to boil the oil, and leaving just enough to make the +broth, put out the lamp also, and remained silent, resolving not +to go to rest till she had observed what might follow through a +window of the kitchen, which opened into the yard. + +She had not waited long before the captain of the robbers got up, +opened the window, and finding no light, and hearing no noise, or +any one stirring in the house, gave the appointed signal by +throwing little stones, several of which hit the jars, as he +doubted not by the sound they gave. He then listened, but not +hearing or perceiving anything whereby he could judge that his +companions stirred, he began to grow very uneasy, threw stones a +second and also a third time, and could not comprehend the reason +that none of them should answer his signal. Much alarmed, he went +softly down into the yard, and going to the first jar, while +asking the robber, whom he thought alive, if he was in readiness, +smelled the hot boiled oil, which sent forth a steam out of the +jar. Hence he suspected that his plot to murder Ali Baba, and +plunder his house, was discovered. Examining all the jars, one +after another, he found that all his gang were dead; and, enraged +to despair at having failed in his design, he forced the lock of a +door that led from the yard to the garden, and, climbing over the +walls, made his escape. + +When Morgiana saw him depart, she went to bed, satisfied and +pleased to have succeeded so well in saving her master and family. + +Ali Baba rose before day, and, followed by his slave, went to the +baths, entirely ignorant of the important event which had happened +at home. + +When he returned from the baths, he was very much surprised to see +the oil jars, and that the merchant was not gone with the mules. +He asked Morgiana, who opened the door, the reason of it. "My good +master," answered she, "God preserve you and all your family. You +will be better informed of what you wish to know when you have +seen what I have to show you, if you will follow me." + +As soon as Morgiana had shut the door, Ali Baba followed her, when +she requested him to look into the first jar, and see if there was +any oil. Ali Baba did so, and seeing a man, started back in alarm, +and cried out. "Do not be afraid," said Morgiana, "the man you see +there can neither do you nor anybody else any harm. He is dead." +"Ah, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "what is it you show me? Explain +yourself." "I will," replied Morgiana. "Moderate your astonishment, +and do not excite the curiosity of your neighbors; for it +is of great importance to keep this affair secret. Look into +all the other jars." + +Ali Baba examined all the other jars, one after another; and when +he came to that which had the oil in, found it prodigiously sunk, +and stood for some time motionless, sometimes looking at the jars, +and sometimes at Morgiana, without saying a word, so great was his +surprise. + +At last, when he had recovered himself, he said, "And what is +become of the merchant?" + +"Merchant!" answered she; "he is as much one as I am. I will tell +you who he is, and what is become of him; but you had better hear +the story in your own chamber; for it is time for your health that +you had your broth after your bathing." + +Morgiana then told him all she had done, from the first observing +the mark upon the house, to the destruction of the robbers, and +the flight of their captain. + +On hearing of these brave deeds from the lips of Morgiana, Ali +Baba said to her, "God, by your means, has delivered me from the +snares these robbers laid for my destruction. I owe, therefore, my +life to you; and, for the first token of my acknowledgment, give +you your liberty from this moment, till I can complete your +recompense, as I intend." + +Ali Baba's garden was very long, and shaded at the further end by +a great number of large trees. Near these he and the slave Abdalla +dug a trench, long and wide enough to hold the bodies of the +robbers; and as the earth was light, they were not long in doing +it. When this was done, Ali Baba hid the jars and weapons; and as +he had no occasion for the mules, he sent them at different times +to be sold in the market by his slave. + +While Ali Baba took these measures, the captain of the forty +robbers returned to the forest with inconceivable mortification. +He did not stay long: the loneliness of the gloomy cavern became +frightful to him. He determined, however, to avenge the fate of +his companions, and to accomplish the death of Ali Baba. For this +purpose he returned to the town and took a lodging in a khan, and +disguised himself as a merchant in silks. Under this assumed +character, he gradually conveyed a great many sorts of rich stuffs +and fine linen to his lodging from the cavern, but with all the +necessary precautions to conceal the place whence he brought them. +In order to dispose of the merchandise, when he had thus amassed +them together, he took a warehouse, which happened to be opposite +to Cassim's, which Ali Baba's son had occupied since the death of +his uncle. + +He took the name of Cogia Houssain, and, as a newcomer, was, +according to custom, extremely civil and complaisant to all the +merchants his neighbors. Ali Baba's son was, from his vicinity, +one of the first to converse with Cogia Houssain, who strove to +cultivate his friendship more particularly. Two or three days +after he was settled, Ali Baba came to see his son, and the +captain of the robbers recognized him at once, and soon learned +from his son who he was. After this he increased his assiduities, +caressed him in the most engaging manner, made him some small +presents, and often asked him to dine and sup with him, when he +treated him very handsomely. + +Ali Baba's son did not choose to lie under such obligation to +Cogia Houssain; but was so much straitened for want of room in his +house that he could not entertain him. He therefore acquainted his +father, Ali Baba, with his wish to invite him in return. + +Ali Baba with great pleasure took the treat upon himself. "Son," +said he, "to-morrow being Friday, which is a day that the shops of +such great merchants as Cogia Houssain and yourself are shut, get +him to accompany you, and as you pass by my door, call in. I will +go and order Morgiana to provide a supper." + +The next day Ali Baba's son and Cogia Houssain met by appointment, +took their walk, and as they returned, Ali Baba's son led Cogia +Houssain through the street where his father lived, and when they +came to the house, stopped and knocked at the door. "This, sir," +said he, "is my father's house, who, from the account I have given +him of your friendship, charged me to procure him the honor of +your acquaintance; and I desire you to add this pleasure to those +for which I am already indebted to you." + +Though it was the sole aim of Cogia Houssain to introduce himself +into Ali Baba's house that he might kill him, without hazarding +his own life or making any noise, yet he excused himself and +offered to take his leave; but a slave having opened the door, Ali +Baba's son took him obligingly by the hand, and, in a manner, +forced him in. + +Ali Baba received Cogia Houssain with a smiling countenance, and +in the most obliging manner he could wish. He thanked him for all +the favors he had done his son; adding withal, the obligation was +the greater as he was a young man, not much acquainted with the +world, and that he might contribute to his information. + +Cogia Houssain returned the compliment by assuring Ali Baba that +though his son might not have acquired the experience of older +men, he had good sense equal to the experience of many others. +After a little more conversation on different subjects, he offered +again to take his leave, when Ali Baba, stopping him, said, "Where +are you going, sir, in so much haste? I beg you would do me the +honor to sup with me, though my entertainment may not be worthy of +your acceptance; such as it is, I heartily offer it." "Sir," +replied Cogia Houssain, "I am thoroughly persuaded of your good- +will; but the truth is, I can eat no victuals that have any salt +in them; therefore judge how I should feel at your table." "If +that is the only reason," said Ali Baba, "it ought not to deprive +me of the honor of your company; for, in the first place, there +is no salt ever put into my bread, and as to the meat we shall +have to-night, I promise you there shall be none in that. +Therefore you must do me the favor to stay. I will return +immediately." + +Ali Baba went into the kitchen, and ordered Morgiana to put no +salt in the meat that was to be dressed that night; and to make +quickly two or three ragouts besides what he had ordered, but be +sure to put no salt in them. + +Morgiana, who was always ready to obey her master, could not help +being surprised at his strange order. "Who is this strange man," +said she, "who eats no salt with his meat? Your supper will be +spoiled if I keep it back so long." "Do not be angry, Morgiana," +replied Ali Baba; "he is an honest man, therefore do as I bid +you." + +Morgiana obeyed, though with no little reluctance, and had a +curiosity to see this man who ate no salt. To this end, when she +had finished what she had to do in the kitchen, she helped Abdalla +to carry up the dishes; and looking at Cogia Houssain, knew him at +first sight, notwithstanding his disguise, to be the captain of +the robbers, and examining him very carefully, perceived that he +had a dagger under his garment. "I am not in the least amazed," +said she to herself, "that this wicked man, who is my master's +greatest enemy, would eat no salt with him, since he intends to +assassinate him; but I will prevent him." + +Morgiana, while they were at supper, determined in her own mind to +execute one of the boldest acts ever meditated. + +When Abdalla came for the dessert or fruit, and had put it with +the wine and glasses before Ali Baba, Morgiana retired, dressed +herself neatly, with a suitable head-dress like a dancer, girded +her waist with a silver-gilt girdle, to which there hung a poniard +with a hilt and guard of the same metal, and put a handsome mask +on her face. + +When she had thus disguised herself, she said to Abdalla, "Take +your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his son's +friend, as we do sometimes when he is alone." + +Abdalla took his tabor and played all the way into the hall before +Morgiana, who, when she came to the door, made a low obeisance by +way of asking leave to exhibit her skill, while Abdalla left off +playing. "Come in, Morgiana," said Ali Baba, "and let Cogia +Houssain see what you can do, that he may tell us what he thinks +of your performance." + +Cogia Houssain, who did not expect this diversion after supper, +began to fear he should not be able to take advantage of the +opportunity he thought he had found; but hoped, if he now missed +his aim to secure it another time, by keeping up a friendly +correspondence with the father and son; therefore, though he could +have wished Ali Baba would have declined the dance, he pretended +to be obliged to him for it, and had the complaisance to express +his satisfaction at what he saw, which pleased his host. + +As soon as Abdalla saw that Ali Baba and Cogia Houssain had done +talking, he began to play on the tabor, and accompanied it with an +air, to which Morgiana, who was an excellent performer, danced in +such a manner as would have created admiration in any company. + +After she had danced several dances with much grace, she drew the +poniard, and holding it in her hand, began a dance, in which she +outdid herself, by the many different figures, light movements, +and the surprising leaps and wonderful exertions with which she +accompanied it. Sometimes she presented the poniard to one breast, +sometimes to another, and oftentimes seemed to strike her own. At +last she snatched the tabor from Abdalla with her left hand, and +holding the dagger in her right, presented the other side of the +tabor, after the manner of those who get a livelihood by dancing, +and solicit the liberality of the spectators. + +Ali Baba put a piece of gold into the tabor, as did also his son; +and Cogia Houssain, seeing that she was coming to him, had pulled +his purse out of his bosom to make her a present; but while he was +putting his hand into it, Morgiana, with a courage and resolution +worthy of herself, plunged the poniard into his heart. + +Ali Baba and his son, shocked at this action, cried out aloud. +"Unhappy woman!" exclaimed Ali Baba, "what have you done, to ruin +me and my family?" "It was to preserve, not to ruin you," answered +Morgiana; "for see here," continued she, opening the pretended +Cogia Houssain's garment, and showing the dagger, "what an enemy +you had entertained! Look well at him, and you will find him to be +both the fictitious oil merchant, and the captain of the gang of +forty robbers. Remember, too, that he would eat no salt with you; +and what would you have more to persuade you of his wicked design? +Before I saw him, I suspected him as soon as you told me you had +such a guest. I knew him, and you now find that my suspicion was +not groundless." + +Ali Baba, who immediately felt the new obligation he had to +Morgiana for saving his life a second time, embraced her: +"Morgiana," said he, "I gave you your liberty, and then promised +you that my gratitude should not stop there, but that I would soon +give you higher proofs of its sincerity, which I now do by making +you my daughter-in-law." Then addressing himself to his son, he +said: "I believe you, son, to be so dutiful a child, that you will +not refuse Morgiana for your wife. You see that Cogia Houssain +sought your friendship with a treacherous design to take away my +life; and if he had succeeded, there is no doubt but he would have +sacrificed you also to his revenge. Consider, that by marrying +Morgiana you marry the preserver of my family and your own." + +The son, far from showing any dislike, readily consented to the +marriage; not only because he would not disobey his father, but +also because it was agreeable to his inclination. After this they +thought of burying the captain of the robbers with his comrades, +and did it so privately that nobody discovered their bones till +many years after, when no one had any concern in the publication +of this remarkable history. A few days afterward Ali Baba +celebrated the nuptials of his son and Morgiana with great +solemnity, a sumptuous feast, and the usual dancing and +spectacles; and had the satisfaction to see that his friends and +neighbors, whom he invited, had no knowledge of the true motives +of the marriage; but that those who were not unacquainted with +Morgiana's good qualities, commended his generosity and goodness +of heart. Ali Baba did not visit the robbers' cave for a whole +year, as he supposed the other two might be alive. + +At the year's end, when he found they had not made any attempt to +disturb him, he had the curiosity to make another journey. He +mounted his horse, and when he came to the cave he alighted, tied +his horse to a tree, then approaching the entrance, and +pronouncing the words, "Open, Sesame!" the door opened. He entered +the cavern and by the condition he found things in, judged that +nobody had been there since the captain had fetched the goods for +his shop. From this time he believed he was the only person in the +world who had the secret of opening the cave, and that all the +treasure was at his sole disposal. He put as much gold into his +saddle-bag as his horse could carry, and returned to town. Some +years later he carried his son to the cave and taught him the +secret, which descended to his posterity, who, using their good- +fortune with moderation, lived in honor and splendor. + + + + +THE STORY OF ALADDIN; OR THE WONDERFUL LAMP + + +There once lived, in one of the large and rich cities of China, a +tailor, named Mustapha. He was very poor. He could hardly, by his +daily labor, maintain himself and his family, which consisted only +of his wife and a son. + +His son, who was called Aladdin, was a very careless and idle +fellow. He was disobedient to his father and mother, and would go +out early in the morning and stay out all day, playing in the +streets and public places with idle children of his own age. + +When he was old enough to learn a trade, his father took him into +his own shop, and taught him how to use his needle; but all his +father's endeavors to keep him to his work were vain, for no +sooner was his back turned than he was gone for that day. Mustapha +chastised him; but Aladdin was incorrigible, and his father, to +his great grief, was forced to abandon him to his idleness, and +was so much troubled about him that he fell sick and died in a few +months. + +Aladdin, who was now no longer restrained by the fear of a father, +gave himself entirely over to his idle habits, and was never out +of the streets from his companions. This course he followed till +he was fifteen years old, without giving his mind to any useful +pursuit, or the least reflection on what would become of him. As +he was one day playing, according to custom, in the street with +his evil associates, a stranger passing by stood to observe him. + +This stranger was a sorcerer, known as the African magician, as he +had been but two days arrived from Africa, his native country. + +The African magician, observing in Aladdin's countenance something +which assured him that he was a fit boy for his purpose, inquired +his name and history of some of his companions; and when he had +learned all he desired to know, went up to him, and taking him +aside from his comrades, said, "Child, was not your father called +Mustapha the tailor?" "Yes, sir," answered the boy; "but he has +been dead a long time." + +At these words the African magician threw his arms about Aladdin's +neck, and kissed him several times, with tears in his eyes, and +said, "I am your uncle. Your worthy father was my own brother. I +knew you at first sight; you are so like him." Then he gave +Aladdin a handful of small money, saying, "Go, my son, to your +mother, give my love to her, and tell her that I will visit her +to-morrow, that I may see where my good brother lived so long, and +ended his days." + +Aladdin ran to his mother, overjoyed at the money his uncle had +given him. "Mother," said he, "have I an uncle?" "No, child," +replied his mother, "you have no uncle by your father's side or +mine." "I am just now come," said Aladdin, "from a man who says he +is my uncle and my father's brother. He cried and kissed me when I +told him my father was dead, and gave me money, sending his love +to you, and promising to come and pay you a visit, that he may see +the house my father lived and died in." "Indeed, child," replied +the mother, "your father had no brother, nor have you an uncle." + +The next day the magician found Aladdin playing in another part of +the town, and embracing him as before, put two pieces of gold into +his hand, and said to him, "Carry this, child, to your mother. +Tell her that I will come and see her to-night, and bid her get us +something for supper; but first show me the house where you live." + +Aladdin showed the African magician the house, and carried the two +pieces of gold to his mother, who went out and bought provisions; +and, considering she wanted various utensils, borrowed them of her +neighbors. She spent the whole day in preparing the supper; and at +night, when it was ready, said to her son, "Perhaps the stranger +knows not how to find our house; go and bring him, if you meet +with him." + +Aladdin was just ready to go, when the magician knocked at the +door, and came in loaded with wine and all sorts of fruits, which +he brought for a dessert. After he had given what he brought into +Aladdin's hands, he saluted his mother, and desired her to show +him the place where his brother Mustapha used to sit on the sofa; +and when she had done so, he fell down and kissed it several +times, crying out, with tears in his eyes, "My poor brother! how +unhappy am I, not to have come soon enough to give you one last +embrace!" Aladdin's mother desired him to sit down in the same +place, but he declined. + +"No," said he, "I shall not do that; but give me leave to sit +opposite to it, that, although I see not the master of a family +so dear to me, I may at least behold the place where he used to +sit." + +When the magician had made choice of a place, and sat down, he +began to enter into discourse with Aladdin's mother. "My good +sister," said he, "do not be surprised at your never having seen +me all the time you have been married to my brother Mustapha of +happy memory. I have been forty years absent from this country, +which is my native place, as well as my late brother's; and during +that time have travelled into the Indies, Persia, Arabia, Syria, +and Egypt, and afterward crossed over into Africa, where I took up +my abode. At last, as it is natural for a man, I was desirous to +see my native country again, and to embrace my dear brother; and +finding I had strength enough to undertake so long a journey, I +made the necessary preparations, and set out. Nothing ever +afflicted me so much as hearing of my brother's death. But God be +praised for all things! It is a comfort for me to find, as it +were, my brother in a son who has his most remarkable features." + +The African magician, perceiving that the widow wept at the +remembrance of her husband, changed the conversation, and turning +toward her son, asked him, "What business do you follow? Are you +of any trade?" + +At this question the youth hung down his head, and was not a +little abashed when his mother answered, "Aladdin is an idle +fellow. His father, when alive, strove all he could to teach him +his trade, but could not succeed; and since his death, notwithstanding +all I can say to him, he does nothing but idle away his +time in the streets, as you saw him, without considering +he is no longer a child; and if you do not make him ashamed of it, +I despair of his ever coming to any good. For my part, I am +resolved, one of these days, to turn him out of doors, and let him +provide for himself." + +After these words Aladdin's mother burst into tears; and the +magician said, "This is not well, nephew; you must think of +helping yourself, and getting your livelihood. There are many +sorts of trades. Perhaps you do not like your father's, and would +prefer another; I will endeavor to help you. If you have no mind +to learn any handicraft, I will take a shop for you, furnish it +with all sorts of fine stuffs and linens, and then with the money +you make of them you can lay in fresh goods, and live in an +honorable way. Tell me freely what you think of my proposal; you +shall always find me ready to keep my word." + +This plan just suited Aladdin, who hated work. He told the +magician he had a greater inclination to that business than to any +other, and that he should be much obliged to him for his kindness. +"Well, then," said the African magician, "I will carry you with me +to-morrow, clothe you as handsomely as the best merchants in the +city, and afterward we will open a shop as I mentioned." + +The widow, after his promises of kindness to her son, no longer +doubted that the magician was her husband's brother. She thanked +him for his good intentions; and after having exhorted Aladdin to +render himself worthy of his uncle's favor, served up supper, at +which they talked of several indifferent matters; and then the +magician took his leave and retired. + +He came again the next day, as he had promised, and took Aladdin +with him to a merchant, who sold all sorts of clothes for +different ages and ranks ready made, and a variety of fine stuffs, +and bade Aladdin choose those he preferred, which he paid for. + +When Aladdin found himself so handsomely equipped, he returned his +uncle thanks, who thus addressed him: "As you are soon to be a +merchant, it is proper you should frequent these shops, and be +acquainted with them." He then showed him the largest and finest +mosques, carried him to the khans or inns where the merchants and +travellers lodged, and afterward to the sultan's palace, where he +had free access; and at last brought him to his own khan, where, +meeting with some merchants he had become acquainted with since +his arrival, he gave them a treat, to make them and his pretended +nephew acquainted. + +This entertainment lasted till night, when Aladdin would have +taken leave of his uncle to go home; the magician would not let +him go by himself, but conducted him to his mother, who, as soon +as she saw him so well dressed, was transported with joy, and +bestowed a thousand blessings upon the magician. + +Early the next morning, the magician called again for Aladdin, and +said he would take him to spend that day in the country, and on +the next he would purchase the shop. He then led him out at one of +the gates of the city, to some magnificent palaces, to each of +which belonged beautiful gardens, into which anybody might enter. +At every building he came to, he asked Aladdin if he did not think +it fine; and the youth was ready to answer, when any one presented +itself, crying out, "Here is a finer house, uncle, than any we +have yet seen." By this artifice the cunning magician led Aladdin +some way into the country; and as, he meant to carry him further, +to execute his design, he took an opportunity to sit down in one +of the gardens, on the brink of a fountain of clear water, which +discharged itself by a lion's mouth of bronze into a basin, +pretending to be tired. "Come, nephew," said he, "you must be +weary, as well as I; let us rest ourselves, and we shall be better +able to pursue our walk." + +The magician next pulled from his girdle a handkerchief with cakes +and fruit, and during this short repast he exhorted his nephew to +leave off bad company, and to seek that of wise and prudent men, +to improve by their conversation; "for," said he, "you will soon +be at man's estate, and you cannot too early begin to imitate +their example." When they had eaten as much as they liked, they +got up, and pursued their walk through gardens separated from one +another only by small ditches, which marked out the limits without +interrupting the communication, so great was the confidence the +inhabitants reposed in each other. By this means the African +magician drew Aladdin insensibly beyond the gardens, and crossed +the country till they nearly reached the mountains. + +At last they arrived between two mountains of moderate height, +and equal size, divided by a narrow valley, which was the place +where the magician intended to execute the design that had brought +him from Africa to China. "We will go no further now," said he to +Aladdin; "I will show you here some extraordinary things, which, +when you have seen, you will thank me for; but while I strike a +light, gather up all the loose dry sticks you can see, to kindle a +fire with." + +Aladdin found so many dried sticks that he soon collected a great +heap. The magician presently set them on fire; and when they were +in a blaze, threw in some incense, pronouncing several magical +words which Aladdin did not understand. + +He had scarcely done so when the earth opened just before the +magician, and discovered a stone with a brass ring fixed in it. +Aladdin was so frightened that he would have run away, but the +magician caught hold of him, and gave him such a box on the ear +that he knocked him down. Aladdin got up trembling, and, with +tears in his eyes, said to the magician: "What have I done, uncle, +to be treated in this severe manner?" "I am your uncle," answered +the magician; "I supply the place of your father, and you ought to +make no reply. But child," added he, softening, "do not be afraid; +for I shall not ask anything of you, but that you obey me +punctually, if you would reap the advantages which I intend you. +Know, then, that under this stone there is hidden a treasure, +destined to be yours, and which will make you richer than the +greatest monarch in the world. No person but yourself is permitted +to lift this stone, or enter the cave; so you must punctually +execute what I may command, for it is a matter of great +consequence both to you and me." + +Aladdin, amazed at all he saw and heard, forgot what was past, +and, rising, said: "Well, uncle, what is to be done? Command me, I +am ready to obey." "I am overjoyed, child," said the African +magician, embracing him. "Take hold of the ring, and lift up that +stone." "Indeed, uncle," replied Aladdin, "I am not strong enough; +you must help me." "You have no occasion for my assistance," +answered the magician; "if I help you, we shall be able to do +nothing. Take hold of the ring and lift it up; you will find it +will come easily." Aladdin did as the magician bade him, raised +the stone with ease, and laid it on one side. + +When the stone was pulled up, there appeared a staircase about +three or four feet deep, leading to a door. "Descend, my son," +said the African magician, "those steps, and open that door. It +will lead you into a palace, divided into three great halls. In +each of these you will see four large brass cisterns placed on +each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not +meddle with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck +up your robe, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second +into the third without stopping. Above all things, have a care +that you do not touch the walls, so much as with your clothes; for +if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of the third hall, +you will find a door which opens into a garden, planted with fine +trees loaded with fruit. Walk directly across the garden to a +terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche +a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down, and put it out. When you have +thrown away the wick and poured out the liquor, put it in your +waistband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor +will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil, and the lamp will be +dry as soon as it is thrown out." + +After these words the magician drew a ring off his finger, and put +it on one of Aladdin's, saying: "It is a talisman against all +evil, so long as you obey me. Go, therefore, boldly, and we shall +both be rich all our lives." + +Aladdin descended the steps, and, opening the door, found the +three halls just as the African magician had described. He went +through them with all the precaution the fear of death could +inspire, crossed the garden without stopping, took down the lamp +from the niche, threw out the wick and the liquor, and, as the +magician had desired, put it in his waistband. But as he came down +from the terrace, seeing it was perfectly dry, he stopped in the +garden to observe the trees, which were loaded with extraordinary +fruit, of different colors on each tree. Some bore fruit entirely +white, and some clear and transparent as crystal; some pale red, +and others deeper; some green, blue, and purple, and others +yellow; in short, there was fruit of all colors. The white were +pearls; the clear and transparent, diamonds; the deep red, rubies; +the paler, balas rubies; the green, emeralds; the blue, +turquoises; the purple, amethysts; and the yellow, topazes. +Aladdin, ignorant of their value, would have preferred figs, or +grapes, or pomegranates; but as he had his uncle's permission, he +resolved to gather some of every sort. Having filled the two new +purses his uncle had bought for him with his clothes, he wrapped +some up in the skirts of his vest, and crammed his bosom as full +as it could hold. + +Aladdin, having thus loaded himself with riches of which he knew +not the value, returned through the three halls with the utmost +precaution, and soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where the +African magician awaited him with the utmost impatience. As soon +as Aladdin saw him, he cried out, "Pray, uncle, lend me your hand, +to help me out." "Give me the lamp first," replied the magician; +"it will be troublesome to you." "Indeed, uncle," answered +Aladdin, "I cannot now, but I will as soon as I am up." The +African magician was determined that he would have the lamp before +he would help him up; and Aladdin, who had encumbered himself so +much with his fruit that he could not well get at it, refused to +give it him till he was out of the cave. The African magician, +provoked at this obstinate refusal, flew into a passion, threw a +little of his incense into the fire, and pronounced two magical +words, when the stone which had closed the mouth of the staircase +moved into its place, with the earth over it in the same manner as +it lay at the arrival of the magician and Aladdin. + +This action of the magician plainly revealed to Aladdin that he +was no uncle of his, but one who designed him evil. The truth was +that he had learned from his magic books the secret and the value +of this wonderful lamp, the owner of which would be made richer +than any earthly ruler, and hence his journey to China. His art +had also told him that he was not permitted to take it himself, +but must receive it as a voluntary gift from the hands of another +person. Hence he employed young Aladdin, and hoped by a mixture of +kindness and authority to make him obedient to his word and will. +When he found that his attempt had failed, he set out to return to +Africa, but avoided the town, lest any person who had seen him +leave in company with Aladdin should make inquiries after the +youth. Aladdin being suddenly enveloped in darkness, cried, and +called out to his uncle to tell him he was ready to give him the +lamp; but in vain, since his cries could not be heard. He +descended to the bottom of the steps, with a design to get into +the palace, but the door, which was opened before by enchantment, +was now shut by the same means. He then redoubled his cries and +tears, sat down on the steps without any hopes of ever seeing +light again, and in an expectation of passing from the present +darkness to a speedy death. In this great emergency he said, +"There is no strength or power but in the great and high God"; and +in joining his hands to pray he rubbed the ring which the magician +had put on his finger. Immediately a genie of frightful aspect +appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey +thee. I serve him who possesses the ring on thy finger; I and the +other slaves of that ring." At another time Aladdin would +have been frightened at the sight of so extraordinary a figure, +but the danger he was in made him answer without hesitation, +"Whoever thou art, deliver me from this place." + +He had no sooner spoken these words than he found himself on the +very spot where the magician had last left him, and no sign of +cave or opening, nor disturbance of the earth. Returning God +thanks to find himself once more in the world, he made the best of +his way home. When he got within his mother's door, the joy to see +her and his weakness for want of sustenance made him so faint that +he remained for a long time as dead. As soon as he recovered he +related to his mother all that had happened to him, and they were +both very vehement in their complaints of the cruel magician. +Aladdin slept very soundly till late the next morning, when the +first thing he said to his mother was that he wanted something to +eat, and wished she would give him his breakfast. + +"Alas! child," said she, "I have not a bit of bread to give you: +you ate up all the provisions I had in the house yesterday; but I +have a little cotton, which I have spun; I will go and sell it, +and buy bread and something for our dinner." + +"Mother," replied Aladdin, "keep your cotton for another time, and +give me the lamp I brought home with me yesterday; I will go and +sell it, and the money I shall get for it will serve both for +breakfast and dinner, and perhaps supper too." + +Aladdin's mother took the lamp, and said to her son, "Here it is, +but it is very dirty; if it was a little cleaner I believe it +would bring something more." She took some fine sand and water to +clean it; but had no sooner begun to rub it than in an instant a +hideous genie of gigantic size appeared before her, and said to +her in a voice of thunder, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to +obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who have that +lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the lamp." + +Aladdin's mother, terrified at the sight of the genie, fainted; +when Aladdin, who had seen such a phantom in the cavern, snatched +the lamp out of his mother's hand, and said to the genie boldly, +"I am hungry; bring me something to eat." The genie disappeared +immediately, and in an instant returned with a large silver tray, +holding twelve covered dishes of the same metal, which contained +the most delicious viands; six large white bread cakes on two +plates, two flagons of wine, and two silver cups. All these he +placed upon a carpet, and disappeared; this was done before +Aladdin's mother recovered from her swoon. + +Aladdin had fetched some water, and sprinkled it in her face to +recover her. Whether that or the smell of the meat effected her +cure, it was not long before she came to herself. "Mother" said +Aladdin, "be not afraid; get up and eat; here is what will put you +in heart, and at the same time satisfy my extreme hunger." + +His mother was much surprised to see the great tray, twelve +dishes, six loaves, the two flagons and cups, and to smell the +savory odor which exhaled from the dishes. "Child," said she, "to +whom are we obliged for this great plenty and liberality? Has the +sultan been made acquainted with our poverty, and had compassion +on us?" "It is no matter, mother," said Aladdin, "let us sit down +and eat; for you have almost as much need of a good breakfast as +myself; when we have done, I will tell you." + +Accordingly, both mother and son sat down, and ate with the better +relish as the table was so well furnished. But all the time +Aladdin's mother could not forbear looking at and admiring the +tray and dishes, though she could not judge whether they were +silver or any other metal, and the novelty more than the value +attracted her attention. + +The mother and son sat at breakfast till it was dinner time, and +then they thought it would be best to put the two meals together; +yet after this they found they should have enough left for supper, +and two meals for the next day. + +When Aladdin's mother had taken away and set by what was left, she +went and sat down by her son on the sofa, saying, "I expect now +that you should satisfy my impatience, and tell me exactly what +passed between the genie and you while I was in a swoon"; which he +readily complied with. + +She was in as great amazement at what her son told her as at the +appearance of the genie; and said to him, "But, son, what have we +to do with genies? I never heard that any of my acquaintance had +ever seen one. How came that vile genie to address himself to me, +and not to you, to whom he had appeared before in the cave?" +"Mother," answered Aladdin, "the genie you saw is not the one who +appeared to me. If you remember, he that I first saw called +himself the slave of the ring on my finger; and this you saw +called himself the slave of the lamp you had in your hand; but I +believe you did not hear him, for I think you fainted as soon as +he began to speak." + +"What!" cried the mother, "was your lamp, then, the occasion of +that cursed genie's addressing himself rather to me than to you? +Ah! my son, take it out of my sight, and put it where you please. +I had rather you would sell it than run the hazard of being +frightened to death again by touching it; and if you would take my +advice you would part also with the ring, and not have anything to +do with genies, who, as our prophet has told us, are only devils." + +"With your leave, mother," replied Aladdin, "I shall now take care +how I sell a lamp which may be so serviceable both to you and me. +That false and wicked magician would not have undertaken so long a +journey to secure this wonderful lamp if he had not known its +value to exceed that of gold and silver. And since we have +honestly come by it, let us make a profitable use of it, without +making any great show, and exciting the envy and jealousy of our +neighbors. However, since the genies frighten you so much I will +take it out of your sight, and put it where I may find it when I +want it. The ring I cannot resolve to part with; for without that +you had never seen me again; and though I am alive now, perhaps, +if it were gone, I might not be so some moments hence; therefore, +I hope you will give me leave to keep it, and to wear it always on +my finger." + +Aladdin's mother replied that he might do what he pleased; for +her part she would have nothing to do with genies, and never say +anything more about them. + +By the next night they had eaten all the provisions the genie had +brought; and the next day Aladdin, who could not bear the thought +of hunger, putting one of the silver dishes under his vest, went +out early to sell it, and addressing himself to a Jew whom he met +in the streets, took him aside, and pulling out the plate, asked +him if he would buy it. The cunning Jew took the dish, examined +it, and as soon as he found that it was good silver asked Aladdin +at how much he valued it. Aladdin, who had never been used to such +traffic, told him he would trust to his judgment and honor. The +Jew was somewhat confounded at this plain dealing; and doubting +whether Aladdin understood the material or the full value of what +he offered to sell, took a piece of gold out of his purse and gave +it him, though it was but the sixtieth part of the worth of the +plate. Aladdin, taking the money very eagerly, retired with so +much haste that the Jew, not content with the exorbitancy of his +profit, was vexed he had not penetrated into his ignorance, and +was going to run after him, to endeavor to get some change out of +the piece of gold; but he ran so fast, and had got so far, that it +would have been impossible for him to overtake him. + +Before Aladdin went home he called at a baker's, bought some cakes +of bread, changed his money, and on his return gave the rest to +his mother, who went and purchased provisions enough to last them +some time. After this manner they lived, till Aladdin had sold the +twelve dishes singly, as necessity pressed, to the Jew, for the +same money; who, after the first time, durst not offer him less +for fear of losing so good a bargain. When he had sold the last +dish he had recourse to the tray, which weighed ten times as much +as the dishes, and would have carried it to his old purchaser, but +that it was too large and cumbersome; therefore he was obliged to +bring him home with him to his mother's, where, after the Jew had +examined the weight of the tray, he laid down ten pieces of gold, +with which Aladdin was very well satisfied. + +When all the money was spent, Aladdin had recourse again to the +lamp. He took it in his hand, looked for that part where his +mother had rubbed it with the sand, rubbed it also, when the genie +immediately appeared, and said, "What wouldst thou have? I am +ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those who +have that lamp in their hands; I and the other slaves of the +lamp." "I am hungry," said Aladdin; "bring me something to eat." +The genie disappeared, and presently returned with a tray, the +same number of covered dishes as before, set them down, and +vanished. + +As soon as Aladdin found that their provisions were again +expended, he took one of the dishes, and went to look for his Jew +chapman; but passing by a goldsmith's shop, the goldsmith +perceiving him called to him and said, "My lad, I imagine that you +have something to sell to the Jew, whom I often see you visit; but +perhaps you do not know that he is the greatest rogue even among +the Jews. + +I will give you the full worth of what you have to sell, or I will +direct you to other merchants who will not cheat you." + +This offer induced Aladdin to pull his plate from under his vest +and show it to the goldsmith, who at first sight saw that it was +made of the finest silver, and asked him if he had sold such as +that to the Jew; when Aladdin told him that he had sold him twelve +such, for a piece of gold each. "What a villain!" cried the +goldsmith. "But," added he, "my son, what is past cannot be +recalled. By showing you the value of this plate, which is of the +finest silver we use in our shops, I will let you see how much the +Jew has cheated you." + +The goldsmith took a pair of scales, weighed the dish, and assured +him that his plate would fetch by weight sixty pieces of gold, +which he offered to pay down immediately. + +Aladdin thanked him for his fair dealing, and never after went to +any other person. + +Though Aladdin and his mother had an inexhaustible treasure in +their lamp, and might have had whatever they wished for, yet they +lived with the same frugality as before, and it may easily be +supposed that the money for which Aladdin had sold the dishes and +tray was sufficient to maintain them some time. + +During this interval, Aladdin frequented the shops of the +principal merchants, where they sold cloth of gold and silver, +linens, silk stuffs, and jewelry, and oftentimes joining in their +conversation, acquired a knowledge of the world and a desire to +improve himself. By his acquaintance among the jewellers he came +to know that the fruits which he had gathered when he took the +lamp were, instead of colored glass, stones of inestimable value; +but he had the prudence not to mention this to anyone, not even to +his mother. + +One day as Aladdin was walking about the town he heard an order +proclaimed commanding the people to shut up their shops and +houses, and keep within doors while the Princess Buddir al +Buddoor, the sultan's daughter, went to the bath and returned. + +This proclamation inspired Aladdin with an eager desire to see +the princess's face, which he determined to gratify by placing +himself behind the door of the bath, so that he could not fail to +see her face. + +Aladdin had not long concealed himself before the princess came. +She was attended by a great crowd of ladies, slaves, and mutes, +who walked on each side and behind her. When she came within three +or four paces of the door of the bath, she took off her veil, and +gave Aladdin an opportunity of a full view of her face. + +The princess was a noted beauty: her eyes were large, lively, and +sparkling; her smile bewitching; her nose faultless; her mouth +small; her lips vermilion. It is not therefore surprising that +Aladdin, who had never before seen such a blaze of charms, was +dazzled and enchanted. + +After the princess had passed by, and entered the bath, Aladdin +quitted his hiding-place and went home. His mother perceived him +to be more thoughtful and melancholy than usual, and asked what +had happened to make him so, or if he was ill. He then told his +mother all his adventure, and concluded by declaring, "I love the +princess more than I can express, and am resolved that I will ask +her in marriage of the sultan." + +Aladdin's mother listened with surprise to what her son told her; +but when he talked of asking the princess in marriage, she laughed +aloud. "Alas! child," said she, "what are you thinking of? You +must be mad to talk thus." + +"I assure you, mother," replied Aladdin, "that I am not mad, but +in my right senses. I foresaw that you would reproach me with +folly and extravagance; but I must tell you once more that I am +resolved to demand the princess of the sultan in marriage, nor do +I despair of success. I have the slaves of the Lamp and of the +Ring to help me, and you know how powerful their aid is. And I +have another secret to tell you: those pieces of glass, which I +got from the trees in the garden of the subterranean palace, are +jewels of inestimable value, and fit for the greatest monarchs. +All the precious stones the jewellers have in Bagdad are not to be +compared to mine for size or beauty; and I am sure that the offer +of them will secure the favor of the sultan. You have a large +porcelain dish fit to hold them; fetch it, and let us see how they +will look, when we have arranged them according to their different +colors." + +Aladdin's mother brought the china dish, when he took the jewels +out of the two purses in which he had kept them, and placed them +in order according to his fancy. But the brightness and lustre +they emitted in the daytime, and the variety of the colors, so +dazzled the eyes both of mother and son that they were astonished +beyond measure. Aladdin's mother, emboldened by the sight of these +rich jewels, and fearful lest her son should be guilty of greater +extravagance, complied with his request, and promised to go early +in the next morning to the palace of the sultan. Aladdin rose +before daybreak, awakened his mother, pressing her to go to the +sultan's palace, and to get admittance, if possible, before the +grand vizier, the other viziers, and the great officers of state +went in to take their seats in the divan, where the sultan always +attended in person. + +[Illustration: Caption DISGUISED AS A TRAVELLER AND A STRANGER.-- +page 27 From the painting by Edmund Dulac] + +Aladdin's mother took the china dish, in which they had put the +jewels the day before, wrapped it in two fine napkins, and set +forward for the sultan's palace. When she came to the gates, the +grand vizier, the other viziers, and most distinguished lords of +the court were just gone in; but notwithstanding the crowd of +people was great, she got into the divan, a spacious hall, the +entrance into which was very magnificent. She placed herself just +before the sultan, grand vizier, and the great lords, who sat in +council on his right and left hand. Several causes were called, +according to their order, pleaded and adjudged, until the time the +divan generally broke up, when the sultan, rising, returned to his +apartment, attended by the grand vizier; the other viziers and +ministers of state then retired, as also did all those whose +business had called them thither. + +Aladdin's mother, seeing the sultan retire, and all the people +depart, judged rightly that he would not sit again that day, and +resolved to go home; and on her arrival said, with much +simplicity, "Son, I have seen the sultan, and am very well +persuaded he has seen me too, for I placed myself just before him; +but he was so much taken up with those who attended on all sides +of him, that I pitied him and wondered at his patience. At last I +believe he was heartily tired, for he rose up suddenly, and would +not hear a great many who were ready prepared to speak to him, but +went away, at which I was well pleased, for indeed I began to lose +all patience, and was extremely fatigued with staying so long. But +there is no harm done: I will go again tomorrow; perhaps the +sultan may not be so busy." + +The next morning she repaired to the sultan's palace with the +present, as early as the day before; but when she came there she +found the gates of the divan shut. She went six times afterward on +the days appointed, placed herself always directly before the +sultan, but with as little success as the first morning. + +On the sixth day, however, after the divan was broken up, when the +sultan returned to his own apartment, he said to his grand vizier, +"I have for some time observed a certain woman, who attends +constantly every day that I give audience, with something wrapped +up in a napkin; she always stands up from the beginning to the +breaking up of the audience, and affects to place herself just +before me. If this woman comes to our next audience, do not fail +to call her, that I may hear what she has to say." The grand +vizier made answer by lowering his hand, and then lifting it up +above his head, signifying his willingness to lose it if he +failed. + +On the next audience day, when Aladdin's mother went to the divan, +and placed herself in front of the sultan as usual, the grand +vizier immediately called the chief of the mace-bearers, and, +pointing to her, bade him bring her before the sultan. The old +woman at once followed the mace-bearer, and when she reached the +sultan, bowed her head down to the carpet which covered the +platform of the throne, and remained in that posture till he bade +her rise, which she had no sooner done than he said to her, "Good +woman, I have observed you to stand many days, from the beginning +to the rising of the divan; what business brings you here?" + +After these words, Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second +time, and, when she arose, said, "Monarch of monarchs I beg of you +to pardon the boldness of my petition, and to assure me of your +pardon and forgiveness." "Well,". replied the sultan, "I will +forgive you, be it what it may, and no hurt shall come to you. +Speak boldly." + +When Aladdin's mother had taken all these precautions for fear of +the sultan's anger, she told him faithfully the errand on which +her son had sent her, and the event which led to his making so +bold a request in spite of all her remonstrances. + +The sultan hearkened to this discourse without showing the least +anger; but, before he gave her any answer, asked her what she had +brought tied up in the napkin. She took the china dish, which she +had set down at the foot of the throne, untied it, and presented +it to the sultan. + +The sultan's amazement and surprise were inexpressible when he saw +so many large, beautiful, and valuable jewels collected in the +dish. He remained for some time lost in admiration. At last, when +he had recovered himself, he received the present from Aladdin's +mother's hand, saying, "How rich! how beautiful!" After he had +admired and handled all the jewels one after another, he turned to +his grand vizier, and, showing him the dish, said, "Behold! +admire! wonder! and confess that your eyes never beheld jewels so +rich and beautiful before!" The vizier was charmed. "Well," +continued the sultan, "what sayest thou to such a present? Is it +not worthy of the princess my daughter? And ought I not to bestow +her on one who values her at so great a price?" "I cannot but +own," replied the grand vizier, "that the present is worthy of the +princess; but I beg of your majesty to grant me three months +before you come to a final resolution. I hope before that time my +son, whom you have regarded with your favor, will be able to make +a nobler present than this Aladdin, who is an entire stranger to +your majesty." + +The sultan granted his request, and he said to the old woman, +"Good woman, go home, and tell your son that I agree to the +proposal you have made me; but I cannot marry the princess my +daughter for three months. At the expiration of that time come +again." + +Aladdin's mother returned home much more gratified than she had +expected, and told her son with much joy the condescending answer +she had received from the sultan's own mouth; and that she was to +come to the divan again that day three months. + +Aladdin thought himself the most happy of all men at hearing this +news, and thanked his mother for the pains she had taken in the +affair, the good success of which was of so great importance to +his peace that he counted every day, week, and even hour as it +passed. When two of the three months were passed, his mother one +evening, having no oil in the house, went out to buy some, and +found a general rejoicing--the houses dressed with foliage, silks, +and carpeting, and every one striving to show their joy according +to their ability. The streets were crowded with officers in habits +of ceremony, mounted on horses richly caparisoned, each attended +by a great many footmen. Aladdin's mother asked the oil merchant +what was the meaning of all this preparation of public festivity. +"Whence came you, good woman," said he, "that you don't know that +the grand vizier's son is to marry the princess Buddir al Buddoor, +the sultan's daughter, to-night? She will presently return from +the bath; and these officers whom you see are to assist at the +cavalcade to the palace, where the ceremony is to be solemnized." + +Aladdin's mother on hearing this news ran home very quickly. +"Child," cried she, "you are undone; the sultan's fine promise +will come to naught! This night the grand vizier's son is to marry +the Princess Buddir al Buddoor." + +At this account Aladdin was thunderstruck, and he bethought +himself of the lamp, and of the genie who had promised to obey +him; and without indulging in idle words against the sultan, the +vizier, or his son, he determined, if possible, to prevent the +marriage. + +When Aladdin had got into his chamber, he took the lamp, rubbed it +in the same place as before, when immediately the genie appeared, +and said to him, "What wouldst thou have? I am ready to obey thee +as thy slave; I and the other slaves of the lamp." "Hear me," said +Aladdin. "Thou hast hitherto obeyed me; but now I am about to +impose on thee a harder task. The sultan's daughter, who was +promised me as my bride, is this night married to the son of the +grand vizier. Bring them both hither to me immediately they retire +to their bedchamber." + +"Master," replied the genie, "I obey you." + +Aladdin supped with his mother as was their wont, and then went to +his own apartment, and sat up to await the return of the genie, +according to his commands. + +In the meantime, the festivities in honor of the princess's +marriage were conducted in the sultan's palace with great +magnificence. The ceremonies were at last brought to a conclusion, +and the princess and the son of the vizier retired to the +bedchamber prepared for them. No sooner had they entered it and +dismissed their attendants, than the genie, the faithful slave of +the lamp, to the great amazement and alarm of the bride and +bridegroom, took up the bed, and, by an agency invisible to them, +transported it in an instant into Aladdin's chamber, where he set +it down. "Remove the bridegroom," said Aladdin to the genie, "and +keep him a prisoner till to-morrow dawn, and then return with him +here." On Aladdin being left alone with the princess, he +endeavored to assuage her fears, and explained to her the +treachery practised upon him by the sultan her father. He then +laid himself down beside her, putting a drawn scimitar between +them, to show that he was determined to secure her safety, and to +treat her with the utmost possible respect. At break of day the +genie appeared at the appointed hour, bringing back the +bridegroom, whom, by breathing upon, he had left motionless and +entranced at the door of Aladdin's chamber during the night; and, +at Aladdin's command, transported the couch with the bride and +bridegroom on it, by the same invisible agency, into the palace of +the sultan. + +At the instant that the genie had set down the couch with the +bride and bridegroom in their own chamber, the sultan came to the +door to offer his good wishes to his daughter. + +The grand vizier's son, who was almost perished with cold by +standing in his thin under-garment all night, no sooner heard the +knocking at the door than he got out of bed and ran into the +robing chamber, where he had undressed himself the night before. + +The sultan, having opened the door, went to the bedside, kissed +the princess on the forehead, but was extremely surprised to see +her look so melancholy. She only cast at him a sorrowful look, +expressive of great affliction. He suspected there was something +extraordinary in this silence, and thereupon went immediately to +the sultaness's apartment, told her in what a state he found the +princess, and how she had received him. "Sire," said the +sultaness, "I will go and see her; she will not receive me in the +same manner." + +The princess received her mother with sighs and tears, and signs +of deep dejection. At last, upon her pressing on her the duty of +telling her all her thoughts, she gave to the sultaness a precise +description of all that happened to her during the night; on which +the sultaness enjoined on her the necessity of silence and +discretion, as no one would give credence to so strange a tale. +The grand vizier's son, elated with the honor of being the +sultan's son-in-law, kept silence on his part, and the events of +the night were not allowed to cast the least gloom on the +festivities on the following day, in continued celebration of the +royal marriage. + +When night came the bride and bridegroom were again attended to +their chamber with the same ceremonies as on the preceding +evening. Aladdin, knowing that this would be so, had already given +his commands to the genie of the lamp; and no sooner were they +alone than their bed was removed in the same mysterious manner as +on the preceding evening; and having passed the night in the same +unpleasant way, they were in the morning conveyed to the palace of +the sultan. Scarcely had they been replaced in their apartment +than the sultan came to make his compliments to his daughter, when +the princess could no longer conceal from him the unhappy +treatment she had been subjected to, and told him all that had +happened, as she had already related it to her mother. The sultan, +on hearing these strange tidings, consulted with the grand vizier; +and finding from him that his son had been subjected to even worse +treatment by an invisible agency, he determined to declare the +marriage to be cancelled, and all the festivities, which were yet +to last for several days, to be countermanded and terminated. + +This sudden change in the mind of the sultan gave rise to various +speculations and reports. Nobody but Aladdin knew the secret, and +he kept it with the most scrupulous silence; and neither the +sultan nor the grand vizier, who had forgotten Aladdin and his +request, had the least thought that he had any hand in the strange +adventures that befel the bride and bridegroom. + +On the very day that the three months contained in the sultan's +promise expired, the mother of Aladdin again went to the palace, +and stood in the same place in the divan. The sultan knew her +again, and directed his vizier to have her brought before him. + +After having prostrated herself she made answer, in reply to the +sultan: "Sire, I come at the end of three months to ask of you the +fulfilment of the promise you made to my son." The sultan little +thought the request of Aladdin's mother was made to him in +earnest, or that he would hear any more of the matter. He +therefore took counsel with his vizier, who suggested that the +sultan should attach such conditions to the marriage that no one +in the humble condition of Aladdin could possibly fulfil. + +In accordance with this suggestion of the vizier, the sultan +replied to the mother of Aladdin: "Good woman, it is true sultans +ought to abide by their word, and I am ready to keep mine, by +making your son happy in marriage with the princess my daughter. +But as I cannot marry her without some further proof of your son +being able to support her in royal state, you may tell him I will +fulfil my promise as soon as he shall send me forty trays of massy +gold, full of the same sort of jewels you have already made me a +present of, and carried by the like number of black slaves, who +shall be led by as many young and handsome white slaves, all +dressed magnificently. On these conditions I am ready to bestow +the princess my daughter upon him; therefore, good woman, go and +tell him so, and I will wait till you bring me his answer." + +Aladdin's mother prostrated herself a second time before the +sultan's throne, and retired. On her way home she laughed within +herself at her son's foolish imagination. "Where," said she, "can +he get so many large gold trays, and such precious stones to fill +them? It is altogether out of his power, and I believe he will not +be much pleased with my embassy this time." When she came home, +full of these thoughts, she told Aladdin all the circumstances of +her interview with the sultan, and the conditions on which he +consented to the marriage. "The sultan expects your answer +immediately," said she; and then added, laughing, "I believe he +may wait long enough!" + +"Not so long, mother, as you imagine," replied Aladdin. "This +demand is a mere trifle, and will prove no bar to my marriage +with the princess. I will prepare at once to satisfy his request." + +Aladdin retired to his own apartment and summoned the genie of the +lamp, and required him to immediately prepare and present the +gift, before the sultan closed his morning audience, according to +the terms in which it had been prescribed. The genie professed his +obedience to the owner of the lamp, and disappeared. Within a very +short time, a train of forty black slaves, led by the same number +of white slaves, appeared opposite the house in which Aladdin +lived. Each black slave carried on his head a basin of massy gold, +full of pearls, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. Aladdin then +addressed his mother; "Madam, pray lose no time; before the sultan +and the divan rise, I would have you return to the palace with +this present as the dowry demanded for the princess, that he may +judge by my diligence and exactness of the ardent and sincere +desire I have to procure myself the honor of this alliance." + +As soon as this magnificent procession, with Aladdin's mother at +its head, had begun to march from Aladdin's house, the whole city +was filled with the crowds of people desirous to see so grand a +sight. The graceful bearing, elegant form, and wonderful likeness +of each slave; their grave walk at an equal distance from each +other; the lustre of their jewelled girdles, and the brilliancy of +the aigrettes of precious stones in their turbans, excited the +greatest admiration in the spectators. As they had to pass through +several streets to the palace, the whole length of the way was +lined with files of spectators. Nothing, indeed, was ever seen so +beautiful and brilliant in the sultan's palace, and the richest +robes of the emirs of his court were not to be compared to the +costly dresses of these slaves, whom they supposed to be kings. + +As the sultan, who had been informed of their approach, had given +orders for them to be admitted, they met with no obstacle, but +went into the divan in regular order, one part turning to the +right, and the other to the left. After they were all entered, and +had formed a semi-circle before the sultan's throne, the black +slaves laid the golden trays on the carpet, prostrated themselves, +touching the carpet with their foreheads, and at the same time the +white slaves did the same. When they rose, the black slaves +uncovered the trays, and then all stood with their arms crossed +over their breasts. + +In the meantime, Aladdin's mother advanced to the foot of the +throne, and having prostrated herself, said to the sultan, "Sire, +my son knows this present is much below the notice of Princess +Buddir al Buddoor; but hopes, nevertheless, that your majesty will +accept of it, and make it agreeable to the princess, and with the +greater confidence since he has endeavored to conform to the +conditions you were pleased to impose." + +The sultan, overpowered at the sight of such more than royal +magnificence, replied without hesitation to the words of Aladdin's +mother: "Go and tell your son that I wait with open arms to +embrace him; and the more haste he makes to come and receive the +princess my daughter from my hands, the greater pleasure he will +do me." As soon as Aladdin's mother had retired, the sultan put an +end to the audience; and rising from his throne, ordered that the +princess's attendants should come and carry the trays into their +mistress's apartment, whither he went himself to examine them with +her at his leisure. The fourscore slaves were conducted into the +palace; and the sultan, telling the princess of their magnificent +apparel, ordered them to be brought before her apartment, that she +might see through the lattices he had not exaggerated in his +account of them. + +In the meantime Aladdin's mother reached home, and showed in her +air and countenance the good news she brought her son. "My son," +said she, "you may rejoice you are arrived at the height of your +desires. The sultan has declared that you shall marry the Princess +Buddir al Buddoor. He waits for you with impatience." + +Aladdin, enraptured with this news, made his mother very little +reply, but retired to his chamber. There he rubbed his lamp, and +the obedient genie appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "convey me at +once to a bath, and supply me with the richest and most +magnificent robe ever worn by a monarch." + +No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the genie rendered +him, as well as himself, invisible, and transported him into a +hummum of the finest marble of all sorts of colors, where he was +undressed, without seeing by whom, in a magnificent and spacious +hall. He was then well rubbed and washed with various scented +waters. After he had passed through several degrees of heat, he +came out quite a different man from what he was before. His skin +was clear as that of a child, his body lightsome and free; and +when he returned into the hall, he found, instead of his own poor +raiment, a robe the magnificence of which astonished him. The +genie helped him to dress, and when he had done, transported him +back to his own chamber, where he asked him if he had any other +commands. "Yes," answered Aladdin; "bring me a charger that +surpasses in beauty and goodness the best in the sultan's stables, +with a saddle, bridle, and other caparisons to correspond with his +value. Furnish also twenty slaves, as richly clothed as those who +carried the present to the sultan, to walk by my side and follow +me, and twenty more to go before me in two ranks. Besides these, +bring my mother six women slaves to attend her, as richly dressed +at least as any of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor's, each carrying +a complete dress fit for any sultaness. I want also ten thousand +pieces of gold in ten purses; go, and make haste," + +As soon as Aladdin had given these orders, the genie disappeared, +but presently returned with the horse, the forty slaves, ten of +whom carried each a purse containing ten thousand pieces of gold, +and six women slaves, each carrying on her head a different dress +for Aladdin's mother, wrapped up in a piece of silver tissue, and +presented them all to Aladdin. + +He presented the six women slaves to his mother, telling her they +were her slaves, and that the dresses they had brought were for +her use. Of the ten purses Aladdin took four, which he gave to his +mother, telling her those were to supply her with necessaries; the +other six he left in the hands of the slaves who brought them, +with an order to throw them by handfuls among the people as they +went to the sultan's palace. The six slaves who carried the purses +he ordered likewise to march before him, three on the right hand +and three on the left. + +When Aladdin had thus prepared himself for his first interview +with the sultan, he dismissed the genie, and immediately mounting +his charger, began his march, and though he never was on horseback +before, appeared with a grace the most experienced horseman might +envy. The innumerable concourse of people through whom he passed +made the air echo with their acclamations, especially every time +the six slaves who carried the purses threw handfuls of gold among +the populace. + +On Aladdin's arrival at the palace, the sultan was surprised to +find him more richly and magnificently robed than he had ever been +himself, and was impressed with his good looks and dignity of +manner, which were so different from what he expected in the son +of one so humble as Aladdin's mother. He embraced him with all the +demonstrations of joy, and when he would have fallen at his feet, +held him by the hand, and made him sit near his throne. He shortly +after led him, amid the sounds of trumpets, hautboys, and all +kinds of music, to a magnificent entertainment, at which the +sultan and Aladdin ate by themselves, and the great lords of the +court, according to their rank and dignity, sat at different +tables. After the feast the sultan sent for the chief cadi, and +commanded him to draw up a contract of marriage between the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor and Aladdin. When the contract had been +drawn, the sultan asked Aladdin if he would stay in the palace and +complete the ceremonies of the marriage that day. + +"Sire," said Aladdin, "though great is my impatience to enter on +the honor granted me by your majesty, yet I beg you to permit me +first to build a palace worthy to receive the princess your +daughter. I pray you to grant me sufficient ground near your +palace, and I will have it completed with the utmost expedition." + +The sultan granted Aladdin his request, and again embraced him. +After which he took his leave with as much politeness as if he had +been bred up and had always lived at court. + +Aladdin returned home in the order he had come, amid the +acclamations of the people, who wished him all happiness and +prosperity. As soon as he dismounted, he retired to his own +chamber, took the lamp, and summoned the genie as usual, who +professed his allegiance. + +"Genie," said Aladdin, "build me a palace fit to receive the +Princess Buddir al Buddoor. Let its materials be made of nothing +less than porphyry, jasper, agate, lapis-lazuli, and the finest +marble. Let its walls be massive gold and silver bricks laid +alternately. Let each front contain six windows, and let the +lattices of these (except one, which must be left unfinished) be +enriched with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, so that they shall +exceed everything of the kind ever seen in the world. Let there be +an inner and outer court in front of the palace, and a spacious +garden; but, above all things, provide a safe treasure-house, and +fill it with gold and silver. Let there be also kitchens and +storehouses, stables full of the finest horses, with their +equerries and grooms, and hunting equipage, officers, attendants, +and slaves, both men and women, to form a retinue for the princess +and myself. Go and execute my wishes." + +When Aladdin gave these commands to the genie the sun was set. The +next morning at daybreak the genie presented himself, and having +obtained Aladdin's consent, transported him in a moment to the +palace he had made. The genie led him through all the apartments, +where he found officers and slaves, habited according to their +rank and the services to which they were appointed. The genie then +showed him the treasury, which was opened by a treasurer, where +Aladdin saw large vases of different sizes, piled up to the top +with money, ranged all round the chamber. The genie thence led him +to the stables, where were some of the finest horses in the world, +and the grooms busy in dressing them; from thence they went to the +storehouses, which were filled with all things necessary, both for +food and ornament. + +When Aladdin had examined every portion of the palace, and +particularly the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, and found +it to far exceed his fondest expectations, he said, "Genie, there +is one thing wanting--a fine carpet for the princess to walk upon +from the sultan's palace to mine. Lay one down immediately." + +The genie disappeared, and Aladdin saw what he desired executed +in an instant. The genie then returned and carried him to his own +home. + +When the sultan's porters came to open the gates they were amazed +to find what had been an unoccupied garden filled up with a +magnificent palace, and a splendid carpet extending to it all the +way from the sultan's palace. They told the strange tidings to the +grand vizier, who informed the sultan, who exclaimed, "It must be +Aladdin's palace, which I gave him leave to build for my daughter. +He has wished to surprise us, and let us see what wonders can be +done in only one night." + +Aladdin, on his being conveyed by the genie to his own home, +requested his mother to go to the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, and +tell her that the palace would be ready for her reception in the +evening. She went, attended by her women slaves, in the same order +as on the preceding day. Shortly after her arrival at the +princess's apartment, the sultan himself came in, and was +surprised to find her, whom he knew as his suppliant at his divan +in such humble guise, to be now more richly and sumptuously +attired than his own daughter. This gave him a higher opinion of +Aladdin, who took such care of his mother, and made her share his +wealth and honors. Shortly after her departure Aladdin, mounting +his horse, and attended by his retinue of magnificent attendants, +left his paternal home forever, and went to the palace in the same +pomp as on the day before. Nor did he forget to take with him the +wonderful lamp, to which he owed all his good-fortune, nor to wear +the ring which was given him as a talisman. The sultan entertained +Aladdin with the utmost magnificence, and at night, on the +conclusion of the marriage ceremonies, the princess took leave +of the sultan her father. Bands of music led the procession, +followed by a hundred state ushers, and the like number of black +mutes, in two files, with their officers at their head. Four +hundred of the sultan's young pages carried flambeaux on each +side, which, together with the illuminations of the sultan's and +Aladdin's palaces, made it as light as day. In this order the +princess, conveyed in her litter, and accompanied also by +Aladdin's mother, carried in a superb litter and attended by her +women slaves, proceeded on the carpet which was spread from the +sultan's palace to that of Aladdin. On her arrival Aladdin was +ready to receive her at the entrance, and led her into a large +hall, illuminated with an infinite number of wax candles, where a +noble feast was served up. The dishes were of massy gold, and +contained the most delicate viands. The vases, basins, and goblets +were gold also, and of exquisite workmanship, and all the other +ornaments and embellishments of the hall were answerable to this +display. The princess, dazzled to see so much riches collected in +one place, said to Aladdin: "I thought, prince, that nothing in +the world was so beautiful as the sultan my father's palace, but +the sight of this hall alone is sufficient to show I was +deceived." + +When the supper was ended, there entered a company of female +dancers, who performed, according to the custom of the country, +singing at the same time verses in praise of the bride and +bridegroom. + +About midnight Aladdin's mother conducted the bride to the nuptial +apartment, and he soon after retired. + +The next morning the attendants of Aladdin presented themselves to +dress him, and brought him another habit, as rich and magnificent +as that worn the day before. He then ordered one of the horses to +be got ready, mounted him, and went in the midst of a large troop +of slaves to the sultan's palace, to entreat him to take a repast +in the princess's palace, attended by his grand vizier and all the +lords of his court. The sultan consented with pleasure, rose up +immediately, and, preceded by the principal officers of his +palace, and followed by all the great lords of his court, +accompanied Aladdin. + +The nearer the sultan approached Aladdin's palace the more he was +struck with its beauty; but when he entered it, came into the +hall, and saw the windows enriched with diamonds, rubies, +emeralds, all large, perfect stones, he was completely surprised, +and said to his son-in-law: "This palace is one of the wonders of +the world; for where in all the world besides shall we find walls +built of massy gold and silver, and diamonds, rubies, and emeralds +composing the windows? But what most surprises me is that a hall +of this magnificence should be left with one of its windows +incomplete and unfinished." "Sire," answered Aladdin, "the +omission was by design, since I wished that you should have the +glory of finishing this hall." "I take your intention kindly," +said the sultan, "and will give orders about it immediately." + +After the sultan had finished this magnificent entertainment +provided for him and for his court by Aladdin, he was informed +that the jewellers and goldsmiths attended; upon which he returned +to the hall, and showed them the window which was unfinished. "I +sent for you," said he, "to fit up this window in as great +perfection as the rest. Examine them well, and make all the +despatch you can." + +The jewellers and goldsmiths examined the three-and-twenty windows +with great attention, and after they had consulted together, to +know what each could furnish, they returned, and presented +themselves before the sultan, whose principal jeweller, +undertaking to speak for the rest, said: "Sire, we are all willing +to exert our utmost care and industry to obey you; but among us +all we cannot furnish jewels enough for so great a work." "I have +more than are necessary," said the sultan; "come to my palace, and +you shall choose what may answer your purpose." + +When the sultan returned to his palace, he ordered his jewels to +be brought out, and the jewellers took a great quantity, +particularly those Aladdin had made him a present of, which they +soon used, without making any great advance in their work. They +came again several times for more, and in a month's time had not +finished half their work. In short, they used all the jewels the +sultan had, and borrowed of the vizier, but yet the work was not +half done. + +Aladdin, who knew that all the sultan's endeavors to make this +window like the rest were in vain, sent for the jewellers and +goldsmiths, and not only commanded them to desist from their +work, but ordered them to undo what they had begun, and to carry +all their jewels back to the sultan and to the vizier. They undid +in a few hours what they had been six weeks about, and retired, +leaving Aladdin alone in the hall. He took the lamp, which he +carried about him, rubbed it, and presently the genie appeared. +"Genie," said Aladdin, "I ordered thee to leave one of the four- +and-twenty windows of this hall imperfect, and thou hast executed +my commands punctually; now I would have thee make it like the +rest." The genie immediately disappeared. Aladdin went out of the +hall, and returning soon after, found the window, as he wished it +to be, like the others. + +In the meantime, the jewellers and goldsmiths repaired to the +palace, and were introduced into the sultan's presence, where the +chief jeweller presented the precious stones which he had brought +back. The sultan asked them if Aladdin had given them any reason +for so doing, and they answering that he had given them none, he +ordered a horse to be brought, which he mounted, and rode to his +son-in-law's palace, with some few attendants on foot, to inquire +why he had ordered the completion of the window to be stopped. +Aladdin met him at the gate, and without giving any reply to his +inquiries conducted him to the grand saloon, where the sultan, to +his great surprise, found the window which was left imperfect to +correspond exactly with the others. He fancied at first that he +was mistaken, and examined the two windows on each side, and +afterward all the four and twenty; but when he was convinced that +the window which several workmen had been so long about was +finished in so short a time, he embraced Aladdin and kissed him +between his eyes. "My son," said he, "what a man you are to do +such surprising things always in the twinkling of an eye! There is +not your fellow in the world; the more I know, the more I admire +you." + +The sultan returned to the palace, and after this went frequently +to the window to contemplate and admire the wonderful palace of +his son-in-law. + +Aladdin did not confine himself in his palace, but went with much +state, sometimes to one mosque, and sometimes to another, to +prayers, or to visit the grand vizier, or the principal lords of +the court. Every time he went out, he caused two slaves, who +walked by the side of his horse, to throw handfuls of money among +the people as he passed through the streets and squares. This +generosity gained him the love and blessings of the people, and it +was common for them to swear by his head. Thus Aladdin, while he +paid all respect to the sultan, won by his affable behavior and +liberality the affections of the people. + +Aladdin had conducted himself in this manner several years, when +the African magician, who had for some years dismissed him from +his recollection, determined to inform himself with certainty +whether he perished, as he supposed, in the subterranean cave or +not. After he had resorted to a long course of magic ceremonies, +and had formed a horoscope by which to ascertain Aladdin's fate, +what was his surprise to find the appearances to declare that +Aladdin, instead of dying in the cave, had made his escape, and +was living in royal splendor, by the aid of the genie of the +wonderful lamp! + +On the very next day, the magician set out and travelled with the +utmost haste to the capital of China, where, on his arrival, he +took up his lodging in a khan. + +He then quickly learned about the wealth, charities, happiness, +and splendid palace of Prince Aladdin. Directly he saw the +wonderful fabric, he knew that none but the genies, the slaves of +the lamp, could have performed such wonders; and piqued to the +quick at Aladdin's high estate, he returned to the khan. + +On his return he had recourse to an operation of geomancy to find +out where the lamp was--whether Aladdin carried it about with +him, or where he left it. The result of his consultation informed +him, to his great joy, that the lamp was in the palace. "Well," +said he, rubbing his hands in glee, "I shall have the lamp, and I +shall make Aladdin return to his original mean condition." + +The next day the magician learned, from the chief superintendent +of the khan where he lodged, that Aladdin had gone on a hunting +expedition, which was to last for eight days, of which only three +had expired. The magician wanted to know no more. He resolved at +once on his plans. He went to a coppersmith, and asked for a dozen +copper lamps: the master of the shop told him he had not so many +by him, but if he would have patience till the next day, he would +have them ready. The magician appointed his time, and desired him +to take care that they should be handsome and well polished. + +The next day the magician called for the twelve lamps, paid the +man his full price, put them into a basket hanging on his arm, and +went directly to Aladdin's palace. As he approached, he began +crying, "Who will change old lamps for new ones?" As he went +along, a crowd of children collected, who hooted, and thought him, +as did all who chanced to be passing by, a madman or a fool, to +offer to change new lamps for old ones. + +The African magician regarded not their scoffs, hootings, or all +they could say to him, but still continued crying, "Who will +change old lamps for new ones?" He repeated this so often, walking +backward and forward in front of the palace, that the princess, +who was then in the hall with the four-and-twenty windows, hearing +a man cry something, and seeing a great mob crowding about him, +sent one of her women slaves to know what he cried. + +The slave returned laughing so heartily that the princess rebuked +her. "Madam," answered the slave, laughing still, "who can forbear +laughing, to see an old man with a basket on his arm, full of fine +new lamps, asking to change them for old ones? The children and +mob crowding about him so that he can hardly stir, make all the +noise they can in derision of him." + +Another female slave, hearing this, said: "Now you speak of lamps, +I know not whether the princess may have observed it, but there is +an old one upon a shelf of the Prince Aladdin's robing-room, and +whoever owns it will not be sorry to find a new one in its stead. +If the princess chooses, she may have the pleasure of trying if +this old man is so silly as to give a new lamp for an old one, +without taking anything for the exchange." + +The princess, who knew not the value of this lamp, and the +interest that Aladdin had to keep it safe, entered into the +pleasantry, and commanded a slave to take it and make the +exchange. The slave obeyed, went out of the hall, and no sooner +got to the palace gates than he saw the African magician, called +to him, and, showing him the old lamp, said, "Give me a new lamp +for this." + +The magician never doubted but this was the lamp he wanted. There +could be no other such in this palace, where every utensil was +gold or silver. He snatched it eagerly out of the slave's hand, +and, thrusting it as far as he could into his breast, offered him +his basket, and bade him choose which he liked best. The slave +picked out one, and carried it to the princess; but the change +was no sooner made than the place rung with the shouts of the +children, deriding the magician's folly. + +The African magician stayed no longer near the palace, nor cried +any more, "New lamps for old ones!" but made the best of his way +to his khan. His end was answered; and by his silence he got rid +of the children and the mob. + +As soon as he was out of sight of the two palaces, he hastened +down the least frequented streets; and, having no more occasion +for his lamps or basket, set all down in a spot where nobody saw +him. Then going down another street or two, he walked till he +came to one of the city gates, and pursuing his way through the +suburbs, which were very extensive, at length reached a lonely +spot, where he stopped till the darkness of the night, as the most +suitable time for the design he had in contemplation. When it +became quite dark, he pulled the lamp out of his breast and rubbed +it. At that summons the genie appeared, and said, "What wouldst +thou have? I am ready to obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of +all those who have that lamp in their hands; both I and the other +slaves of the lamp." "I command thee," replied the magician, "to +transport me immediately, and the palace which thou and the other +slaves of the lamp have built in this dity, with all the people in +it, to Africa." The genie made no reply, but, with the assistance +of the other genies, the slaves of the lamp, immediately +transported him and the palace entire to the spot whither he had +been desired to convey it. + +Early the next morning when the sultan, according to custom, went +to contemplate and admire Aladdin's palace, his amazement was +unbounded to find that it could nowhere be seen. He could not +comprehend how so large a palace, which he had seen plainly every +day for some years, should vanish so soon and not leave the least +remains behind. In his perplexity he ordered the grand vizier to +be sent for with expedition. + +The grand vizier, who in secret bore no goodwill to Aladdin, +intimated his suspicion that the palace was built by magic, and +that Aladdin had made his hunting excursion an excuse for the +removal of his palace with the same suddenness with which it had +been erected. He induced the sultan to send a detachment of his +guards and to have Aladdin seized as a prisoner of state. On his +son-in-law being brought before him, he would not hear a word from +him, but ordered him to be put to death. The decree caused so much +discontent among the people, whose affection Aladdin had secured +by his largesses and charities, that the sultan, fearful of an +insurrection, was obliged to grant him his life. When Aladdin +found himself at liberty, he again addressed the sultan: "Sire, I +pray you to let me know the crime by which I have thus lost the +favor of thy countenance." "Your crime," answered the sultan, +"wretched man! do you not know it? Follow me, and I will show +you." The sultan then took Aladdin into the apartment from whence +he was wont to look at and admire his palace, and said, "You ought +to know where your palace stood. Look! mind, and tell me what has +become of it." Aladdin did so, and, being utterly amazed at the +loss of his palace, was speechless. At last, recovering himself, +he said: "It is true, I do not see the palace. It is vanished; but +I had no concern in its removal. I beg you to give me forty days, +and if in that time I cannot restore it, I will offer my head to +be disposed of at your pleasure." "I give you the time you ask, +but at the end of the forty days forget not to present yourself +before me." + +Aladdin went out of the sultan's palace in a condition of +exceeding humiliation. The lords who had courted him in the days +of his splendor now declined to have any communication with him. +For three days he wandered about the city, exciting the wonder and +compassion of the multitude, by asking everybody he met if they +had seen his palace, or could tell him anything of it. On the +third day he wandered into the country, and, as he was approaching +a river, he fell down the bank with so much violence that he +rubbed the ring which the magician had given him, so hard, by +holding on the rock to save himself, that immediately the same +genie appeared whom he had seen in the cave where the magician had +left him. "What wouldst thou have?" said the genie. "I am ready to +obey thee as thy slave, and the slave of all those that have that +ring on their finger; both I and the other slaves of the ring." + +Aladdin, agreeably surprised at an offer of help so little +expected, replied, "Genie, show me where the palace I caused to be +built now stands, or transport it back where it first stood." +"Your command," answered the genie, "is not wholly in my power; I +am only the slave of the ring, and not of the lamp." "I command +thee, then," replied Aladdin, "by the power of the ring, to +transport me to the spot where my palace stands, in what part of +the world soever it may be." These words were no sooner out of his +mouth, than the genie transported him into Africa, to the midst of +a large plain, where his palace stood, at no great distance from a +city, and, placing him exactly under the window of the princess's +apartment, left him. + +Now it so happened that shortly after Aladdin had been transported +by the slave of the ring to the neighborhood of his palace, one +of the Attendants of the Princess Buddir al Buddoor, looking +through the window, perceived him, and instantly told her +mistress. The princess, who could not believe the joyful tidings, +hastened herself to the window, and, seeing Aladdin, immediately +opened it. The noise of opening the window made Aladdin turn his +head that way, and perceiving the princess, he saluted her with an +air that expressed his joy. + +"To lose no time," said she to him, "I have sent to have the +private door opened for you. Enter, and come up." + +The private door, which was just under the princess's apartment, +was soon opened, and Aladdin conducted up into the chamber. It is +impossible to express the joy of both at seeing each other after +so cruel a separation. After embracing, and shedding tears of joy, +they sat down, and Aladdin said, "I beg of you, princess, to tell +me what is become of an old lamp which stood upon a shelf in my +robing chamber?" + +"Alas!" answered the princess, "I was afraid our misfortune might +be owing to that lamp; and What grieves me" most is, that I have +been the cause of it. I was foolish enough to change the old lamp +for a new one, and the next morning I found myself in this unknown +country, which I am told is Africa." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, interrupting her, "you have explained +all by telling me we are in Africa. I desire you only to tell me +if you know where the old lamp now is." "The African magician +carries it carefully wrapt up in his bosom," said the princess; +"and this I can assure you, because he pulled it out before me, +and showed it to me in triumph." + +"Princess," said Aladdin, "I think I have found the means to +deliver you and to regain possession of the lamp, on which all my +prosperity depends. To execute this design it is necessary for me +to go to the town. I shall return by noon, and will then tell you +what must be done by you to insure success. In the meantime I +shall disguise myself; and I beg that the private door may be +opened at the first knock." + +When Aladdin was out of the palace, he looked around him on all +sides, and perceiving a peasant going into the country, hastened +after him; and when he had overtaken him, made a proposal to him +to change clothes, which the man agreed to. When they had made the +exchange, the countryman went about his business, and Aladdin +entered the neighboring city. After traversing several streets, he +came to that part of the town where the merchants and artisans had +their particular streets according to their trades. He went into +that of the druggists, and entering one of the largest and best +furnished shops, asked the druggist if he had a certain powder, +which he named. + +The druggist, judging Aladdin by his habit to be very poor, told +him he had it, but that it was very dear. Upon which Aladdin, +penetrating his thoughts, pulled out his purse, and, showing him +some gold, asked for half a dram of the powder, which the druggist +weighed and gave him, telling him the price was a piece of gold. +Aladdin put the money into his hand, and hastened to the palace, +which he entered at once by the private door. When he came into +the princess's apartment, he said to her, "Princess, you must take +your part in the scheme which I propose for our deliverance. You +must overcome your aversion to the magician, and assume a most +friendly manner toward him, and ask him to oblige you by partaking +of an entertainment in your apartments. Before he leaves ask him +to exchange cups with you, which he, gratified at the honor you do +him, will gladly do, when you must give him the cup containing +this powder. On drinking it he will instantly fall asleep, and we +will obtain the lamp, whose slaves will do all our bidding, and +restore us and the palace to the capital of China." + +The princess obeyed to the utmost her husband's instructions. She +assumed a look of pleasure on the next visit of the magician, and +asked him to an entertainment, which he most willingly accepted. +At the close of the evening, during which the princess had tried +all she could to please him, she asked him to exchange cups with +her, and, giving the signal, had the drugged cup brought to her, +which she gave to the magician. He drank it out of compliment to +the princess to the very last drop, when he fell backward lifeless +on the sofa. + +The princess, in anticipation of the success of her scheme, had so +placed her women from the great hall to the foot of the staircase, +that the word was no sooner given that the African magician was +fallen backward, than the door was opened and Aladdin admitted to +the hall. The princess rose from her seat, and ran overjoyed to +embrace him; but he stopped her, and said, "Princess, retire to +your apartment, and let me be left alone, while I endeavor to +transport you back to China as speedily as you were brought from +thence." + +When the princess, her women, and slaves were gone out of the +hall, Aladdin shut the door, and going directly to the dead body +of the magician, opened his vest, took out the lamp, which was +carefully wrapped up, and rubbing it, the genie immediately +appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee to transport this +palace instantly to the place from whence it was brought hither." +The genie bowed his head in token of obedience, and disappeared. +Immediately the palace was transported into China, and its removal +was only felt by two little shocks, the one when it was lifted up, +the other when it was set down, and both in a very short interval +of time. + +On the morning after the restoration of Aladdin's palace, the +sultan was looking out of his window, and mourning over the fate +of his daughter, when he thought that he saw the vacancy created +by the disappearance of the palace to be again filled up. On +looking more attentively he was convinced beyond the power of +doubt that it was his son-in-law's palace. Joy and gladness +succeeded to sorrow and grief. He at once ordered a horse to be +saddled, which he mounted that instant, thinking he could not make +haste enough to the place. + +Aladdin rose that morning by daybreak, put on one of the most +magnificent habits his wardrobe afforded, and went up into the +hall of twenty-four windows, from whence he perceived the sultan +approaching, and received him at the foot of the great staircase, +helping him to dismount. + +He led the sultan into the princess's apartment. The happy father +embraced her with tears of joy; and the princess, on her side, +afforded similar testimonies of her extreme pleasure. After a +short interval devoted to mutual explanations of all that had +happened, the sultan restored Aladdin to his favor, and expressed +his regret for the apparent harshness with which he had treated +him. "My son," said he, "be not displeased at my proceedings +against you; they arose from my paternal love, and therefore you +ought to forgive the excesses to which it hurried me." "Sire," +replied Aladdin, "I have not the least reason to complain of your +conduct, since you did nothing but what your duty required. This +infamous magician, the basest of men, was the sole cause of my +misfortune." + +The African magician, who was thus twice foiled in his endeavor to +ruin Aladdin, had a younger brother, who was as skilful a magician +as himself, and exceeded him in wickedness and hatred of mankind. +By mutual agreement they communicated with each other once a year, +however widely separate might be their place of residence from +each other. The younger brother, not having received as usual his +annual communication, prepared to take a horoscope and ascertain +his brother's proceedings. He, as well as his brother, always +carried a geomantic square instrument about him; he prepared the +sand, cast the points, and drew the figures. On examining the +planetary crystal, he found that his brother was no longer living, +but had been poisoned; and by another observation, that he was in +the capital of the kingdom of China; also that the person who had +poisoned him was of mean birth, though married to a princess, a +sultan's daughter. + +When the magician had informed himself of his brother's fate, he +resolved immediately to avenge his death, and at once departed for +China; where, after crossing plains, rivers, mountains, deserts, +and a long tract of country without delay, he arrived after +incredible fatigues. When he came to the capital of China, he took +a lodging at a khan. His magic art soon revealed to him that +Aladdin was the person who had been the cause of the death of his +brother. He had heard, too, all the persons of repute in the city +talking of a woman called Fatima, who was retired from the world, +and of the miracles she wrought. As he fancied that this woman +might be serviceable to him in the project he had conceived, he +made more minute inquiries, and requested to be informed more +particularly who that holy woman was, and what sort of miracles +she performed. + +"What!" said the person whom he addressed, "have you never seen or +heard of her? She is the admiration of the whole town, for her +fasting, her austerities, and her exemplary life. Except Mondays +and Fridays, she never stirs out of her little cell; and on those +days on which she comes into the town she does an infinite deal of +good; for there is not a person who is diseased but she puts her +hand on them and cures them." + +Having ascertained the place where the hermitage of the holy woman +was, the magician went at night, and, plunging a poniard into her +heart--killed this good woman. In the morning he dyed his face of +the same hue as hers, and arraying himself in her garb, taking her +veil, the large necklace she wore round her waist, and her stick, +went straight to the palace of Aladdin. + +As soon as the people saw the holy woman, as they imagined him to +be, they presently gathered about him in a great crowd. Some +begged his blessing, some kissed his hand, and others, more +reserved, only the hem of his garment; while others, suffering +from disease, stooped for him to lay his hands upon them, which he +did, muttering some words in form of prayer, and, in short, +counterfeiting so well that everybody took him for the holy woman. +He came at last to the square before Aladdin's palace. The crowd +and the noise was so great that the princess, who was in the hall +of four-and-twenty windows, heard it, and asked what was the +matter. One of her women told her it was a great crowd of people +collected about the holy woman to be cured of diseases by the +imposition of her hands. + +The princess, who had long heard of this holy woman, but had never +seen her, was very desirous to have some conversation with her; +which the chief officer perceiving, told her it was an easy matter +to bring her to her, if she desired and commanded it; and the +princess, expressing her wishes, he immediately sent four slaves +for the pretended holy woman. + +As soon as the crowd saw the attendants from the palace, they made +way; and the magician, perceiving also that they were coming for +him, advanced to meet them, overjoyed to find his plot succeed so +well. "Holy woman," said one of the slaves, "the princess wants to +see you, and has sent us for you." "The princess does me too great +an honor," replied the false Fatima; "I am ready to obey her +command," and at the same time followed the slaves to the palace. + +When the pretended Fatima had made her obeisance, the princess +said, "My good mother, I have one thing to request, which you must +not refuse me: it is, to stay with me, that you may edify me with +your way of living, and that I may learn from your good example." +"Princess," said the counterfeit Fatima, "I beg of you not to ask +what I cannot consent to without neglecting my prayers and +devotion." "That shall be no hindrance to you," answered the +princess; "I have a great many apartments unoccupied; you shall +choose which you like best, and have as much liberty to perform +your devotions as if you were in your own cell." + +The magician, who really desired nothing more than to introduce +himself into the palace, where it would be a much easier matter +for him to execute his designs, did not long excuse himself from +accepting the obliging offer which the princess made him. +"Princess," said he, "whatever resolution a poor wretched woman as +I am may have made to renounce the pomp and grandeur of this +world, I dare not presume to oppose the will and commands of so +pious and charitable a princess." + +Upon this the princess, rising up, said, "Come with me; I will +show you what vacant apartments I have, that you may make choice +of that you like best." The magician followed the princess, and of +all the apartments she showed him made choice of that which was +the worst, saying that it was too good for him, and that he only +accepted it to please her. + +Afterward, the princess would have brought him back again into the +great hall to make him dine with her; but he, considering that he +should then be obliged to show his face, which he had always taken +care to conceal with Fatima's veil, and fearing that the princess +should find out that he was not Fatima, begged of her earnestly to +excuse him, telling her that he never ate anything but bread and +dried fruits, and desiring to eat that slight repast in his own +apartment. The princess granted his request, saying, "You may be +as free here, good mother, as if you were in your own cell: I will +order you a dinner, but remember I expect you as soon as you have +finished your repast." + +After the princess had dined, and the false Fatima had been sent +for by one of the attendants, he again waited upon her. + +"My good mother," said the princess, "I am overjoyed to see so +holy a woman as yourself, who will confer a blessing upon this +palace. But now I am speaking of the palace, pray how do you like +it? And before I show it all to you, tell me first what you think +of this hall." + +Upon this question the counterfeit Fatima surveyed the hall from +one end to the other. When he had examined it well, he said to the +princess, "As far as such a solitary being as I am, who am +unacquainted with what the world calls beautiful, can judge, this +hall is truly admirable; there wants but one thing." "What is +that, good mother?" demanded the princess; "tell me, I conjure +you. For my part, I always believed, and have heard say, it wanted +nothing; but if it does, it shall be supplied." + +"Princess," said the false Fatima, with great dissimulation, +"forgive me the liberty I have taken; but my opinion is, if it can +be of any importance, that if a roc's egg were hung up in the +middle of the dome, this hall would have no parallel in the four +quarters of the world, and your palace would be the wonder of the +universe." + +"My good mother," said the princess, "what is a roc, and where may +one get an egg?" "Princess," replied the pretended Fatima, "it is +a bird of prodigious size, which inhabits the summit of Mount +Caucasus; the architect who built your palace can get you one." + +After the princess had thanked the false Fatima for what she +believed her good advice, she conversed with her upon other +matters; but could not forget the roc's egg, which she resolved to +request of Aladdin when next he should visit her apartments. He +did so in the course of that evening, and shortly after he +entered, the princess thus addressed him: "I always believed that +our palace was the most superb, magnificent, and complete in the +world: but I will tell you now what it wants, and that is a roc's +egg hung up in the midst of the dome." "Princess," replied +Aladdin, "it is enough that you think it wants such an ornament; +you shall see by the diligence which I use in obtaining it, that +there is nothing which I would not do for your sake." + +Aladdin left the Princess Buddir al Buddoor that moment, and went +up into the hall of four-and-twenty windows, where, pulling out of +his bosom the lamp, which after the danger he had been exposed to +he always carried about him, he rubbed it; upon which the genie +immediately appeared. "Genie," said Aladdin, "I command thee in +the name of this lamp, bring a roc's egg to be hung up in the +middle of the dome of the hall of the palace." + +Aladdin had no sooner pronounced these words than the hall shook +as if ready to fall; and the genie said in a loud and terrible +voice, "Is it not enough that I and the other slaves of the lamp +have done everything for you, but you, by an unheard of +ingratitude, must command me to bring my master, and hang him up +in the midst of this dome? This attempt deserves that you, the +princess, and the palace, should be immediately reduced to ashes; +but you are spared because this request does not come from +yourself. Its true author is the brother of the African magician, +your enemy, whom you have destroyed. He is now in your palace, +disguised in the habit of the holy woman Fatima, whom he has +murdered; at his suggestion your wife makes this pernicious +demand. His design is to kill you, therefore take care of +yourself." After these words the genie disappeared. + +Aladdin resolved at once what to do. He returned to the princess's +apartment, and, without mentioning a word of what had happened, +sat down, and complained of a great pain which had suddenly +seized his head. On hearing this the princess told him how she had +invited the holy Fatima to stay with her, and that she was now in +the palace; and at the request of the prince, ordered her to be +summoned to her at once. + +When the pretended Fatima came, Aladdin said, "Come hither, good +mother; I am glad to see you here at so fortunate a time. I am +tormented with a violent pain in my head, and request your +assistance, and hope you will not refuse me that cure which you +impart to afflicted persons." + +So saying, he rose, but held down his head. The counterfeit Fatima +advanced toward him, with his hand all the time on a dagger +concealed in his girdle under his gown; which Aladdin observing, +he snatched the weapon from his hand, pierced him to the heart +with his own dagger, and then pushed him down on the floor. + +"My dear prince, what have you done?" cried the princess in +surprise. "You have killed the holy woman!" "No, my princess," +answered Aladdin with emotion, "I have not killed Fatima, but a +villain, who would have assassinated me if I had not prevented +him. This wicked man," added he, uncovering his face, "is the +brother of the magician who attempted our ruin. He has strangled +the true Fatima, and disguised himself in her clothes with intent +to murder me." + +Aladdin then informed her how the genie had told him these facts, +and how narrowly she and the palace had escaped destruction +through his treacherous suggestion which had led to her request. + +Thus was Aladdin delivered from the persecution of the two +brothers, who were magicians. Within a few years afterward the +sultan died in a good old age, and as he left no male children, +the Princess Buddir al Buddoor succeeded him, and she and Aladdin +reigned together many years, and left a numerous and illustrious +posterity. + + + + +SINDBAD THE SAILOR + + +In the reign of the same caliph, Haroun-al-Raschid, of whom we +have already heard, there lived at Bagdad a poor porter called +Hindbad. One day, when the weather was excessively hot, he was +employed to carry a heavy burden from one end of the town to the +other. Being much fatigued, he took off his load, and sat upon it, +near a large mansion. + +He was much pleased that he stopped at this place; for the +agreeable smell of wood of aloes and of pastils that came from the +house, mixing with the scent of the rose-water, completely +perfumed and embalmed the air. Besides, he heard from within a +concert of instrumental music, accompanied with the harmonious +notes of nightingales and other birds. This charming melody, and +the smell of several sorts of savory dishes, made the porter +conclude there was a feast with great rejoicings within. He went +to some of the servants, whom he saw standing at the gate in +magnificent apparel, and asked the name of the proprietor. "How," +replied one of them, "do you live in Bagdad, and know not that +this is the house of Sindbad the Sailor, that famous voyager who +has sailed round the world?" The porter lifted up his eyes to +heaven, and said, loud enough to be heard, "Almighty Creator of +all things, consider the difference between Sindbad and me! I am +every day exposed to fatigues and calamities, and can scarcely get +coarse barley-bread for myself and my family, while happy Sindbad +expends immense riches, and leads a life of continual pleasure. +What has he done to obtain from Thee a lot so agreeable? And what +have I done to deserve one so wretched?" + +While the porter was thus indulging his melancholy, a servant came +out of the house, and taking him by the arm, bade him follow him, +for Sindbad, his master, wanted to speak to him. The servants +brought him into a great hall, where a number of people sat round +a table, covered with all sorts of savory dishes. At the upper end +sat a comely, venerable gentleman, with a long white beard, and +behind him stood a number of officers and domestics, all ready to +attend his pleasure. This person was Sindbad. Hindbad, whose fear +was increased at the sight of so many people, and of a banquet so +sumptuous, saluted the company trembling. Sindbad bade him draw +near, and seating him at his right hand, served him himself, and +gave him excellent wine, of which there was abundance upon the +sideboard. + +Now, Sindbad had heard the porter complain through the window, and +this it was that induced him to have him brought in. When the +repast was over, Sindbad addressed his conversation to Hindbad, +and inquired his name and employment, and said: "I wish to hear +from your own mouth what it was you lately said in the street." + +At this request Hindbad hung down his head in confusion, and +replied: "My lord, I confess that my fatigue put me out of humor, +and occasioned me to utter some indiscreet words, which I beg you +to pardon." "Do not think I am so unjust," resumed Sindbad, "as to +resent such a complaint. But I must correct your error concerning +myself. You think, no doubt, that I have acquired without labor +and trouble the ease and indulgence which I now enjoy. But do not +mistake; I did not attain to this happy condition without enduring +for several years more trouble of body and mind than can well be +imagined. Yes, gentlemen," he added, speaking to the whole +company, "I assure you that my sufferings have been of a nature so +extraordinary as would deprive the greatest miser of his love of +riches; and as an opportunity now offers, I will, with your leave, +relate the dangers I have encountered, which I think will not be +uninteresting to you." + + + + +THE FIRST VOYAGE + + +My father was a rich merchant. He bequeathed me a large estate, +which I wasted in riotous living. I quickly, perceived that I was +misspending my time, which is of all things the most valuable. I +remembered the saying of the great Solomon, which I had frequently +heard from my father, "A good name is better than precious +ointment"; and again, "Wisdom is good with an inheritance." I +resolved to walk in my father's ways, and I entered into a +contract with some merchants, and embarked with them on board a +ship we had fitted out in partnership. + +We set sail, and steered our course toward the Indies, through the +Persian Gulf. At first I was troubled with sea-sickness, but +speedily recovered my health. In our voyage we touched at several +islands, where we sold or exchanged our goods. One day we were +becalmed near a small island, but little elevated above the level +of the water, and resembling a green meadow. The captain ordered +his sails to be furled, and permitted such persons as were so +inclined to land. While we were enjoying ourselves eating and +drinking, and recovering from the fatigue of the sea, the island +of a sudden trembled and shook us terribly. + +The trembling of the island was noticed on board ship, and we were +called upon to re-embark speedily, lest we should all be lost; for +what we took for an island proved to be the back of a sea monster. + +The nimblest got into the sloop, others betook themselves to +swimming; but as for myself, I was still upon the island when it +disappeared into the sea, and I had only time to catch hold of a +piece of wood that we had brought out of the ship to make a fire. +Meanwhile, the captain, having received on board those who were in +the sloop, and taken up some of those that swam, resolved to take +advantage of the favorable gale that had just risen, and, hoisting +his sails, pursued his voyage. + +Thus was I exposed to the mercy of the waves the rest of that day +and the following night. By this time I found my strength gone, +and despaired of saving my life, when happily a wave threw me on +an island. The bank was high and rugged, so that I could scarcely +have got up had it not been for some roots of trees which I found +within reach. When the sun arose I was very feeble. I found some +herbs fit to eat, and had the good luck to discover a spring of +excellent water. After this I advanced further into the island, +and at last reached a fine plain, where I perceived some horses +feeding. On my way toward them I heard the voice of a man, who +asked me who I was. I related to him my adventure, after which, +taking me by the hand, he led me into a cave, where there were +several other people, no less amazed to see me than I was to see +them. + +I partook of some provisions which they offered me, and asked them +what they did in such a desert place; to which they answered that +they were grooms belonging to the sovereign of the island, and +that every year they brought thither the king's horses for +pasturage. They were to return home on the morrow, and had I been +one day later I must have perished, because the inhabited part of +the island was a great distance off, and it would have been +impossible for me to have reached it without a guide. + +Next morning they returned to the capital of the island, took me +with them, and presented me to their king. He asked me who I was, +and by what adventure I had come into his dominions. After I had +satisfied him, he ordered that I should want for nothing. + +Being a merchant, I frequented men of my own profession, and +particularly inquired for those who were strangers, that perchance +I might hear news from Bagdad, or find an opportunity to return. +For the Maharaja's capital is situated on the sea-coast, and has +a fine harbor, where ships arrive daily from the different +quarters of the world. I frequented also the society of the +learned Indians, and took delight to hear them converse; but +withal, I took care to make my court regularly to the Maharaja, +and conversed with the governors and petty kings, his tributaries, +that were about him. They put a thousand questions respecting my +country; and I, being willing to inform myself as to their laws +and customs, asked them concerning everything which I thought +worth knowing. + +There belongs to this king an island named Cassel. + +They assured me that every night a noise of drums was heard there, +whence the mariners fancied that it was the residence of Degial. I +determined to visit this wonderful place, and in my way thither +saw fishes of 100 and 200 cubits long that occasion more fear than +hurt; for they are so timorous that they will fly upon the +rattling of two sticks or boards. I saw likewise other fish about +a cubit in length, that had heads like owls. + +As I was one day at the port after my return, the ship arrived in +which I had embarked at Bussorah. I at once knew the captain, and +I went and asked him for my bales. "I am Sindbad," said I, "and +those bales marked with his name are mine." + +When the captain heard me speak thus, "Heavens!" he exclaimed, +"whom can we trust in these times? I saw Sindbad perish with my +own eyes, as did also the passengers on board, and yet you tell me +you are that Sindbad. What impudence is this! and what a false +tale to tell, in order to possess yourself of what does not belong +to you!" "Have patience," replied I; "do me the favor to hear what +I have to say." The captain was at length persuaded that I was no +cheat; for there came people from his ship who knew me, paid me +great compliments, and expressed much joy at seeing me alive. At +last he recollected me himself, and embracing me, "Heaven be +praised," said he, "for your happy escape! I cannot express the +joy it affords me. There are your goods; take and do with them as +you please." + +I took out what was most valuable in my bales, and presented them +to the Maharaja, who, knowing my misfortune, asked me how I came +by such rarities. I acquainted him with the circumstance of their +recovery. He was pleased at my good luck, accepted my present, and +in return gave me one much more considerable. Upon this I took +leave of him, and went aboard the same ship, after I had exchanged +my goods for the commodities of that country. I carried with me +wood of aloes, sandals, camphire, nutmegs, cloves, pepper, and +ginger. We passed by several islands, and at last arrived at +Bussorah, from whence I came to this city, with the value of +100,000 sequins. + +Sindbad stopped here, and ordered the musicians to proceed with +their concert, which the story had interrupted. When it was +evening, Sindbad sent for a purse of 100 sequins, and giving it to +the porter, said, "Take this, Hindbad, return to your home, and +come back to-morrow to hear more of my adventures." The porter +went away, astonished at the honor done him and the present made +him. The account of this adventure proved very agreeable to his +wife and children, who did not fail to return thanks for what +Providence had sent them by the hand of Sindbad. + +Hindbad put on his best robe next day, and returned to the +bountiful traveller, who received him with a pleasant air, and +welcomed him heartily. When all the guests had arrived, dinner was +served, and continued a long time. When it was ended, Sindbad, +addressing himself to the company, said, "Gentlemen, be pleased to +listen to the adventures of my second voyage. They deserve your +attention even more than those of the first." Upon which every one +held his peace, and Sindbad proceeded. + + + + +THE SECOND VOYAGE + + +I designed, after my first voyage, to spend the rest of my days at +Bagdad, but it was not long ere I grew weary of an indolent life, +and I put to sea a second time, with merchants of known probity. +We embarked on board a good ship, and, after recommending +ourselves to God, set sail. We traded from island to island, and +exchanged commodities with great profit. One day we landed on an +island covered with several sorts of fruit-trees, but we could see +neither man nor animal We walked in the meadows, along the streams +that watered them. While some diverted themselves with gathering +flowers, and others fruits, I took my wine and provisions, and sat +down near a stream between two high trees, which formed a thick +shade. I made a good meal, and afterward fell asleep. I cannot +tell how long I slept, but when I awoke the ship was gone. + +In this sad condition, I was ready to die with grief. + +I cried out in agony, beat my head and breast, and threw myself +upon the ground, where I lay some time in despair. I upbraided +myself a hundred times for not being content with the produce of +my first voyage, that might have sufficed me all my life. But all +this was in vain, and my repentance came too late. At last I +resigned myself to the will of God. Not knowing what to do, I +climbed up to the top of a lofty tree, from which I looked about +on all sides, to see if I could discover anything that could give +me hopes. When I gazed toward the sea I could see nothing but sky +and water; but looking over the land I beheld something white; and +coming down, I took what provision I had left, and went toward it, +the distance being so great that I could not distinguish what it +was. + +As I approached, I thought it to be a white dome, of a prodigious +height and extent; and when I came up to it, I touched it, and +found it to be very smooth. I went round to see if it was open on +any side, but saw it was not, and that there was no climbing up to +the top, as it was so smooth. It was at least fifty paces round. + +By this time the sun was about to set, and all of a sudden the sky +became as dark as if it had been covered with a thick cloud. I was +much astonished at this sudden darkness, but much more when I +found it occasioned by a bird of a monstrous size, that came +flying toward me. I remembered that I had often heard mariners +speak of a miraculous bird called the roc, and conceived that the +great dome which I so much admired must be its egg. In short, the +bird alighted, and sat over the egg. As I perceived her coming, I +crept close to the egg, so that I had before me one of the legs of +the bird, which was as big as the trunk of a tree. I tied myself +strongly to it with my turban, in hopes that the roc next morning +would carry me with her out of this desert island. After having +passed the night in this condition, the bird flew away as soon as +it was daylight, and carried me so high that I could not discern +the earth; she afterward descended with so much rapidity that I +lost my senses. But when I found myself on the ground, I speedily +untied the knot, and had scarcely done so, when the roc, having +taken up a serpent of monstrous length in her bill, flew away. + +The spot where it left me was encompassed on all sides by +mountains, that seemed to reach above the clouds, and so steep +that there was no possibility of getting out of the valley. This +was a new perplexity; so that when I compared this place with the +desert island from which the roc had brought me, I found that I +had gained nothing by the change. + +As I walked through this valley, I perceived it was strewn with +diamonds, some of which were of a surprising bigness. I took +pleasure in looking upon them; but shortly saw at a distance such +objects as greatly diminished my satisfaction, and which I could +not view without terror, namely, a great number of serpents, so +monstrous that the least of them was capable of swallowing an +elephant. They retired in the daytime to their dens, where they +hid themselves from the roc, their enemy, and came out only in the +night. + +I spent the day in walking about in the valley, resting myself at +times in such places as I thought most convenient. When night came +on I went into a cave, where I thought I might repose in safety. I +secured the entrance, which was low and narrow, with a great +stone, to preserve me from the serpents, but not so far as to +exclude the light. I supped on part of my provisions, but the +serpents, which began hissing round me, put me into such extreme +fear that I did not sleep. When day appeared the serpents retired, +and I came out of the cave trembling. I can justly say that I +walked upon diamonds, without feeling any inclination to touch +them. At last I sat down, and notwithstanding my apprehensions, +not having closed my eyes during the night, fell asleep, after +having eaten a little more of my provisions. But I had scarcely +shut my eyes when something that fell by me with a great noise +awaked me. This was a large piece of raw meat; and at the same +time I saw several others fall down from the rocks in different +places. I had always regarded as fabulous what I had heard sailors +and others relate of the valley of diamonds, and of the stratagems +employed by merchants to obtain jewels from thence; but now I +found that they had stated nothing but the truth. For the fact is, +that the merchants come to the neighborhood of this valley, when +the eagles have young ones, and throwing great joints of meat into +the valley, the diamonds, upon whose points they fall, stick to +them; the eagles, which are stronger in this country than anywhere +else, pounce with great force upon those pieces of meat and carry +them to their nests on the precipices of the rocks to feed their +young: the merchants at this time run to their nests, disturb and +drive off the eagles by their shouts, and take away the diamonds +that stick to the meat. + +I perceived in this device the means of my deliverance. + +Having collected together the largest diamonds I could find, and +put them into the leather bag in which I used to carry my +provisions, I took the largest of the pieces of meat, tied it +close round me with the cloth of my turban, and then laid myself +upon the ground, with my face downward, the bag of diamonds being +made fast to my girdle. + +I had scarcely placed myself in this posture when one of the +eagles, having taken me up with the piece of meat to which I was +fastened, carried me to his nest on the top of the mountain. The +merchants immediately began their shouting to frighten the eagles; +and when they had obliged them to quit their prey, one of them +came to the nest where I was. He was much alarmed when he saw me; +but recovering himself, instead of inquiring how I came thither, +began to quarrel with me, and asked why I stole his goods. "You +will treat me," replied I, "with more civility, when you know me +better. Do not be uneasy; I have diamonds enough for you and +myself, more than all the other merchants together. Whatever they +have they owe to chance; but I selected for myself, in the bottom +of the valley, those which you see in this bag." I had scarcely +done speaking, when the other merchants came crowding about us, +much astonished to see me; but they were much more surprised when +I told them my story. + +They conducted me to their encampment; and there, having opened my +bag, they were surprised at the largeness of my diamonds, and +confessed that they had never seen any of such size and +perfection. I prayed the merchant who owned the nest to which I +had been carried (for every merchant had his own), to take as many +for his share as he pleased. He contented himself with one, and +that, too, the least of them; and when I pressed him to take more, +without fear of doing me any injury, "No," said he, "I am very +well satisfied with this, which is valuable enough to save me the +trouble of making any more voyages, and will raise as great a +fortune as I desire." + +I spent the night with the merchants, to whom I related my story a +second time, for the satisfaction of those who had not heard it. I +could not moderate my joy when I found myself delivered from the +danger I have mentioned. I thought myself in a dream, and could +scarcely believe myself out of danger. + +The merchants had thrown their pieces of meat into the valley for +several days; and each of them being satisfied with the diamonds +that had fallen to his lot, we left the place the next morning, +and travelled near high mountains, where there were serpents of a +prodigious length, which we had the good-fortune to escape. We +took shipping at the first port we reached, and touched at the +isle of Roha, where the trees grow that yield camphire. This tree +is so large, and its branches so thick, that one hundred men may +easily sit under its shade. The juice of which the camphire is +made exudes from a hole bored in the upper part of the tree, is +received in a vessel, where it thickens to a consistency, and +becomes what we call camphire. After the juice is thus drawn out +the tree withers and dies. + +In this island is also found the rhinoceros, an animal less than +the elephant, but larger than the buffalo. + +It has a horn upon its nose, about a cubit in length; this horn is +solid, and cleft through the middle. The rhinoceros fights with +the elephant, runs his horn into his belly, and carries him off +upon his head; but the blood and the fat of the elephant running +into his eyes and making him blind, he falls to the ground; and +then, strange to relate, the roc comes and carries them both away +in her claws for food for her young ones. + +I pass over many other things peculiar to this island, lest I +should weary you. Here I exchanged some of my diamonds for +merchandise. + +From hence we went to other islands, and at last, having touched +at several trading towns of the continent, we landed at Bussorah, +from whence I proceeded to Bagdad. There I immediately gave large +presents to the poor, and lived honorably upon the vast riches I +had bought and gained with so much fatigue. + +Thus Sindbad ended the relation of the second voyage, gave Hindbad +another hundred sequins, and invited him to come the next day to +hear the account of the third. + + + + +THE THIRD VOYAGE + + +I soon again grew weary of living a life of idleness, and +hardening myself against the thought of any danger, I embarked +with some merchants on another long voyage. We touched at several +ports, where we traded. One day we were overtaken by a dreadful +tempest, which drove us from our course. + +The storm continued several days, and brought us before the port +of an island, which the captain was very unwilling to enter; but +we were obliged to cast anchor. When we had furled our sails, the +captain told us that this and some other neighboring islands were +inhabited by hairy savages, who would speedily attack us; and +though they were but dwarfs, yet that we must make no resistance, +for they were more in number than the locusts; and if we happened +to kill one, they would all fall upon us and destroy us. + +We soon found that what the captain had told us was but too true. +An innumerable multitude of frightful savages, about two feet +high, covered all over with red hair, came swimming toward us and +encompassed our ship. They chattered as they came near, but we +understood not their language. They climbed up the sides of the +ship with such agility as surprised us. They took down our sails, +cut the cable, and, hauling to the shore, made us all get out, and +afterward carried the ship into another island, whence they had +come. As we advanced, we perceived at a distance a vast pile of +building, and made toward it. We found it to be a palace, +elegantly built, and very lofty, with a gate of ebony of two +leaves, which we opened. We saw before us a large apartment, with +a porch, having on one side a heap of human bones, and on the +other a vast number of roasting-spits. We trembled at this +spectacle, and were seized with deadly apprehension, when suddenly +the gate of the apartment opened with a loud crash, and there came +out the horrible figure of a black man, as tall as a lofty palm- +tree. He had but one eye, and that in the middle of his forehead, +where it blazed bright as a burning coal. His fore teeth were very +long and sharp, and stood out of his mouth, which was as deep as +that of a horse. His upper lip hung down upon his breast. His ears +resembled those of an elephant, and covered his shoulders; and his +nails were as long and crooked as the talons of the greatest +birds. + +At the sight of so frightful a genie, we became insensible, and +lay like dead men. + +At last we came to ourselves, and saw him sitting in the porch +looking at us. When he had considered us well, he advanced toward +us, and laying his hand upon me, took me up by the nape of my +neck, and turned me round, as a butcher would do a sheep's head. +After having examined me, and perceiving me to be so lean that I +had nothing but skin and bone, he let me go. He took up all the +rest one by one, and viewed them in the same manner. The captain +being the fattest, he held him with one hand, as I would do a +sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a great +fire, roasted, and ate him in his apartment for his supper. Having +finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he lay and +fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till +morning. As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any +rest, so that we passed the night in the most painful apprehension +that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, got up, +went out, and left us in the palace. + +The next night we determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish +giant, and did so in the following manner. After he had again +finished his inhuman supper on another of our seamen, he lay down +on his back, and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore +according to his custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, +took each of us a spit, and putting the points of them into his +fire till they were burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all +at once, and blinded him. The pain made him break out into a +frightful yell: he started up, and stretched out his hands, in +order to sacrifice I some of us to his rage; but we ran to such +places as he could not reach; and after having sought for us in +vain, he groped for the gate, and went out, howling in agony. + +We immediately left the palace, and came to the shore, where we +made some rafts, each large enough to carry three men, with some +timber that lay about in great quantities. We waited till day in +order to get upon them, for we hoped if the giant did not appear +by sunrising, and give over his howling, which we still heard, +that he would prove to be dead; and if that happened to be the +case, we resolved to stay in that island, and not to risk our +lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely appeared when we +perceived our cruel enemy, accompanied by two others, almost of +the same size, leading him; and a great number more coming before +him at a quick pace. + +We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all +the speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great +stones, and, running to the shore, entered the water up to the +middle, and threw so exactly that they sunk all the rafts but that +I was upon; and all my companions except the two with me, were +drowned. We rowed with all our might, and got out of the reach of +the giants. But when we got out to sea, we were exposed to the +mercy of the waves and winds, and spent that day and the following +night under the most painful uncertainty as to our fate; but next +morning we had the good fortune to be thrown upon an island, where +we landed with much joy. We found excellent fruit, which afforded +us great relief, and recruited our strength. + +At night we went to sleep on the sea-shore; but were awakened by +the noise of a serpent of surprising length and thickness, whose +scales made a rustling noise as he wound himself along. It +swallowed up one of my comrades, notwithstanding his loud cries, +and the efforts he made to extricate himself from it; dashing him +several times against the ground, it crushed him, and we could +hear it gnaw and tear the poor fellow's bones, though we had fled +to a considerable distance. The following day, to our great +terror, we saw the serpent again, when I exclaimed, "O Heaven, to +what dangers are we exposed! We rejoiced yesterday at having +escaped from the cruelty of a giant and the rage of the waves, now +are we fallen into another danger equally dreadful." + +As we walked about we saw a large, tall tree, upon which we +designed to pass the following night for our security; and having +satisfied our hunger with fruit, we mounted it accordingly. +Shortly after the serpent came hissing to the foot of the tree; +raised itself up against the trunk of it, and meeting with my +comrade, who sat lower than I, swallowed him at once, and went +off. + +I remained upon the tree till it was day, and then came down, more +like a dead man than one alive, expecting the same fate with my +two companions. This filled me with horror, and I advanced some +steps to throw myself into the sea; but I withstood this dictate +of despair, and submitted myself to the will of God, who disposes +of our lives at His pleasure. + +In the meantime I collected together a great quantity of small +wood, brambles, and dry thorns, and making them up into fagots, +made a wide circle with them round the tree, and also tied some of +them to the branches over my head. Having done this, when the +evening came, I shut myself up within this circle, with the +melancholy satisfaction that I had neglected nothing which could +preserve me from the cruel destiny with which I was threatened. +The serpent failed not to come at the usual hour, and went round +the tree seeking for an opportunity to devour me, but was +prevented by the rampart I had made; so that he lay till day, like +a cat watching in vain for a mouse that has fortunately reached a +place of safety. + +When day appeared he retired, but I dared not leave my fort until +the sun arose. + +God took compassion on my hopeless state; for just as I was going, +in a fit of desperation, to throw myself into the sea, I perceived +a ship in the distance. I called as loud as I could, and, +unfolding the linen of my turban, displayed it that they might +observe me. This had the desired effect; the crew perceived me, +and the captain sent his boat for me. As soon as I came on board, +the merchants and seamen flocked about me to know how I came into +that desert island; and after I had related to them all that had +befallen me, the oldest among them said they had several times +heard of the giants that dwelt in that island, that they were +cannibals; and as to the serpents, they added that there were +abundance in the island; that they hid themselves by day and came +abroad by night. After having testified their joy at my escaping +so many dangers, they brought me the best of their provisions; and +took me before the captain, who, seeing that I was in rags, gave +me one of his own suits. Looking steadfastly upon him, I knew him +to be the person who, in my second voyage, had left me in the +island where I fell asleep, and sailed without me, or sending to +seek for me. + +I was not surprised that he, believing me to be dead, did not +recognize me. + +"Captain," said I, "look at me, and you may know that I am +Sindbad, whom you left in that desert island." + +The captain having considered me attentively recognized me. + +"God be praised!" said he, embracing me; "I rejoice that fortune +has rectified my fault. There are your goods, which I always took +care to preserve." + +I took them from him, and made him my acknowledgments for his care +of them. + +We continued at sea for some time, touched at several islands, and +at last landed at that of Salabat, where sandal-wood is obtained, +which is much used in medicine. + +From the isle of Salabat we went to another, where I furnished +myself with cloves, cinnamon, and other spices. As we sailed from +this island we saw a tortoise twenty cubits in length and breadth. +We observed also an amphibious animal like a cow, which gave milk; +its skin is so hard that they usually make bucklers of it. I saw +another, which had the shape and color of a camel. + +In short, after a long voyage, I arrived at Bussorah, and thence +returned to Bagdad with so much wealth that I knew not its extent. +I gave a great deal to the poor, and bought another considerable +estate in addition to what I had already. + +Thus Sindbad finished the story of his third voyage. He gave +another hundred sequins to Hindbad, and invited him to dinner +again the next day to hear. + + + + +THE FOURTH VOYAGE + + +After I had rested from the dangers of my third voyage, my passion +for trade and my love of novelty soon again prevailed. I therefore +settled my affairs, and provided a stock of goods fit for the +traffic I designed to engage in. I took the route of Persia, +travelled over several provinces, and then arrived at a port, +where I embarked. On putting out to sea, we were overtaken by such +a sudden gust of wind as obliged the captain to lower his yards +and take all other necessary precautions to prevent the danger +that threatened us. But all was in vain; our endeavors had no +effect; the sails were split into a thousand pieces, and the ship +was stranded; several of the merchants and seamen were drowned, +and the cargo was lost. + +I had the good fortune, with several of the merchants and +mariners, to get upon some planks, and we were carried by the +current to an island which lay before us. There we found fruit and +spring water, which preserved our lives. We stayed all night near +the place where we had been cast ashore. + +Next morning, as soon as the sun was up, we explored the island, +and saw some houses, which we approached. As soon as we drew near, +we were encompassed by a great number of negroes, who seized us, +shared us among them, and carried us to their respective +habitations. + +I and five of my comrades were carried to one place; here they +made us sit down, and gave us a certain herb, which they made +signs to us to eat. My comrades not taking notice that the blacks +ate none of it themselves, thought only of satisfying their +hunger, and ate with greediness. But I, suspecting some trick, +would not so much as taste it, which happened well for me; for in +a little time after I perceived my companions had lost their +senses, and that when they spoke to me they knew not what they +said. + +The negroes fed us afterward with rice, prepared with oil of +cocoanuts; and my comrades, who had lost their reason, ate of it +greedily. I also partook of it, but very sparingly. They gave us +that herb at first on purpose to deprive us of our senses, that we +might not be aware of the sad destiny prepared for us; and they +supplied us with rice to fatten us; for, being cannibals, their +design was to eat us as soon as we grew fat. This accordingly +happened, for they devoured my comrades, who were not sensible of +their condition; but my senses being entire, you may easily guess +that instead of growing fat, as the rest did, I grew leaner every +day. The fear of death under which I labored turned all my food +into poison. I fell into a languishing distemper, which proved my +safety; for the negroes, having killed and eaten my companions, +seeing me to be withered, lean and sick, deferred my death. + +Meanwhile I had much liberty, so that scarcely any notice was +taken of what I did, and this gave me an opportunity one day to +get at a distance from the houses and to make my escape. An old +man who saw me, and suspected my design, called to me as loud as +he could to return; but instead of obeying him I redoubled my +speed, and quickly got out of sight. At that time there was none +but the old man about the houses, the rest being abroad, and not +to return till night, which was usual with them. Therefore, being +sure that they could not arrive in time to pursue me, I went on +till night, when I stopped to rest a little, and to eat some of +the provisions I had secured; but I speedily set forward again, +and travelled seven days, avoiding those places which seemed to be +inhabited, and lived for the most part upon cocoanuts, which +served me both for meat and drink. On the eighth day I came near +the sea, and saw some white people like myself gathering pepper, +of which there was great plenty in that place. This I took to be a +good omen, and went to them without any scruple. + +The people who gathered pepper came to meet me as soon as they saw +me, and asked me in Arabic who I was, and whence I came. I was +overjoyed to hear them speak in my own language, and satisfied +their curiosity by giving them an account of my shipwreck, and how +I fell into the hands of the negroes. "Those negroes," replied +they, "eat men; and by what miracle did you escape their +cruelty?" I related to them the circumstances I have just +mentioned, at which they were wonderfully surprised. + +I stayed with them till they had gathered their quantity of +pepper, and then sailed with them to the island from whence they +had come. They presented me to their king, who was a good prince. +He had the patience to hear the relation of my adventures, which +surprised him, and he afterward gave me clothes, and commanded +care to be taken of me. + +The island was very well peopled, plentiful in everything, and the +capital a place of great trade. This agreeable retreat was very +comfortable to me after my misfortunes, and the kindness of this +generous prince completed my satisfaction. In a word, there was +not a person more in favor with him than myself, and consequently +every man in court and city sought to oblige me, so that in a very +little time I was looked upon rather as a native than a stranger. + +I observed one thing, which to me appeared very extraordinary. All +the people, the king himself not excepted, rode their horses +without bridle or stirrups. I went one day to a workman, and gave +him a model for making the stock of a saddle. When that was done, +I covered it myself with velvet and leather, and embroidered it +with gold. I afterward went to a smith, who made me a bit, +according to the pattern I showed him, and also some stirrups. +When I had all things completed, I presented them to the king, and +put them upon one of his horses. His majesty mounted immediately, +and was so pleased with them that he testified his satisfaction by +large presents. + +I made several others for the ministers and principal officers of +his household, which gained me great reputation and regard. + +As I paid my court very constantly to the king, he said to me one +day, "Sindbad, I love thee, I have one thing to demand of thee, +which thou must grant. I have a mind thou shouldst marry, that so +thou mayst stay in my dominions, and think no more of thy own +country." I durst not resist the prince's will, and he gave me one +of the ladies of his court, noble, beautiful, and rich. The +ceremonies of marriage being over, I went and dwelt with my wife +and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was not, +however, satisfied with my banishment; therefore designed to make +my escape the first opportunity, and to return to Bagdad, which my +present settlement, how advantageous soever, could not make me +forget. + +At this time the wife of one of my neighbors, with whom I had +contracted a very strict friendship, fell sick and died. I went +to see and comfort him in his affliction, and, finding him +absorbed in sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him, "God +preserve you and grant you a long life." "Alas!" replied he, "how +do you think I should obtain the favor you wish me? I have not +above an hour to live, for I must be buried this day with my wife. +This is a law in this island. The living husband is interred with +the dead wife, and the living wife with the dead husband." + +While he was giving an account of this barbarous custom, the very +relation of which chilled my blood, his kindred, friends, and +neighbors came to assist at the funeral. They dressed the corpse +of the woman in her richest apparel and all her jewels as if it +had been her wedding day; then they placed her on an open bier, +and began their march to the place of burial. The husband walked +first, next to the dead body. They proceeded to a high mountain, +and when they had reached the place of their destination, they +took up a large stone which formed the mouth of a deep pit, and +let down the body with all its apparel and jewels. Then the +husband, embracing his kindred and friends, suffered himself to be +placed on another bier without resistance, with a pot of water and +seven small loaves, and was let down in the same manner. The +ceremony being over, the mouth of the pit was again covered with +the stone, and the company returned. + +I mention this ceremony the more particularly, because I was in a +few weeks' time to be the principal actor on a similar occasion. +Alas! my own wife fell sick and died. I made every remonstrance I +could to the king not to expose me, a foreigner, to this inhuman +law. I appealed in vain. The king and all his court, with the most +considerable persons in the city, sought to soften my sorrow by +honoring the funeral ceremony with their presence; and, at the +termination of the ceremony, I was lowered into the pit, with a +vessel full of water and seven loaves. As I approached the bottom, +I discovered, by the aid of the little light that came from +above, the nature of this subterranean place. It seemed an endless +cavern, and might be about fifty fathoms deep. I lived for some +time there upon my bread and water, when one day, just as it was +on the point of exhaustion, I heard something tread, and breathing +or panting as it moved. I followed the sound. The animal seemed to +stop sometimes, but always fled and breathed hard as I approached. +I pursued it for a considerable time, till at last I perceived a +light, resembling a star. I went on, sometimes lost sight of it, +but always found it again, and at last discovered that it came +through a hole in the rock, which I got through, and found myself +upon the seashore, at which I felt exceeding joy. I prostrated +myself on the shore to thank God for this mercy, and shortly +afterward I perceived a ship making for the place where I was. I +made a sign with the linen of my turban, and called to the crew as +loud as I could. They heard me, and sent a boat to bring me on +board. It was fortunate for me that these people did not inspect +the place where they found me, but without hesitation took me on +board. + +We passed by several islands, and, among others, that called the +Isle of Bells, about ten days' sail from Serendib with a regular +wind, and six from that of Kela, where we landed. Lead mines are +found in the island; also Indian canes and excellent camphire. + +The king of the Isle of Kela is very rich and powerful, and the +Isle of Bells, which is about two days' journey in extent, is also +subject to him. + +The inhabitants are so barbarous that they still eat human flesh. +After we had finished our traffic in that island we put to sea +again, and touched at several other ports; at last I arrived +happily at Bagdad. Out of gratitude to God for His mercies, I +contributed liberally toward the support of several mosques and +the subsistence of the poor, and enjoyed myself with friends in +festivities and amusements. + +Here Sindbad made a new present of one hundred sequins to Hindbad, +whom he requested to return with the rest next day at the same +hour, to dine with him and hear the story of his fifth voyage. + + + + +THE FIFTH VOYAGE + + +All the troubles and calamities I had undergone could not cure me +of my inclination to make new voyages. I therefore bought goods, +departed with them for the best seaport; and there, that I might +not be obliged to depend upon a captain, but have a ship at my own +command, I remained till one was built on purpose, at my own +charge. When the ship was ready I went on board with my goods; but +not having enough to load her, I agreed to take with me several +merchants of different nations, with their merchandise. + +We sailed with the first fair wind, and, after a long navigation, +the first place we touched at was a desert island, where we found +an egg of a roc, equal in size to that I formerly mentioned. There +was a young roc in it, just ready to be hatched, and its beak had +begun to break the egg. The merchants who landed with me broke the +egg with hatchets, and made a hole in it, pulled out the young +roc, piecemeal, and roasted it. I had in vain entreated them not +to meddle with the egg. + +Scarcely had they finished their repast, When there appeared in +the air, at a considerable distance, two great clouds. The captain +of my ship, knowing by experience what they meant, said they were +the male and female parents of the roc, and pressed us to re- +embark with all speed, to prevent the misfortune which he saw +would otherwise befall us. + +The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they +redoubled when they saw the egg broken and their young one gone. +They flew back in the direction they had come, and disappeared for +some time, while we made all the sail we could to endeavor to +prevent that which unhappily befell us. + +They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried +between its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over +my ship, they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the +dexterity of the steersman it missed us, and fell into the sea. +The other so exactly hit the middle of the ship as to split it +into pieces. The mariners and passengers were all crushed to +death, or fell into the sea. I myself was of the number of the +latter; but, as I came up again, I fortunately caught hold of a +piece of the wreck, and swimming, sometimes with one hand and +sometimes with the other, but always holding fast the plank, the +wind and the tide favoring me, I came to an island, and got safely +ashore. + +I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, +after which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be +a delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing +green and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I +ate of the fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the +water, which was very light and good. + +When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, +who appeared very weak and infirm. He was sitting on the bank of a +stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked +like myself. I went toward him and saluted him, but he only +slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but +instead of answering me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my +back, and carry him over the brook. + +I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him +upon my back, and having carried him over, bade him get down, and +for that end stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead +of doing so (which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old +man, who to me appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly +about my neck. He sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my +throat so tight that I thought he would have strangled me, and I +fainted away. + +Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept +his seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath, he thrust +one of his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the +other that he forced me to rise up against my will. Having arisen, +he made me carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then +to stop, that he might gather and eat fruit. He never left his +seat all day; and when I lay down to rest at night, he laid +himself down with me, holding still fast about my neck. Every +morning he pinched me to make me awake, and afterward obliged me +to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. + +One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a +tree. I took a large one, and, after cleaning it, pressed into it +some juice of grapes, which abounded in the island; having filled +the calabash, I put it by in a convenient place, and going thither +again some days after, I tasted it, and found the wine so good +that it gave me new vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I +began to sing and dance as I carried my burden. + +The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and +that I carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to +give him some of it. I handed him the calabash, and the liquor +pleasing his palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable +quantity of it, he soon began to sing, and to move about from side +to side in his seat upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen +his legs from about me. Finding that he did not press me as +before, I threw him upon the ground, where he lay without motion; +I then took up a great stone and slew him. + +I was extremely glad to be thus freed for ever from this +troublesome fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the +crew of a ship that had cast anchor to take in water; they were +surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars of my +adventures. "You fell," said they, "into the hands of the Old Man +of the Sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling by his +malicious embraces. He never quitted those he had once made +himself master of till he had destroyed them, and he has made this +island notorious by the number of men he has slain." They carried +me with them to the captain, who received me with great kindness. +He put out again to sea, and, after some days' sail, we arrived at +the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung the sea. + +One of the merchants who had taken me into his friendship invited +me to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and having +recommended me to some people of the town, who used to gather +cocoanuts, desired them to take me with them. "Go," said he, +"follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not separate from +them, otherwise you may endanger your life." Having thus spoken, +he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went with them. + +We came to a thick forest of cocoa trees, very lofty, with trunks +so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that +bore the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number +of apes of several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, +and climbed to the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness. + +The merchants with whom I was gathered stones, and threw them at +the apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of +revenge, threw coconuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as +sufficiently testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up +the cocoanuts, and from time to time threw stones to provoke the +apes; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags with cocoanuts. +I thus gradually collected as many cocoanuts as produced me a +considerable sum. + +Having laden our vessel with cocoanuts, we set sail, and passed by +the islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we +went to the Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of +aloes grows. I exchanged my cocoa in those two islands for pepper +and wood of aloes, and went with other merchants a-pearl-fishing, +I hired divers, who brought me up some that were very large and +pure. I embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; +from thence I returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from +my pepper, wood of aloes, and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains +in alms, as I had done upon my return from my other voyages, and +rested from my fatigues. + +Sindbad here ordered one hundred sequins to be given to Hindbad, +and requested him and the other guests to dine with him the next +day, to hear the account of his sixth voyage. + + + + +THE SIXTH VOYAGE + + +I know, my friends, that you will wish to hear how, after having +been shipwrecked five times, and escaped so many dangers, I could +resolve again to tempt fortune, and expose myself to new +hardships. I am myself astonished at my conduct when I reflect +upon it, and must certainly have been actuated by my destiny, from +which none can escape. Be that as it may, after a year's rest I +prepared for a sixth voyage, notwithstanding the entreaties of my +kindred and friends, who did all in their power to dissuade me. + +Instead of taking my way by the Persian Gulf, I travelled once +more through several provinces of Persia and the Indies, and +arrived at a seaport, where I embarked in a ship, the captain of +which was bound on a long voyage, in which he and the pilot lost +their course. Suddenly we saw the captain quit his rudder, +uttering loud lamentations. He threw off his turban, pulled his +beard, and beat his head like a madman. We asked him the reason; +and he answered that we were in the most dangerous place in all +the ocean. "A rapid current carries the ship along with it, and we +shall all perish in less than a quarter of an hour. Pray to God to +deliver us from this peril; we cannot escape if He do not take +pity on us." At these words he ordered the sails to be lowered; +but all the ropes broke, and the ship was carried by the current +to the foot of an inaccessible mountain, where she struck and went +to pieces; yet in such a manner that we saved our lives, our +provisions, and the best of our goods. + +The mountain at the foot of which we were was covered with wrecks, +with a vast number of human bones, and with an incredible quantity +of goods and riches of all kinds. These objects served only to +augment our despair. In all other places it is usual for rivers to +run from their channels into the sea; but here a river of fresh +water runs from the sea into a dark cavern, whose entrance is very +high and spacious. What is most remarkable in this place is that +the stones of the mountain are of crystal, rubies, or other +precious stones. Here is also a sort of fountain of pitch or +bitumen, that runs into the sea, which the fish swallow, and +evacuate soon afterward, turned into ambergris; and this the waves +throw up on the beach in great quantities. Trees also grow here, +most of which are of wood of aloes, equal in goodness to those of +Comari. + +To finish the description of this place, it is not possible for +ships to get off when once they approach within a certain +distance. If they be driven thither by a wind from the sea, the +wind and the current impel them; and if they come into it when a +land wind blows, which might seem to favor their getting out +again, the height of the mountain stops the wind, and occasions a +calm, so that the force of the current carries them ashore: and +what completes the misfortune is that there is no possibility of +ascending the mountain, or of escaping by sea. + +We continued upon the shore, at the foot of the mountain, in a +state of despair, and expected death every day. On our first +landing we had divided our provisions as equally as we could, and +thus every one lived a longer or shorter time, according to his +temperance, and the use he made of his provisions. + +I survived all my companions; and when I buried the last I had so +little provisions remaining that I thought I could not long +survive, and I dug a grave, resolving to lie down in it, because +there was no one left to pay me the last offices of respect. But +it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it in +my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great +cavern. Considering its probable course with great attention, I +said to myself, "This river, which runs thus underground, must +somewhere have an issue. If I make a raft, and leave myself to the +current, it will convey me to some inhabited country, or I shall +perish. If I be drowned I lose nothing, but only change one kind +of death for another." + +I immediately went to work upon large pieces of timber and cables, +for I had a choice of them from the wrecks, and tied them together +so strongly that I soon made a very solid raft. When I had +finished, I loaded it with some chests of rubies, emeralds, +ambergris, rock crystal and bales of rich stuffs. Having balanced +my cargo exactly, and fastened it well to the raft, I went on +board with two oars that I had made, and leaving it to the course +of the river, resigned myself to the will of God. + +As soon as I entered the cavern I lost all light, and the stream +carried me I knew not whither. Thus I floated on in perfect +darkness, and once, found the arch so low that it very nearly +touched my head, which made me cautious afterward to avoid the +like danger. All this while I ate nothing but what was just +necessary to support nature; yet, notwithstanding my frugality, +all my provisions were spent. Then I became insensible. I cannot +tell how long I continued so; but when I revived, I was surprised +to find myself in an extensive plain on the brink of a river, +where my raft was tied, among a great number of negroes. I got up +as soon as I saw them, and saluted them. They spoke to me, but I +did not understand their language. + +I was so transported with joy that I knew not whether I was asleep +or awake; but being persuaded that I was not asleep, I recited the +following words in Arabic aloud: + +"Call upon the Almighty, He will help thee; thou needst not +perplex thyself about anything else: shut thy eyes, and while thou +art asleep God will change thy bad fortune into good." + +One of the negroes, who understood Arabic, hearing me speak thus, +came toward me, and said: "Brother, be not surprised to see us; we +are inhabitants of this country, and water our fields from this +river, which comes out of the neighboring mountain. We saw your +raft, and one of us swam into the river, and brought it hither, +where we fastened it, as you see, until you should awake. Pray +tell us your history. Whence did you come?" + +I begged of them first to give me something to eat, and then I +would satisfy their curiosity. They gave me several sorts of food, +and when I had satisfied my hunger, I related all that had +befallen me, which they listened to with attentive surprise. As +soon as I had finished they told me, by the person who spoke +Arabic and interpreted to them what I said, that I must go along +with them, and tell my story to their king myself; it being too +extraordinary to be related by any other than the person to whom +the events had happened. + +They immediately sent for a horse, and having helped me to mount, +some of them walked before to show the way, while the rest took my +raft and cargo and followed. + +We marched till we came to the capital of Serendib, for it was in +that island I had landed. The negroes presented me to their king; +I approached his throne, and saluted him as I used to do the kings +of the Indies; that is to say, I prostrated myself at his feet. +The prince ordered me to rise, received me with an obliging air, +and made me sit down near him. + +I concealed nothing from the king; but related to him all that I +have told you. At last my raft was brought in, and the bales +opened in his presence: he admired the quantity of wood of aloes +and ambergris; but above all, the rubies and emeralds, for he had +none in his treasury that equalled them. + +Observing that he looked on my jewels with pleasure, and viewed +the most remarkable among them, one after another, I fell +prostrate at his feet, and took the liberty to say to him, "Sire, +not only my person is at your majesty's service, but the cargo of +the raft, and I would beg of you to dispose of it as your own." + +He answered me with a smile, "Sindbad, I will take nothing of +yours; far from lessening your wealth, I design to augment it, and +will not let you quit my dominions without marks of my liberality." + +He then charged one of his officers to take care of me, and +ordered people to serve me at his own expense. The officer was +very faithful in the execution of his commission, and caused all +the goods to be carried to the lodgings provided for me. + +I went every day at a set hour to make my court to the king, and +spent the rest of my time in viewing the city, and what was most +worthy of notice. + +The capital of Serendib stands at the end of a fine valley, in the +middle of the island, encompassed by high mountains. They are seen +three days' sail off at sea. Rubies and several sorts of minerals +abound. All kinds of rare plants and trees grow there, especially +cedars and cocoanut. There is also a pearl-fishery in the mouth of +its principal river; and in some of its valleys are found +diamonds. I made, by way of devotion, a pilgrimage to the place +where Adam was confined after his banishment from Paradise, and +had the curiosity to go to the top of the mountain. + +When I returned to the city I prayed the king to allow me to +return to my own country, and he granted me permission in the most +obliging and honorable manner. He would force a rich present upon +me; and at the same time charged me with a letter for the +Commander of the Faithful, our sovereign, saying to me, "I pray +you give this present from me, and this letter, to the Caliph +Haroun-al-Raschid, and assure him of my friendship." + +The letter from the King of Serendib was written on the skin of a +certain animal of great value, very scarce, and of a yellowish +color. The characters of this letter were of azure, and the +contents as follows: + +"The King of the Indies, before whom march one hundred elephants, +who lives in a palace that shines with one hundred thousand +rubies, and who has in his treasury twenty thousand crowns +enriched with diamonds, to Caliph Haroun-al-Raschid. + +"Though the present we send you be inconsiderable, receive it, +however, as a brother and a friend, in consideration of the hearty +friendship which we bear for you, and of which we are willing to +give you proof. We desire the same part in your friendship, +considering that we believe it to be our merit, as we are both +kings. We send you this letter as from one brother to another. +Farewell." + +The present consisted, first, of one single ruby made into a cup, +about half a foot high, an inch thick, and filled with round +pearls of half a drachm each. 2. The skin of a serpent, whose +scales were as bright as an ordinary piece of gold, and had the +virtue to preserve from sickness those who lay upon it. 3. Fifty +thousand drachms of the best wood of aloes, with thirty grains of +camphire as big as pistachios. And 4. A female slave of great +beauty, whose robe was covered over with jewels. + +The ship set sail, and after a very successful navigation we +landed at Bussorah, and from thence I went to the city of Bagdad, +where the first thing I did was to acquit myself of my commission. + +I took the King of Serendib's letter, and went to present myself +at the gate of the Commander of the Faithful, and was immediately +conducted to the throne of the caliph. I made my obeisance, and +presented the letter and gift. When he had read what the King of +Serendib wrote to him, he asked me if that prince were really so +rich and potent as he represented himself in his letter. I +prostrated myself a second time, and, rising again, said, +"Commander of the Faithful, I can assure your majesty he doth not +exceed the truth. I bear him witness. Nothing is more worthy of +admiration than the magnificence of his palace. When the prince +appears in public he has a throne fixed on the back of an +elephant, and rides between two ranks of his ministers, favorites, +and other people of his court. Before him, upon the same elephant, +an officer carries a golden lance in his hand; and behind him +there is another, who stands with a rod of gold, on the top of +which is an emerald, half a foot long and an inch thick. He is +attended by a guard of one thousand men, clad in cloth of gold and +silk, and mounted on elephants richly caparisoned. The officer who +is before him on the same elephant cries from time to time, with a +loud voice, 'Behold the great monarch, the potent and redoubtable +Sultan of the Indies, the monarch greater than Solomon, and the +powerful Maharaja.' + +"After he has pronounced those words, the officer behind the +throne cries in his turn, 'This monarch, so great and so powerful, +must die, must die, must die!' And the officer before replies, +'Praise alone be to Him who liveth for ever and ever.'" + +The caliph was much pleased with my account, and sent me home with +a rich present. + +Here Sindbad commanded another hundred sequins to be paid to +Hindbad, and begged his return on the morrow to hear his seventh +and last voyage. + + + + +THE SEVENTH AND LAST VOYAGE + + +On my return home from my sixth voyage, I had entirely given up +all thoughts of again going to sea; for, besides that my age now +required rest, I was resolved no more to expose myself to such +risks as I had encountered, so that I thought of nothing but to +pass the rest of my days in tranquillity. One day, however, an +officer of the caliph's inquired for me. "The caliph," said he, +"has sent me to tell you that he must speak with you." I followed +the officer to the palace, where, being presented to the caliph, I +saluted him by prostrating myself at his feet. "Sindbad," said he +to me, "I stand in need of your services; you must carry my answer +and present to the King of Serendib." + +This command of the caliph was to me like a clap of thunder. +"Commander of the Faithful," I replied, "I am ready to do whatever +your majesty shall think fit to command; but I beseech you most +humbly to consider what I have undergone. I have also made a vow +never to leave Bagdad." + +Perceiving that the caliph insisted upon my compliance, I +submitted, and told him that I was willing to obey. He was very +well pleased, and ordered me one thousand sequins for the expenses +of my journey. + +I prepared for my departure in a few days. As soon as the caliph's +letter and present were delivered to me, I went to Bussorah, where +I embarked, and had a very prosperous voyage. Having arrived at +the Isle of Serendib, I was conducted to the palace with much +pomp, when I prostrated myself on the ground before the king. +"Sindbad," said the king, "you are welcome; I have many times +thought of you; I bless the day on which I see you once more." I +made my compliments to him, and thanked him for his kindness, and +delivered the gifts from my august master. + +The caliph's letter was as follows: + +"Greeting, in the name of the Sovereign Guide of the Right Way, +from the servant of God, Haroun-al-Raschid, whom God hath set in +the place of vicegerent to His Prophet, after his ancestors of +happy memory, to the potent and esteemed Raja of Serendib. + +"We receive your letter with joy, and send you from our imperial +residence, the garden of superior wits. We hope when you look +upon it you will perceive our good intention, and be pleased with +it. Farewell." + +The caliph's present was a complete suit of cloth of gold, valued +at one thousand sequins; fifty robes of rich stuff; a hundred of +white cloth, the finest of Cairo, Suez, and Alexandria; a vessel +of agate, more broad than deep, an inch thick, and half a foot +wide, the bottom of which represented in bas-relief a man with one +knee on the ground, who held a bow and an arrow, ready to +discharge at a lion. He sent him also a rich tablet, which, +according to tradition, belonged to the great Solomon. + +The King of Serendib was highly gratified at the caliph's +acknowledgment of his friendship. A little time after this +audience I solicited leave to depart, and with much difficulty +obtained it. The king, when he dismissed me, made me a very +considerable present. I embarked immediately to return to Bagdad, +but had not the good-fortune to arrive there so speedily as I had +hoped. God ordered it otherwise. + +Three or four days after our departure we were attacked by +pirates, who easily seized upon our ship, because it was not a +vessel of war. Some of the crew offered resistance, which cost +them their lives. But for myself and the rest, who were not so +imprudent, the pirates saved us, and carried us into a remote +island, where they sold us. + +I fell into the hands of a rich merchant, who, as soon as he +bought me, took me to his house, treated me well, and clad me +handsomely as a slave. Some days after he asked me if I understood +any trade. I answered that I was no mechanic, but a merchant, and +that the pirates who sold me had robbed me of all I possessed. +"Tell me," replied he, "can you shoot with a bow?" I answered that +the bow was one of my exercises in my youth. He gave me a bow and +arrows, and, taking me behind him on an elephant, carried me to a +thick forest some leagues from the town. We penetrated a great way +into the wood, and when he thought fit to stop, he bade me alight; +then showing me a great tree, "Climb up that," said he, "and shoot +at the elephants as you see them pass by, for there is a +prodigious number of them in this forest, and if any of them fall, +come and give me notice." Having spoken thus, he left me victuals, +and returned to the town, and I continued upon the tree all night. + +I saw no elephant during the night, but next morning, at break of +day, I perceived a great number. I shot several arrows among them, +and at last one of the elephants fell, when the rest retired +immediately, and left me at liberty to go and acquaint my patron +with my success. When I had informed him, he commended my +dexterity, and caressed me highly. We went afterward together to +the forest, where we dug a hole for the elephant; my patron +designing to return when it was rotten, and take his teeth to +trade with. + +I continued this employment for two months. One morning, as I +looked for the elephants, I perceived with extreme amazement that, +instead of passing by me across the forest as usual, they stopped, +and came to me with a horrible noise, in such numbers that the +plain was covered and shook under them. They surrounded the tree +in which I was concealed, with their trunks uplifted, and all +fixed their eyes upon me. At this alarming spectacle I continued +immovable, and was so much terrified that my bow and arrows fell +out of my hand. + +My fears were not without cause; for after the elephants had +stared upon me some time, one of the largest of them put his trunk +round the foot of the tree, plucked it up, and threw it on the +ground. I fell with the tree, and the elephant, taking me up with +his trunk, laid me on his back, where I sat more like one dead +than alive, with my quiver on my shoulder. He put himself at the +head of the rest, who followed him in line, one after the other, +carried me a considerable way, then laid me down on the ground, +and retired with all his companions. After having lain some time, +and seeing the elephants gone, I got up, and found I was upon a +long and broad hill, almost covered with the bones and teeth of +elephants. I doubted not but that this was the burial-place of the +elephants, and that they carried me thither on purpose to tell me +that I should forbear to kill them, as now I knew where to get +their teeth without inflicting injury on them. I did not stay on +the hill, but turned toward the city; and after having travelled a +day and a night, I came to my patron. + +As soon as my patron saw me, "Ah, poor Sindbad!" exclaimed he, "I +was in great trouble to know what was become of you. I have been +at the forest, where I found a tree newly pulled up, and your bow +and arrows on the ground, and I despaired of ever seeing you more. +Pray tell me what befell you." I satisfied his curiosity, and we +both of us set out next morning to the hill. We loaded the +elephant which had carried us with as many teeth as he could bear; +and when we were returned, my master thus addressed me: "Hear now +what I shall tell you. The elephants of our forest have every year +killed us a great many slaves, whom we sent to seek ivory. For all +the cautions we could give them, those crafty animals destroyed +them one time or other. God has delivered you from their fury, and +has bestowed that favor upon you only. It is a sign that He loves +you, and has some use for your service in the world. You have +procured me incredible wealth; and now our whole city is enriched +by your means, without any more exposing the lives of our slaves. +After such a discovery, I can treat you no more as a slave, but as +a brother. God bless you with all happiness and prosperity. I +henceforth give you your liberty; I will also give you riches." + +To this I replied: "Master, God preserve you. I desire no other +reward for the service I had the good-fortune to do to you and +your city but leave to return to my own country." "Very well," +said he, "the monsoon will in a little time bring ships for ivory. +I will then send you home." I stayed with him while waiting for +the monsoon; and during that time we made so many journeys to the +hill, that we filled all our warehouses with ivory. The other +merchants who traded in it did the same, for my master made them +partakers of his good-fortune. + +The ships arrived at last, and my master himself having made +choice of the ship wherein I was to embark, loaded half of it with +ivory on my account, laid in provisions in abundance for my +passage, and besides obliged me to accept a present of some +curiosities of the country of great value. After I had returned +him a thousand thanks for all his favors I went aboard. We stopped +at some islands to take in fresh provisions. Our vessel being come +to a port on the mainland in the Indies, we touched there, and, +not being willing to venture by sea to Bussorah, I landed my +proportion of the ivory, resolving to proceed on my journey by +land. I realized vast sums by my ivory, bought several rarities, +which I intended for presents, and when my equipage was ready, set +out in company with a large caravan of merchants. I was a long +time on the journey, and suffered much, but was happy in thinking +that I had nothing to fear from the seas, from pirates, from +serpents, or from the other perils to which I had been exposed. + +I at last arrived safe at Bagdad, and immediately waited upon the +caliph, to give him an account of my embassy. He loaded me with +honors and rich presents, and I have ever since devoted myself to +my family, kindred, and friends. + +Sindbad here finished the relation of his seventh and last voyage, +and then addressing himself to Hindbad, "Well, friend," said he, +"did you ever hear of any person that suffered so much as I have +done? Is it not reasonable that, after all this, I should enjoy a +quiet and pleasant life?" As he said these words, Hindbad kissed +his hand, and said, "Sir, my afflictions are not to be compared +with yours. You not only deserve a quiet life, but are worthy of +all the riches you possess, since you make so good a use of them. +May you live happily for a long time." Sindbad ordered him to be +paid another hundred sequins, and told him to give up carrying +burdens as a porter, and to eat henceforth at his table, for he +wished that he should all his life have reason to remember that he +henceforth had a friend in Sindbad the Sailor. + + + + +ROBINSON CRUSOE + + +Although hundreds have tried, both at home and abroad, no one has +been able to write a book that could take the place of Robinson +Crusoe, the story of that sturdy, voyaging Englishman who was +always on the lookout for adventures and was never discouraged by +any circumstances in which he found himself. The picture of the +brave captain in his hairy goatskin clothes, Poll on his shoulder, +his faithful dog by his side, and Friday following along behind, +is one that remains stamped for life on every reader's mind. + +Like all great books, it interests people of all ages. To the +child it is a fascinating fairy tale; to the older boys and girls +it is a story of stirring adventure, while to the mature man it is +a picture of civilization. And so it has come to be read again and +again, and admired and cherished the world over. + +Robinson Crusoe was written in 1719 by Daniel Defoe, the son of a +butcher, when he was over sixty years of age. His son deserted and +deceived him, as Robinson Crusoe deserted and deceived his father, +and it almost broke the old man's heart. + + + + +ROBINSON CRUSOE IS SHIPWRECKED + +By Daniel Defoe + + +Having lived almost four years in the Brazils, and beginning to +thrive and prosper very well upon my plantation, I had not only +learned the language, but had contracted acquaintance and +friendship among my fellow-planters, as well as among the +merchants at St. Salvador, which was our port; and in my +discourses among them, I had frequently given them an account of +my two voyages to the coast of Guinea, the manner of trading with +the negroes there, and how easy it was to purchase upon the coast +for trifles, such as beads, toys, knives, scissors, hatchets, bits +of glass, and the like, not only gold dust, Guinea grains, +elephants' teeth, etc., but negroes, for the service of the +Brazils, in great numbers. + +They listened very attentively to my discourses on these heads, +but especially to that part which related to the buying of +negroes, which was a trade at that time, not far entered into. + +Being in company with some merchants and planters of my +acquaintance, and talking of things very earnestly, three of them +came to me next morning, and told me they had been musing very +much upon what I had discoursed with them of the last night, and +they came to make a secret proposal to me; and, after enjoining +me secrecy, they told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to +go to Guinea; that they had all plantations as well as I, and for +which they needed nothing so much as servants; that as it was a +trade that could not be carried on, because they could not +publicly sell the negroes when they came home, so they desired to +make but one voyage, to bring the negroes on shore privately, and +divide them among their own plantations; and, in a word, the +question was, whether I would go to manage the trading part upon +the coast of Guinea; and they offered me that I should have my +equal share of the negroes, without providing any part of the +stock. + +This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made +to any one that had not had a settlement and a plantation of his +own to look after, which was in a fair way of coming to be very +considerable, and with a good stock upon it; but for me, that was +thus entered and established, and had nothing to do but to go on +as I had begun for three or four years more, and to have sent for +the other hundred pounds from England, and who in that time, and +with that little addition, could scarce have failed of being worth +three or four thousand pounds sterling, and that increasing, too; +for me to think of such a voyage was the most preposterous thing +that ever man in such circumstances could be guilty of. + +But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist +the offer than I could restrain my first rambling designs when my +father's good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I +would go with all my heart, if they would undertake to look after +my plantation in my absence, and would dispose of it to such as I +should direct, if I miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and +entered into writings or covenants to do so; and I made a formal +will disposing of my plantation and effects in case of my death, +making the captain of the ship that had saved my life, as before, +my universal heir, but obliging him to dispose of my effects as I +had directed in my will, one-half of the produce being to himself, +and the other to be shipped to England. + +In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects, and +to keep up my plantation; had I used half as much prudence to have +looked into my own interest, and have made a judgment of what I +ought to have done and ought not to have done, I had certainly +never gone away from so prosperous an undertaking, and gone upon a +voyage to sea, attended with all its hazards. + +But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy +rather than my reason; and, accordingly, the ship being fitted +out, and the cargo furnished, and all things done as by agreement, +by my partners in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour, the +lst of September, 1659, being the same day eight years that I went +from my father and mother at Hull. + +Our ship was about 120 tons burden, carried six guns, and fourteen +men, besides the master, his boy, and myself; we had on board no +large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for our +trade with the negroes, such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and +other trifles, especially little looking-glasses, knives, +scissors, hatchets, and the like. + +The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the +northward upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the +African coast when we came about ten or twelve degrees of northern +latitude, which, it seems, was the manner of their course in those +days. We had very good weather, only excessively hot, all the way +upon our own coast, till we came to the height of Cape St. +Augustino; from whence, keeping further off at sea, we lost sight +of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle Fernando de +Noronha, holding our course N. E. by N., and leaving those isles +on the east. In this course we passed the line in about twelve +days' time, and were, by our last observation, in 7 degrees 22' +northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or hurricane, took us +quite out of our knowledge. It blew in such a terrible manner, +that for twelve days together we could do nothing but drive; and, +scudding away before it, let it carry us wherever fate and the +fury of the winds directed; and during these twelve days, I need +not say that I expected every day to be swallowed up; nor did any +in the ship expect to save their lives. + +In this distress we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of +our men die of the calenture, and a man and a boy washed +overboard. About the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, +the master made an observation as well as he could, and found that +he was in about eleven degrees of north latitude, but that he was +twenty-two degrees of longitude difference west from Cape St. +Augustino; so that he found he was gotten upon the coast of +Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river Amazon, +toward that of the river Orinoco, commonly called the Great River; +and now he began to consult with me what course he should take; +for the ship was leaky, and very much disabled, and he was for +going directly back to the coast of Brazil. + +I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the +sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited +country for us to have recourse to till we came within the circle +of the Caribbee Islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for +Barbadoes; which, by keeping off at sea, to avoid the indraft of +the bay or gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, +in about fifteen days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make +our voyage to the coast of Africa without some assistance both to +our ship and to ourselves. + +With this design we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by +W., in order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped +for relief; but our voyage was otherwise determined; for, being in +the latitude of twelve degrees eighteen minutes, a second storm +came upon us, which carried us away with the same impetuosity +westward, and drove us so out of the way of all human commerce +that, had all our lives been saved as to the sea, we were rather +in danger of being devoured by savages than ever returning to our +own country. + +In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men +early one morning cried out, "Land!" and we had no sooner run out +of the cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabout in the +world we were, than the ship struck upon the sand, and in a +moment, her motion being so stopped, the sea broke over her in +such a manner that we expected we should all have perished +immediately; and we were even driven into our close quarters, to +shelter us from the very foam and spray of the sea. + +It is not easy for any one who has not been in the like condition +to describe or conceive the consternation of men in such +circumstances. We knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it +was we were driven; whether an island or the main, whether +inhabited or not inhabited. As the rage of the wind was still +great, though rather less than at first, we could not so much as +hope to have the ship hold many minutes without breaking in +pieces, unless the winds, by a kind of miracle, should turn +immediately about. In a word, we sat looking one upon another, and +expecting death every moment, and every man acting accordingly, as +preparing for another world; for there was little or nothing more +for us to do in this; that which was our present comfort, and all +the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our expectation, the +ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began to +abate. + +Now, though we thought the wind did a little abate, yet the ship +having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to +expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, +and had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as +we could. We had a boat at our stern just before the storm, but +she was fast staved by dashing against the ship's rudder, and in +the next place she broke away, and either sunk, or was driven off +to sea; so there was no hope from her. We had another boat on +board; but how to get her off into the sea was a doubtful thing; +however, there was no room to debate, for we fancied the ship +would break in pieces every minute, and some told us she was +actually broken already. + +In this distress, the mate of our vessel lays hold of the boat, +and with the help of the rest of the men, they got her flung over +the ship's side; and getting all into her, we let go, and +committed ourselves, being eleven in number, to God's mercy and +the wild sea: for though the storm was abated considerably, yet +the sea went dreadfully high upon the shore, and might be well +called _den wild zee_, as the Dutch call the sea in a storm. + +And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly +that the sea went so high that the boat could not escape, and that +we should be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none, +nor, if we had, could we have done anything with it; so we worked +at the oar toward the land, though with heavy hearts, like men +going to execution; for we all knew that when the boat came near +the shore, she would be dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach +of the sea. However, we committed our souls to God in the most +earnest manner; and the wind driving us toward the shore, we +hastened our destruction with our own hands, pulling as well as we +could toward land. + +What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, +we knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least +shadow of expectation was, if we might happen into some bay or +gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might +have run our boat in, or got under the lee of the land, and +perhaps made smooth water. But there was nothing of this appeared; +but as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more +frightful than the sea. + +After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, +as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling +astern of us, and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grace_. +In a word, it took us with such a fury that it overset the boat at +once; and separating us as well from the boat as from one another, +gave us not time hardly to say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed +up in a moment. + +Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I +sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not +deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave +having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on toward the +shore, and having spent itself, went back and left me upon the +land, almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so +much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself +nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and +endeavored to make on toward the land as fast as I could, before +another wave should return and take me up again; but I soon found +it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as +high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no +means or strength to contend with: my business was to hold my +breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so by +swimming to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself toward the +shore if possible, my greatest concern now being that the wave, as +it would carry me a great way toward the shore when it came on, +might not carry me back again with it when it gave back toward the +sea. + +The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or +thirty feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself carried +with a mighty force and swiftness toward the shore a very great +way; but I held my breath and assisted myself to swim still +forward with all my might. I was ready to burst with holding my +breath when, as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate +relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of +the water; and though it was not two seconds of time that I could +keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath and new +courage. I was covered again with water a good while, but not so +long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent itself, +and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the +waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few +moments to recover breath, and till the waters went from me, and +then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had farther +toward the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury +of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice more I +was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the +shore being very flat. The last time of these two had wellnigh +been fatal to me; for the sea having hurried me along, as before, +landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of a rock, and +that with such force as it left me senseless, and, indeed, +helpless as to my own deliverance; for the blow, taking my side +and breast, beat the breath as it were quite out of my body; and +had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled in +the water; but I recovered a little before the return of the +waves, and seeing I should be covered again with water, I resolved +to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if +possible, till the wave went back. Now, as the waves were not so +high as at first, being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave +abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the +shore, that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so +swallow me up as to carry me away; and the next run I took I got +to the mainland; where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the +clifts and sat upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of +the reach of the water, + +I was now landed and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank +God that my life was saved, in a case wherein there was some +minutes before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible +to express, to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the +soul are, when it is so saved, as I may say, out of the very +grave: and I do not wonder now at that custom, when a malefactor, +who has the halter about his neck, is tied up, and just going to +be turned off, and has a reprieve brought to him--I say I do not +wonder that they bring a surgeon with it, to let him bleed that +very moment they tell him of it, that the surprise may not drive +the animal spirits from the heart, and overwhelm him, + + For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first. + + +I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole +being, as I may say, wrapped up in a contemplation of my +deliverance; making a thousand gestures and motions, which I +cannot describe; reflecting upon all my comrades that were +drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself; +for, as for them, I never saw them afterward, or any sign of them, +except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not +fellows. + +I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel when, the breach and froth +of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far off; +and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore? + +After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my +condition, I began to look round me, to see what kind of place I +was in, and what was next to be done: and I soon found my comforts +abate, and that, in a word, I had a dreadful deliverance: for I +was wet, had no clothes to shift me, nor anything either to eat or +drink, to comfort me; neither did I see any prospect before me but +that of perishing with hunger, or being devoured by wild beasts: +and that which was particularly afflicting to me was that I had no +weapon, either to hunt and kill any creature for my sustenance, or +to defend myself against any other creature that might desire to +kill me for theirs. In a word, I had nothing about me but a knife, +a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. This was all my +provision; and this threw me into terrible agonies of mind, that +for a while I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me, I +began, with a heavy heart, to consider what would be my lot if +there were any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at night +they always come abroad for their prey. + +All the remedy that offered to my thoughts, at that time, was to +get up into a thick, bushy tree, like a fir, but thorny, which +grew near me, and where I resolved to sit all night, and consider +the next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect +of life. I walked about a furlong from the shore, to see if I +could find any fresh water to drink, which I did, to my great joy; +and having drunk, and put a little tobacco in my mouth to prevent +hunger, I went to the tree, and getting up into it, endeavored to +place myself so that if I should sleep I might not fall. And +having cut me a short stick like a truncheon, for my defence, I +took up my lodging; and being excessively fatigued, I fell fast +asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I believe, few could have +done in my condition, and found myself more refreshed with it than +I think I ever was on such an occasion. + + + + +ALONE ON A DESOLATE ISLAND By Daniel Defoe + + +When I waked it was broad day, the weather clear, and the storm +abated, so that the sea did not rage and swell as before. But that +which surprised me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the +night from the sand where she lay by the swelling of the tide, and +was driven up almost as far as the rock which I at first +mentioned, where I had been so bruised by the wave dashing me +against it. This being within about a mile from the shore where I +was, and the ship seeming to stand upright still, I wished myself +on board, that at least I might save some necessary things for my +use. + +When I came down from my apartment in the tree, I looked about me +again, and the first thing I found was the boat, which lay, as the +wind and the sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two miles +on my right hand. I walked as far as I could upon the shore to +have got to her; but found a neck or inlet of water between me and +the boat which was about half a mile broad; so I came back for the +present, being more intent upon getting at the ship, where I hoped +to find something for my present subsistence. + +A little after noon I found the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed +so far out that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the +ship. And here I found a fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw +evidently that if we had kept on board we had been all safe-- +that is to say, we had all got safe on shore, and I had not been +so miserable as to be left entirely destitute of all comfort and +company as I now was. This forced tears to my eyes again; but as +there was little relief in that, I resolved, if possible, to get +to the ship; so I pulled off my clothes--for the weather was hot +to extremity--and took the water. But when I came to the ship my +difficulty was still greater to know how to get on board; for, as +she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was nothing +within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the +second time I spied a small piece of rope, which I wondered I did +not see at first, hung down by the fore-chains so low as that with +great difficulty I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope I +got up into the forecastle of the ship. Here I found that the ship +was bulged, and had a great deal of water in her hold, but that +she lay so on the side of a bank of hard sand, or rather earth, +that her stern lay lifted up upon the bank, and her head low, +almost to the water. By this means all her quarter was free, and +all that was in that part was dry; for you may be sure my first +work was to search, and to see what was spoiled and what was free. +And, first, I found that all the ship's provisions were dry and +untouched by the water, and, being very well disposed to eat, I +went to the bread-room and filled my pockets with biscuit, and ate +it as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also +found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, +and which I had, indeed, need enough of to spirit me for what was +before me. Now I wanted nothing but a boat to furnish myself with +many things which I foresaw would be very necessary to me. + +It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had; +and this extremity roused my application. We had several spare +yards, and two or three large spars of wood, and a spare topmast +or two in the ship; I resolved to fall to work with these, and I +flung as many of them overboard as I could manage for their +weight, tying every one with a rope, that they might not drive +away. When this was done I went down the ship's side, and pulling +them to me, I tied four of them together at both ends as well as I +could, in the form of a raft, and laying two or three short pieces +of plank upon them crossways, I found I could walk upon it very +well, but that it was not able to bear any great weight, the +pieces being too light. So I went to work, and with a carpenter's +saw I cut a spare topmast into three lengths, and added them to my +raft, with a great deal of labor and pains. But the hope of +furnishing myself with necessaries encouraged me to go beyond what +I should have been able to have done upon another occasion. + +My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My +next care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I +laid upon it from the surf of the sea; but I was not long +considering this. I first laid all the planks or boards upon it +that I could get, and having considered well what I most wanted, I +got three of the seamen's chests, which I had broken open, and +emptied, and lowered them down upon my raft; the first of these I +filled with provisions; viz., bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses, +five pieces of dried goat's flesh (which we lived much upon), and +a little remainder of European corn, which had been laid by for +some fowls which we brought to sea with us, but the fowls were +killed. There had been some barley and wheat together; but, to my +great disappointment, I found afterwards that the rats had eaten +or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found several cases of +bottles belonging to our skipper, in which were some cordial +waters; and, in all, about five or six gallons of rack. These I +stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the +chest, nor any room for them. While I was doing this, I found the +tide begin to flow, though very calm; and I had the mortification +to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on the +shore, upon the sand, swim away. As for my breeches, which were +only linen, and open-kneed, I swam on board in them and my +stockings. However, this set me on rummaging for clothes, of which +I found enough, but took no more than I wanted for present use, +for I had other things which my eye was more upon--as, first, +tools to work with on shore. And it was after long searching that +I found out the carpenter's chest, which was, indeed, a very +useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a ship-load of +gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my raft, whole +as it was, without losing time to look into it, for I knew in +general what it contained. + +My next care was for some ammunition and arms. + +There were two very good fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and +two pistols. These I secured first, with some powder-horns and a +small bag of shot, and two old rusty swords. I knew there were +three barrels of powder in the ship, but knew not where our gunner +had stowed them; but with much search I found them, two of them +dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to my +raft, with the arms. And now I thought myself pretty well +freighted, and began to think how I should get to shore with them, +having neither sail, oar, nor rudder; and the least capful of wind +would have overset all my navigation. + +I had three encouragements--1st, a smooth calm sea; 2ndly, the +tide rising, and setting in to the shore; 3dly, what little wind +there was blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or +three broken oars belonging to the boat--and, besides the tools +which were in the chest, I found two saws, an axe, and a hammer-- +with this cargo I put to sea. For a mile or thereabouts my raft +went very well, only that I found it drive a little distant from +the place where I had landed before; by which I perceived that +there was some indraft of the water, and consequently I hoped to +find some creek or river there, which I might make use of as a +port to get to land with my cargo. + +As I imagined, so it was. There appeared before me a little +opening of the land, and I found a strong current of the tide set +into it; so I guided my raft as well as I could, to keep in the +middle of the stream. + +But here I had like to have suffered a second shipwreck, which, if +I had, I think verily would have broken my heart; for, knowing +nothing of the coast, my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a +shoal, and, not being aground at the other end, it wanted but a +little that all my cargo had slipped off towards the end that was +afloat, and so fallen into the water. I did my utmost, by setting +my back against the chests, to keep them in their places, but +could not thrust off the raft with all my strength; neither durst +I stir from the posture I was in; but, holding up the chests with +all my might, I stood in that manner near half an hour, in which +time the rising of the water brought me a little more upon a +level; and a little after, the water still rising, my raft floated +again, and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the channel, +and then driving up higher I at length found myself in the mouth +of a little river, with land on both sides, and a strong current +of tide running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to +get to shore, for I was not willing to be driven too high up the +river: hoping in time to see some ships at sea, and therefore +resolved to place myself as near the coast as I could. + +At length I spied a little cove on the right shore of the creek, +to which with great pain and difficulty I guided my raft, and at +last got so near that, reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust +her directly in. But here I had like to have dipped all my cargo +into the sea again; for that shore lying pretty steep--that is to +say sloping--there was no place to land, but where one end of my +float, if it ran on shore, would lie so high, and the other sink +lower, as before, that it would endanger my cargo again. All that +I could do was to wait till the tide was at the highest, keeping +the raft with my oar like an anchor, to hold the side of it fast +to the shore, near a flat piece of ground, which I expected the +water would flow over; and so it did. As soon as I found water +enough--for my raft drew about a foot of water--I thrust her upon +that flat piece of ground, and there fastened or moored her, by +sticking my two broken oars into the ground, one on one side, near +one end, and one on the other side near the other end; and thus I +lay till the water ebbed away and left my raft and all my cargo +safe on shore. + +My next work was to view the country, and seek a proper place for +my habitation, and where to stow my goods to secure them from +whatever might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether on the +continent or on an island; whether inhabited or not inhabited; +whether in danger of wild beasts or not. There was a hill not +above a mile from me, which rose up very steep and high, and which +seemed to overtop some other hills, which lay as in a ridge from +it northward. I took out one of the fowling-pieces, and one of the +pistols, and a horn of powder; and thus armed I travelled for +discovery up to the top of that hill, where, after I had with +great labor and difficulty got to the top, I saw my fate, to my +great affliction--viz., that I was in an island environed every +way with the sea: no land to be seen except some rocks, which lay +a great way off; and two small islands, less than this, which lay +about three leagues to the west. + +I found also that the island I was in was barren, and, as I saw +good reason to believe, uninhabited except by wild beasts, of +whom, however, I saw none. Yet I saw abundance of fowls, but knew +not their kinds; neither when I killed them could I tell what was +fit for food, and what not. At my coming back, I shot at a great +bird which I saw sitting upon a tree on the side of a great wood. +I believe it was the first gun that had been fired there since the +creation of the world. I had no sooner fired than from all parts +of the wood there arose an innumerable number of fowls, of many +sorts, making a confused screaming and crying, and every one +according to his usual note, but not one of them of any kind that +I knew. As for the creature I killed, I took it to be a kind of +hawk, its color and beak resembling it, but it had no talons or +claws more than common. Its flesh was carrion, and fit for +nothing. + +Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to +work to bring my cargo on shore, which took me up the rest of that +day. What to do with myself at night I knew not, nor indeed where +to rest, for I was afraid to lie down on the ground, not knowing +but some wild beast might devour me, though, as I afterwards +found, there was really no need for those fears. + +However, as well as I could, I barricaded myself round with the +chests and boards that I had brought on shore, and made a kind of +hut for that night's lodging. As for food, I yet saw not which way +to supply myself, except that I had seen two or three creatures +like hares run out of the wood where I shot the fowl. + +I now began to consider that I might yet get a great many things +out of the ship which would be useful to me, and particularly some +of the rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to +land; and I resolved to make another voyage on board the vessel, +if possible. And as I knew that the first storm that blew must +necessarily break her all in pieces, I resolved to set all other +things apart till I had got everything out of the ship that I +could get. Then I called a council--that is to say, in my +thoughts--whether I should take back the raft; but this appeared +impracticable; so I resolved to go as before, when the tide was +down; and I did so, only that I stripped before I went from my +hut, having nothing on but my chequered shirt, a pair of linen +drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet. + +I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft; +and, having had experience of the first, I neither made this so +unwieldy nor loaded it so hard, but yet I brought away several +things very useful to me; as first, in the carpenter's stores I +found two or three bags full of nails and spikes, a great +screwjack, a dozen or two of hatchets, and, above all, that most +useful thing called a grindstone. All these I secured, together +with several things belonging to the gunner, particularly two or +three iron crows, and two barrels of musket bullets, seven +muskets, another fowling-piece, with some small quantity of powder +more; a large bagful of small shot, and a great roll of sheet- +lead; but this last was so heavy I could not hoist it up to get it +over the ship's side. + +Besides these things, I took all the men's clothes that I could +find, and a spare fore-topsail, a hammock, and some bedding, and +with this I loaded my second raft, and brought them all safe on +shore, to my very great comfort. + +I was under some apprehension, during my absence from the land, +that at least my provisions might be devoured on shore: but when I +came back I found no sign of any visitor; only there sat a +creature like a wild cat upon one of the chests, which, when I +came towards it, ran away a little distance, and then stood still. +She sat very composed and unconcerned, and looked full in my face, +as if she had a mind to be acquainted with me. I presented my gun +at her, but, as she did not understand it, she was perfectly +unconcerned at it, nor did she offer to stir away; upon which I +tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the way, I was not very +free of it, for my store was not great: however, I spared her a +bit, I say, and she went to it, smelled at it, and ate it, and +looked (as if pleased) for more; but I thanked her, and could +spare no more, so she marched off. + +Having got my second cargo on shore--though I was fain to open the +barrels of powder, and bring them by parcels, for they were too +heavy, being large casks--I went to work to make me a little tent +with the sail and some poles which I cut for that purpose, and +into this tent I brought everything that I knew would spoil either +with rain or sun; and I piled all the empty chests and casks up in +a circle round the tent, to fortify it from any sudden attempt, +either from man or beast. + +When I had done this, I blocked up the door of the tent with some +boards within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and +spreading one of the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols +just at my head, and my gun at length by me, I went to bed for the +first time, and slept very quietly all night, for I was very weary +and heavy; for the night before I had slept little, and had +labored very hard all day to fetch all those things from the ship, +and to get them on shore. + +I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, +I believe, for one man; but I was not satisfied still, for while +the ship sat upright in that posture I thought I ought to get +everything out of her that I could: so every day at low water I +went on board, and brought away something or other; but +particularly the third time I went I brought away as much of the +rigging as I could, as also all the small ropes and rope-twines I +could get, with a piece of spare canvas, which was to mend the +sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gunpowder. In a word, I +brought away all the sails, first and last; only that I was fain +to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could, for +they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere canvas only. + +But that which comforted me more still was that last of all, +after I had made five or six such voyages as these, and thought I +had nothing more to expect from the ship that was worth my +meddling with--I say, after all this, I found a great hogshead of +bread, three large runlets of rum, or spirits, a box of sugar, and +a barrel of fine flour; this was surprising to me, because I had +given over expecting any more provisions, except what was spoiled +by the water. I soon emptied the hogshead of the bread, and +wrapped it up, parcel by parcel, in pieces of the sails, which I +cut out; and, in a word, I got all this safe on shore also. + +The next day I made another voyage, and now, having plundered the +ship of what was portable and fit to hand out, I began with the +cables. Cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, +I got two cables and a hawser on shore, with all the ironwork I +could get; and having cut down the spritsail-yard, and the mizzen- +yard, and everything I could, to make a large raft, I loaded it +with all these heavy goods, and came away. But my good luck began +now to leave me; for this raft was so unwieldy, and so overladen, +that, after I had entered the little cove where I had landed the +rest of my goods, not being able to guide it so handily as I did +the other, it overset, and threw me and all my cargo into the +water. As for myself, it was no great harm, for I was near the +shore; but as to my cargo, it was a great part of it lost, +especially the iron, which I expected would have been of great use +to me; however, when the tide was out, I got most of the pieces of +the cable ashore, and some of the iron, though with infinite +labor; for I was fain to dip for it into the water, a work which +fatigued me very much. After this, I went every day on board, and +brought away what I could get. + +I had been now thirteen days on shore, and had been eleven times +on board the ship, in which time I had brought away all that one +pair of hands could well be supposed capable to bring; though I +believe verily, had the calm weather held, I should have brought +away the whole ship, piece by piece. But preparing the twelfth +time to go on board, I found the wind began to rise; however, at +low water I went on board, and, though I thought I had rummaged +the cabin so effectually that nothing more could be found, yet I +discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which I found +two or three razors, and one pair of large scissors, with some ten +or a dozen of good knives and forks: in another I found about +thirty-six pounds value in money--some European coin, some Brazil, +some pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver. + +I smiled to myself at the sight of this money: "O drug!" said I, +aloud, "what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me--no, not +the taking off the ground; one of those knives is worth all this +heap; I have no manner of use for thee--e'en remain where thou +art, and go to the bottom, as a creature whose life is not worth +saving." However, upon second thoughts I took it away; and, +wrapping all this in a piece of canvas, I began to think of making +another raft; but while I was preparing this, I found the sky +overcast, and the wind began to rise, and in a quarter of an hour +it blew a fresh gale from the shore. It presently occurred to me +that it was in vain to pretend to make a raft with the wind off +shore; and that it was my business to be gone before the tide of +flood began, otherwise I might not be able to reach the shore at +all. Accordingly, I let myself down into the water, and swam +across the channel which lay between the ship and the sands, and +even that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the +things I had about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for +the wind rose very hastily, and before it was quite high water it +blew a storm. + +But I had got home to my little tent, where I lay, with all my +wealth about me, very secure. It blew very hard all night, and in +the morning, when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be +seen! I was a little surprised, but recovered myself with the +satisfactory reflection that I had lost no time, nor abated any +diligence, to get everything out of her that could be useful to +me; and that, indeed, there was little left in her that I was able +to bring away, if I had had more time. + + + + +THE BUILDING OF THE BOAT + +By Daniel Defoe + + +Having now brought my mind a little to relish my condition, and +given over looking out to sea, to see if I could spy a ship--I +say, giving over these things, I began to apply myself to arrange +my way of living, and to make things as easy to me as I could. + +My habitation was a tent under the side of a rock, surrounded with +a strong pale of posts and cables; but I might now rather call it +a wall, for I raised a kind of wall up against it of turfs, about +two feet thick, on the outside; and after some time (I think it +was a year and a half) I raised rafters from it, leaning to the +rock, and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees, and such +things as I could get, to keep out the rain; which I found at some +times of the year very violent. + +I have already observed how I brought all my goods into this pale, +and into the cave which I had made behind me. But I must observe, +too, that at first this was a confused heap of goods, which, as +they lay in no order, so they took up all my place--I had no room +to turn myself; so I set myself to enlarge my cave, and work +farther into the earth, for it was a loose sandy rock, which +yielded easily to the labor I bestowed on it; and so, when I found +I was pretty safe as to beasts of prey, I worked sideways, to the +right hand, into the rock; and then, turning to the right again, +worked quite out, and made me a door to come out on the outside of +my pale or fortification. This gave me not only egress and +regress, as it was a back way to my tent and to my storehouse, but +gave me room to store my goods. + +And now I began to apply myself to make such necessary things as I +found I most wanted, particularly a chair and a table; for without +these I was not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the world-- +I could not write or eat, or do several things, with so much +pleasure without a table; so I went to work. And here I must +needs observe that, as reason is the substance and origin of the +mathematics, so by stating and squaring everything by reason, and +by making the most rational judgment of things, every man may be, +in time, master of every mechanic art. I had never handled a tool +in my life; and yet, in time, by labor, application, and +contrivance, I found at last that I wanted nothing but I could +have made it, especially if I had had tools. However, I made +abundance of things, even without tools; and some with no more +tools than an adze and a hatchet, which perhaps were never made +that way before, and that with infinite labor. For example, if I +wanted a board, I had no other way but to cut down a tree, set it +on an edge before me, and hew it flat on either side with my axe, +till I brought it to be thin as a plank, and then dub it smooth +with my adze. It is true, by this method I could make but one +board out of a whole tree; but this I had no remedy for but +patience, any more than I had for the prodigious deal of time and +labor which it took me up to make a plank or board; but my time or +labor was little worth, and so it was as well employed one way as +another. + +However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed above, in +the first place; and this I did out of the short pieces of boards +that I brought on my raft from the ship. But when I had wrought +out some boards as above, I made large shelves, of the breadth of +a foot and a half, one over another all along one side of my cave, +to lay all my tools, nails, and ironwork on; and, in a word, to +separate everything at large into their places, that I might come +easily at them. I knocked pieces into the wall of the rock to hang +my guns and all things that would hang up; so that, had my cave +been to be seen, it looked like a general magazine of all +necessary things; and I had everything so ready at my hand that it +was a great pleasure to me to see all my goods in such order, and +especially to find my stock of all necessaries so great. + +And now it was that I began to keep a journal of every day's +employment; for, indeed, at first I was in too much hurry, and not +only hurry as to labor, but in too much discomposure of mind; and +my journal would have been full of many dull things. + +You may be sure my thoughts ran many times upon the prospect of +land which I had seen from the other side of the island; and I was +not without secret wishes that I were on shore there, fancying +that, seeing the mainland, and an inhabited country, I might find +some way or other to convey myself further, and perhaps at last +find some means of escape. + +But all this while I made no allowance for the dangers of such an +undertaking, and how I might fall into the hands of savages, and +perhaps such as I might have reason to think far worse than the +lions and tigers of Africa: that if I once came in their power, I +should run a hazard of more than a thousand to one of being +killed, and perhaps of being eaten; for I had heard that the +people of the Caribbean coast were cannibals or man-eaters, and I +knew by the latitude that I could not be far from that shore. +Then, supposing they were not cannibals, yet they might kill me, +as many Europeans who had fallen into their hands had been served, +even when they had been ten or twenty together--much more I, that +was but one, and could make little or no defence; all these +things, I say, which I ought to have considered well, and did come +into my thoughts afterwards, yet gave me no apprehensions at +first, and my head ran mightily upon the thought of getting over +to the shore. + +Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the longboat with shoulder-of- +mutton sail, with which I sailed above a thousand miles on the +coast of Africa; but this was in vain. Then I thought I would go +and look at our ship's boat, which, as I have said, was blown up +upon the shore a great way, in the storm, when we were first cast +away. She lay almost where she did at first, but not quite; and +was turned, by the force of the waves and the winds, almost bottom +upward, against a high ridge of beachy, rough sand, but no water +about her. If I had had hands to have refitted her, and to have +launched her into the water, the boat would have done well enough, +and I might have gone back into the Brazils with her easily +enough; but I might have foreseen that I could no more turn her +and set her upright upon her bottom than I could remove the +island; however, I went to the woods, and cut levers and rollers, +and brought them to the boat, resolving to try what I could do; +suggesting to myself that if I could but turn her down, I might +repair the damage she had received, and she would be a very good +boat, and I might go to sea in her very easily. + +I spared no pains, indeed, in this piece of fruitless toil, and +spent, I think, three or four weeks about it; at last, finding it +impossible to heave it up with my little strength, I fell to +digging away the sand, to undermine it, and so to make it fall +down, setting pieces of wood to thrust and guide it right in the +fall. + +But when I had done this, I was unable to stir it up again, or to +get under it, much less to move it forward towards the water; so I +was forced to give it over; and yet, though I gave over the hopes +of the boat, my desire to venture over to the mainland increased, +rather than decreased, as the means for it seemed impossible. + +This at length put me upon thinking whether it was not possible to +make myself a canoe, or periagua, such as the natives of those +climates make, even without tools, or, as I might say, without +hands, of the trunk of a great tree. This I not only thought +possible, but easy, and pleased myself extremely with the thoughts +of making it, and with my having much more convenience for it than +any of the negroes or Indians; but not at all considering the +particular inconvenience which I lay under more than the Indians +did, viz., want of hands to move it, when it was made, into the +water--a difficulty much harder for me to surmount than all the +consequences of want of tools could be to them; for what was it to +me if, when I had chosen a vast tree in the woods, and with much +trouble cut it down, if I had been able with my tools to hew and +dub the outside into the proper shape of a boat, and burn or cut +out the inside to make it hollow, so as to make a boat of it--if, +after all this, I must leave it just there where I found it, and +not be able to launch it into the water? + +One would have thought I could not have had the least reflection +upon my mind of my circumstances while I was making this boat but +I should have immediately thought how I should get it into the +sea; but my thoughts were so intent upon my voyage over the sea in +it that I never once considered how I should get it off the land; +and it was really, in its own nature, more easy for me to guide it +over forty-five miles of sea than about forty-five fathoms of +land, where it lay, to set it afloat in the water. + +I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man +did who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the +design, without determining whether I was ever able to undertake +it; not but that the difficulty of launching my boat came often +into my head, but I put a stop to my inquiries into it by this +foolish answer which I gave myself--"Let me first make it; I +warrant I will find some way or other to get it along when it is +done." + +This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy +prevailed, and to work I went. I felled a cedar-tree, and I +question much whether Solomon ever had such a one for the building +of the Temple of Jerusalem; it was five feet ten inches diameter +at the lower part next the stump, and four feet eleven inches +diameter at the end of twenty-two feet; after which it lessened +for a while, and then parted into branches. It was not without +infinite labor that I felled this tree; I was twenty days hacking +and hewing at it at the bottom; I was fourteen more getting the +branches and limbs and the vast spreading head cut off, which I +hacked and hewed through with axe and hatchet, and inexpressible +labor; after this, it cost me a month to shape it and dub it to a +proportion, and to something like the bottom of a boat, that it +might swim upright as it ought to do. It cost me near three months +more to clear the inside, and work it out so as to make an exact +boat of it; this I did, indeed, without fire, by mere mallet and +chisel, and by the dint of hard labor, till I had brought it to be +a very handsome periagua, and big enough to have carried six-and- +twenty men, and consequently big enough to have carried me and all +my cargo. + +When I had gone through this work I was extremely delighted with +it. The boat was really much bigger than ever I saw a canoe or +periagua, that was made of one tree, in my life. Many a weary +stroke it had cost, you may be sure; and had I gotten it into the +water, I make no question but I should have begun the maddest +voyage, and the most unlikely to be performed, that ever was +undertaken. + +But all my devices to get it into the water failed me; though they +cost me infinite labor, too. It lay about one hundred yards from +the water, and not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was +up hill towards the creek. Well, to take away this discouragement, +I resolved to dig into the surface of the earth, and so make a +declivity: this I began, and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains +(but who grudge pains who have their deliverance in view?); but +when this was worked through, and this difficulty managed, it was +still much the same, for I could no more stir the canoe than I +could the other boat. Then I measured the distance of ground, and +resolved to cut a dock or canal, to bring the water up to the +canoe, seeing I could not bring the canoe down to the water. Well, +I began this work; and when I began to enter upon it, and +calculate how deep it was to be dug, how broad, how the stuff was +to be thrown out, I found that, by the number of hands I had, +being none but my own, it must have been ten or twelve years +before I could have gone through with it; for the shore lay so +high, that at the upper end it must have been at least twenty feet +deep; so at length, though with great reluctancy, I gave this +attempt over also. + +This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the +folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we +judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it. + +In the middle of this work I finished my fourth year in this +place, and kept my anniversary with the same devotion, and with as +much comfort as ever before. + +In the first place, I was removed from all the wickedness of the +world here; I had neither the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the +eye, nor the pride of life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all +that I was now capable of enjoying; I was lord of the whole manor; +or, if I pleased, I might call myself king or emperor over the +whole country which I had possession of: there were no rivals; I +had no competitor, none to dispute sovereignty or command with me; +I might have raised ship-loadings of corn, but I had no use for +it; so I let as little grow as I thought enough for my occasion. I +had tortoise or turtle enough, but now and then one was as much as +I could put to any use; I had timber enough to have built a fleet +of ships; and I had grapes enough to have made wine, or to have +cured into raisins, to have loaded that fleet when it had been +built. + +But all I could make use of was all that was valuable: I had +enough to eat and supply my wants, and what was all the rest to +me? If I killed more flesh than I could eat, the dog must eat it, +or vermin; if I sowed more corn than I could eat, it must be +spoiled; the trees that I cut down were lying to rot on the +ground; I could make no more use of them but for fuel, and that I +had no occasion for but to dress my food. + +In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, +upon just reflection, that all the good things of this world are +no farther good to us than they are for our use; and that, +whatever we may heap up to give others, we enjoy just as much as +we can use, and no more. The most covetous, griping miser in the +world would have been cured of the vice of covetousness if he had +been in my case; for I possessed infinitely more than I knew what +to do with. + + + + +FINDS THE PRINT OF A MAN'S FOOT ON THE SAND + +By Daniel Defoe + + +It would have made a Stoic smile to have seen me and my little +family sit down to dinner. There was my majesty, the prince and +lord of the whole island; I had the lives of all my subjects at my +absolute command; I could hang, draw, give liberty, and take it +away, and no rebels among all my subjects. Then, to see how like a +king I dined, too, all alone, attended by my servants! Poll, as if +he had been my favorite, was the only person permitted to talk to +me. My dog, who was now grown old, sat always at my right hand; +and two cats, one on one side of the table and one on the other, +expecting now and then a bit from my hand, as a mark of especial +favor. With this attendance and in this plentiful manner I lived; +neither could I be said to want anything but society; and of that, +some time after this, I was likely to have too much. + +I was something impatient, as I have observed, to have the use of +my boat, though very loath to run any more hazards; and therefore +sometimes I sat contriving ways to get her about the island, and +at other times I sat myself down contented enough without her. But +I had a strange uneasiness in my mind to go down to the point of +the island: this inclination increased upon me every day, and at +length I resolved to travel thither by land, following the edge of +the shore. I did so; but had any one in England met such a man as +I was, it must either have frightened him, or raised a great deal +of laughter; and as I frequently stood still to look at myself, I +could not but smile at the notion of my travelling through +Yorkshire with such an equipage, and in such a dress. Be pleased +to take a sketch of my figure, as follows: + +I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat's skin, with a +flap hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me as to +shoot the rain off from running into my neck, nothing being so +hurtful in these climates as the rain upon the flesh under the +clothes. + +I had a short jacket of goat's skin, the skirts coming down to +about the middle of the thighs, and a pair of open-kneed breeches +of the same; the breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat, +whose hair hung down such a length on either side that, like +pantaloons, it reached to the middle of my legs; stockings and +shoes I had none, but had made me a pair of somethings, I scarce +knew what to call them, like buskins, to flap over my legs, and +lace on either side like spatterdashes, but of a most barbarous +shape, as indeed were all the rest of my clothes. + +I had on a broad belt of goat's skin dried, which I drew together +with two thongs of the same instead of buckles, and in a kind of a +frog on either side of this, instead of a sword and dagger, hung a +little saw and a hatchet, one on one side and one on the other. I +had another belt not so broad, and fastened in the same manner, +which hung over my shoulder, and at the end of it, under my left +arm, hung two pouches, both made of goat's skin, too, in one of +which hung my powder, in the other my shot. At my back I carried +my basket, and on my shoulder my gun, and over my head a great +clumsy, ugly, goat's-skin umbrella, but which, after all, was the +most necessary thing I had about me next to my gun. As for my +face, the color of it was really not so mulatto-like as one might +expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living within nine +or ten degrees of the equinox. My beard I had once suffered to +grow till it was about a quarter of a yard long; but, as I had +both scissors and razors sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, +except what grew on my upper lip, which I had trimmed into a large +pair of Mahometan whiskers, such as I had seen worn by some Turks +at Sallee, for the Moors did not wear such, though the Turks did; +of these mustachios, or whiskers, I will not say they were long +enough to hang my hat upon them, but they were of a length and +shape monstrous enough, and such as in England would have passed +for frightful. + +But all this is by the by; for as to my figure, I had so few to +observe me that it was of no manner of consequence, so I say no +more of that. In this kind of dress I went my new journey, and was +out five or six days. I travelled first along the seashore, +directly to the place where I first brought my boat to an anchor +to get upon the rocks; and, having no boat now to take care of, I +went over the land a nearer way to the same height that I was upon +before, when, looking forward to the points of the rocks which lay +out, and which I was obliged to double with my boat, as is said +above, I was surprised to see the sea all smooth and quiet--no +rippling, no motion, no current, any more there than in other +places. I was at a strange loss to understand this, and resolved +to spend some time in the observing it, to see if nothing from the +sets of the tide had occasioned it; but I was presently convinced +how it was; viz., that the tide of ebb setting from the west, and +joining with the current of waters from some great river on the +shore, must be the occasion of this current, and that, according +as the wind blew more forcibly from the west or from the north, +this current came nearer or went farther from the shore; for, +waiting thereabouts till evening, I went up to the rock again, and +then, the tide of ebb being made, I plainly saw the current again +as before, only that it ran farther off, being near half a league +from the shore, whereas in my case it set close upon the shore, +and hurried me and my canoe along with it, which at another time +it would not have done. + +This observation convinced me that I had nothing to do but to +observe the ebbing and the flowing of the tide, and I might very +easily bring my boat about the island again; but when I began to +think of putting it in practice, I had such terror upon my spirits +at the remembrance of the danger I had been in, that I could not +think of it again with any patience, but, on the contrary, I took +up another resolution, which was more safe, though more laborious-- +and this was, that I would build, or rather make, me another +perigaua or canoe, and so have one for one side of the island, and +one for the other. + +You are to understand that now I had, as I may call it, two +plantations in the island--one my little fortification or tent, +with the wall about it, under the rock, with the cave behind me, +which by this time I had enlarged into several apartments or +caves, one within another. One of these, which was the driest and +largest, and had a door out beyond my wall or fortification--that +is to say, beyond where my wall joined to the rock--was all filled +up with the large earthen pots of which I have given an account, +and with fourteen or fifteen great baskets, which would hold five +or six bushels each, where I laid up my stores of provisions, +especially my corn, some in the ear, cut off short from the straw, +and the other rubbed out with my hand. + +As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes or piles, those +piles grew all like trees, and were by this time grown so big, and +spread so very much, that there was not the least appearance, to +any one's view, of any habitation behind them. + +Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, +and upon lower ground, lay my two pieces of corn land, which I +kept duly cultivated and sowed, and which duly yielded me their +harvest in its season; and whenever I had occasion for more corn, +I had more land adjoining as fit as that. + +Besides this, I had my country-seat, and I had now a tolerable +plantation there also; for, first, I had my little bower as I +called it, which I kept in repair--that is to say, I kept the +hedge which encircled it in constantly fitted up to its usual +height, the ladder standing always in the inside. I kept the +trees, which at first were no more than stakes, but were now grown +very firm and tall, always cut, so that they might spread and +grow thick and wild, and make the more agreeable shade, which they +did effectually to my mind. In the middle of this I had my tent +always standing, being a piece of a sail spread over poles, set up +for that purpose, and which never wanted any repair or renewing; +and under this I had made me a squab or couch with the skins of +the creatures I had killed, and with other soft things, and a +blanket laid on them, such as belonged to our sea-bedding, which I +had saved; and a great watch-coat to cover me. And there, whenever +I had occasion to be absent from my chief seat, I took up my +country habitation. + +Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle, that is to +say my goats, and I had taken an inconceivable deal of pains to +fence and enclose this ground. I was so anxious to see it kept +entire, lest the goats should break through, that I never left off +till, with infinite labor, I had stuck the outside of the hedge so +full of small stakes, and so near to one another, that it was +rather a pale than a hedge, and there was scarce room to put a +hand through between them; which afterwards, when those stakes +grew, as they all did in the next rainy season, made the enclosure +strong like a wall, indeed stronger than any wall. + +This will testify for me that I was not idle, and that I spared no +pains to bring to pass whatever appeared necessary for my +comfortable support, for I considered the keeping up a breed of +tame creatures thus at my hand would be a living magazine of +flesh, milk, butter, and cheese for me as long as I lived in the +place, if it were to be forty years; and that keeping them in my +reach depended entirely upon my perfecting my enclosures to such a +degree that I might be sure of keeping them together; which by +this method, indeed, I so effectually secured that, when these +little stakes began to grow, I had planted them so very thick that +I was forced to pull some of them up again. + +In this place also I had my grapes growing, which I principally +depended on for my winter store of raisins, and which I never +failed to preserve very carefully, as the best and most agreeable +dainty of my whole diet; and indeed they were not only agreeable, +but medicinal, wholesome, nourishing, and refreshing to the last +degree. + +As this was also about half-way between my other habitation and +the place where I had laid up my boat, I generally stayed and lay +here in my way thither, for I used frequently to visit my boat; +and I kept all things about or belonging to her in very good +order. Sometimes I went out in her to divert myself, but no more +hazardous voyages would I go, scarcely ever above a stone's cast +or two from the shore, I was so apprehensive of being hurried out +of my knowledge again by the currents or winds, or any other +accident. But now I come to a new scene of my life. + +It happened one day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was +exceedingly surprised with the print of a man's naked foot on the +shore, which was very plain to be seen on the sand. I stood like +one thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an apparition. I listened, +I looked round me, but I could hear nothing, nor see anything; I +went up to a rising ground to look farther; I went up the shore +and down the shore, but it was all one; I could see no other +impression but that one. I went to it again to see if there were +any more, and to observe if it might not be my fancy; but there +was no room for that, for there was exactly the print of a foot-- +toes, heel, and every part of a foot. How it came thither I knew +not, nor could I in the least imagine; but after innumerable +fluttering thoughts, like a man perfectly confused and out of +myself, I came home to my fortification, not feeling, as we say, +the ground I went on, but terrified to the last degree, looking +behind me at every two or three steps, mistaking every bush and +tree, and fancying every stump at a distance to be a man. Nor is +it possible to describe how many various shapes my affrighted +imagination represented things to me in, how many wild ideas were +found every moment in my fancy, and what strange, unaccountable +whimsies came into my thoughts by the way. + +When I came to my castle (for so I think I called it ever after +this), I fled into it like one pursued. Whether I went over by the +ladder, as first contrived, or went in at the hole in the rock, +which I had called a door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I +remember the next morning, for never frightened hare fled to +cover, or fox to earth, with more terror of mind than I to this +retreat. + +I slept none that night; the farther I was from the occasion of my +fright, the greater my apprehensions were, which is something +contrary to the nature of such things, and especially to the usual +practice of all creatures in fear; but I was so embarrassed with +my own frightful ideas of the thing, that I formed nothing but +dismal imaginations to myself, even though I was now a great way +off. Sometimes I fancied it must be the devil, and reason joined +in with me in this supposition, for how should any other thing in +human shape come into the place? Where was the vessel that brought +them? What marks were there of any other footstep? And how was it +possible a man should come there? But then, to think that Satan +should take human shape upon him in such a place, where there +could be no manner of occasion for it, but to leave the print of +his foot behind him, and that even for no purpose, too, for he +could not be sure I should see it--this was an amusement the other +way. I considered that the devil might have found out abundance of +other ways to have terrified me than this of the single print of a +foot; that as I lived quite on the other side of the island, he +would never have been so simple as to leave a mark in a place +where it was ten thousand to one whether I should ever see it or +not, and in the sand, too, which the first surge of the sea, upon +a high wind, would have defaced entirely. All this seemed +inconsistent with the thing itself, and with all the notions we +usually entertain of the subtlety of the devil. + +Abundance of such things as these assisted to argue me out of all +apprehensions of its being the devil; and I presently concluded +then that it must be some more dangerous creature; viz., that it +must be some of the savages of the mainland opposite who had +wandered out to sea in their canoes, and, either driven by the +currents or by contrary winds, had made the island, and had been +on shore, but were gone away again to sea; being as loath, +perhaps, to have stayed in this desolate island as I would have +been to have had them. + +While these reflections were rolling in my mind, I was very +thankful in my thoughts that I was so happy as not to be +thereabouts at that time, or that they did not see my boat, by +which they would have concluded that some inhabitants had been in +the place, and perhaps have searched farther for me. Then terrible +thoughts racked my imagination about their having found out my +boat, and that there were people here; and that, if so, I should +certainly have them come again in greater numbers and devour me; +that if it should happen that they should not find me, yet they +would find my enclosure, destroy all my corn, and carry away all +my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at last for mere want. + +Thus my fear banished all my religious hope, all that former +confidence in God, which was founded upon such wonderful +experience as I had had of His goodness; as if He that had fed me +by miracle hitherto could not preserve, by His power, the +provision which He had made for me by His goodness. I reproached +myself with my laziness, that would not sow any more corn one year +than would just serve me till the next season, as if no accident +could intervene to prevent my enjoying the crop that was upon the +ground; and this I thought so just a reproof, that I resolved for +the future to have two or three years' corn beforehand; so that, +whatever might come, I might not perish for want of bread. + +How strange a chequer-work of Providence is the life of man! and +by what secret different springs are the affections hurried about, +as different circumstances present! To-day we love what to-morrow +we hate; to-day we seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire +what to-morrow we fear, nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of. +This was exemplified in me, at this time, in the most lively +manner imaginable; for I whose only affliction was that I seemed +banished from human society, that I was alone, circumscribed by +the boundless ocean, cut off from mankind, and condemned to what I +call silent life; that I was as one whom Heaven thought not worthy +to be numbered among the living, or to appear among the rest of +His creatures; that to have seen one of my own species would have +seemed to me a raising me from death to life, and the greatest +blessing that Heaven itself, next to the supreme blessing of +salvation, could bestow--I say, that I should now tremble at the +very apprehensions of seeing a man, and was ready to sink into the +ground at but the shadow or silent appearance of a man having set +his foot in the island. + +Such is the uneven state of human life; and it afforded me a great +many curious speculations afterwards, when I had recovered from my +first surprise. I considered that this was the station of life the +infinitely wise and good providence of God had determined for me; +that as I could not foresee what the ends of Divine wisdom might +be in all this, so I was not to dispute His sovereignty; who, as I +was His creature, had an undoubted right, by creation, to govern +and dispose of me absolutely as He thought fit; and who, as I was +a creature that had offended Him, had likewise a judicial right to +condemn me to what punishment He thought fit; and that it was my +part to submit to bear His indignation, because I had sinned +against Him. I then reflected, that as God, who was not only +righteous but omnipotent, had thought fit thus to punish and +afflict me, so He was able to deliver me: that if He did not think +fit to do so, it was my unquestioned duty to resign myself +absolutely and entirely to His will; and, on the other hand, it +was my duty also to hope in Him, pray to Him, and quietly to +attend to the dictates and directions of His daily providence. + +These thoughts took me up many hours, days, nay, I may say weeks +and months: and one particular effect of my cogitations on this +occasion I cannot omit. One morning early, lying in my bed, and +filled with thoughts about my danger from the appearances of +savages, I found it discomposed me very much; upon which these +words of the Scripture came into my thoughts, "Call upon Me in the +day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify +Me." Upon this, rising cheerfully out of my bed, my heart was not +only comforted, but I was guided and encouraged to pray earnestly +to God for deliverance; when I had done praying I took up my +Bible, and, opening it to read, the first words that presented to +me were, "Wait on the Lord, and be of good cheer, and He shall +strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." It is impossible +to express the comfort this gave me. In answer, I thankfully laid +down the book, and was no more sad, at least on that occasion. + +In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions, and +reflections, it came into my thoughts one day that all this might, +be a mere chimera of my own, and that this foot might be the print +of my own foot, when I came on shore from my boat: this cheered me +up a little, too, and I began to persuade myself it was all a +delusion; that it was nothing else but my own foot; and why might +I not come that way from the boat, as well as I was going that way +to the boat? Again, I considered also that I could by no means +tell for certain where I had trod, and where I had not; and that +if, at last, this was only the print of my own foot, I had played +the part of those fools who try to make stories of spectres and +apparitions, and then are frightened at them more than anybody. + +Now I began to take courage, and to peep abroad again, for I had +not stirred out of my castle for three days and nights so that I +began to starve for provisions; for I had little or nothing within +doors but some barley-cakes and water; then I knew that my goats +wanted to be milked, too, which usually was my evening diversion, +and the poor creatures were in great pain and inconvenience for +want of it; and, indeed, it almost spoiled some of them, and +almost dried up their milk. Encouraging myself, therefore, with +the belief that this was nothing but the print of one of my own +feet, and that I might be truly said to start at my own shadow, I +began to go abroad again, and went to my country house to milk my +flock; but to see with what fear I went forward, how often I +looked behind me, how I was ready every now and then to lay down +my basket and run for my life, it would have made any one have +thought I was haunted with an evil conscience, or that I had been +lately most terribly frightened; and so, indeed, I had. + +However, I went down thus two or three days, and, having seen +nothing, I began to be a little bolder, and to think there was +really nothing in it but my own imagination; but I could not +persuade myself fully of this till I should go down to the shore +again, and see this print of a foot, and measure it by my own, and +see if there was any similitude or fitness, that I might be +assured it was my own foot: but when I came to the place, first, +it appeared evidently to me that when I laid up my boat I could +not possibly be on shore anywhere thereabouts; secondly, when I +came to measure the mark with my own foot, I found my foot not so +large by a great deal. Both these things filled my head with new +imaginations, and gave me the vapors again to the highest degree, +so that I shook with cold like one in an ague; and I went home +again, filled with the belief that some man or men had been on +shore there; or, in short, that the island was inhabited, and I +might be surprised before I was aware; and what course to take for +my security I knew not. + +Oh, what ridiculous resolutions men take when possessed with fear! +It deprives them of the use of those means which reason offers for +their relief. The first thing I proposed to myself was, to throw +down my enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle wild into the +woods, lest the enemy should find them, and then frequent the +island in prospect of the same or the like booty; then the simple +thing of digging up my two corn-fields, lest they should find such +a grain there, and still be prompted to frequent the island; then +to demolish my bower and tent, that they might not see any +vestiges of habitation, and be prompted to look farther, in order +to find out the persons inhabiting. + +These were the subjects of the first night's cogitations after I +was come home again, while the apprehensions which had so overrun +my mind were fresh upon me, and my head was full of vapors. Thus, +fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger +itself, when apparent to the eyes, and we find the burden of +anxiety greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious +about; and what was worse than all this, I had not that relief in +this trouble that from the resignation I used to practise I hoped +to have. I looked, I thought, like Saul, who complained not only +that the Philistines were upon him, but that God had forsaken him; +for I did not now take due ways to compose my mind, by crying to +God in my distress, and resting upon His providence, as I had done +before, for my defence and deliverance; which, if I had done, I +had at least been more cheerfully supported under this new +surprise, and perhaps carried through it with more resolution. + +This confusion of my thoughts kept me awake all night; but in the +morning I fell asleep; and having, by the amusement of my mind, +been as it were tired, and my spirits exhausted, I slept very +soundly, and waked much better composed than I had ever been +before. And now I began to think sedately; and, upon debate with +myself, I concluded that this island (which was so exceedingly +pleasant, fruitful, and no farther from the mainland than as I had +seen) was not so entirely abandoned as I might imagine; that, +although there were no stated inhabitants who lived on the spot, +yet that there might sometimes come boats off from the shore, who, +either with design, or perhaps never but when they were driven by +cross winds, might come to this place; that I had lived there +fifteen years now and had not met with the least shadow or figure +of any people yet; and that, if at any time they should be driven +here, it was probable they went away again as soon as ever they +could, seeing they had never thought fit to fix here upon any +occasion; that the most I could suggest any danger from was from +any casual accidental landing of straggling people from the main, +who, as it was likely, if they were driven hither, were here +against their wills, so they made no stay here, but went off again +with all possible speed; seldom staying one night on shore, lest +they should not have the help of the tides and daylight back +again; and that, therefore, I had nothing to do but consider of +some safe retreat, in case I should see any savages land upon the +spot. + +Now I began sorely to repent that I had dug my cave so large as to +bring a door through again, which door, as I said, came out beyond +where my fortification joined to the rock; upon maturely +considering this, therefore, I resolved to draw me a second +fortification; in the manner of a semicircle, at a distance from +my wall, just where I had planted a double row of trees about +twelve years before, of which I made mention; these trees having +been planted so thick before, they wanted but few piles to be +driven between them, that they might be thicker and stronger, and +my wall would be soon finished. So that I had now a double wall; +and my outer wall was thickened with pieces of timber, old cables, +and everything I could think of, to make it strong; having in it +seven little holes, about as big as I might put my arm out at. In +the inside of this I thickened my wall to about ten feet thick +with continually bringing earth out of my cave, and laying it at +the foot of the wall, and walking upon it; and through the seven +holes I contrived to plant the muskets, of which I took notice +that I had got seven on shore out of the ship; these I planted +like my cannon, and fitted them into frames, that held them like a +carriage, so that I could fire all the seven guns in two minutes' +time; this wall I was many a weary month in finishing, and yet +never thought myself safe till it was done. + +When this was done I stuck all the ground without my wall, for a +great length every way, as full with stakes or sticks of the +osier-like wood, which I found so apt to grow, as they could well +stand; insomuch that I believe I might set in near twenty thousand +of them, leaving a pretty large space between them and my wall, +that I might have room to see an enemy, and they might have no +shelter from the young trees, if they attempted to approach my +outer wall. + +Thus in two years' time I had a thick grove; and in five or six +years' time I had a wood before my dwelling, growing so +monstrously thick and strong that it was indeed perfectly +impassable; and no men, of what kind soever, could ever imagine +that there was anything beyond it, much less a habitation. As for +the way which I proposed to myself to go in and out (for I left no +avenue), it was by setting two ladders, one to a part of the rock +which was low, and then broke in, and left room to place another +ladder upon that; so when the two ladders were taken down no man +living could come down to me without doing himself mischief; and +if they had come down, they were still on the outside of my outer +wall. + +Thus I took all the measures human prudence could suggest for my +own preservation; and it will be seen at length that they were not +altogether without just reason; though I foresaw nothing at that +time more than my mere fear suggested to me. + + + + +FRIDAY RESCUED FROM THE CANNIBALS + +By Daniel Defoe + + +I was surprised one morning by seeing no less than five canoes all +on shore together on my side the island, and the people who +belonged to them all landed and out of my sight. The number of +them broke all my measures; for seeing so many, and knowing that +they always came four or six or sometimes more in a boat, I could +not tell what to think of it, or how to take my measures to +attack twenty or thirty men single-handed; so lay still in my +castle perplexed and discomforted. However, I put myself into the +same position for an attack that I had formerly provided, and was +just ready for action if anything had presented. Having waited a +good while listening to hear if they made any noise, at length, +being very impatient, I set my guns at the foot of my ladder, and +clambered up to the top of the hill, by my two stages, as usual; +standing so, however, that my head did not appear above the hill, +so that they could not perceive me by any means. Here I observed, +by the help of my perspective glass, that they were no less than +thirty in number; that they had a fire kindled, and that they had +meat dressed. How they had cooked it I knew not, or what it was, +but they were all dancing, in I know not how many barbarous +gestures and figures, their own way, round the fire. + +While I was thus looking on them, I perceived, by my perspective, +two miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems, +they were laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I +perceived one of them immediately fall, being knocked down, I +suppose, with a club or wooden sword, for that was their way; and +two or three others were at work immediately, cutting him open for +their cookery, while the other victim was left standing by +himself, till they should be ready for him. In that very moment, +this poor wretch seeing himself a little at liberty and unbound, +nature inspired him with hopes of life, and he started away from +them, and ran with incredible swiftness along the sands, directly +towards me; I mean towards that part of the coast where my +habitation was. + +I was dreadfully frightened, I must acknowledge, when I perceived +him run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him +pursued by the whole body; and now I expected that part of my +dream was coming to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter +in my grove; but I could not depend, by any means, upon my dream +that the other savages would not pursue him thither and find him +there. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began to recover +when I found that there was not above three men that followed him; +and still more was I encouraged when I found that he outstripped +them exceedingly in running, and gained ground on them; so that, +if he could but hold out for half an hour, I saw easily he would +fairly get away from them all. + +There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned +often in the first part of my story, where I landed my cargoes out +of the ship, and this I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, +or the poor wretch would be taken there; but when the savage +escaping came thither he made nothing of it, though the tide was +then up, but, plunging in, swam through in about thirty strokes, +or thereabouts, landed, and ran with exceeding strength and +swiftness. + +When the three persons came to the creek, I found that two of them +could swim, but the third could not, and that, standing on the +other side, he looked at the others, but went no farther, and +soon after went softly back again; which, as it happened, was very +well for him in the end. I observed that the two who swam were yet +more than twice as long swimming over the creek as the fellow was +that fled from them. It came very warmly upon my thoughts, and +indeed irresistibly, that now was the time to get me a servant, +and, perhaps, a companion or assistant; and that I was plainly +called by Providence to save this poor creature's life. I +immediately ran down the ladders with all possible expedition, +fetched my two guns, for they were both at the foot of the +ladders, as I observed before, and getting up again with the same +haste to the top of the hill, I crossed towards the sea; and +having a very short cut, and all down hill, placed myself in the +way between the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud to him +that fled, who, looking back, was at first perhaps as much +frightened at me as at them; but I beckoned with my hand to him to +come back and, in the meantime, I slowly advanced towards the two +that followed; then rushing at once upon the foremost, I knocked +him down with the stock of my piece. I was loath to fire, because +I would not have the rest hear; though, at that distance, it would +not have been easily heard, and being out of sight of the smoke, +too, they would not have known what to make of it. Having knocked +this fellow down, the other who pursued him stopped, as if he had +been frightened, and I advanced towards him; but as I came nearer, +I perceived presently he had a bow and arrow, and was fitting it +to shoot at me: so I was then obliged to shoot at him first, +which I did, and killed him at the first shot. + +The poor savage who fled, but had stopped, though he saw both his +enemies fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frightened +with the fire and noise of my piece that he stood stock still and +neither came forward nor went backward, though he seemed rather +inclined still to fly than to come on. I hallooed again to him, +and made signs to come forward, which he easily understood, and +came a little way; then stopped again, and then a little farther, +and stopped again; and I could then perceive that he stood +trembling, as if he had been taken prisoner, and had just been +sentenced to be killed, as his two enemies were. I beckoned to him +again to come to me, and gave him all the signs of encouragement +that I could think of; and he came nearer and nearer, kneeling +down every ten or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment for +saving his life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly, and +beckoned to him to come still nearer; at length he came close to +me, and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground and laid his +head upon the ground, and taking me by the foot set my foot upon +his head; this, it seems, was in token of swearing to be my slave +forever. I took him up and made much of him, and encouraged him +all I could. + +But there was more work to do yet, for I perceived the savage whom +I had knocked down was not killed, but stunned with the blow, and +began to come to himself; so I pointed to him, and showed him the +savage, that he was not dead; upon this he spoke some words to me +and, though I could not understand them, yet I thought they were +pleasant to hear, for they were the first sound of a man's voice +that I had heard, my own excepted, for above twenty-five years. + +But there was no time for such reflections now; the savage who was +knocked down recovered himself so far as to sit up upon the +ground, and I perceived that my savage began to be afraid; but +when I saw that, I presented my other piece at the man, as if I +would shoot him; upon this my savage, for so I call him now, made +a motion to me to lend him my sword, which hung naked in a belt by +my side, which I did. He no sooner had it but he runs to his +enemy, and at one blow cut off his head so cleverly no executioner +in Germany could have done it sooner or better; which I thought +very strange for one who, I had reason to believe, never saw a +sword in his life before, except their own wooden swords. However, +it seems, as I learned afterwards, they make their wooden swords +so sharp, so heavy, and the wood is so hard, that they will even +cut off heads with them, ay, and arms, and that at one blow, too. +When he had done this, he comes laughing to me in sign of triumph, +and brought me the sword again, and, with abundance of gestures +which I did not understand, laid it down, with the head of the +savage that he had killed, just before me. But that which +astonished him most was to know how I killed the other Indian so +far off; so, pointing to him, he made signs to me to let him go to +him; and I bade him go, as well as I could. When he came to him, +he stood like one amazed, looking at him, turning him first on +one side, then on the other; looked at the wound the bullet had +made, which it seems was just in his breast, where it had made a +hole, and no great quantity of blood had followed; but he had bled +inwardly, for he was quite dead. He took up his bow and arrows, +and came back; so I turned to go away, and beckoned him to follow +me, making sign to him that more might come after them. Upon this +he made signs to me that he should bury them with sand, that they +might not be seen by the rest, if they followed; and so I made +signs to him again to do so. He fell to work; and in an instant he +had scraped a hole in the sand with his hands big enough to bury +the first in, and then dragged him into it, and covered him, and +did so by the other also; I believe he had buried them both in a +quarter of an hour. Then, calling him away, I carried him, not to +my castle, but quite away to my cave, on the farther part of the +island: so I did not let my dream come to pass in that part, that +he came into my grove for shelter. Here I gave him bread and a +bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of water, which I found he +was indeed in great distress for, from his running; and, having +refreshed him, I made signs for him to go and lie down to sleep, +showing him a place where I had laid some rice-straw, and a +blanket upon it, which I used to sleep upon myself sometimes; so +the poor creature lay down, and went to sleep. + +He was a comely, handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with +straight, strong limbs, not too large; tall, and well-shaped; +and, as I reckon, about twenty-six years of age. He had a very +good countenance, not a fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to +have something very manly in his face; and yet he had all the +sweetness and softness of a European in his countenance, too, +especially when he smiled. His hair was long and black, not curled +like wool; his forehead very high and large; and a great vivacity +and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The color of his skin was not +quite black, but very tawny; and yet not an ugly, yellow, nauseous +tawny, as the Brazilians and Virginians, and other natives of +America are, but of a bright kind of a dun olive-color, that had +in it something very agreeable, though not very easy to describe. +His face was round and plump; his nose small, not flat, like the +negroes; a very good mouth, thin lips, and his fine teeth well +set, and as white as ivory. + +After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about half an hour, he +awoke again, and came out of the cave to me--for I had been +milking my goats which I had in the enclosure just by; when he +espied me he came running to me, laying himself down again upon +the ground, with all the possible signs of an humble, thankful +disposition, making a great many antic gestures to show it. At +last he lays his head flat upon the ground, close to my foot, and +sets my other foot upon his head, as he had done before; and after +this made all the signs to me of subjection, servitude, and +submission imaginable, to let me know how he would serve me so +long as he lived. I understood him in many things, and let him +know I was very well pleased with him. In a little time I began to +speak to him, and teach him to speak to me; and first, I let him +know his name should be Friday, which was the day I saved his +life: I called him so for the memory of the time. I likewise +taught him to say Master, and then let him know that was to be my +name; I likewise taught him to say yes and no, and to know the +meaning of them. I gave him some milk in an earthen pot, and let +him see me drink it before him, and sop my bread in it; and gave +him a cake of bread to do the like, which he quickly complied +with, and made signs that it was very good for him. + +I kept there with him all that night; but as soon as it was day I +beckoned to him to come with me, and let him know I would give him +some clothes; at which he seemed very glad, for he was stark +naked. As we went by the place where he had buried the two men, he +pointed exactly to the place, and showed me the marks that he had +made to find them again, making signs to me that we should dig +them up again and eat them. At this I appeared very angry, +expressed my abhorrence of it, made as if I would vomit at the +thoughts of it, and beckoned with my hand to him to come away, +which he did immediately, with great submission. + +I then led him up to the top of the hill, to see if his enemies +were gone; and pulling out my glass I looked, and saw plainly the +place where they had been, but no appearance of them or their +canoes; so that it was plain they were gone, and had left their +two comrades behind them, without any search after them. + +We came back to our castle, and there I fell to work for my man +Friday; and first of all I gave him a pair of linen drawers, which +I had out of the poor gunner's chest I mentioned, which I found in +the wreck, and which, with a little alteration, fitted him very +well; and then I made him a jerkin of goat's skin, as well as my +skill would allow (for I was now grown a tolerably good tailor); +and I gave him a cap which I made of hare's skin, very convenient, +and fashionable enough; and thus he was clothed, for the present, +tolerably well, and was mighty well pleased to see himself almost +as well clothed as his master. It is true he went awkwardly in +these clothes at first: wearing the drawers was very awkward to +him, and the sleeves of the waistcoat galled his shoulders and the +inside of his arms; but a little easing them where he complained +they hurt him, and using himself to them, he took to them at +length very well. + +The next day, after I came home to my hutch with him, I began to +consider where I should lodge him; and that I might do well for +him and yet be perfectly easy myself, I made a little tent for him +in the vacant place between my two fortifications, in the inside +of the last, and in the outside of the first. As there was a door +or entrance there into my cave, I made a formal framed door-case, +and a door to it, of boards, and set it up in the passage, a +little within the entrance; and, causing the door to open in the +inside, I barred it up in the night, taking in my ladders, too; +so that Friday could no way come at me in the inside of my +innermost wall without making so much noise in getting over that +it must needs awaken me; for my first wall had now a complete roof +over it of long poles, covering all my tent, and leaning up to the +side of the hill; which was again laid across with smaller sticks, +instead of laths, and then thatched over a great thickness with +the rice-straw, which was strong, like reeds; and at the hole or +place which was left to go in or out by the ladder I had placed a +kind of trap-door, which, if it had been attempted on the outside, +would not have opened at all, but would have fallen down and made +a great noise. As to weapons, I took them all into my side every +night. But I needed none of all this precaution; for never man had +a more faithful, loving, sincere servant than Friday was to me; +without passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged and +engaged; his very affections were tied to me, like those of a +child to a father, and I dare say he would have sacrificed his +life to save mine upon any occasion whatsoever; the many +testimonies he gave me of this put it out of doubt, and soon +convinced me that I needed to use no precautions for my safety on +his account. + +I was greatly delighted with him, and made it my business to teach +him everything that was proper to make him useful, handy, and +helpful; but especially to make him speak, and understand me when +I spoke; and he was the aptest scholar that ever was; and +particularly was so merry, so constantly diligent, and so pleased +when he could but understand me, or make me understand him, that +it was very pleasant to me to talk to him. + +Now my life began to be so easy that I began to say to myself that +could I but have been safe from more savages, I cared not if I was +never to remove from the place where I lived. + + + + +ROBINSON CRUSOE RESCUED + +By Daniel Defoe + + +[After having been on his island for twenty-seven years, an +English vessel at last arrives. The crew had mutinied, and brought +the captain and several of the men ashore. Crusoe saves the +captain and two of the crew, and seizes the ship's boat.] + +While we were thus preparing our designs, and had first, by main +strength, heaved the boat upon the beach so high that the tide +would not float her off at high-water mark, and besides had broke +a hole in her bottom too big to be quickly stopped, and were set +down musing what we should do, we heard the ship fire a gun, and +make a waft with her ensign as a signal for the boat to come on +board-but no boat stirred; and they fired several times, making +other signals for the boat. At last, when all their signals and +firing proved fruitless, and they found the boat did not stir, we +saw them, by the help of my glasses, hoist another boat out and +row towards the shore; and we found, as they approached, that +there were no less than ten men in her, and that they had +firearms with them. + +As the ship lay almost two leagues from the shore, we had a full +view of them as they came, and a plain sight even of their faces; +because, the tide having set them a little to the east of the +other boat, they rowed up under shore, to come to the same place +where the other had landed, and where the boat lay; by this means, +I say, we had a full view of them, and the captain knew the +persons and characters of all the men in the boat, of whom, be +said, there were three very honest fellows, who, he was sure, were +led into this conspiracy by the rest, being overpowered and +frightened; but that as for the boatswain, who it seems was the +chief officer among them, and all the rest, they were as +outrageous as any of the ship's crew, and were no doubt made +desperate in their new enterprise; and terribly apprehensive he +was that they would be too powerful for us. I smiled at him, and +told him that men in our circumstances were past the operation of +fear; that, seeing almost every condition that could be was better +than that which we were supposed to be in, we ought to expect that +the consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to be a +deliverance. I asked him what he thought of the circumstances of +my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth venturing for. + +"And where, sir," said I, "is your belief of my being preserved +here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a little +while ago? For my part," said I, "there seems to be but one thing +amiss in all the prospect of it." + +"What is that?" says he. + +"Why," said I, "it is that, as you say, there are three or four +honest fellows among them which should be spared; had they been +all of the wicked part of the crew I should have thought God's +providence had singled them out to deliver them into your hands; +for depend upon it, every man that comes ashore is our own, and +shall die or live as they behave to us." + +As I spoke this with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I +found it greatly encouraged him; so we set vigorously to our +business. + +We had, upon the first appearance of the boat's coming from the +ship, considered of separating our prisoners; and we had, indeed, +secured them effectually. Two of them, of whom the captain was +less assured than ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of the +three delivered men, to my cave, where they were remote enough, +and out of danger of being heard or discovered, or of finding +their way out of the woods if they could have delivered +themselves. Here they left them bound, but gave them provisions, +and promised them, if they continued there quietly, to give them +their liberty in a day or two; but that if they attempted their +escape they should be put to death without mercy. They promised +faithfully to bear their confinement with patience, and were very +thankful that they had such good usage as to have provisions and +light left them; for Friday gave them candles (such as we made +ourselves) for their comfort; and they did not know but that he +stood sentinel over them at the entrance. + +The other prisoners had better usage; two of them were kept +pinioned, indeed, because the captain was not able to trust them; +but the other two were taken into my service, upon the captain's +recommendation, and upon their solemnly engaging to live and die +with us; so with them and the three honest men we were seven men, +well armed; and I made no doubt we should be able to deal well +enough with the ten that were coming, considering that the captain +had said there were three or four honest men among them also. As +soon as they got to the place where their other boat lay, they ran +their boat into the beach and came all on shore, hauling the boat +up after them, which I was glad to see, for I was afraid they +would rather have left the boat at an anchor some distance from +the shore, with some hands in her to guard her, and so we should +not be able to seize the boat. + +Being on shore, the first thing they did, they ran all to their +other boat; and it was easy to see they were under a great +surprise to find her stripped, as above, of all that was in her, +and a great hole in her bottom. After they had mused a while upon +this, they set up two or three great shouts, hallooing with all +their might, to try if they could make their companions hear; but +all was to no purpose. Then they came all close in a ring, and +fired a volley of their small arms, which indeed we heard, and the +echoes made the woods ring. But it was all one; those in the cave, +we were sure, could not hear; and those in our keeping, though +they heard it well enough, yet durst give no answer to them. They +were so astonished at the surprise of this, that, as they told us +afterwards, they resolved to go all on board again to their ship, +and let them know that the men were all murdered, and the long- +boat staved; accordingly, they immediately launched their boat +again, and got all of them on board. + +The captain was terribly amazed, and even confounded, at this, +believing they would go on board the ship again and set sail, +giving their comrades over for lost, and so he should still lose +the ship, which he was in hopes we should have recovered; but he +was quickly as much frightened the other way. + +They had not been long put off the boat, when we perceived them +all coming on shore again; but with this new measure in their +conduct, which it seems they consulted together upon, viz., to +leave three men in the boat, and the rest to go on shore, and go +up into the country to look for their fellows. This was a great +disappointment to us, for now we were at a loss what to do, as our +seizing those seven men on shore would be no advantage to us if we +let the boat escape; because they would row away to the ship, and +then the rest of them would be sure to weigh and set sail, and so +our recovering the ship would be lost. However, we had no remedy +but to wait and see what the issue of things might present. The +seven men came on shore, and the three who remained in the boat +put her off to a good distance from the shore, and came to an +anchor to wait for them; so that it was impossible for us to come +at them in the boat. Those that came on shore kept close together, +marching towards the top of the little hill under which my +habitation lay; and we could see them plainly, though they could +not perceive us. + +We should have been very glad if they would have come nearer us, +so that we might have fired at them, or that they would have gone +farther off, that we might come abroad. But when they were come to +the brow of the hill where they could see a great way into the +valleys and woods, which lay towards the northeast part, and where +the island lay lowest, they shouted and hallooed till they were +weary; and not caring, it seems, to venture far from the shore, +nor far from one another, they sat down together under a tree to +consider it. Had they thought fit to have gone to sleep there, as +the other part of them had done, they had done the job for us; but +they were too full of apprehensions of danger to venture to go to +sleep, though they could not tell what the danger was they had to +fear. + +The captain made a very just proposal to me upon this consultation +of theirs, viz., that perhaps they would all fire a volley again, +to endeavor to make their fellows hear, and that we should all +sally upon them just at the juncture when their pieces were all +discharged, and they would certainly yield, and we should have +them without bloodshed. I liked this proposal, provided it was +done while we were near enough to come up to them before they +could load their pieces again. But this event did not happen; and +we lay still a long time, very irresolute what course to take. At +length I told them there would be nothing done, in my opinion, +till night; and then, if they did not return to the boat, perhaps +we might find a way to get between them and the shore, and so +might use some stratagem with them in the boat to get them on +shore. We waited a great while, though very impatient for their +removing; and were very uneasy when, after long consultation, we +saw them all start up and march down towards the sea; it seems +they had such dreadful apprehension of the danger of the place +that they resolved to go on board the, ship again, give their +companions over for lost, and so go on with their intended voyage +with the ship. + +As soon as I perceived them go towards the shore, I imagined it to +be as it really was, that they had given over their search, and +were going back again, and the captain, as soon as I told him my +thoughts, was ready to sink at the apprehensions of it; but I +presently thought of a stratagem to fetch them back again, and +which answered my end to a title. I ordered Friday and the +captain's mate to go over the little creek westward, towards the +place where the savages came on shore when Friday was rescued, and +so soon as they came to a little rising ground, at about half a +mile distant, I bid them halloo out, as loud as they could, and +wait till they found the seamen heard them; that as soon as ever +they heard the seamen answer them, they should return it again; +and then, keeping out of sight, take a round, always answering +when the others hallooed, to draw them as far into the island and +among the woods as possible, and then wheel about again to me by +such ways as I directed them. + +They were just going into the boat when Friday and the mate +hallooed; and they presently heard them, and answering ran along +the shore westward, towards the voice they heard, when they were +stopped by the creek, where, the water being up, they could not +get over, and called for the boat to come up and set them over; +as, indeed, I expected. When they had set themselves over, I +observed that the boat being gone a good way into the creek, and, +as it were, in a harbor within the land, they took one of the +three men out of her, to go along with them, and left only two in +the boat, having fastened her to the stump of a little tree on the +shore. This was what I wished for, and, immediately leaving Friday +and the captain's mate to their business, I took the rest with me; +and, crossing the creek out of their sight, we surprised the two +men before they were aware--one of them lying on the shore, and +the other being in the boat. The fellow on shore was between +sleeping and waking, and going to start up; the captain, who was +foremost, ran in upon him, and knocked him down; and then called +out to him in the boat to yield, or he was a dead man. + +They needed very few arguments to persuade a single man to yield +when he saw five men upon him and his comrade knocked down; +besides, this was, it seems, one of the three who were not so +hearty in the mutiny as the rest of the crew, and therefore was +easily persuaded not only to yield, but afterwards to join very +sincerely with us. In the meantime, Friday and the captain's mate +so well managed their business with the rest that they drew them, +by hallooing and answering from one hill to another, and from one +wood to another, till they not only heartily tired them, but left +them where they were, very sure they could not reach back to the +boat before it was dark; and, indeed, they were heartily tired +themselves also, by the time they came back to us. + +We had nothing now to do but to watch for them in the dark, and to +fall upon them, so as to make sure work with them. It was several +hours after Friday came back to me before they came back to their +boat; and we could hear the foremost of them, long before they +came quite up, calling to those behind to come along, and could +also hear them answer, and complain how lame and tired they were, +and not able to come any faster, which was very welcome news to +us. At length they came up to the boat; but it is impossible to +express their confusion when they found the boat fast aground in +the creek, the tide ebbed out, and their two men gone. We could +hear them call one to another in a most lamentable manner, telling +one another they were got into an enchanted island; that either +there were inhabitants in it, and they should all be murdered, or +else there were devils and spirits in it, and they should be all +carried away and devoured. They hallooed, again, and called their +two comrades by their names a great many times; but no answer. +After some time we could see them, by the little light there was, +run about, wringing their hands like men in despair, and sometimes +they would go and sit down in the boat to rest themselves, then +come ashore again, and walk about again, and so the same thing +over again. + +My men would fain have had me give them leave to fall upon them at +once in the dark; but I was willing to take them at some +advantage, so as to spare them, and kill as few of them as I +could; and especially I was unwilling to hazard the killing of any +of our men, knowing the others were very well armed. I resolved to +wait, to see if they did not separate; and therefore, to make sure +of them, I drew my ambuscade nearer, and ordered Friday and the +captain to creep upon their hands and feet, as close to the ground +as they could, that they might not be discovered, and get as near +them as they could possibly before they offered to fire. + +They had not been long in that posture when the boatswain, who was +the principal ringleader of the mutiny, and had now shown himself +the most dejected and dispirited of all the rest, came walking +towards them, with two more of the crew; the captain was so eager +at having this principal rogue so much in his power, that he could +hardly have patience to let him come so near as to be sure of him, +for they only heard his tongue before; but when they came nearer, +the captain and Friday, starting up on their feet, let fly at +them. The boatswain was killed upon the spot; the next man was +shot, in the body, and fell just by him, though he did not die +till an hour or two after; and the third ran for it. + +At the noise of the fire I immediately advanced with my whole +army, which was now eight men, viz., myself, generalissimo; +Friday, my lieutenant-general; the captain and his two men, and +the three prisoners of war whom we had trusted with arms. We came +upon them, indeed, in the dark, so that they could not see our +number; and I made the man they had left in the boat, who was now +one of us, to call them by name, to try if I could bring them to a +parley, and so perhaps might reduce them to terms; which fell out +just as we desired, for indeed it was easy to think, as their +condition then was, they would be very willing to capitulate. So +he calls out as loud as he could to one of them, "Tom Smith! Tom +Smith!" + +Tom Smith answered immediately, "Is that Robinson?" for it seems +he knew the voice. The other answered, + +"Ay, ay; for God's sake, Tom Smith, throw down your arms and +yield, or you are all dead men this moment," + +"Who must we yield to? Where are they?" says Smith again. + +"Here they are," says he, "here's our captain and fifty men with +him, have been hunting you these two hours; the boatswain is +killed; Will Fry is wounded, and I am a prisoner; and if you do +not yield you are all lost." + +"Will they give us quarter, then?" says Tom Smith, "and we will +yield." + +"I'll go and ask, if you promise to yield," said Robinson: so he +asked the captain, and the captain himself then calls out, + +"You, Smith, you know my voice; if you lay down your arms +immediately and submit, you shall have your lives, all but Will +Atkins." + +Upon this Will Atkins cried out, "For God's sake, captain, give me +quarter; what have I done? They have all been as bad as I," which, +by the way, was not true, for it seems this Will Atkins was the +first man that laid hold of the captain when they first mutinied, +and used him barbarously in tying his hands and giving him +injurious language. However, the captain told him he must lay down +his arms at discretion, and trust to the governor's mercy: by +which he meant me, for they all called me governor. In a word, +they all laid down their arms and begged their lives; and I sent +the man that had parleyed with them, and two more, who bound them +all; and then my great army of fifty men, which, with those three, +were in all but eight, came up and seized upon them, and upon +their boat; only that I kept myself and one more out of sight for +reasons of state. + +Our next work was to repair the boat, and think of seizing the +ship; and as for the captain, now he had leisure to parley with +them, he expostulated with them upon the villany of their +practices with him, and upon the further wickedness of their +design, and how certainly it must bring them to misery and +distress in the end, and perhaps to the gallows. They all appeared +very penitent, and begged hard for their lives. As for that, he +told them they were not his prisoners, but the commander's of the +island; that they thought they had set him on shore in a barren, +uninhabited island, but it had pleased God so to direct them that +it was inhabited, and that the governor was an Englishman; that he +might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he had given them +all quarter, he supposed he would send them all to England, to be +dealt with there as justice required, except Atkins, whom he was +commanded by the governor to advise to prepare for death, for +that he would be hanged in the morning. + +Though this was all but a fiction of his own, yet it had its +desired effect; Atkins fell upon his knees to beg the captain to +intercede with the governor for his life; and all the rest begged +of him, for God's sake, that they might not be sent to England. + +It now occurred to me that the time of our deliverance was come, +and that it would be a most easy thing to bring these fellows in +to be hearty in getting possession of the ship; so I retired in +the dark from them, that they might not see what kind of a +governor they had, and called the captain to me; when I called, at +a good distance, one of the men was ordered to speak again and say +to the captain, "Captain, the commander calls for you;" and +presently the captain replied, + +"Tell his excellency I am just coming." + +This more perfectly amazed them, and they all believed that the +commander was just by, with his fifty men. Upon the captain coming +to me, I told him my project for seizing the ship, which he liked +wonderfully well, and resolved to put it in execution the next +morning. But, in order to execute it with more art, and to be +secure of success, I told him we must divide the prisoners, and +that he should go and take Atkins, and two more of the worst of +them, and send them pinioned to the cave where the others lay. +This was committed to Friday and the two other men who came on +shore with the captain. They conveyed them to the cave as to a +prison: and it was, indeed, a dismal place, especially to men in +their condition. The others I ordered to my bower, as I called +it, of which I have given a full description; and as it was fenced +in, and they pinioned, the place was secure enough, considering +they were upon their behavior. + +To these in the morning I sent the captain, who was to enter into +a parley with them; in a word, to try them, and tell me whether he +thought they might be trusted or not to go on board and surprise +the ship. He talked to them of the injury done him, of the +condition they were brought to, and that, though the governor had +given them quarter for their lives as to the present action, yet +that if they were sent to England they would all be hanged in +chains; but that if they would join in so just an attempt as to +recover the ship, he would have the governor's engagement for +their pardon. + +Any one may guess how readily such a proposal would be accepted by +men in their condition; they fell down on their knees to the +captain, and promised, with the deepest imprecations, that they +would be faithful to him to the last drop, and that they should +owe their lives to him, and would go with him all over the world; +that they would own him as a father to them as long as they lived. + +"Well," says the captain, "I must go and tell the governor what +you say, and see what I can do to bring him to consent to it." + +So he brought me an account of the temper he found them in and +that he verily believed they would be faithful. However, that we +might be very secure, I told him he should go back again and +choose out those five, and tell them that they might see he did +not want men, that he would take out those five to be his +assistants, and that the governor would keep the other two, and +the three that were sent prisoners to the castle (my cave), as +hostages for the fidelity of those five; and that if they proved +unfaithful in the execution, the five hostages should be hanged in +chains alive on the shore. This looked severe, and convinced them +that the governor was in earnest; however, they had no way left +them but accept it, and it was now the business of the prisoners, +as much as of the captain, to persuade the other five to do their +duty. + +Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition: first, the +captain, his mate, and passenger; second, the two prisoners of the +first gang, to whom, having their character from the captain, I +had given their liberty, and trusted them with arms; third, the +other two that I had kept till now in my bower, pinioned, but on +the captain's motion had now released; fourth, these five released +at last; so that there were twelve in all, besides five we kept +prisoners in the cave for hostages. + +I asked the captain if he were willing to venture with these hands +on board the ship; but as for me and my man Friday, I did not +think it was proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind; +and it was employment enough for us to keep them asunder, and +supply them with victuals. As to the five in the cave, I resolved +to keep them fast, but Friday went in twice a day to them, to +supply them with necessaries; and I made the other two carry +provisions to a certain distance, where Friday was to take them. + +When I showed myself to the two hostages it was with the captain, +who told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look +after them, and that it was the governor's pleasure they should +not stir anywhere but at my direction; that if they did, they +would be fetched into the castle, and be laid in irons: so that, +as we never suffered them to see me as governor, I now appeared as +another person, and spoke of the governor, the garrison, the +castle, and the like, upon all occasions. + +The captain now had no difficulty before him, but to furnish his +two boats, stop the breach of one, and man them. He made his +passenger captain of one, with four of the men; and himself, his +mate, and five more went in the other; and they contrived their +business very well, for they came up to the ship about midnight. +As soon as they came within call of the ship, he made Robinson +hail them, and tell them they had brought off the men and the +boat, but that it was a long time before they had found them, and +the like, holding them in a chat till they came to the ship's +side; when the captain and the mate entering first, with their +arms, immediately knocked down the second mate and carpenter with +the butt-end of their muskets, being very faithfully seconded by +their men; they secured all the rest that were upon the main and +quarter decks, and began to fasten the hatches, to keep them down +that were below; when the other boat and their men, entering at +the forechains, secured the forecastle of the ship, and the +scuttle which went down into the cook-room, making three men they +found there prisoners. + +When this was done, and all safe upon deck, the captain ordered +the mate, with three men, to break into the round-house, where the +new rebel captain lay, who, having taken the alarm, had got up, +and with two men and a boy had got fire-arms in their hands; and +when the mate, with a crow, split open the door, the new captain +and his men fired boldly among them, and wounded the mate with a +musket-ball, which broke his arm, and wounded two more of the men, +but killed nobody. The mate, calling for help, rushed, however, +into the round-house, wounded as he was, and, with his pistol, +shot the new captain through the head, the bullet entering at his +mouth, and came out again behind one of his ears, so that he never +spoke a word more; upon which the rest yielded, and the ship was +taken effectually, without any more lives lost. + +As soon as the ship was thus secured, the captain ordered guns to +be fired, which was the signal agreed upon with me to give me +notice of his success, which, you may be sure, I was very glad to +hear, having sat watching upon the shore for it till near two +o'clock in the morning. Having thus heard the signal plainly, I +laid me down; and, it having been a day of great fatigue to me, I +slept sound, till I was surprised with the noise of a gun; and +presently starting up, I heard a man call me by the name of +"Governor! Governor!" and presently I knew the captain's voice; +when, climbing up to the top of the hill, there he stood, and, +pointing to the ship, he embraced me in his arms. + +"My dear friend and deliverer," says he, "there's your ship; for +she is all yours, and so are we, and all that belong to her." + +I cast my eyes to the ship, and there she rode, within little more +than half a mile of the shore; for they had weighed her anchor as +soon as they were masters of her, and, the weather being fair, had +brought her to an anchor just against the mouth of the little +creek; and, the tide being up, the captain had brought the pinnace +in near the place where I had first landed my rafts, and so landed +just at my door. I was at first ready to sink down with the +surprise; for I saw my deliverance indeed visibly put into my +hands, all things easy, and a large ship just ready to carry me +away whither I pleased to go. At first, for some time, I was not +able to answer him one word; but as he had taken me in his arms, I +held fast by him, or I should have fallen to the ground. He +perceived the surprise, and immediately pulled a bottle out of his +pocket and gave me a dram of cordial, which he had brought on +purpose for me. After I had drunk it, I sat down upon the ground; +and, though it brought me to myself, yet it was a good while +before I could speak a word to him. All this time the poor man was +in as great an ecstasy as I, only not under any surprise as I was, +and he said a thousand kind and tender things to me, to compose +and bring me to myself; but such was the flood of joy in my breast +that it put all my spirits into confusion: at last it broke out +into tears, and in a little while after I recovered my speech; I +then took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and we +rejoiced together. I told him I looked upon him as a man sent +from Heaven to deliver me, and that the whole transaction seemed +to be a chain of wonders; that such things as these were the +testimonies we had of a secret hand of Providence governing the +world, and an evidence that the eye of an infinite Power could +search into the remotest corner of the world, and send help to the +miserable whenever He pleased. I forgot not to lift up my heart +in thankfulness to Heaven; and what heart could forbear to bless +Him who had not only in a miraculous manner provided for me in +such a wilderness, and in such a desolate condition, but from whom +every deliverance must always be acknowledged to proceed. + + When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me +some little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as +the wretches that had been so long his masters had not plundered +him of. Upon this, he called aloud to the boat, and bade his men +bring the things ashore that were for the governor; and, indeed, +it was a present as if I had been one that was not to be carried +away with them, but as if I had been to dwell upon the island +still. First, he had brought me a case of bottles full of +excellent cordial waters, six large bottles of Madeira wine (the +bottles held two quarts each), two pounds of excellent good +tobacco, twelve good pieces of the ship's beef, and six pieces of +pork, with a bag of peas, and about a hundred-weight of biscuit; +he also brought me a box of sugar, a box of flour, a bag full of +lemons, and two bottles of lime-juice, and abundance of other +things. But besides these, and what was a thousand times more +useful to me, he brought me six new clean shirts, six very good +neckcloths, two pair of gloves, one pair of shoes, a hat, and one +pair of stockings, with a very good suit of clothes of his own, +which had been worn but very little: in a word, he clothed me from +head to foot. It was a very kind and agreeable present, as any one +may imagine, to one in my circumstances, but never was anything in +the world of that kind so unpleasant, awkward, and uneasy as it +was to me to wear such clothes at first. + +After these ceremonies were past, and after all his good things +were brought into my little apartment, we began to consult what +was to be done with the prisoners we had; for it was worth +considering whether we might venture to take them with us or no, +especially two of them, whom he knew to be incorrigible and +refractory to the last degree; and the captain said he knew they +were such rogues that there was no obliging them, and if he did +carry them away, it must be in irons, as malefactors, to be +delivered over to justice at the first English colony he could +come to; and I found that the captain himself was very anxious +about it. Upon this, I told him that, if he desired it, I would +undertake to bring the two men he spoke of to make it their own +request that he should leave them upon the island. + +"I should be very glad of that," says the captain, "with all my +heart." + +"Well," says I, "I will send for them up and talk with them for +you." + +So I caused Friday and the two hostages--for they were now +discharged, their comrades having performed their promise--I say, +I caused them to go to the cave, and bring up the five men, +pinioned as they were, to the bower, and keep them there till I +came. After some time, I came thither dressed in my new habit; and +now I was called governor again. Being all met, and the captain +with me, I caused the men to be brought before me, and I told them +I had a full account of their villanous behavior to the captain, +and how they had run away with the ship, and were preparing to +commit further robberies, but that Providence had ensnared them in +their own ways, and that they were fallen into the pit which they +had dug for others. I let them know that by my direction the ship +had been seized; that she lay now in the road; and they might see +by and by that their new captain had received the reward of his +villany, and that they would see him hanging at the yard-arm; +that, as to them, I wanted to know what they had to say why I +should not execute them as pirates taken in the fact, as by my +commission they could not doubt but I had authority so to do. + +One of them answered in the name of the rest, that they had +nothing to say but this, that when they were taken the captain +promised them their lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But +I told them I knew not what mercy to show them; for as for myself, +I had resolved to quit the island with all my men, and had taken +passage with the captain to go to England; and as for the captain, +he could not carry them to England other than as prisoners in +irons, to be tried for mutiny and running away with the ship; the +consequence of which, they must needs know, would be the gallows; +so that I could not tell what was best for them, unless they had a +mind to take their fate in the island. If they desired that, as I +had liberty to leave the island, I had some inclination to give +them their lives, if they thought they could shift on shore. They +seemed very thankful for it, and said they would much rather +venture to stay there than be carried to England to be hanged. So +I left it on that issue. + +However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if +he durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry +with the captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not +his; and that seeing I had offered them so much favor, I would be +as good as my word; and that if he did not think fit to consent to +it I would set them at liberty, as I found them, and if he did not +like it he might take them again if he could catch them. Upon this +they appeared very thankful, and I accordingly set them at +liberty, and bade them retire into the woods, to the place whence +they came, and I would leave them some fire-arms, some ammunition, +and some directions how they should live very well if they thought +fit. Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship; but told the +captain I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired +him to go on board in the meantime, and keep all right in the +ship, and send the boat on shore next day for me; ordering him, at +all events, to cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged +at the yard-arm, that these men might see him. + +When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my +apartment, and entered seriously into discourse with them on their +circumstances. I told them I thought they had made a right choice; +that if the captain had carried them away they would certainly be +hanged. I showed them the new captain hanging at the yard-arm of +the ship, and told them they had nothing less to expect. + +When they bad all declared their willingness to stay, I then told +them I would let them into the story of my living there, and put +them into the way of making it easy to them. Accordingly, I gave +them the whole history of the place, and of my coming to it; +showed them my fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my +corn, cured my grapes; and, in a word, all that was necessary to +make them easy. I told them the story also of the seventeen +Spaniards that were to be expected, for whom I left a letter, and +made them promise to treat them in common with themselves. Here it +may be noted that the captain, who had ink on board, was greatly +surprised that I never hit upon a way of making ink of charcoal +and water, or of something else, as I had done things much more +difficult. + +I left them my fire-arms; viz., five muskets, three fowling- +pieces, and three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of +powder left; for after the first year or two I used but little, +and wasted none. I gave them a description of the way I managed +the goats, and directions to milk and fatten them, and to make +both butter and cheese. In a word, I gave them every part of my +own story; and told them I should prevail with the captain to +leave them two barrels of gunpowder more, and some garden-seeds, +which I told them I would have been very glad of. Also, I gave +them the bag of peas which the captain had brought me to eat, and +bade them be sure to sow and increase them. + +Having done all this I left them the next day and went on board +the ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that +night. The next morning early, two of the five men came swimming +to the ship's side, and, making the most lamentable complaint of +the other three, begged to be taken into the ship for God's sake, +for they should be murdered, and begged the captain to take them +on board, though he hanged them immediately. Upon this the captain +pretended to have no power without me; but after some difficulty, +and after their solemn promises of amendment, they were taken on +board, and were, some time after, soundly whipped and pickled; +after which they proved very honest and quiet fellows. + +Some time after this, the boat was ordered on shore, the tide +being up, with the things promised to the men; to which the +captain, at my intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be +added, which they took, and were very thankful for. I also +encouraged them, by telling them that if it lay in my power to +send any vessel to take them in, I would not forget them. + +When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for relics, +the great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and one of my +parrots; also, I forgot not to take the money I formerly +mentioned, which had lain by me so long useless that it was +grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly pass for silver till it +had been a little rubbed and handled, as also the money I found in +the wreck of the Spanish ship. And thus I left the island, the +19th of December, as I found by the ship's account, in the year +1686, after I had been upon it eight-and-twenty years, two months, +and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity the +same day of the month that I first made my escape in the long-boat +from among the Moors of Sallee. In this vessel, after a long +voyage, I arrived in England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, +having been thirty-five years absent. + + + + +GULLIVER'S TRAVELS + + +When the romance of Lemuel Gulliver appeared in 1727 it was +immediately seized upon by an eager public. The first edition was +gone in a week and was selling at an advanced price before the +second edition could be printed. Many a reader at once got out his +map to try and locate the Island of Lilliput, and the captain of a +ship told Lord Scarborough that he knew Gulliver very well--had +met him several times. Gulliver's Travels was written by +Jonathan Swift, the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, one +of the most original of writers, whose work was notably brilliant +in the field of politics. From early youth he suffered from some +disease of the body that made him cross and irritable, but he was +much honored by the poor people of Ireland as their friend and +champion. Daniel Defoe, who was about the same age as Swift, and +lived at the same time, said Swift was a walking index of all +books. It is interesting to note that two of the world's wonderful +books, Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels, appeared when their +authors were sixty years of age, and within three years of each +other. + + + + +GULLIVER IS SHIPWRECKED AND SWIMS FOR HIS LIFE + +By Jonathan Swift + + +My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third +of five sons. He sent me to Emmanuel College in Cambridge, at +fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied +myself close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining me +(although I had a very scanty allowance) being too great for a +narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an +eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued four years; and +my father now and then sending me small sums of money, I laid them +out in learning navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, +useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it +would be some time or other my fortune to do. When I left Mr. +Bates, I went down to my father; where, by the assistance of him +and my uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty pounds, +and a promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden; +there I studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it +would be useful in long voyages. Soon after my return from Leyden, +I was recommended by my good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to +the _Swallow,_ Captain Abraham Pannell, commander; with whom +I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into +the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back, I resolved to +settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me, +and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a +small house in the Old Jewry; and being advised to alter my +condition, I married Miss Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. +Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate Street, with whom I received +four hundred pounds for a portion. + +But, my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having +few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would +not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my +brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of my +acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon +successively in two ships, and made several voyages for six years +to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my +fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, +ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of +books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners and +dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language, +wherein I had a great facility by the strength of my memory. + +The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary +of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. +I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to +Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would +not turn to account. After three years' expectation that things +would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William +Prichard, master of the _Antelope_, who was making a voyage +to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our +voyage at first was very prosperous. + +It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader +with the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it +suffice to inform him, that, in our passage from thence to the +East Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the northwest of +Van Diemen's Land. By an observation we found ourselves in the +latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were +dead by immoderate labor, and ill food, the rest were in a very +weak condition. On the fifth of November, which was the beginning +of summer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen +spied a rock, within half a cable's length of the ship; but the +wind was so strong that we were driven directly upon it, and +immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let +down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship +and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, +till we were able to work no longer, being already spent with +labor while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to +the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was +overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my +companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the +rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they +were all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and +was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and +could feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to +struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by this +time the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that I +walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured +was about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward +near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or +inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition that I did not +observe them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat +of the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I +left the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down +on the grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder +than ever I remembered to have done in my life, and, as I +reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked it was just +daylight. I attempted to rise but was not able to stir; for as I +happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly +fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long +and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several +slender ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I +could only look upwards, the sun began to grow hot, and the light +offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but, in the +posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little time +I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing +gently forward, over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when +bending my eyes downward as much as I could, I perceived it to be +a human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his +hands, and a quiver at his back. In the meantime, I felt at least +forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the +first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that +they all ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was +afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from +my sides upon the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of +them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, +lifting up his hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a +shrill but distinct voice, Hekinah degul; the others repeated the +same words several times, but I then knew not what they meant. I +lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in great +uneasiness; at length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune +to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my +left arm to the ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I +discovered the methods they had taken to bind me, and, at the same +time, with a violent pull, which gave me excessive pain, I a +little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on the left +side, so that I was just able to turn my head about two inches. +But the creatures ran off a second time, before I could seize +them; whereupon there was a great shout in a very shrill accent, +and after it ceased, I heard one of them cry-aloud, Tolgo phonac; +when in an instant I felt above an hundred arrows discharged on my +left hand, which pricked me like so many needles; and besides, +they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, +whereof many I suppose fell on my body (though I felt them not), +and some on my face, which I immediately covered with my left +hand. When this shower of arrows was over, I fell a-groaning with +grief and pain, and then striving again to get loose, they +discharged another volley larger than the first, and some of them +attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but, by good luck, +I had on me a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought +it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design was to +continue so till night, when my left hand being already loose, I +could easily free myself; and as for the inhabitants, I had reason +to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could +bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him that +I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people +observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; but, by the +noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about four +yards from me, over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for +above an hour, like that of people at work; when turning my head +that way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a +stage erected, about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of +holding four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to +mount it; from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of +quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood not one +syllable. But I should have mentioned, that before the principal +person began his oration, he cried out three times, _Langro +dehul san_ (these words and the former were afterwards repeated +and explained to me). Whereupon immediately about fifty of the +inhabitants came and cut the strings that fastened the left side +of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning it to the right, +and of observing the person and gesture of him that was to speak. +He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the +other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up +his train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger; +the other two stood one on each side to support him. He acted +every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of +threatenings, and others of promises, pity, arid kindness. I +answered in a few words, but in the most submissive manner, +lifting up my left hand and both my eyes to the sun, as calling +him for a witness; and, being almost famished with hunger, having +not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship, I found +the demands of nature so strong upon me, that I could not forbear +showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of +decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify +that I wanted food. The _Hurgo_ (for so they call a great +lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He +descended from the stage, and commanded that several ladders +should be applied to my sides, on which above an hundred of the +inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my mouth, laden with +baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent thither by +the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. +I observed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not +distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and +loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but +smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a +mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bigness of +musket bullets. They supplied me as they could, showing a thousand +marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite, I then +made another sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating, +that a small quantity would not suffice me, and being a most +ingenious people, they flung up with great dexterity one of their +largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out +the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do for it +did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of +Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a second +hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs for +more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these +wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, +repeating several times as they did at first, _Hekinah degul._ +They made me a sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, +but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, +crying aloud, _Borach mevolah,_ and when they saw the vessels +in the air, there was a universal shout of _Hekinah degul._ +I confess, I was often tempted, while they were passing backwards +and forwards on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first +that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But +the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be +the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I made them, +for so I interpreted my submissive behavior, soon drove out these +imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the +laws of hospitality to a people who had treated me with so much +expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts, I could not +sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive +mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while +one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very +sight of so prodigious a creature, as I must appear to them. After +some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for +meat; there appeared before me a person of high rank from his +Imperial Majesty. His Excellency, having mounted on the small of +my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen +of his retinue. And producing his credentials under the signet- +royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes, +without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate +resolution; often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, +was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant, whither, +it was agreed by his Majesty in council, that I must be conveyed. +I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with +my hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over his +Excellency's head, for fear of hurting him or his train) and then +to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It +appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head +by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture, to show +that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs +to let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and +very good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting +to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their +arrows, upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and +many of the darts still sticking in them; and observing likewise +that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens, to let +them know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, +the _Hurgo_ and his train withdrew, with much civility and +cheerful countenances. Soon after, I heard a general shout, with +frequent repetitions of the words, _Peplom selan,_ and I felt +great numbers of people on my left side, relaxing the cords to +such a degree, that I was able to turn upon my right. But before +this, they had daubed my face, and both my hands, with a sort of +ointment very pleasant to the smell, which in a few minutes +removed all the smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added +to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, +which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about +eight hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, +for the physicians, by the emperor's order had mingled a sleepy +potion in the hogsheads of wine. + +It seems that, upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on +the ground after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by +an express; and determined in council that I should be tied in the +manner I have related (which was done in the night while I slept), +that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine +prepared to carry me to the capital city. + +This resolution, perhaps, may appear very bold and dangerous, and +I am confident, would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on +the like occasion; however, in my opinion, it was extremely +prudent, as well as generous; for, supposing these people had +endeavored to kill me with their spears and arrows, while +I was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first +sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and +strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith +I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance, +so they could expect no mercy. + +[Illustration: +HE DESIRED I WOULD STAND LIKE A COLOSSUS +From the painting by Arthur Rackham] + +These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a +great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement +of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This +prince has several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage +of trees, and other great weights. He often builds his largest +men-of-war, whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods, +where the timber grows, and has them carried on these engines +three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters +and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the +greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three +inches from the ground, about seven feet long, and four wide, +moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the +arrival of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours +after my landing. It was brought parallel to me as I lay. But the +principal difficulty was, to raise and place me in this vehicle. +Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected for this +purpose, and very strong cords, of the bigness of packthread, were +fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the workmen had girt +round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of the +strongest men were employed to draw up these cords by many pulleys +fastened on the poles, and thus, in less than three hours, I was +raised, and flung into the engine, and there tied fast. All this I +was told, for, while the whole operation was performing, I lay in +a profound sleep, by the force of that soporiferous medicine +infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest +horses, each about four inches and an half high, were employed to +draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I said, was half a mile +distant. + +About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very +ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while to +adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young +natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; +they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my +face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of +his half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my +nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they +stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the +cause of my awaking so suddenly. We made a long march the +remaining part of that day, and rested at night with five hundred +guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows +and arrows, ready to shoot me, if I should offer to stir. The next +morning at sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within two +hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all +his court, came out to meet us, but his great officers would by no +means suffer his Majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my +body. + +At the place where the carriage stopped, there stood an ancient +temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom, which, +having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, +was, according to the zeal of those people, looked on as profane, +and therefore had been applied to common use, and all the +ornaments and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was +determined I should lodge. The great gate fronting to the north, +was about four feet high, and almost two feet wide, through which +I could easily creep. On each side of the gate was a small window, +not above six inches from the ground; into that on the left side, +the king's smith conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like those +that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which +were locked to my left leg, with six and thirty padlocks. Over +against this temple, on the other side of the great highway, at +twenty feet distance, there was a turret at least five feet high. +Here the emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his court, +to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could +not see them. It was reckoned, that above an hundred thousand +inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand; and, in +spite of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten +thousand, at several times, who mounted my body by the help of +ladders. But a proclamation was soon issued to forbid it, upon +pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible for me to +break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon I +rose up with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life. +But the noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise +and walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left +leg were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of +walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed +within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at +my full length in the temple. + + + + +GULLIVER AT THE COURT OF LILLIPUT + +By Jonathan Swift + + +My gentleness and good behavior had gained so far on the emperor +and his court, and indeed upon the army and people in general, +that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short +time. I took all possible methods to cultivate this favorable +disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive +of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down and let five or +six of them dance on my hand; and, at last, the boys and girls +would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair. I had +now made a good progress in understanding and speaking their +language. The emperor had a mind, one day, to entertain me with +several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I +have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted +with none so much as that of the rope-dances, performed upon a +slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches +from the ground. Upon which I shall desire liberty, with the +reader's patience, to enlarge a little. + +This diversion is only practised by those persons who are +candidates for great employments, and high favor at court. They +are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of +noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant, +either by death or disgrace (which often happens), five or six of +those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his Majesty and +the court with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps the highest, +without falling, succeeds in the office. Very often the chief +ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to +convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty. +Flimnap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the strait +rope at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole +empire. I have seen him do the somerset several times together, +upon a trencher fixed on the rope, which is no thicker than a +common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal +secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not +partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great +officers are much upon a par. + +These diversions are often attended with fatal accidents, whereof +great numbers are on record. I myself have seen two or three +candidates break a limb. But the danger is much greater when the +ministers themselves are commanded to show their dexterity; for, +by contending to excel themselves and their fellows, they strain +so far, that there is hardly one of them who has not received a +fall, and some of them two or three. I was assured, that, a year +or two before my arrival, Flimnap would have infallibly broke his +neck, if one of the king's cushions, that accidentally lay on the +ground, had not weakened the force of his fall. + +There is likewise another diversion, which is only shown before +the emperor and empress, and first minister, upon particular +occasions. The emperor lays on the table three fine silken threads +of six inches long: one is blue, the other red, and the third +green. These threads are proposed as prizes for those persons whom +the emperor hath a mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his +favor. The ceremony is performed in his Majesty's great chamber of +state, where the candidates are to undergo a trial of dexterity +very different from the former, and such as I have not observed +the least resemblance of in any other country of the old or new +world. The emperor holds a stick in his hands, both ends parallel +to the horizon, while the candidates advancing, one by one, +sometimes leap over the stick, sometimes creep under it backwards +and forwards several times, according as the stick is advanced or +depressed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the stick, and +his first minister the other; sometimes the minister has it +entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part with most agility, +and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping, is rewarded +with the blue-colored silk, the red is given to the next, and the +green to the third, which they all wear girt twice round about the +middle, and you see few great persons about this court who are not +adorned with one of these girdles. + +The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having +been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to +my very feet without starting, The riders would leap them over my +hand as I held it on the ground, and one of the emperor's +huntsmen, upon a large courser, took my foot, shoe and all; which +was, indeed, a prodigious leap. I had the good fortune to divert +the emperor, one day, after a very extraordinary manner: I desired +he would order several sticks of two feet high, and the thickness +of an ordinary cane, to be brought me; whereupon his Majesty +commanded the master of his woods to give directions accordingly, +and the next morning six woodmen arrived with as many carriages, +drawn by eight horses to each. I took nine of these sticks, and +fixing them firmly in the ground, in a quadrangular figure, two +feet and a half square, I took four other sticks, and tied them +parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground; then I +fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks that stood erect, and +extended it on all sides till it was as tight as the top of a +drum; and the four parallel sticks, rising about five inches +higher than the handkerchief, served as ledges on each side. When +I had finished my work, I desired the emperor to let a troop of +his best horse, twenty-four in number, come and exercise upon this +plain. His Majesty approved of the proposal, and I took them up +one by one in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper +officers to exercise them. As soon as they got in order, they +divided into two parties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged +blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and pursued, attacked and +retired, and in short discovered the best military discipline I +ever beheld. The parallel sticks secured them and their horses +from falling over the stage; and the emperor was so much +delighted, that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated +several days, and once was pleased to be lifted up, and give the +word of command; and, with great difficulty, persuaded even the +empress herself to let me hold her in her close chair within two +yards of the stage, from whence she was able to take a full view +of the whole performance. It was by good fortune that no ill +accident happened in these entertainments, only once a fiery +horse, that belonged to one of the captains, pawing with his hoof, +struck a hole in my handkerchief, and his foot slipping, he +overthrew his rider and himself; but I immediately relieved them +both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set down the troop +with the other, in the same manner as I took them up. The horse +that fell was strained in the left shoulder, but the rider got no +hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could; however, +I would not trust to the strength of it any more in such dangerous +enterprises. + + About two or three days before I was set at liberty, as I was +entertaining the court with this kind of feats, there arrived an +express to inform his Majesty that some of his subjects, riding +near the place where I was first taken up, had seen a great black +substance lying on the ground, very oddly shaped, extending its +edges round as wide as his Majesty's bed-chamber, and rising up in +the middle as high as a man; that it was no living creature, as +they at first apprehended, for it lay on the grass without motion; +and some of them had walked round it several times; that, by +mounting upon each other's shoulders, they had got to the top, +which was flat and even, and, stamping upon it, they found it was +hollow within; that they humbly conceived it might be something +belonging to the Man-Mountain; and if his Majesty pleased, they +would undertake to bring it with only five horses. I presently +knew what they meant, and was glad at heart to receive this +intelligence. It seems upon my first reaching the shore, after our +shipwreck, I was in such confusion, that, before I came to the +place where I went to sleep, my hat, which I had fastened with a +string to my head while I was rowing, and had stuck on all the +time I was swimming, fell off after I came to land; the string, as +I conjecture, breaking by some accident which I never observed, +but thought my hat had been lost at sea. I intreated his Imperial +Majesty to give orders it might be brought to me as soon as +possible, describing to him the use and the nature of it; and the +next day the wagoners arrived with it, but not in a very good +condition; they had bored two holes in the brim, within an inch +and a half of the edge, and fastened two hooks in the holes; these +hooks were tied by a long cord to the harness, and thus my hat was +dragged along for above half an English mile; but, the ground in +that country being extremely smooth and level, it received less +damage than I expected. + +Two days after this adventure, the emperor having ordered that +part of his army, which quarters in and about his metropolis, to +be in readiness, took a fancy of diverting himself in a very +singular manner; he desired I would stand like a colossus, with my +legs as far asunder as I conveniently could; he then commanded his +general (who was an old experienced leader, and a great patron of +mine) to draw up the troops in close order, and march them under +me; the foot by twenty-four in a-breast, and the horse by sixteen, +with drums beating, colors flying, and pikes advanced. This body +consisted of three thousand foot, and a thousand horse. + +I had sent so many memorials and petitions for my liberty, that +his Majesty at length mentioned the matter first in the cabinet, +and then in a full council; where it was opposed by none, except +Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleased, without any provocation, to be +my mortal enemy. But it was carried against him by the whole +board, and confirmed by the emperor. That minister was _galbet,_ +or admiral of the realm, very much in his master's confidence, +and a person well versed in affairs, but of a morose and +sour complexion. However, he was at length persuaded to +comply; but prevailed that the articles and conditions upon which +I should be set free, and to which I must swear, should be drawn +up by himself. These articles were brought to me by Skyresh +Bolgolam in person, attended by two under-secretaries, and several +persons of distinction. After they were read, I was demanded to +swear to the performance of them; first in the manner of my own +country, and afterwards in the method prescribed by their laws, +which was to hold my right foot in my left hand, and to place the +middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head, and my +thumb on the tip of my right ear. + +But, because the reader may be curious to have some idea of the +style and manner of expression peculiar to that people, as well as +to know the articles upon which I recovered my liberty, I have +made a translation of the whole instrument, word for word, as near +as I was able, which I here offer to the public. + +GOLBASTO MOMAREM EVLAME GURDILO SHEFIN MULLY ULLY GUE, most +mighty Emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the universe, +whose dominions extend five thousand _blustrugs_ (about +twelve miles in circumference), to the extremities of the globe; +monarch of all monarchs, taller than the sons of men; whose feet +press down to the centre, and whose head strikes against the sun; +at whose nod the princes of the earth shake their knees; pleasant +as the spring, comfortable as the summer, fruitful as autumn, +dreadful as winter. His most sublime Majesty proposes to the Man- +Mountain, lately arrived to our celestial dominions, the following +articles, which, by a solemn oath, he shall be obliged to perform: + +1st. The Man-Mountain shall not depart from our dominions without +our licence under our great seal. + +2d. He shall not presume to come into our metropolis without our +express order; at which time the inhabitants shall have two +hours' warning to keep within their doors. + +3d. The said Man-Mountain shall confine his walks to our principal +high roads, and not offer to walk or lie down in a meadow or field +of corn. + +4th. As he walks the said roads he shall take the utmost care riot +to trample upon the bodies of any of our loving subjects, their +horses, or carriages, nor take any of our subjects into his hands +without their own consent. + +5th. If an express requires extraordinary dispatch, the Man- +Mountain shall be obliged to carry in his pocket the messenger and +horse a six days' journey once in every moon, and return the said +messenger back (if so required) safe to our imperial presence. + +6th. He shall be our ally against our enemies in the Island of +Blefuscu, and do his utmost to destroy their fleet, which is now +preparing to invade us. + +7th. That the said Man-Mountain shall, at his times of leisure, be +aiding and assisting to our workmen, in helping to raise certain +great stones, towards covering the wall of the principal park, and +other our royal buildings. + +8th. That the said Man-Mountain shall, in two moons' time, deliver +in an exact survey of the circumference of our dominions, by a +computation of his own paces round the coast. + +Lastly, That, upon his solemn oath to observe all the above +articles, the said Man-Mountain shall have a daily allowance of +meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1724 of our subjects, +with free access to our royal person, and other marks of our +favor. Given at our palace at Belfaborac, the twelfth day of the +ninety-first moon of our reign. + +I swore and subscribed to these articles with great cheerfulness +and content, although some of them were not so honorable as I +could have wished; which proceeded wholly from the malice of +Skyresh Bolgolam, the high admiral; whereupon my chains were +immediately unlocked, and I was at full liberty; the emperor +himself in person did me the honor to be by at the whole ceremony. +I made my acknowledgments, by prostrating myself at his Majesty's +feet, but he commanded me to rise; and after many gracious +expressions, which, to avoid the censure of vanity, I shall not +repeat, he added that he hoped I should prove a useful servant, +and well deserve all the favors he had already conferred upon me, +or might do for the future. + +The reader may please to observe, that, in the last article for +the recovery of my liberty, the emperor stipulates to allow me a +quantity of meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1724 +Lilliputians. Some time after, asking a friend at court how they +came to fix on that determinate number; he told me that his +Majesty's mathematicians, having taken the height of my body by +the help of a quadrant, and finding it to exceed theirs in the +proportion of twelve to one, they concluded, from the similarity +of their bodies, that mine must contain, at least, 1724 of theirs, +and, consequently, would require as much food as was necessary to +support that number of Lilliputians. By which, the reader may +conceive an idea of the ingenuity of that people, as well as the +prudent and exact economy of so great a prince. + + + + +GULLIVER CAPTURES FIFTY OF THE ENEMY'S SHIPS + +By Jonathan Swift + + +The empire of Blefuscu is an island, situated to the northeast +side of Lilliput, from whence it is parted only by a channel of +eight hundred yards wide. I had not yet seen it, and upon this +notice of an intended invasion, I avoided appearing on that side +of the coast, for fear of being discovered by some of the enemy's +ships, who had received no intelligence of me, all intercourse +between the two empires having been strictly forbidden during the +war, upon pain of death, and an embargo laid by our emperor upon +all vessels whatsoever. I communicated to his Majesty a project I +had formed of seizing the enemy's whole fleet; which, as our +scouts assured us, lay at anchor in the harbor ready to sail with +the first fair wind. I consulted the most experienced seamen upon +the depth of the channel, which they had often plumbed, who told +me, that in the middle, at high water, it was seventy _glumgluffs_ +deep, which is about six feet of European measure; and the +rest of it fifty _glumgluffs_ at most. I walked towards +the northeast coast, over against Blefuscu; where, lying +down behind a hillock, I took out my small perspective glass, +and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, consisting of about +fifty men-of-war, and a great number of transports; I then came +back to my house, and gave order (for which I had a warrant) for a +great quantity of the strongest cable and bars of iron. The cable +was about as thick as packthread, and the bars of the length and +size of a knitting needle. I trebled the cable to make it +stronger, and, for the same reason, I twisted three of the iron +bars together, binding the extremities into a hook. Having thus +fixed fifty hooks to as many cables, I went back to the northeast +coast, and putting off my coat, shoes, and stockings, walked into +the sea, in my leathern jerkin, about an hour before high water. I +waded with what haste I could, and swam in the middle about thirty +yards, till I felt ground; I arrived at the fleet in less than +half an hour. The enemy was so frighted when they saw me, that +they leaped out of their ships, and swam to shore, where there +could not be fewer than thirty thousand souls. I then took my +tackling, and, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each, I +tied all the cords together at the end. While I was thus employed, +the enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which stuck +in my hands and face; and, besides the excessive smart, gave me +much disturbance in my work. My greatest apprehension was for mine +eyes, which I should have infallibly lost, if I had not suddenly +thought of an expedient. I kept among other little necessaries a +pair of spectacles in a private pocket, which, as I observed +before, had escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took out and +fastened as strongly as I could upon my nose, and, thus armed, +went on boldly with my work in spite of the enemy's arrows, many +of which struck against the glasses of my spectacles, but without +any other effect, further than a little to discompose them. I had +now fastened all the hooks, and, taking the knot in my hand, began +to pull, but not a ship would stir, for they were all too fast +held by their anchors, so that the boldest part of my enterprise +remained. I therefore let go the cord, and leaving the hooks fixed +to the ships, I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that +fastened the anchors, receiving above two hundred shots in my face +and hands; then I took up the knotted end of the cables to which +my hooks were tied, and with great ease drew fifty of the enemy's +largest men-of-war after me. + +The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imagination of what I +intended, were at first confounded with astonishment. They had +seen me cut the cables, and thought my design was only to let the +ships run adrift, or fall foul on each other; but when they +perceived the whole fleet moving in order, and saw me pulling at +the end, they set up such a scream of grief and despair that it is +almost impossible to describe or conceive. When I had got out of +danger, I stopped a while to pick out the arrows that stuck in my +hands and face; and rubbed on some of the same ointment that was +given me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then +took off my spectacles, and, waiting about an hour till the tide +was a little fallen, I waded through the middle with my cargo, and +arrived safe at the royal port of Lilliput. + +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 in more 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 a 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 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 +unmeasurable 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 a viceroy; of destroying the Bigendian +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 his 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. + +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 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 a 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 several good offices by the +credit I now had, or at least appeared to have at court, their +Excellencies, who were privately told how much I had been their +friend, made me a visit in form. They began with many compliments +upon my valor and generosity, invited me to that kingdom in the +emperor their master's name, and desired me to show them some +proofs of my prodigious strength, of which they had heard so many +wonders; wherein I readily obliged them, but shall not trouble the +reader with the particulars. + +When I had for some time entertained their Excellencies to their +infinite satisfaction and surprise, I desired they would do me the +honor to present my most humble respects to the emperor their +master, the renown of whose virtues had so justly filled the whole +world with admiration, and whose royal person I resolved to attend +before I returned to my own country; accordingly the next time I +had the honor to see our emperor, I desired his general licence to +wait on the Blefuscudian monarch, which he was pleased to grant +me, as I could plainly perceive, in a very cold manner; but could +not guess the reason, till I had a whisper from a certain person, +that Flimnap and Bolgolam had represented my intercourse with +these ambassadors as a mark of disaffection, from which I am sure +my heart was wholly free. And this was the first time I began to +conceive some imperfect idea of courts and ministers. + +It is to be observed, that these ambassadors spoke to me by an +interpreter, the languages of both empires differing as much from +each other as any two in Europe, and each nation priding itself +upon the antiquity, beauty, and energy of their own tongues, with +an avowed contempt for that of their neighbor; yet our emperor, +standing upon the advantage he had got by the seizure of their +fleet, obliged them to deliver their credentials and make their +speech in the Lilliputian tongue. And it must be confessed that, +from the great intercourse of trade and commerce between both +realms, from the continual reception of exiles, which is mutual +among them, and from the custom in each empire to send their +young nobility and richer gentry to the other, in order to polish +themselves by seeing the world, and understanding men and manners, +there are few persons of distinction, or merchants, or seamen, who +dwell in the maritime parts, but what can hold conversation in +both tongues; as I found some weeks after, when I went to pay my +respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, which, in the midst of great +misfortunes through the malice of my enemies, proved a very happy +adventure to me, as I shall relate in its proper place. + +The reader may remember, that, when I signed those articles upon +which I recovered my liberty, there were some which I disliked +upon account of their being too servile, neither could anything +but an extreme necessity have forced me to submit. But, being now +a _nardac_ of the highest rank in that empire, such offices +were looked down upon as below my dignity, and the emperor (to do +him justice) never once mentioned them to me. + + + + +GULLIVER LEAVES LILLIPUT + +By Jonathan Swift + + +Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the +northeast coast of the island, I observed, about half a league +off, in the sea, somewhat that looked like a boat overturned. I +pulled off my shoes and stockings, and, wading two or three +hundred yards, I found the object to approach nearer by force of +the tide; and then plainly saw it to be a real boat, which I +supposed might, by some tempest, have been driven from a ship. +Whereupon I returned immediately towards the city, and desired his +Imperial Majesty to lend me twenty of the tallest vessels he had +left after the loss of his fleet, and three thousand seamen, under +the command of the vice-admiral. This fleet sailed round, while I +went back the shortest way to the coast, where I first discovered +the boat; I found the tide had driven it still nearer. The seamen +were all provided with cordage, which I had beforehand twisted to +a sufficient strength. When the ships came up, I stripped myself, +and waded till I came within an hundred yards of the boat, after +which I was forced to swim till I got up to it. The seamen threw +me the end of the cord, which I fastened to a hole in the fore- +part of the boat, and the other end to a man-of-war. But I found +all my labor to little purpose; for, being out of my depth, I was +not able to work. In this necessity, I was forced to swim behind, +and push the boat forwards as often as I could, with one of my +hands; and, the tide favoring me, I advanced so far, that I could +just hold up my chin and feel the ground. I rested two or three +minutes, and then gave the boat another shove, and so on, till the +sea was no higher than my arm-pits; and now, the most laborious +part being over, I took out my other cables, which were stowed in +one of the ships, and fastened them first to the boat, and then to +nine of the vessels which attended me; the wind being favorable, +the seamen towed, and I shoved till we arrived within forty yards +of the shore, and, waiting till the tide was out, I got dry to +the boat, and by the assistance of two thousand men, with ropes, +and engines, I made a shift to turn it on its bottom, and found it +was but little damaged. + +I shall not trouble the reader with the difficulties I was under, +by the help of certain paddles, which cost me ten days making, to +get my boat to the royal port of Blefuscu, where a mighty +concourse of people appeared upon my arrival, full of wonder at +the sight of so prodigious a vessel. I told the emperor that my +good fortune had thrown this boat in my way, to carry me to some +place from whence I might return into my native country, and +begged his Majesty's orders for getting materials to fit it up, +together with his licence to depart, which, after some kind +expostulations, he was pleased to grant. + +I did very much wonder, in all this time, not to have heard of any +express relating to me from our emperor to the court of Blefuscu. +But I was afterwards given privately to understand that his +Imperial Majesty, never imagining I had the least notice of his +designs, believed I was only gone to Blefuscu, in performance of +my promise, according to the licence he had given me, which was +well known at our court, and would return in a few days, when the +ceremony was ended. But he was at last in pain at my long absence; +and, after consulting with the treasurer and the rest of the +cabal, a person of quality was dispatched with the copy of the +articles against me. This envoy had instructions to represent to +the monarch of Blefuscu the great lenity of his master, who was +content to punish me no further than with the loss of my eyes; +that I had fled from justice, and, if I did not return in two +hours, I should be deprived of my title of _nardac_, and +declared a traitor. The envoy further added, that in order to +maintain the peace and amity between both empires, his master +expected that his brother of Blefuscu would give orders to have me +sent back to Lilliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a +traitor. + +The Emperor of Blefuscu, having taken three days to consult, +returned an answer, consisting of many civilities and excuses. He +said that as for sending me bound, his brother knew it was +impossible; that although I had deprived him of his fleet, yet he +owed great obligations to me for many good offices I had done him +in making the peace; that, however, both their Majesties would +soon be made easy; for I had found a prodigious vessel on the +shore, able to carry me on the sea, which he had given orders to +fit up with my own assistance and direction; and he hoped, in a +few weeks, both empires would be freed from so insupportable an +encumbrance. + +With this answer the envoy returned to Lilliput, and the monarch +of Blefuscu related to me all that had passed; offering me at the +same time (but under the strictest confidence) his gracious +protection, if I would continue in his service; wherein, although +I believed him sincere, yet I resolved never more to put any +confidence in princes or ministers, where I could possibly avoid +it, and, therefore, with all due acknowledgments for his favorable +intentions, I humbly begged to be excused. I told him, that since +fortune, whether good or evil, had thrown a vessel in my way, I +was resolved to venture myself on the ocean rather than be an +occasion of difference between two such mighty monarchs. Neither +did I find the emperor at all displeased, and I discovered, by a +certain accident, that he was very glad of my resolution, and so +were most of his ministers. These considerations moved me to +hasten my departure somewhat sooner than I intended; to which the +court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed. Five +hundred workmen were employed to make two sails to my boat, +according to my directions, by quilting thirteen folds of their +strongest linen together. I was at the pains of making ropes and +cables by twisting ten, twenty, or thirty of the thickest and +strongest of theirs. A great stone that I happened to find, after +a long search by the sea-shore, served me for an anchor. I had the +tallow of three hundred cows for greasing my boat and other uses. +I was at incredible pains in cutting down some of the largest +timber-trees for oars and masts, wherein I was, however, much +assisted by his Majesty's ship-carpenters, who helped me in +smoothing them after I had done the rough work. + +In about a month, when all was prepared, I sent to receive his +Majesty's commands, and to take my leave. The emperor and royal +family came out of the palace; I lay down on my face to kiss his +hand, which he very graciously gave me; so did the empress, and +young princes of the blood. His Majesty presented me with fifty +purses of two hundred _sprugs_ apiece, together with his +picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of my +gloves, to keep it from being hurt. The ceremonies at my +departure were too many to trouble the reader with at this time. + +I stored the boat with the carcases of an hundred oxen, and three +hundred sheep, with bread and drink proportionable, and as much +meat ready dressed as four hundred cooks could provide. I took +with me six cows and two bulls alive, with as many ewes and rams, +intending to carry them into my own country and propagate the +breed. And, to feed them on board, I had a good bundle of hay, and +a bag of corn. I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives, +but this was a thing the emperor would by no means permit; and, +besides a diligent search into my pockets, his Majesty engaged my +honor not to carry away any of his subjects, although with their +own consent and desire. + +Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail +on the twenty-fourth day of September, 1701, at six in the +morning; and when I had gone about four leagues to the northward, +the wind being at southeast, at six in the evening I descried a +small island about half a league to the northwest. I advanced +forward, and cast anchor on the lee-side of the island, which +seemed to be uninhabited. I then took some refreshment and went to +my rest. I slept well, and I conjecture at least six hours, for I +found the day broke in two hours after I awaked. It was a clear +night. I ate my breakfast before the sun was up; and heaving +anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered the same course that +I had done the day before, wherein I was directed by my pocket- +compass. My intention was to reach, if possible, one of those +islands which I had reason to believe lay on the northeast of Van +Diemen's Land. I discovered nothing all that day; but upon the +next, about three in the afternoon, when I had by my computation +made twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a sail steering +to the southeast; my course was due east. I hailed her, but could +get no answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind +slackened. I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she +spied me, then hung out her ancient, and discharged a gun. It is +not easy to express the joy I was in upon the unexpected hope of +once more seeing my beloved country, and the dear pledges I had +left in it. The ship slackened her sails, and I came up with her +between five and six in the evening, September 26th; but my heart +leaped within me to see her English colors. I put my cows and +sheep into my coat-pockets, and got on board with all my little +cargo of provisions. The vessel was an English merchantman, +returning from Japan by the north and south seas; the captain, Mr. +John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil man, and an excellent +sailor. We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south; there +were about fifty men in the ship; and here I met an old comrade of +mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the +captain. This gentleman treated me with kindness, and desired I +would let him know what place I came from last and whither I was +bound; which I did in few words, but he thought I was raving, and +that the dangers I underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon I +took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after +great astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then +showed him the gold given me by the Emperor of Blefuscu, together +with his Majesty's picture at full length, and some other rarities of +that country. I gave him two purses of two hundred _sprugs_ +each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to make him +a present of a cow and a sheep. + +I shall not trouble the reader with a particular account of this +voyage, which was very prosperous for the most part. We arrived in +the Downs on the 13th of April, 1702. I had only one misfortune, +that the rats on board carried away one of my sheep; I found her +bones in a hole, picked clean from the flesh. The rest of my +cattle I got safe ashore, and set them a-grazing in a bowling- +green at Greenwich, where the fineness of the grass made them feed +very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary: neither +could I possibly have preserved them in so long a voyage if the +captain had not allowed me some of his best biscuit, which rubbed +to powder, and mingled with water, was their constant food. The +short time I continued in England, I made a considerable profit by +showing my cattle to many persons of quality and others: and, +before I began my second voyage, I sold them for six hundred +pounds. Since my last return, I find the breed is considerably +increased, especially the sheep, which I hope will prove much to +the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the fineness of the +fleeces. + +I stayed but two months with my wife and family; for my insatiable +desire of seeing foreign countries would suffer me to continue no +longer. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her +in a good house at Redriff. My remaining stock I carried with me, +part in money and part in goods, in hopes to improve my fortunes. +My eldest uncle John had left me an estate in land, near Epping, +of about thirty pounds a year; and I had a long lease of the Black +Bull in Fetter Lane, which yielded me as much more: so that I was +not in any danger of leaving my family upon the parish. My son +Johnny, named so after his uncle, was at the grammar school, and a +cowardly child. My daughter Betty (who is now well married, and +has children) was then at her needlework. I took leave of my wife +and boy and girl, with tears on both sides, and went on board the +Adventure, a merchant ship, of three hundred tons, bound for +Surat, Captain John Nicholas of Liverpool, commander. + + + + +GULLIVER IN THE LAND OF THE GIANTS + +By Jonathan Swift + + +The Adventure had a very prosperous gale, till we arrived at the +Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh water; but +discovering a leak, we unshipped our goods, and wintered there; +for the captain falling sick of an ague, we could not leave the +Cape till the end of March. + +We then set sail, and had a good voyage till we passed the straits +of Madagascar; but having got northward of that island, and to +about five degrees south latitude, the winds, which in those seas +are observed to blow a constant equal gale between the north and +west, from the beginning of December to the beginning of May, on +the 9th of April began to blow with much greater violence, and +more westerly than usual, continuing so for twenty days together: +during which time, we were driven a little to the east of the +Molucca Islands, and about three degrees northward of the line, as +our captain found by an observation he took the 2d of May, at +which time the wind ceased, and it was a perfect calm, whereat I +was not a little rejoiced. But he being a man well experienced in +the navigation of those seas, bid us all prepare against a storm, +which accordingly happened on the day following; for the southern +wind, called the southern monsoon, began to set in. + +Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and +stood by to hand the foresail; but, making foul weather, we looked +the guns were all fast, and handed the mizzen. The ship lay very +broad off, so we thought it better spooning before the sea, than +trying or hulling. We reefed the foresail and set him, and hauled +aft the foresheet; the helm was hard-a-weather. The ship wore +bravely. We belayed the fore downhaul; but the sail was split, and +we hauled down the yard, and got the sail into the ship, and +unbound all the things clear of it. It was a very fierce storm; +the sea broke strange and dangerous. We hauled off upon the +lanyard of the whip-staff, and helped the man at the helm. We +would not get down our topmast, but let all stand, because she +scudded before the sea very well, and we knew that the topmast +being aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way +through the sea, seeing we had sea-room. When the storm was over, +we set foresail and mainsail, and brought the ship to. Then we set +the mizzen, maintopsail, and the foretopsail. Our course was east- +northeast, the wind was at southwest. We got the starboard tacks +aboard, we cast off our weather braces and lifts; we set in the +lee braces, and hauled forward by the weather-bowlings, and hauled +them tight, and belayed them, and hauled over the mizzen tack to +windward, and kept her full and by as near as she would lie. +During this storm, which was followed by a strong wind west- +southwest, we were carried, by my computation, about five hundred +leagues to the east, so that the oldest sailor on board could not +tell in what part of the world we were. Our provisions held out +well, our ship was stanch, and our crew all in good health; but we +lay in the utmost distress for water. We thought it best to hold +on the same course, rather than turn more northerly, which might +have brought us to the northwest part of Great Tartary, and into +the Frozen Sea. + +On the 16th day of June, 1703, a boy on the topmast discovered +land. On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or +continent (for we knew not whether); on the south side whereof was +a small neck of land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too +shallow to hold a ship of above one hundred tons. We cast anchor +within a league of the creek, and our captain sent a dozen of his +men well armed in the long-boat, with vessels for water, if any +could be found. I desired his leave to go with them, that I might +see the country, and make what discoveries I could. When we came +to land, we saw no river, or spring, nor any sign of inhabitants. +Our men therefore wandered on the shore to find out some fresh +water near the sea, and I walked alone about a mile on the other +side, where I observed the country all barren and rocky. I now +began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my curiosity, I +returned gently down toward the creek; and the sea being full in +my view, I saw our men already got into the boat, and rowing for +life to the ship. I was going to holla after them, although it had +been to little purpose, when I observed a huge creature walking +after them in the sea, as fast as he could: he waded not much +deeper than his knees, and took prodigious strides: but our men +had the start of him half a league, and the sea thereabout being +full of sharp-pointed rocks, the monster was not able to overtake +the boat. This I was afterward told, for I durst not stay to see +the issue of the adventure, but ran as fast as I could the way I +first went, and then climbed up a steep hill, which gave me some +prospect of the country. I found it fully cultivated; but that +which first surprised me was the length of the grass, which, in +those grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was about twenty +feet high. + +I fell into a highroad, for so I took it to be, though it served +to the inhabitants only as a footpath through a field of barley. +Here I walked on for some time, but could see little on either +side, it being now near harvest, and the corn rising at least +forty feet. I was an hour walking to the end of this field, which +was fenced in with a hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet +high, and the trees so lofty that I could make no computation of +their altitude. There was a stile to pass from this field into the +next. It had four steps, and a stone to cross over when you come +to the uppermost. It was impossible for me to climb this stile, +because every step was six feet high, and the upper stone about +twenty. I was endeavoring to find some gap in the hedge, when I +discovered one of the inhabitants in the next field, advancing +toward the stile, of the same size with him whom I saw in the sea +pursuing our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire +steeple, and took about ten yards at every stride, as near as I +could guess. I was struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, +and ran to hide myself in the corn, whence I saw him at the top of +the stile looking back into the next field, on the right hand, and +heard him call in a voice many degrees louder than a speaking- +trumpet; but the noise was so high in the air, that at first I +certainly thought it was thunder. Whereupon seven monsters, like +himself, came toward him, with reaping-hooks in their hands, each +hook about the largeness of six scythes. These people were not so +well clad as the first, whose servants or laborers they seemed to +be; for, upon some words he spoke, they went to reap the corn in +the field where I lay. I kept from them at as great a distance as +I could, but was forced to move with extreme difficulty, for the +stalks of corn were sometimes not above a foot distant, so that I +could hardly squeeze my body between them. However, I made a shift +to go forward, till I came to a part of the field where the corn +had been laid by the rain and wind. Here it was impossible for me +to advance a step; for the stalks were so interwoven, that I could +not creep through, and the beards of the fallen ears so strong and +pointed, that they pierced through my clothes into my flesh. At +the same time I heard the reapers not above a hundred yards behind +me. Being quite dispirited with toil, and wholly overcome by grief +and despair, I lay down between two ridges, and heartily wished I +might there end my days. I bemoaned my desolate widow and +fatherless children. I lamented my own folly and wilfulness, in +attempting a second voyage, against the advice of all my friends +and relations. In this terrible agitation of mind, I could not +forbear thinking of Lilliput, whose inhabitants looked upon me as +the greatest prodigy that ever appeared in the world; where I was +able to draw an imperial fleet in my hand, and perform those other +actions, which will be recorded forever in the chronicles of that +empire, while posterity shall hardly believe them, although +attested by millions. I reflected what a mortification it must +prove to me to appear as inconsiderable in this nation, as one +single Lilliputian would be among us. But this I conceived was to +be the least of my misfortunes; for, as human creatures are +observed to be more savage and cruel in proportion to their bulk, +what could I expect but to be a morsel in the mouth of the first +among these enormous barbarians that should happen to seize me? +Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right when they tell us that +nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It might +have pleased fortune, to have let the Lilliputians find some +nation where the people were as diminutive with respect to them, +as they were to me. And who knows but that even this prodigious +race of mortals might be equally overmatched in some distant part +of the world, whereof we have yet no discovery. + +Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with +these reflections, when one of the reapers approaching within ten +yards of the ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the +next step I should be squashed to death under his foot, or cut in +two with his reaping-hook. And therefore, when he was again about +to move, I screamed as loud as fear could make me; whereupon the +huge creature trod short, and looking round about under him for +some time, at last espied me as I lay on the ground. He considered +awhile, with the caution of one who endeavors to lay hold on a +small dangerous animal in such a manner that it shall not be able +either to scratch or bite him, as I myself have sometimes done +with a weasel in England. At length he ventured to take me behind, +by the middle, between his forefinger and thumb, and brought me +within three yards of his eyes, that he might behold my shape more +perfectly. I guessed his meaning, and my good fortune gave me so +much presence of mind, that I resolved not to struggle in the +least as he held me in the air above sixty feet from the ground, +although he grievously pinched my sides, for fear I should slip +through his fingers. All I ventured was to raise mine eyes toward +the sun, and place my hands together in a supplicating posture, +and to speak some words in an humble melancholy tone, suitable to +the condition I then was in: for I apprehended every moment that +he would dash me against the ground, as we usually do any little +hateful animal which we have a mind to destroy. But my good star +would have it, that he appeared pleased with my voice and +gestures, and began to look upon me as a curiosity, much wondering +to hear me pronounce articulate words, although he could not +understand them. In the meantime I was not able to forbear +groaning and shedding tears, and turning my head toward my sides; +letting him know, as well as I could, how cruelly I was hurt by +the pressure of his thumb and finger. He seemed to apprehend my +meaning; for, lifting up the lappet of his coat, he put me gently +into it, and immediately ran along with me to his master, who was +a substantial farmer, and the same person I had first seen in the +field. + +The farmer having (as I suppose by their talk) received such an +account of me as his servant could give him, took a piece of a +small straw, about the size of a walking-staff, and therewith +lifted up the lappets of my coat, which, it seems, he thought to +be some kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hair +aside to take a better view of my face. He called his hinds about +him, and asked them, as I afterward learned, whether they had ever +seen in the fields any little creature that resembled me? He then +placed me softly on the ground on all fours, but I immediately got +up, and walked slowly backward and forward, to let those people +see I had no intent to run away. They all sat down in a circle +about me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off my hat, +and made a low bow toward the farmer. I fell on my knees, and +lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several words as loud as I +could; I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and humbly +presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his hand, and +then applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and afterward +turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he took out +of his sleeve), but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I made a +sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then took the +purse, and opening it, poured all the gold into his palm. There +were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, besides twenty or +thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger +upon his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then +another; but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He +made me a sign to put them again into my purse, and the purse +again into my pocket, which, after offering it to him several +times, I thought it best to do. + +The farmer, by this time, was convinced I must be a rational +creature. He spoke often to me, but the sound of his voice pierced +my ears like that of a watermill, yet his words were articulate +enough. + +I answered as loud as I could in several languages, and he often +laid his ear within two yards of me; but all in vain, for we were +wholly unintelligible to each other. He then sent his servants to +their work, and taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he +doubled and spread it on his left hand, which he placed flat on +the ground with the palm upward, making me a sign to step into it, +as I could easily do, for it was not above a foot in thickness. I +thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, laid myself +at full length upon the handkerchief, with the remainder of which +he lapped me up to the head for further security, and in this +manner carried me home to his house. There he called his wife, and +showed me to her; but she screamed and ran back, as women in +England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. However, when she +had awhile seen my behavior, and how well I observed the signs her +husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew +extremely tender of me. It was about twelve at noon and a servant +brought in dinner. It was only one substantial dish of meat (fit +for the plain condition of a husbandman), in a dish of about +four-and-twenty feet in diameter. The company were, the farmer and +his wife, three children, and an old grandmother. When they were +sat down, the farmer placed me at some distance from him on the +table, which was thirty feet high from the floor. I was in a +terrible fright, and kept as far as I could from the edge, for +fear of falling. The wife minced a bit of meat, then crumbled some +bread on a trencher, and placed it before me. I made her a low +bow, took out my knife and fork, and fell to eat, which gave them +exceeding delight. The mistress sent her maid for a small dram +cup, which held about two gallons, and filled it with drink; I +took up the vessel with much difficulty in both hands, and in a +most respectful manner drank to her ladyship's health, expressing +the words as loud as I could in English, which made the company +laugh so heartily that I was almost deafened with the noise. This +liquor tasted like a small cider, and was not unpleasant. Then the +master made me a sign to come to his trencher side; but as I +walked on the table, being at great surprise all the time, as the +indulgent reader will easily conceive and excuse, I happened to +stumble against a crust, and fell flat on my face, but received no +hurt. I got up immediately, and observing the good people to be in +much concern, I took my hat (which I held under my arm out of good +manners), and waving it over my head, gave three huzzas, to show I +had got no mischief by my fall. But advancing forward toward my +master, (as I shall henceforth call him), his youngest son, who +sat next to him, an arch boy of about ten years old, took me up by +the legs, and held me so high in the air that I trembled in every +limb; but his father snatched me from him, and at the same time +gave him such a box on the left ear as would have felled an +European troop of horse to the earth, ordering him to be taken +from the table. But being afraid the boy might owe me a spite, and +well remembering how mischievous all children among us naturally +are to sparrows, rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, I fell on +my knees, and pointing to the boy, made my master to understand +as well as I could, that I desired his son might be pardoned. The +father complied, and the lad took his seat again, whereupon I went +to him and kissed his hand, which my master took, and made him +stroke me gently with it. + +In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favorite cat leaped into her +lap, I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking- +weavers at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from +the purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger +than an ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her +paws, while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The +fierceness of this creature's countenance altogether discomposed +me; though I stood at the further end of the table, above fifty +feet off; and though my mistress held her fast, for fear she might +give a spring, and seize me in her talons. But it happened there +was no danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me, when +my master placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been +always told, and found true by experience in my travels, that +flying or discovering fear before a fierce animal is a certain way +to make it pursue or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous +juncture, to show no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity +five or six times before the very head of the cat, and came within +half a yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she +were more afraid of me. I had less apprehension concerning the +dogs, whereof three or four came into the room, as is usual in +farmers? houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to +four elephants, and a greyhound somewhat taller than the mastiff, +but not so large. + +When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a +year old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a squall +that you might have heard from London Bridge to Chelsea, after the +usual oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The mother, +out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me toward the child, +who presently seized me by the middle, and got my head into his +mouth, where I roared so loud that the urchin was frighted, and +let me drop, and I should infallibly have broke my neck, if the +mother had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to quiet her +babe, made use of a rattle, which was a kind of hollow vessel +filled with great stones, and fastened by a cable to the child's +waist. + +I remember, when I was at Lilliput, the complexions of those +diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and +talking upon the subject with a person of learning there, who was +an intimate friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much +fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the ground, than it +did upon a nearer view, when I took him up in my hand and brought +him close, which he confessed was at first a very shocking sight. +He said "he could discover great holes in my skin; that the stumps +of my beard were ten times stronger than the bristles of a boar, +and my complexion made up of several colors, altogether +disagreeable"; although I must beg leave to say for myself, that I +am as fair as most of my sex and country, and very little +sunburned by all my travels. On the other side, discoursing of +the ladies in that emperor's court, he used to tell me, "one had +freckles, another too wide a mouth, a third too large a nose"; +nothing of which I was able to distinguish. I confess this +reflection was obvious enough; which, however, I could not +forbear, lest the reader might think those vast creatures were +actually deformed: for I must do them the justice to say, they are +a comely race of people; and particularly the features of my +master's countenance, although he were but a farmer, when I beheld +him from the height of sixty feet, appeared very well proportioned. + +When dinner was done, my master went out to his laborers, and as I +could discover by his voice and gesture gave his wife a strict +charge to take care of me. I was very much tired and disposed to +sleep, which my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed, +covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and coarser +than the mainsail of a man-of-war. + +I slept about two hours, and dreamed I was at home with my wife +and children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and found +myself alone, in a vast room, between two and three hundred feet +wide, and about two hundred high, lying in a bed twenty yards +wide. My mistress was gone about her household affairs, and had +locked me in. The bed was eight yards from the floor. I durst not +presume to call; and if I had, it would have been in vain, with +such a voice as mine, at so great a distance as from the room +where I lay to the kitchen where the family kept. While I was +under these circumstances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran +smelling backward and forward on the bed. One of them came up +almost to my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and drew out my +hanger to defend myself. These horrible animals had the boldness +to attack me on both sides, and one of them held his forefeet at +my collar; but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before +he could do me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the +other, seeing the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not +without one good wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, +and made the blood run trickling from him. After this exploit, I +walked gently to and fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss +of spirits. These creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, +but infinitely more nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off +my belt before I went to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn +to pieces and devoured. I measured the tail of the dead rat, and +found it to be two yards long, wanting an inch; but it went +against my stomach to draw the carcass off the bed, where it lay +still bleeding. I observed it had yet some life, but with a strong +slash across the neck, I thoroughly despatched it. Soon after, my +mistress came into the room, who seeing me all bloody, ran and +took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat, smiling, and +making other signs, to show I was not hurt; whereat she was +extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead rat with +a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then she set me +on a table, where I showed her my hanger all bloody, and wiping +it on the lappet of my coat returned it to the scabbard. + +I hope the gentle reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and +the like particulars, which, however insignificant they may appear +to grovelling vulgar minds, yet will certainly help a philosopher +to enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the +benefit of public as well as private life, which was my sole +design in presenting this, and other accounts of my travels, to +the world; wherein I have been chiefly studious of truth, without +affecting any ornaments of learning or of style. But the whole +scene of this voyage made so strong an impression on my mind, and +is so deeply fixed in my memory, that in committing it to paper I +did not omit one material circumstance; however, upon strict +review, I blotted out several passages of less moment, which were +in my first copy, for fear of being censured as tedious and +trifling, whereof travellers are often, perhaps not without +justice, accused. + + + + +SOME OF GULLIVER'S ADVENTURES + +By Jonathan Swift + + +Justly may I say, that I should have lived happy enough in the +country, if my littleness had not exposed me to several ridiculous +and troublesome accidents; some of which I shall venture to +relate. Glumdalclitch often carried me into the gardens of the +court in my smaller box, and would sometimes take me out of it, +and hold me in her hand, or set me down to walk. I remember, +before the dwarf left the queen, he followed us one day into those +gardens, and my nurse having set me down, he and I being close +together, near some dwarf apple-trees, I must needs show my wit, +by a silly allusion between him and the trees, which happens to +hold in their language as it does in ours. Whereupon, the +malicious rogue, watching his opportunity, when I was walking +under one of them, shook it directly over my head, by which a +dozen apples, each of them near as large as a Bristol barrel, came +tumbling about my ears; one of them hit me on the back as I +chanced to stoop, and knocked me down flat on my face; but I +received no other hurt, and the dwarf was pardoned at my desire, +because I had given the provocation. + +Another day, Glumdalelitch left me on a smooth grass plot to +divert myself, while she walked at some distance with her +governess. In the meantime, there suddenly fell such a violent +shower of hail, that I was immediately, by the force of it, struck +to the ground; and when I was down, the hailstones gave me such +cruel bangs all over the body, as if I had been pelted with +tennis-balls; however, I made a shift to creep on all fours, and +shelter myself, by lying flat on my face, on the lee-side of a +border of lemon-thyme; but so bruised from head to foot, that I +could not go abroad in ten days. Neither is that at all to be +wondered at, because nature, in that country, observing the same +proportion through all her operations, a hailstone is near +eighteen hundred times as large as one in Europe; which I can +assert upon experience, having been so curious to weigh and +measure them. + +But a more dangerous accident happened to me in the same garden, +when my little nurse, believing she had put me in a secure place +(which I often entreated her to do, that I might enjoy my own +thoughts), and having left my box at home, to avoid the trouble of +carrying it, went to another part of the garden with her governess +and some ladies of her acquaintance. While she was absent and out +of hearing, a small white spaniel that belonged to one of the +chief gardeners, having got by accident into the garden, happened +to range near the place where I lay: the dog, following the scent, +came directly up, and taking me in his mouth, ran straight to his +master wagging his tail, and set me gently on the ground. By good +fortune he had been so well taught, that I was carried between his +teeth without the least hurt, or even tearing my clothes. But the +poor gardener, who knew me well, and had a great kindness for me, +was in a terrible fright; he gently took me up in both his hands, +and asked me how I did; but I was so amazed and out of breath, +that I could not speak a word. In a few minutes I came to myself, +and he carried me safe to my little nurse, who, by this time, had +returned to the place where she left me, and was in cruel agonies +when I did not appear, nor answer when she called. She severely +reprimanded the gardener on account of his dog. But the thing was +hushed up, and never known at court, for the girl was afraid of +the queen's anger; and truly, as to myself, I thought it would +not be for my reputation that such a story should go about. + +This accident absolutely determined Glumdalclitch never to trust +me abroad for the future out of her sight. I had been long afraid +of this resolution, and therefore concealed from her some little +unlucky adventures, that happened in those times when I was left +by myself. Once a kite, hovering over the garden, made a stoop at +me, and if I had not resolutely drawn my hanger, and run under a +thick espalier, he would have certainly carried me away in his +talons. Another time, walking to the top of a fresh molehill, I +fell to my neck in the hole, through which that animal had cast up +the earth, and coined some lie, not worth remembering, to excuse +myself for spoiling my clothes. I likewise broke my right shin +against the shell of a snail, which I happened to stumble over, as +I was walking alone and thinking of poor England. + +I cannot tell whether I were more pleased or mortified to observe, +in those solitary walks, that the smaller birds did not appear to +be at all afraid of me, but would hop about within a yard's +distance, looking for worms and other food, with as much +indifference and security as if no creature at all were near them. +I remember, a thrush had the confidence to snatch out of my hand, +with his bill, a piece of cake that Glumdalclitch had just given +me for my breakfast. When I attempted to catch any of these birds, +they would boldly turn against me, endeavoring to peck my fingers, +which I durst not venture within their reach; and then they would +hop back unconcerned, to hunt for worms or snails, as they did +before. But one day, I took a thick cudgel, and threw it with all +my strength so luckily, at a linnet, that I knocked him down, and +seizing him by the neck with both my hands, ran with him in +triumph to my nurse. However, the bird, who had only been stunned, +recovering himself, gave me so many boxes with his wings, on both +sides of my head and body, though I held him at arm's length, and +was out of the reach of his claws, that I was twenty times +thinking to let him go. But I was soon relieved by one of our +servants, who wrung off the bird's neck, and I had him next day +for dinner, by the queen's command. This linnet, as near as I can +remember, seemed to be somewhat larger than an English swan. + +One day, a young gentleman, who was nephew to my nurse's +governess, came and pressed them both to see an execution. It was +of a man who had murdered one of that gentleman's intimate +acquaintance. Glumdalclitch was prevailed on to be of the company, +very much against her inclination, for she was naturally tender- +hearted; and as for myself, although I abhorred such kind of +spectacles, yet my curiosity tempted me to see something that I +thought must be extraordinary. The malefactor was fixed on a chair +upon a scaffold erected for that purpose, and his head cut off at +one blow, with a sword of about forty feet long. The veins and +arteries spouted up such a prodigious quantity of blood, and so +high in the air, that the great fountain at Versailles was not +equal for the time it lasted; and the head, when it fell on the +scaffold floor, gave such a bounce as made me start, although I +were at least half an English mile distant. + +The queen, who often used to hear me talk of my sea-voyages, and +took all occasions to divert me when I was melancholy, asked me +whether I understood how to handle a sail or an oar, and whether a +little exercise of rowing might not be convenient for my health? I +answered that I understood both very well: for although my proper +employment had been to be surgeon or doctor to the ship, yet +often, upon a pinch, I was forced to work like a common mariner. +But I could not see how this could be done in their country, where +the smallest wherry was equal to a first-rate man-of-war among us; +and such a boat as I could manage would never live in one of their +rivers. Her Majesty said, if I would contrive a boat, her own +joiner should make it, and she would provide a place for me to +sail in. The fellow was an ingenious workman, and by my +instructions, in ten days, finished a pleasure-boat, with all its +tackling, able conveniently to hold eight Europeans. When it was +finished, the queen was so delighted that she ran with it in her +lap to the king, who ordered it to be put into a cistern full of +water, with me in it, by way of trial; where I could not manage my +two sculls, or little oars, for want of room. But the queen had +before contrived another project. She ordered the joiner to make a +wooden trough of three hundred feet long, fifty broad, and eight +deep; which, being well pitched to prevent leaking, was placed on +the floor along the wall, in an outer room of the palace. It had +a cock near the bottom to let out the water, when it began to +grow stale; and two servants could easily fill it in half an hour. +Here I often used to row for my own diversion, as well as that of +the queen and her ladies, who thought themselves well entertained +with my skill and agility. Sometimes I would put up my sail and +then my business was only to steer, while the ladies gave me a +gale with their fans; and when they were weary, some of their +pages would blow my sail forward with their breath, while I showed +my art by steering starboard or larboard as I pleased. When I had +done, Glumdalclitch always carried back my boat into her closet, +and hung it on a nail to dry. + +In this exercise I once met an accident, which had like to have +cost me my life; for, one of the pages having put my boat into the +trough, the governess who attended Glumdalclitch very officiously +lifted me up, to place me in the boat; but I happened to slip +through her fingers, and should infallibly have fallen down forty +feet, upon the floor, if, by the luckiest chance in the world, I +had not been stopped by a corking-pin that stuck in the good +gentlewoman's stomacher; the head of the pin passed between my +shirt and the waistband of my breeches, and thus I was held by the +middle in the air, till Glumdalclitch ran to my relief. + +Another time, one of the servants, whose office it was to fill my +trough every third day with fresh water, was so careless to let a +huge frog (not perceiving it) slip out of his pail. The frog lay +concealed till I was put into my boat, but then seeing a resting- +place, climbed up, and made it to lean so much on one side, that I +was forced to balance it with all my weight on the other to +prevent overturning. When the frog was got in, it hopped at once +half the length of the boat, and then over my head, backward and +forward, daubing my face and clothes with its odious slime. The +largeness of its features made it appear the most deformed animal +that can be conceived. However, I desired Glumdalclitch to let me +deal with it alone. I banged it a good while with one of my +sculls, and at last forced it to leap out of the boat. + +But the greatest danger I underwent in that kingdom was from a +monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen. +Glumdalclitch had locked me up in her closet, while she went +somewhere upon business, or a visit. The weather being very warm, +the closet window was left open, as well as the windows and door +of my bigger box, in which I usually lived, because of its +largeness and conveniency. As I sat quietly meditating at my +table, I heard something bounce in at the closet-window, and skip +about from one side to the other; whereat, although I was much +alarmed, yet I ventured to look out, but not stirring from my +seat; and then I saw this frolicsome animal frisking and leaping +up and down, till at last he came to my box, which he seemed to +view with great pleasure and curiosity, peeping in at the door and +every window. I retreated to the further corner of my room, or +box; but the monkey, looking in at every side, put me into such a +fright, that I wanted presence of mind to conceal myself under the +bed, as I might easily have done. After some time spent in +peeping, grinning, and chattering, he at last espied me; and +reaching one of his paws in at the door, as a cat does when she +plays with a mouse, although I often shifted place to avoid him, +he at length seized the lappet of my coat (which being made of +that country silk, was very thick and strong), and dragged me out. +He took me up in his right forefoot, and held me as a nurse does a +child; and when I offered to struggle, he squeezed me so hard, +that I thought it more prudent to submit. I have good reason to +believe that he took me for a young one of his own species, by his +often stroking my face very gently with his other paw. In these +diversions he was interrupted by a noise at the closet door, as if +somebody were opening it; whereupon he suddenly leaped up to the +window, at which he had come in, and thence upon the leads and +gutters, walking upon three legs, and holding me in the fourth, +till he clambered up to a roof that was next to ours. I heard +Glumdalclitch give a shriek the moment he was carrying me out. The +poor girl was almost distracted; that quarter of the palace was +all in an uproar; the servants ran for ladders; the monkey was +seen by hundreds in the court, sitting upon the ridge of a +building, holding me like a baby in one of his fore-paws, and +feeding me with the other, by cramming into my mouth some victuals +he had squeezed out of the bag on one side of his chaps, and +patting me when I would not eat; whereat many of the rabble below +could not forbear laughing; neither do I think they justly ought +to be blamed, for, without question, the sight was ridiculous +enough to everybody but myself. Some of the people threw up +stones, hoping to drive the monkey down; but this was strictly +forbidden, or else, very probably, my brains had been dashed out. + +The ladders were now applied, and mounted by several men; which +the monkey observing, and finding himself almost encompassed, not +being able to make speed enough with his three legs, let me drop +on a ridge tile, and made his escape. Here I sat for some time, +five hundred yards from the ground, expecting every moment to be +blown down by the wind, or to fall by my own giddiness, and come +tumbling over and over from the ridge to the eaves: but an honest +lad, one of my nurse's footmen, climbed up, and putting me into +his breeches pocket, brought me down--safe. + +I was almost choked with the filthy stuff the monkey had crammed +down my throat; but my dear little nurse picked it out of my mouth +with a small needle, and then I fell a-vomiting, which gave me +great relief. Yet I was so weak and bruised in the sides with the +squeezes given me by this odious animal, that I was forced to keep +my bed a fortnight. The king, queen, and all the court, sent every +day to inquire after my health, and her Majesty made me several +visits during my sickness. The monkey was killed, and an order +made that no such animal should be kept about the palace. + +When I attended the king after my recovery, to return him thanks +for his favors, he was pleased to rally me a good deal upon this +adventure. He asked me, what my thoughts and speculations were +while I lay in the monkey's paw? how I liked the victuals he gave +me? his manner of feeding? and whether the fresh air on the roof +had sharpened my stomach? He desired to know what I would have +done upon such an occasion in my own country? I told his Majesty, +that in Europe we had no monkeys except such as were brought for +curiosities from other places, and so small that I could deal with +a dozen of them together, if they presumed to attack me. And as +for that monstrous animal, with whom I was so lately engaged (it +was indeed as large as an elephant), if my fears had suffered me +to think so far as to make use of my hanger (looking fiercely, and +clapping my hand upon the hilt, as I spoke) when he poked his paw +into my chamber, perhaps I should have given him such a wound, as +would have made him glad to withdraw it, with more haste than he +put it in. This I delivered in a firm tone, like a person who was +jealous lest his courage should be called in question. However, my +speech produced nothing else beside a loud laughter, which all the +respect due to his Majesty from those about him could not make +them contain. This made me reflect, how vain an attempt it is for +a man to endeavor to do himself honor among those who are out of +all degree of equality or comparison with him. And yet I have seen +the moral of my own behavior very frequently in England since my +return; where a little contemptible varlet, without the least +title to birth, person, wit, or common-sense, shall presume to +look with importance, and put himself upon a foot with the +greatest persons of the kingdom. + + + + +GULLIVER ESCAPES FROM THE EAGLE + +By Jonathan Swift + + +Perilous circumstances, from which I had already escaped, inspired +me with a strong impulse that I should some time recover my +liberty, though it was impossible to conjecture by what means, or +to form any project with the least hope of succeeding. The ship in +which I sailed was the first known to be driven within sight of +that coast, and the king had given strict orders, that if at any +time another appeared, it should be taken ashore, and with all its +crew and passengers brought in a tumbrel to Lorbrulgrud. I was +indeed treated with much kindness: I was the favorite of a great +king and queen, and the delight of the whole court; but it was +upon such a foot as ill became the dignity of human-kind. I could +never forget these domestic pledges I had left behind me. I wanted +to be among people with whom I could converse upon even terms, and +walk about the streets and fields without being afraid of being +trod to death like a frog or a young puppy. But my deliverance +came sooner than I expected, and in a manner not very common: the +whole story and circumstances of which I shall faithfully relate. + +I had now been two years in the country: and about the beginning +of the third, Glumdalclitch and I attended the king and queen, in +a progress to the south coast of the kingdom. I was carried as +usual, in my travelling box, which, as I have already described, +was a very convenient closet of twelve feet wide. And I had +ordered a hammock to be fixed, by silken ropes, from the four +corners at the top, to break the jolts when a servant carried me +before him on horseback, as I sometimes desired; and would often +sleep in my hammock, while we were upon the road. On the roof of +my closet, not directly over the middle of the hammock, I ordered +the joiner to cut a hole of a foot square, to give me air in hot +weather as I slept; which hole I shut at pleasure, with a board +that drew backward and forward through a groove. + +When we came to our journey's end, the king thought proper to pass +a few days at a palace he has near Flanflasnic, a city within +eighteen English miles of the seaside. Glumdalclitch and I were +much fatigued: I had gotten a small cold, but the poor girl was so +ill as to be confined to her chamber. I longed to see the ocean, +which must be the only scene of my escape, if ever it should +happen. I pretended to be worse than I really was, and desired +leave to take the fresh air of the sea, with a page whom I was +very fond of, and who had sometimes been trusted with me. I shall +never forget with what unwillingness Glumdalclitch consented, nor +the strict charge she gave the page to be careful of me, bursting +at the same time into a flood of tears, as if she had some +foreboding of what was to happen. The boy took me out in my box, +about half an hour's walk from the palace, toward the rocks on the +sea-shore. I ordered him to set me down, and lifting up one of my +sashes, cast many a wistful melancholy look toward the sea. I +found myself not very well, and told the page that I had a mind +to take a nap in my hammock, which I hoped would do me good. I got +in, and the boy shut the window close down to keep out the cold. I +soon fell asleep, and all I can conjecture is that, while I slept, +the page, thinking no danger could happen, went among the rocks to +look for birds' eggs, having before observed him from my window +searching about, and picking up one or two in the clefts. Be that +as it will, I found myself suddenly awakened with a violent pull +upon the ring, which was fastened at the top of my box for the +convenience of carriage. I felt my box raised very high in the +air, and then borne forward with prodigious speed. The first jolt +had like to have shaken me out of my hammock, but afterward the +motion was easy enough. I called out several times as loud as I +could raise my voice, but all to no purpose. I looked toward my +windows, and could see nothing but the clouds and sky. I heard a +noise over my head, like the clapping of wings, and then began to +perceive the woful condition I was in: that some eagle had got the +cord of my box in his beak, with an intent to let it fall on the +rock, like a tortoise in a shell, and then pick out my body and +devour it: for the sagacity and smell of this bird enable him to +discover his quarry at a great distance, though better concealed +than I could be within a two-inch board. In a little time I +observed the noise and flutter of wings to increase very fast, and +my box was tossed up and down, like a sign on a windy day. I heard +several bangs or buffets, as I thought, given to the eagle (for +such I am certain it must have been that held the cord of my box +in his beak), and then, all on a sudden, felt myself falling +perpendicularly down, for above a minute, but with such incredible +swiftness, that I almost lost my breath. My fall was stopped by a +terrible squash, that sounded louder to my ears than the cataract +of Niagara; after which I was quite in the dark for another +minute, and then my box began to rise so high that I could see +light from the tops of the windows. I now perceived I was fallen +into the sea. My box, by the weight of my body, the goods that +were in it, and the broad plates of iron fixed for strength at the +four corners of the top and bottom, floated about five feet deep +in water. I did then, and do now suppose, that the eagle which +flew away with my box was pursued by two or three others, and +forced to let me drop, while he defended himself against the rest, +who hoped to share in the prey. The plates of iron fastened at the +bottom of the box (for those were the strongest) preserved the +balance while it fell, and hindered it from being broken on the +surface of the water. Every joint of it was well grooved; and the +door did not move on hinges, but up and down like a sash, which +kept my closet so tight that very little water came in. I got with +much difficulty out of my hammock, having first ventured to draw +back the slip-board on the roof already mentioned, contrived on +purpose to let in air, for want of which I found myself almost +stifled. + +How often did I then wish myself with my dear Glumdalclitch, from +whom one single hour had so far divided me! And I may say with +truth, that in the midst of my own misfortunes I could not +forbear lamenting my poor nurse, the grief she would suffer for my +loss, the displeasure of the queen, and the ruin of her fortune. +Perhaps many travellers have not been under greater difficulties +and distress than I was at this juncture, expecting every moment +to see my box dashed to pieces, or at least overset by the first +violent blast or rising wave. A breach in one single pane of glass +would have been immediate death: nor could anything have preserved +the windows, but the strong lattice wires placed on the outside, +against accidents in travelling. I saw the water ooze in at +several crannies, although the leaks were not considerable, and I +endeavored to stop them as well as I could. I was not able to lift +up the roof of my closet, which otherwise I certainly should have +done, and sat on the top of it: where I might at least preserve +myself some hours longer, than by being shut up (as I may call it) +in the hold. Or if I escaped these dangers for a day or two, what +could I expect but a miserable death of cold and hunger? I was for +four hours under these circumstances, expecting, and indeed +wishing, every moment to be my last. + +I have already told the reader that there were two strong staples +fixed upon that side of my box which had no window; and into which +the servant who used to carry me on horseback would put a leathern +belt, and buckle it about his waist. Being in this disconsolate +state, I heard, or at least thought I heard, some kind of grating +noise on that side of my box where the staples were fixed; and +soon after I began to fancy that the box was pulled or towed +along the sea; for I now and then felt a sort of tugging, which +made the waves rise near the tops of my windows, leaving me almost +in the dark. This gave me some faint hopes of relief, although I +was not able to imagine how it could be brought about. I ventured +to unscrew one of my chairs, which were always fastened to the +floor; and having made a hard shift to screw it down again +directly under the shipping-board that I had lately opened, I +mounted on the chair, and putting my mouth as near as I could to +the hole, I called for help in a loud voice, and in all the +languages I understood. I then fastened my handkerchief to a stick +I usually carried, and thrusting it up the hole, waved it several +times in the air, that if any boat or ship was near, the seamen +might conjecture some unhappy mortal to be shut up in the box. + +I found no effect from all I could do, but plainly perceived my +closet to be moved along; and in the space of an hour, or better, +that side of the box where the staples were, and had no windows, +struck against something that was hard. I apprehended it to be a +rock, and found myself tossed more than ever. I plainly heard a +noise upon the cover of my closet, like that of a cable, and the +grating of it as it passed through the ring. I then found myself +hoisted up by degrees, at least three feet higher than I was +before. Whereupon I again thrust up my stick and handkerchief, +calling for help till I was almost hoarse. In return to which I +heard a great shout repeated three times, giving me such +transports of joy as are not to be conceived but by those who +feel them. I now heard a trampling over my head, and somebody +calling through the hole with a loud voice, in the English tongue, +If there be anybody below, let them speak. I answered, I was an +Englishman, drawn by ill fortune into the greatest calamity that +ever any creature underwent, and begged, by all that was moving, +to be delivered out of the dungeon I was in. The voice replied, I +was safe, for my box was fastened to their ship; and the carpenter +should immediately come and saw a hole in the cover, large enough +to pull me out. I answered that was needless, and would take up +too much time; for there was no more to be done, but let one of +the crew put his finger into the ring, and take the box out of the +sea into the ship, and so into the captain's cabin. Some of them, +upon hearing me talk so wildly, thought I was mad; others laughed; +for indeed it never came into my head, that I was now got among +people of my own stature and strength. The carpenter came, and in +a few minutes sawed a passage about four feet square, then let +down a small ladder, upon which I mounted, and thence was taken +into the ship in a very weak condition. + +The sailors were all amazement, and asked me a thousand questions, +which I had no inclination to answer, I was equally confounded at +the sight of so many pygmies, for such I took them to be, after +having so long accustomed mine eyes to the monstrous objects I had +left. But the captain, Mr. Thomas Wilcocks, an honest worthy +Shropshire man, observing I was ready to faint, took me into his +cabin, gave me a cordial to comfort me, and made me turn in upon +his own bed, advising me to take a little rest, of which I had +great need. Before I went to sleep I gave him to understand that I +had some valuable furniture in my box, too good to be lost: a fine +hammock, a handsome field-bed, two chairs, a table, and a cabinet; +that my closet was hung on all sides, or rather quilted, with silk +and cotton; that if he would let one of the crew bring my closet +into his cabin I would open it there before him and show him my +goods. The captain, hearing me utter these absurdities, concluded +I was raving; however (I suppose to pacify me), he promised to +give order as I desired, and going upon deck, sent some of his men +down into my closet, whence (as I afterward found) they drew up +all my goods, and stripped off the quilting; but the chairs, +cabinet, and bedstead, being screwed to the floor, were much +damaged by the ignorance of the seamen, who tore them up by force. +Then they knocked off some of the boards for the use of the ship, +and when they had got all they had a mind for, let the hull drop +into the sea, which, by reason of many breaches made in the bottom +and sides, sunk outright. And, indeed, I was glad not to have been +a spectator of the havoc they made; because I am confident it +would have sensibly touched me, by bringing former passages into +my mind which I would rather have forgot. + +I slept some hours, but perpetually disturbed with dreams of the +place I had left, and the dangers I had escaped. However, upon +waking, I found myself much recovered. It was now about eight +o'clock at night, and the captain ordered supper immediately, +thinking I had already fasted too long. He entertained me with +great kindness, observing me not to look wildly or talk +inconsistently; and when we were left alone, desired I would give +him a relation of my travels; and by what accident I came to be +set adrift in that monstrous wooden chest. He said that about +twelve o'clock at noon, as he was looking through his glass, he +spied it at a distance, and thought it was a sail, which he had a +mind to make, being not much out of his course, in hopes of buying +some biscuit, his own beginning to fall short. That upon coming +nearer, and finding his error, he sent out his long-boat, to +discover what it was; that his men came back in fright, swearing +they had seen a swimming house. That he laughed at their folly, +and went himself in the boat, ordering his men to take a strong +cable along with them. That the weather being calm, he rowed round +me several times, observed my windows and wire lattices that +defended them. That he discovered two staples upon one side, which +was all of boards, without any passage for light. He then +commanded his men to row up to that side, and fastening a cable to +one of the staples, ordered them to tow my chest, as they called +it, toward the ship. When it was there he gave directions to +fasten another cable to the ring fixed in the cover, and to raise +up my chest with pulleys, which all the sailors were not able to +do above two or three feet. He said they saw my stick and +handkerchief thrust out of the hole, and concluded that some +unhappy man must be shut up in the cavity. I asked whether he or +the crew had seen any prodigious birds in the air about the time +he first discovered me? To which he answered, that discoursing +this matter with the sailors while I was asleep, one of them said +he had observed three eagles flying toward the north, but remarked +nothing of their being larger than the usual size; which I suppose +must be imputed to the great height they were at; and he could not +guess the reason of my question. I then asked the captain how far +he reckoned we might be from land? He said, by the best +computation he could make, we were at least a hundred leagues. I +assured him that he must be mistaken by almost half, for I had not +left the country whence I came above two hours before I dropped +into the sea. Whereupon he began again to think that my brain was +disturbed, of which he gave me a hint, and advised me to go to bed +in a cabin he had provided. I assured him I was well refreshed +with his good entertainment and company, and as much in my senses +as ever I was in my life. He then grew serious, and desired to ask +me freely whether I were not troubled in my mind by the +consciousness of some enormous crime, for which I was punished, at +the command of some prince, by exposing me in that chest; as great +criminals, in other countries, have been forced to sea in a leaky +vessel without provisions: for although he should be sorry to have +taken so ill a man into his ship, yet he would engage his word to +set me safe ashore in the first port where we arrived? He added +that his suspicions were much increased by some very absurd +speeches I had delivered at first to his sailors, and afterward to +himself, in relation to my closet or chest, as well as by my odd +looks and behavior while I was at supper. + +I begged his patience to hear me tell my story, which I faithfully +did, from the last time I left England, to the moment he first +discovered me. And as truth always forces its way into rational +minds, so this honest worthy gentleman, who had some tincture of +learning, and very good sense, was immediately convinced of my +candor and veracity. But, further to confirm all I had said, I +entreated him to give order that my cabinet should be brought, of +which I had the key in my pocket; for he had already informed me +how the seamen disposed of my closet. I opened it in his own +presence, and showed him the small collection of rarities I made +in the country from which I had been so strangely delivered. There +was the comb I had contrived out of the stumps of the king's +beard, and another of the same materials, but fixed into a paring +of her Majesty's thumb-nail, which served for the back. There was +a collection of needles and pins, from a foot to half a yard long; +four wasp stings, like joiners' tacks; some combings of the +queen's hair; a gold ring which one day she made me a present of, +in a most obliging manner, taking it from her little finger and +throwing it over my head like a collar. I desired the captain +would please to accept this ring in return of his civilities, +which he absolutely refused. I showed him a corn that I had cut +off, with my own hand, from a maid of honor's toe; it was about +the bigness of a Kentish pippin, and grown so hard that when I +returned to England I got it hollowed into a cup, and set it in +silver. Lastly, I desired him to see the breeches I had then on, +which were made of a mouse's skin. + +I could force nothing on him but a footman's tooth, which I +observed him to examine with great curiosity, and found he had a +fancy for it. He received it with abundance of thanks, more than +such a trifle could deserve. It was drawn by an unskilful surgeon, +in a mistake, from one of Glumdalclitch's men, who was afflicted +with the toothache, but it was as sound as any in his head. I got +it cleaned, and put it into my cabinet. It was about a foot long +and four inches in diameter. + +The captain was very well satisfied with this plain relation I had +given him, and said he hoped, when we returned to England, I would +oblige the world by putting it on paper, and making it public. My +answer was that I thought we were overstocked with books of +travels; that nothing could now pass which was not extraordinary; +wherein I doubted some authors less consulted truth than their own +vanity, or interest, or the diversion of ignorant readers; that my +story could contain little besides common events, without those +ornamented descriptions of strange plants, trees, birds, and other +animals; or of the barbarous customs and idolatry of savage +people, with which most writers abound. However, I thanked him for +his good opinion, and promised to take the matter into my +thoughts. + +He said he wondered at one thing very much, which was to hear me +speak so loud; asking me whether the king and queen of that +country were thick of hearing? I told him it was what I had been +used to for above two years past, and that I admired as much at +the voices of him and his men, who seemed to me only to whisper, +and yet I could hear them well enough. But when I spoke in that +country it was like a man talking in the streets to another +looking out from the top of a steeple, unless when I was placed on +a table or held in any person's hand. I told him I had likewise +observed another thing, that when I first got into the ship, and +the sailors stood all about me, I thought they were the most +contemptible little creatures I had ever beheld. For, indeed, +while I was in that prince's country, I could never endure to look +in a glass after mine eyes had been accustomed to such prodigious +objects, because the comparisons gave me so despicable a conceit +of myself. The captain said that while we were at supper he +observed me to look at everything with a sort of wonder, and that +I often seemed hardly able to contain my laughter, which he knew +not well how to take, but imputed it to some disorder in my brain. +I answered, it was very true; and I wondered how I could forbear, +when I saw his dishes of the size of a silver threepence, a leg of +pork hardly a mouthful, a cup not so big as a nutshell; and so I +went on, describing the rest of his household stuff and provisions +after the same manner. For, although the queen had ordered a +little equipage of all things necessary for me while I was in her +service, yet my ideas were wholly taken up with what I saw on +every side of me, and I winked at my own littleness as people do +at their own faults. The captain understood my raillery very well, +and merrily replied with the old English proverb that he doubted +mine eyes were bigger than my belly, for he did not observe my +stomach so good, although I had fasted all day; and, continuing in +his mirth, protested he would have gladly given a hundred pounds +to have seen my closet in the eagle's bill, and afterward in its +fall from so great a height into the sea: which would certainly +have been a most astonishing object, worthy to have the +description of it transmitted to future ages: and the comparison +of Phaeton was so obvious that he could not forbear applying it, +although I did not much admire the conceit. + +The captain having been at Tonquin, was, in his return to England, +driven northeastward to the latitude of 44 degrees and longitude +of 143. But meeting a trade-wind two days after I came on board +him, we sailed southward a long time, and, coasting New Holland, +kept our course west-southwest, and then south-southwest, till we +doubled the Cape of Good Hope. Our voyage was very prosperous, but +I shall not trouble the reader with a journal of it. The captain +called in at one or two ports, and sent in his longboat for +provisions and fresh water; but I never went out of the ship till +we came into the Downs, which was on the third day of June, 1706, +about nine months after my escape. I offered to leave my goods in +security for payment of my freight, but the captain protested he +would not receive one farthing. + +We took a kind leave of each other, and I made him promise he +would come to see me at my house in Redriff. I hired a horse and +guide for five shillings, which I borrowed of the captain. + +As I was on the road, observing the littleness of the houses, the +trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to think myself in +Lilliput. I was afraid of trampling on every traveller I met, and +often called aloud to them to have them stand out of the way, so +that I had like to have gotten one or two broken heads for my +impertinence. + +When I came to my own house, for which I was forced to inquire, +one of my servants opening the door, I bent down to go in (like a +goose under a gate), for fear of striking my head. My wife ran out +to embrace me, but I stooped lower than her knees, thinking she +could otherwise never be able to reach my mouth. My daughter +kneeled to ask my blessing, but I could not see her till she +arose, having been so long used to stand with my head and eyes +erect to above sixty feet; and then I went to take her up with one +hand by the waist. I looked down upon the servants, and one or two +friends who were in the house, as if they had been pygmies, and I +a giant. I told my wife she had been too thrifty, for I found she +had starved herself and daughter to nothing. + +In short, I behaved myself so unaccountably that they were all of +the captain's opinion when he first saw me, and concluded I had +lost my wits. + +This I mention as an instance of the great power of habit and +prejudice. + +In a little time I and my family and friends came to a right +understanding: but my wife protested I should never go to sea any +more; although my evil destiny so ordered, that she had not power +to hinder me, as the reader may know hereafter. In the meantime, I +here conclude the Second Part of my unfortunate Voyages. + + + + +THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE + + +_William Shakespeare, the greatest of English writers, was born +in 1564, and was pretty well educated for those days. The free +school of the town was open to all boys, and his father could +afford to send him to it. He early became an actor, and from +correcting plays by other people he came to writing plays himself. + +Shakespeare possessed a very unusual combination of two rare +gifts. On the one side he had to a great degree the ability to +understand men and women and read the thoughts that were passing +through their minds. + +But his second gift, which was more wonderful still, was his +ability to write down on paper words that, as soon as we read +them, make us feel just as he did, make us see just the pictures +he saw. + +Four of his plays are here represented by short stories, in which +the plot of each play is briefly told. To play Shakespeare's plays +is the height of an actor's ambition. To read and enjoy them has +been for over three hundred years one of the greatest pleasures +known to English-speaking people._ + + + + +A MIDSUMMER-NIGHTS DREAM + +Retold by E. Nesbit + + +HERMIA and Lysander were lovers; but Hermia's father wished her to +marry another man, named Demetrius. + +Now, in Athens, where they lived, there was a wicked law, by which +any girl who refused to marry according to her father's wishes, +might be put to death. Hermia's father was so angry with her for +refusing to do as he wished, that he actually brought her before +the Duke of Athens to ask that she might be killed, if she still +refused to obey him. + +The duke gave her four days to think about it, and, at the end of +that time, if she still refused to marry Demetrius, she would have +to die. + +Lysander of course was nearly mad with grief, and the best thing +to do seemed to him for Hermia to run away to his aunt's house at +a place beyond the reach of that cruel law; and there he would +come to her and marry her. But before she started, she told her +friend, Helena, what she was going to do. + +Helena had been Demetrius's sweetheart long before his marriage +with Hermia had been thought of, and being very silly, like all +jealous people, she could not see that it was not poor Hermia's +fault that Demetrius wished to marry her instead of his own lady, +Helena. She knew that if she told Demetrius that Hermia was going, +as she was, to the wood outside Athens, he would follow her, "and +I can follow him, and at least I shall see him," she said to +herself. So she went to him, and betrayed her friend's secret. + +Now this wood where Lysander was to meet Hermia, and where the +other two had decided to follow them, was full of fairies, as most +woods are, if one only had the eyes to see them, and in this wood +on this night were the king and queen of the fairies, Oberon and +Titania. Now fairies are very wise people, but now and then they +can be quite as foolish as mortal folk. Oberon and Titania, who +might have been as happy as the days were long, had thrown away +all their joy in a foolish quarrel. They never met without saying +disagreeable things to each other, and scolded each other so +dreadfully that all their little fairy followers, for fear, would +creep into acorn cups and hide them there. + +So, instead of keeping one happy court and dancing all night +through in the moonlight, as is fairies' use, the king with his +attendants wandered through one part of the wood, while the queen +with hers kept state in another. And the cause of all this trouble +was a little Indian boy whom Titania had taken to be one of her +followers. Oberon wanted the child to follow him and be one of his +fairy knights; but the queen would not give him up. + +On this night, in a mossy moonlit glade, the king and queen of the +fairies met. + +"Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania," said the king. + +"What! jealous, Oberon?" answered the queen. "You spoil everything +with your quarreling. Come, fairies, let us leave him. I am not +friends with him now." + +"It rests with you to make up the quarrel," said the king. + +"Give me that little Indian boy, and I will again be your humble +servant and suitor." + +"Set your mind at rest," said the queen. "Your whole fairy kingdom +buys not that boy from me. Come, fairies." + +And she and her train rode off down the moonbeams. + +"Well, go your ways," said Oberon. "But I'll be even with you +before you leave this wood." + +Then Oberon called his favorite fairy, Puck. Puck was the spirit +of mischief. He used to slip into the dairies and take the cream +away, and get into the churn so that the butter would not come, +and turn the beer sour, and lead people out of their way on dark +nights and then laugh at them, and tumble people's stools from +under them when they were going to sit down, and upset their hot +ale over their chins when they were going to drink. + +"Now," said Oberon to this little sprite, "fetch me the flower +called Love-in-idleness. The juice of that little purple flower +laid on the eyes of those who sleep will make them, when they +wake, to love the first thing they see. I will put some of the +juice of that flower on my Titania's eyes, and when she wakes she +will love the first thing she sees, were it lion, bear, or wolf, +or bull, or meddling monkey, or a busy ape." + +While Puck was gone, Demetrius passed through the glade followed +by poor Helena, and still she told him how she loved him and +reminded him of all his promises, and still he told her that he +did not and could not love her, and that his promises were +nothing. Oberon was sorry for poor Helena, and when Puck returned +with the flower, he bade him follow Demetrius and put some of the +juice on his eyes, so that he might love Helena when he woke and +looked on her, as much as she loved him. So Puck set off, and +wandering through the wood found, not Demetrius, but Lysander, on +whose eyes he put the juice; but when Lysander woke, he saw not +his own Hermia, but Helena, who was walking through the wood +looking for the cruel Demetrius; and directly he saw her he loved +her and left his own lady, under the spell of the purple flower. + +When Hermia woke she found Lysander gone, and wandered about the +wood trying to find him. Puck went back and told Oberon what he +had done, and Oberon soon found that he had made a mistake, and +set about looking for Demetrius, and having found him, put some of +the juice on his eyes. And the first thing Demetrius saw when he +woke was also Helena. So now Demetrius and Lysander were both +following her through the wood, and it was Hermia's turn to follow +her lover as Helena had done before. The end of it was that Helena +and Hermia began to quarrel, and Demetrius and Lysander went off +to fight. + +Oberon was very sorry to see his kind scheme to help these lovers +turn out so badly. So he said to Puck-- + +"These two young men are going to fight. You must overhang the +night with drooping fog, and lead them so astray, that one will +never find the other. When they are tired out, they will fall +asleep. Then drop this other herb on Lysander's eyes. That will +give him his old sight and his old love. Then each man will have +the lady who loves him, and they will all think that this has been +only a Midsummer-Night's Dream. Then when this is done, all will +be well with them." + +So Puck went and did as he was told, and when the two had fallen +asleep without meeting each other, Puck poured the juice on +Lysander's eyes, and said:-- + +"When thou wakest, Thou takest True delight In the sight Of thy +former lady's eye: Jack shall have Jill; Nought shall go ill." + +Meanwhile Oberon found Titania asleep on a bank where grew wild +thyme, oxlips, and violets, and woodbine, musk-roses and +eglantine. There Titania always slept a part of the night, wrapped +in the enameled skin of a snake. Oberon stopped over her and laid +the juice on her eyes, saying:-- + +"What thou seest when thou wake, Do it for thy true love take;" +Now, it happened that when Titania woke the first thing she saw +was a stupid clown, one of a party of players who had come out +into the wood to rehearse their play. This clown had met with +Puck, who had clapped an ass's head on his shoulders so that it +looked as if it grew there. Directly Titania woke and saw this +dreadful monster, she said, "What angel is this? Are you as wise +as you are beautiful?" + +"If I am wise enough to find my way out of this wood, that's +enough for me," said the foolish clown. + +"Do not desire to go out of the wood," said Titania. The spell of +the love-juice was on her, and to her the clown seemed the most +beautiful and delightful creature on all the earth. "I love you," +she went on. "Come with me, and I will give you fairies to attend +on you." + +So she called four fairies, whose names were Peaseblossom, Cobweb, +Moth, and Mustardseed. + +"You must attend this gentleman," said the queen. "Feed him with +apricots and dewberries, purple grapes, green figs, and +mulberries. Steal honey-bags for him from the humble-bees, and +with the wings of painted butterflies fan the moonbeams from his +sleeping eyes." + +"I will," said one of the fairies, and all the others said, "I +will." + +"Now, sit down with me," said the queen to the clown, "and let me +stroke your dear cheeks, and stick musk-roses in your smooth, +sleek head, and kiss your fair large ears, my gentle joy." + +"Where's Peaseblossom?" asked the clown with the ass's head. He +did not care much about the queen's affection, but he was very +proud of having fairies to wait on him. "Ready," said Peaseblossom. + +"Scratch my head, Peaseblossom," said the clown. "Where's Cobweb?" +"Ready," said Cobweb. + +"Kill me," said the clown, "the red bumble-bee on the top of the +thistle yonder, and bring me the honey-bag. Where's Mustardseed?" + +"Ready," said Mustardseed. + +"Oh, I want nothing," said the clown. "Only just help Cobweb to +scratch. I must go to the barber's, for methinks I am marvelous +hairy about the face." + +"Would you like anything to eat?" said the fairy queen. + +"I should like some good dry oats," said the clown-for his +donkey's head made him desire donkey's food--"and some hay to +follow." + +"Shall some of my fairies fetch you new nuts from the squirrel's +house?" asked the queen. + +"I'd rather have a handful or two of good dried peas," said the +clown. "But please don't let any of your people disturb me; I am +going to sleep." + +Then said the queen, "And I will wind thee in my arms." + +And so when Oberon came along he found his beautiful queen +lavishing kisses and endearments on a clown with a donkey's head. + +And before he released her from the enchantment, he persuaded her +to give him the little Indian boy he so much desired to have. Then +he took pity on her, and threw some juice of the disenchanting +flower on her pretty eyes; and then in a moment she saw plainly +the donkey-headed clown she had been loving, and knew how foolish +she had been. + +Oberon took off the ass's head from the clown, and left him to +finish his sleep with his own silly head lying on the thyme and +violets. + +Thus all was made plain and straight again. Oberon and Titania +loved each other more than ever. Demetrius thought of no one but +Helena, and Helena had never had any thought of anyone but +Demetrius. + +As for Hermia and Lysander, they were as loving a couple as you +could meet in a day's march, even through a fairy wood. + +So the four mortal lovers went back to Athens and were married; +and the fairy king and queen live happily together in that very +wood at this very day. + + + + +THE TEMPEST + +Retold by E. Nesbit + + +Prospero, the Duke of Milan, was a learned and studious man, who +lived among his books, leaving the management of his dukedom to +his brother Antonio, in whom indeed he had complete trust. But +that trust was ill-rewarded, for Antonio wanted to wear the duke's +crown himself, and, to gain his ends, would have killed his +brother but for the love the people bore him. However, with the +help of Prospero's great enemy, Alonso, King of Naples, he managed +to get into his hands the dukedom with all its honor, power, and +riches. For they took Prospero to sea, and when they were far away +from land, forced him into a little boat with no tackle, mast, or +sail. In their cruelty and hatred they put his little daughter, +Miranda (not yet three years old), into the boat with him, and +sailed away, leaving them to their fate. + +But one among the courtiers with Antonio was true to his rightful +master, Prospero. To save the duke from his enemies was +impossible, but much could be done to remind him of a subject's +love. So this worthy lord, whose name was Gonzalo, secretly placed +in the boat some fresh water, provisions, and clothes, and what +Prospero valued most of all, some of his precious books. + +The boat was cast on an island, and Prospero and his little one +landed in safety. Now this island was enchanted, and for years had +lain under the spell of a fell witch, Sycorax, who had imprisoned +in the trunks of trees all the good spirits she found there. She +died shortly before Prospero was cast on those shores, but the +spirits, of whom Ariel was the chief, still remained in their +prisons. + +Prospero was a great magician, for he had devoted himself almost +entirely to the study of magic during the years in which he +allowed his brother to manage the affairs of Milan. By his art he +set free the imprisoned spirits, yet kept them obedient to his +will, and they were more truly his subjects than his people in +Milan had been. For he treated them kindly as long as they did his +bidding, and he exercised his power over them wisely and well. One +creature alone he found it necessary to treat with harshness: +this was Caliban, the son of the wicked old witch, a hideous, +deformed monster, horrible to look on, and vicious and brutal in +all his habits. + +When Miranda was grown up into a maiden, sweet and fair to see, it +chanced that Antonio and Alonso, with Sebastian, his brother, and +Ferdinand, his son, were at sea together with old Gonzalo, and +their ship came near Prospero's island. Prospero, knowing they +were there, raised by his art a great storm, so that even the +sailors on board gave themselves up for lost; and first among them +all Prince Ferdinand leaped into the sea, and, as his father +thought in his grief, was drowned. But Ariel brought him safe +ashore; and all the rest of the crew, although they were washed +overboard, were landed unhurt in different parts of the island, +and the good ship herself, which they all thought had been +wrecked, lay at anchor in the harbor whither Ariel had brought +her. Such wonders could Prospero and his spirits perform. + +While yet the tempest was raging, Prospero showed his daughter the +brave ship laboring in the trough of the sea, and told her that it +was filled with living human beings like themselves. She, in pity +of their lives, prayed him who had raised this storm to quell it. +Then her father bade her to have no fear, for he intended to save +every one of them. + +Then, for the first time, he told her the story of his life and +hers, and that he had caused this storm to rise in order that his +enemies, Antonio and Alonso, who were on board, might be delivered +into his hands. + +When he had made an end of his story he charmed her into sleep, +for Ariel was at hand, and he had work for him to do. Ariel, who +longed for his complete freedom, grumbled to be kept in drudgery, +but on being threateningly reminded of all the sufferings he had +undergone when Sycorax ruled in the land, and of the debt of +gratitude he owed to the master who had made those sufferings to +end, he ceased to complain, and promised faithfully to do whatever +Prospero might command. + +"Do so," said Prospero, "and in two days I will discharge thee." + +Then he bade Ariel take the form of a water nymph and sent him in +search of the young prince. And Ariel, invisible to Ferdinand, +hovered near him, singing the while-- + +"Come unto these yellow sands And then take hands: Court'sied +when you have, and kiss'd (The wild waves whist), Foot it featly +here and there; And, sweet sprites, the burden bear!" + +And Ferdinand followed the magic singing, as the song changed to a +solemn air, and the words brought grief to his heart, and tears to +his eyes, for thus they ran-- + +"Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made. +Those are pearls that were his eyes Nothing of him that doth +fade, But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and +strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell. Hark! now I hear them,-- +ding dong bell!" + +And so singing, Ariel led the spell-bound prince into the presence +of Prospero and Miranda. Then, behold! all happened as Prospero +desired. For Miranda, who had never, since she could first +remember, seen any human being save her father, looked on the +youthful prince with reverence in her eyes, and love in her secret +heart. + +"I might call him," she said, "a thing divine, for nothing natural +I ever saw so noble!" + +And Ferdinand, beholding her beauty with wonder and delight, +exclaimed-- + +"Most sure the goddess on whom these airs attend!" + +Nor did he attempt to hide the passion which she inspired in him, +for scarcely had they exchanged half a dozen sentences, before he +vowed to make her his queen if she were willing. But Prospero, +though secretly delighted, pretended wrath. + +"You come here as a spy," he said to Ferdinand. "I will manacle +your neck and feet together, and you shall feed on fresh water +mussels, withered roots and husk, and have sea-water to drink. +Follow." + +"No," said Ferdinand, and drew his sword. But on the instant +Prospero charmed him so that he stood there like a statue, still +as stone; and Miranda in terror prayed her father to have mercy on +her lover. + +But he harshly refused her, and made Ferdinand follow him to his +cell. There he set the prince to work, making him remove thousands +of heavy logs of timber and pile them up; and Ferdinand patiently +obeyed, and thought his toil all too well repaid by the sympathy +of the sweet Miranda. + +She in very pity would have helped him in his hard work, but he +would not let her, yet he could not keep from her the secret of +his love, and she, hearing it, rejoiced and promised to be his +wife. + +Then Prospero released him from his servitude, and glad at heart, +he gave his consent to their marriage. + + "Take her," he said, "she is thine own." + +In the meantime, Antonio and Sebastian in another part of the +island were plotting the murder of Alonso, the King of Naples, for +Ferdinand being dead, as they thought, Sebastian would succeed to +the throne on Alonso's death. And they would have carried out +their wicked purpose while their victim was asleep, but that Ariel +woke him in good time. + +Many tricks did Ariel play them. Once he set a banquet before +them, and just as they were going to fall to, he appeared to them +amid thunder and lightning in the form of a harpy, and immediately +the banquet disappeared. Then Ariel upbraided them with their sins +and vanished too. + +Prospero by his enchantments drew them all to the grove without +his cell, where they waited, trembling and afraid, and now at last +bitterly repenting them of their sins. + +Prospero determined to make one last use of his magic power, "And +then," said he, "I'll break my staff and deeper than did ever +plummet sound I'll drown my book." + +So he made heavenly music to sound in the air, and appeared to +them in his proper shape as the Duke of Milan. Because they +repented, he forgave them and told them the story of his life +since they had cruelly committed him and his baby daughter to the +mercy of wind and waves. Alonso, who seemed sorriest of them all +for his past crimes, lamented the loss of his heir. But Prospero +drew back a curtain and showed them Ferdinand and Miranda playing +at chess. + +Great was Alonso's joy to greet his loved son again, and when he +heard that the fair maid with whom Ferdinand was playing was +Prospero's daughter, and that the young folks had plighted their +troth, he said-- + +"Give me your hands, let grief and sorrow still embrace his heart +that doth not wish you joy." + +So all ended happily. The ship was safe in the harbor, and next +day they all set sail for Naples, where Ferdinand and Miranda were +to be married. Ariel gave them calm seas and auspicious gales; and +many were the rejoicings at the wedding. + +Then Prospero, after many years of absence, went back to his own +dukedom, where he was welcomed with great joy by his faithful +subjects. He practiced the arts of magic no more, but his life was +happy, and not only because he had found his own again, but +chiefly because, when his bitterest foes who had done him deadly +wrong lay at his mercy, he took no vengeance on them, but nobly +forgave them. + +As for Ariel, Prospero made him free as air, so that he could +wander where he would, and sing with a light heart his sweet song-- + +"Where the bee sucks, there suck I: In a cowslip's bell I lie; +There I couch when owls do cry. On the bat's back I do fly After +summer, merrily: Merrily, merrily, shall I live now, Under the +blossom that hangs on the bough." + + + + +AS YOU LIKE IT + +Retold by E. Nesbit + + +There was once a wicked duke named Frederick, who took the +dukedom that should have belonged to his brother, sending him into +exile. His brother went into the Forest of Arden, where he lived +the life of a bold forester, as Robin Hood did in Sherwood Forest +in merry England. + +The banished duke's daughter, Rosalind, remained with Celia, +Frederick's daughter, and the two loved each other more than most +sisters. One day there was a wrestling match at court, and +Rosalind and Celia went to see it. Charles, a celebrated wrestler, +was there, who had killed many men in contests of this kind. +Orlando, the young man he was to wrestle with, was so slender and +youthful, that Rosalind and Celia thought he would surely be +killed, as others had been; so they spoke to him, and asked him +not to attempt so dangerous an adventure; but the only effect of +their words was to make him wish more to come off well in the +encounter, so as to win praise from such sweet ladies. + +Orlando, like Rosalind's father, was being kept out of his +inheritance by his brother, and was so sad at his brother's +unkindness that, until he saw Rosalind, he did not care much +whether he lived or died. But now the sight of the fair Rosalind +gave him strength and courage, so that he did marvelously, and at +last, threw Charles to such a tune, that the wrestler had to be +carried off the ground. Duke Frederick was pleased with his +courage, and asked his name. + +"My name is Orlando, and I am the youngest son of Sir Rowland de +Boys," said the young man. + +Now Sir Rowland de Boys, when he was alive, had been a good friend +to the banished duke, so that Frederick heard with regret whose +son Orlando was, and would not befriend him. But Rosalind was +delighted to hear that this handsome young stranger was the son of +her father's old friend, and as they were going away, she turned +back more than once to say another kind word to the brave young +man. + +"Gentleman," she said, giving him a chain from her neck, "wear +this for me. I could give more, but that my hand lacks means." + +Rosalind and Celia, when they were alone, began to talk about the +handsome wrestler, and Rosalind confessed that she loved him at +first sight. + +"Come, come," said Celia, "wrestle with thy affections." + +"Oh," answered Rosalind, "they take the part of a better wrestler +than myself. Look, here comes the duke." + +"With his eyes full of anger," said Celia. + +"You must leave the court at once," he said to Rosalind. "Why?" she +asked. + +"Never mind why," answered the duke, "you are banished. If within +ten days you are found within twenty miles of my court, you die." + +So Rosalind set out to seek her father, the banished duke, in the +Forest of Arden. Celia loved her too much to let her go alone, and +as it was rather a dangerous journey, Rosalind, being the taller, +dressed up as a young countryman, and her cousin as a country +girl, and Rosalind said that she would be called Ganymede, and +Celia, Aliena. They were very tired when at last they came to the +Forest of Arden, and as they were sitting on the grass a +countryman passed that way, and Ganymede asked him if he could get +them food. He did so, and told them that a shepherd's flocks and +house were to be sold. They bought these and settled down as +shepherd and shepherdess in the forest. + +In the meantime, Oliver, having sought to take his brother +Orlando's life, Orlando also wandered into the forest, and there +met with the rightful duke, and being kindly received, stayed with +him. Now, Orlando could think of nothing but Rosalind, and he went +about the forest carving her name on trees, and writing love +sonnets and hanging them on the bushes, and there Rosalind and +Celia found them. One day Orlando met them, but he did not know +Rosalind in her boy's clothes, though he liked the pretty +shepherd youth, because he fancied a likeness in him to her he +loved. + +"There is a foolish lover," said Rosalind, "who haunts these woods +and hangs sonnets on the trees. If I could find him, I would soon +cure him of his folly." + +Orlando confessed that he was the foolish lover, and Rosalind +said--"If you will come and see me every day, I will pretend to be +Rosalind, and I will take her part, and be wayward and contrary, +as is the way of women, till I make you ashamed of your folly in +loving her." + +And so every day he went to her house, and took a pleasure in +saying to her all the pretty things he would have said to +Rosalind; and she had the fine and secret joy of knowing that all +his love-words came to the right ears. Thus many days passed +pleasantly away. + +One morning, as Orlando was going to visit Ganymede, he saw a man +asleep on the ground, and that there was a lioness crouching near, +waiting for the man who was asleep to wake: for they say that +lions will not prey on anything that is dead or sleeping. Then +Orlando looked at the man, and saw that it was his wicked brother, +Oliver, who had tried to take his life. He fought with the lioness +and killed her, and saved his brother's life. + +While Orlando was fighting the lioness, Oliver woke to see his +brother, whom he had treated so badly, saving him from a wild +beast at the risk of his own life. This made him repent of his +wickedness, and he begged Orlando's pardon, and from thenceforth +they were dear brothers. The lioness had wounded Orlando's arm so +much, that he could not go on to see the shepherd, so he sent his +brother to ask Ganymede to come to him. + +Oliver went and told the whole story to Ganymede and Aliena, and +Aliena was so charmed with his manly ways of confessing his +faults, that she fell in love with him at once. + +But when Ganymede heard of the danger Orlando had been in she +fainted; and when she came to herself, said truly enough, "I +should have been a woman by right." + +Oliver went back to his brother and told him all this, saying, "I +love Aliena so well that I will give up my estates to you and +marry her, and live here as a shepherd." + +"Let your wedding be to-morrow," said Orlando, "and I will ask the +duke and his friends." + +When Orlando told Ganymede how his brother was to be married on +the morrow, he added: "Oh, how bitter a thing it is to look into +happiness through another man's eyes." + +Then answered Rosalind, still in Ganymede's dress and speaking +with his voice--"If you do love Rosalind so near the heart, then +when your brother marries Aliena, shall you marry her." + +Now the next day the duke and his followers, and Orlando, and +Oliver, and Aliena, were all gathered together for the wedding. + +Then Ganymede came in and said to the duke, "If I bring in your +daughter Rosalind, will you give her to Orlando here?" "That I +would," said the duke, "if I had all kingdoms to give with her." + +"And you say you will have her when I bring her?" she said to +Orlando. "That would I," he answered, "were I king of all +kingdoms." + +Then Rosalind and Celia went out, and Rosalind put on her pretty +woman's clothes again, and after a while came back. + +She turned to her father--"I give myself to you, for I am yours." +"If there be truth in sight," he said, "you are my daughter." + +Then she said to Orlando, "I give myself to you, for I am yours." +"If there be truth in sight," he said, "you are my Rosalind." + +"I will have no father if you be not he," she said to the duke, +and to Orlando, "I will have no husband if you be not he." + +So Orlando and Rosalind were married, and Oliver and Celia, and +they lived happy ever after, returning with the duke to the +kingdom. For Frederick had been shown by a holy hermit the +wickedness of his ways, and so gave back the dukedom of his +brother, and himself went into a monastery to pray for forgiveness. + +The wedding was a merry one, in the mossy glades of the forest. A +shepherd and shepherdess who had been friends with Rosalind, when +she was herself disguised as a shepherd, were married on the same +day, and all with such pretty feastings and merry-makings as could +be nowhere within four walls, but only in the beautiful green +wood. + +THE MERCHANT OF VENICE + +Retold by E. Nesbit + +Antonio was a rich and prosperous merchant of Venice. His ships +were on nearly every sea, and he traded with Portugal, with +Mexico, with England, and with India. Although proud of his +riches, he was very generous with them, and delighted to use them +in relieving the wants of his friends, among whom his relation, +Bassanio, held the first place. + +Now Bassanio, like many another gay and gallant gentleman, was +reckless and extravagant, and finding that he had not only come to +the end of his fortune, but was also unable to pay his creditors, +he went to Antonio for further help. + +"To you, Antonio," he said, "I owe the most in money and in love: +and I have thought of a plan to pay everything I owe if you will +but help, me." + +"Say what I can do, and it shall be done," answered his friend. + +Then said Bassanio, "In Belmont is a lady richly left, and from +all quarters of the globe renowned suitors come to woo her, not +only because she is rich, but because she is beautiful and good as +well. She looked on me with such favor when last we met, that I +feel sure that I should win her away from all rivals for her love +had I but the means to go to Belmont, where she lives." + +"All my fortunes," said Antonio, "are at sea, and so I have no +ready money; but luckily my credit is good in Venice, and I will +borrow for you what you need." + +There was living in Venice at this time a rich money-lender, named +Shylock. Antonio despised and disliked this man very much, and +treated him with the greatest harshness and scorn. He would thrust +him, like a cur, over his threshold, and would even spit on him. +Shylock submitted to all these indignities with a patient shrug; +but deep in his heart he cherished a desire for revenge on the +rich, smug merchant. For Antonio both hurt his pride and injured +his business. "But for him," thought Shylock, "I should be richer +by half a million ducats. On the market place, and wherever he +can, he denounces the rate of interest I charge, and--worse than +that--he lends out money freely." + +So when Bassanio came to him to ask for a loan of three thousand +ducats to Antonio for three months, Shylock hid his hatred, and +turning to Antonio, said--"Harshly as you have treated me, I would +be friends with you and have your love. So I will lend you the +money and charge you no interest. But, just for fun, you shall +sign a bond in which it shall be agreed that if you do not repay +me in three months' time, then I shall have the right to a pound +of your flesh, to be cut from what part of your body I choose." + +"No," cried Bassanio to his friend, "you shall run no such risk +for me." + +"Why, fear not," said Antonio, "my ships will be home a month +before the time, I will sign the bond." + +Thus Bassanio was furnished with the means to go to Belmont, +there to woo the lovely Portia. The very night he started, the +money-lender's pretty daughter, Jessica, ran away from her +father's house with her lover, and she took with her from her +father's hoards some bags of ducats and precious stones. Shylock's +grief and anger were terrible to see. His love for her changed to +hate. "I would she were dead at my feet and the jewels in her +ear," he cried. His only comfort now was in hearing of the serious +losses which had befallen Antonio, some of whose ships were +wrecked. "Let him look to his bond," said Shylock, "let him look +to his bond." + +Meanwhile Bassanio had reached Belmont, and had visited the fair +Portia. He found, as he had told Antonio, that the rumor of her +wealth and beauty had drawn to her suitors from far and near. But +to all of them Portia had but one reply. She would only accept +that suitor who would pledge himself to abide by the terms of her +father's will. These were conditions that frightened away many an +ardent wooer. For he who would win Portia's heart and hand, had to +guess which of three caskets held her portrait. If he guessed +aright, then Portia would be his bride; if wrong, then he was +bound by oath never to reveal which casket he chose, never to +marry, and to go away at once. + +The caskets were of gold, silver, and lead. The gold one bore this +inscription:--"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire"; +the silver one had this:--"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he +deserves"; while on the lead one were these words:--"Who chooseth +me must give and hazard all he hath." The Prince of Morocco, as +brave as he was black, was among the first to submit to this test. +He chose the gold casket, for he said neither base lead nor silver +could contain her picture. So he chose the gold casket, and found +inside the likeness of what many men desire--death. + +After him came the haughty Prince of Arragon, and saying, "Let me +have what I deserve--surely I deserve the lady," he chose the +silver one, and found inside a fool's head. "Did I deserve no more +than a fool's head?" he cried. + +Then at last came Bassanio, and Portia would have delayed him from +making his choice from very fear of his choosing wrong. For she +loved him dearly, even as he loved her. "But," said Bassanio, "let +me choose at once, for, as I am, I live upon the rack." + +Then Portia bade her servants to bring music and play while her +gallant lover made his choice. And Bassanio took the oath and +walked up to the caskets--the musicians playing softly the while. +"Mere outward show," he said, "is to be despised. The world is +still deceived with ornament, and so no gaudy gold or shining +silver for me. I choose the lead casket; joy be the consequence!" +And opening it, he found fair Portia's portrait inside, and he +turned to her and asked if it were true that she was his. + +"Yes," said Portia, "I am yours, and this house is yours, and with +them I give you this ring, from which you must never part." + +And Bassanio, saying that he could hardly + +[Illustration: THEY WERE VERY TIRED WHEN AT LAST THEY CAME TO THE +FOREST OF ARDEN + +From the painting by Charles Folkard ] speak for joy, found words +to swear that he would never part with the ring while he lived. + +Then suddenly all his happiness was dashed with sorrow, for +messengers came from Venice to tell him that Antonio was ruined, +and that Shylock demanded from the Duke of Venice the fulfilment +of the bond, under which he was entitled to a pound of the +merchant's flesh. Portia was as grieved as Bassanio to hear of the +danger which threatened his friend. + +"First," she said, "take me to church and make me your wife, and +then go to Venice at once to help your friend. You shall take with +you money enough to pay his debt twenty times over." + +But when her newly-made husband had gone, Portia went after him, +and arrived in Venice disguised as a lawyer, and with an +introduction from a celebrated lawyer Bellario, whom the Duke of +Venice had called in to decide the legal questions raised by +Shylock's claim to a pound of Antonio's flesh. When the court met, +Bassanio offered Shylock twice the money borrowed, if he would +withdraw his claim. But the money-lender's only answer was-- + +"If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and +every part a ducat, I would not draw them,--I would have my bond" + +It was then that Portia arrived in her disguise, and not even her +own husband knew her. The duke gave her welcome on account of the +great Bellario's introduction, and left the settlement of the case +to her. Then in noble words she bade Shylock have mercy. But he +was deaf to her entreaties. "I will have the pound of flesh," was +his reply. + +"What have you to say?" asked Portia of the merchant. + +"But little," he answered; "I am armed and well prepared." + +"The court awards you a pound of Antonio's flesh," said Portia to +the money-lender. + +"Most righteous judge!" cried Shylock. "A sentence: come, +prepare." + +"Tarry a little. This bond gives you no right to Antonio's blood, +only to his flesh. If, then, you spill a drop of his blood, all +your property will be forfeited to the state. Such is the law." + +And Shylock, in his fear, said, "Then I will take Bassanio's +offer." + +"No," said Portia sternly, "you shall have nothing but your bond. +Take your pound of flesh, but remember, that if you take more or +less, even by the weight of a hair, you will lose your property +and your life." + +Shylock now grew very much frightened. "Give me my three thousand +ducats that I lent him, and let him go." + +Bassanio would have paid it to him, but said Portia, "No! He shall +have nothing but his bond." + +"You, a foreigner," she added, "have sought to take the life of a +Venetian citizen, and thus by the Venetian law, your life and +goods are forfeited. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke." + +Thus were the tables turned, and no mercy would have been shown to +Shylock, had it not been for Antonio. As it was, the money-lender +forfeited half his fortune to the state, and he had to settle the +other half on his daughter's husband, and with this he had to be +content. + +Bassanio, in his gratitude to the clever lawyer, was induced to +part with the ring his wife had given him, and with which he had +promised never to part, and when on his return to Belmont he +confessed as much to Portia, she seemed very angry, and vowed she +would not be friends with him until she had her ring again. But at +last she told him that it was she who, in the disguise of the +lawyer, had saved his friend's life, and got the ring from him. So +Bassanio was forgiven, and made happier than ever, to know how +rich a prize he had drawn in the lottery of the caskets. + +PILGRIM'S PROGRESS _John Bunyan, the son of a man who mended +broken kettles and pans, a tinker, was born in England in 1628. +Though a wild lad, with little education, he married a splendid +wife who changed the evil course of his life and interested him in +religion. + +This earnest, powerful, fighting Puritan preacher aroused his +congregation so much and so often that the authorities put him in +jail. Eight years before Bunyan's birth 74 Puritan men and 28 +women, members of Dr. Robinson's church, escaped persecution by +sailing in the Mayflower and landing at Plymouth Rock. For twelve +years Bunyan was locked up in the little jail at the end of the +bridge at Bedford. He made laces to support his family, and read +the Bible and Fox's Book of Martyrs. Though an ignorant man, he +became deeply religious. + +Except the Bible, and possibly Shakespeare, probably no other book +in the English language has been read by more people. + +In the version here given the story has been condensed by omitting +the less dramatic passages, but the author's text remains +otherwise unchanged._ + + + + +CHRISTIAN STARTS ON HIS JOURNEY + +By John Bunyan + + +As I walk'd through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a +certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that place to +sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I +saw a Man cloathed with Rags, standing in a certain place, with +his face from his own house, a Book in his hand, and a great +Burden upon his back. + +I looked, and saw him open the Book, and read therein; and as he +read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, +he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, What shall I do? + +I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he would +run; yet he stood still, because, as I perceived, he could not +tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named +Evangelist, coming to him, and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry? + +He answered, Sir, I perceive by the Book in my hand, that I am +condemned to die, and after that to come to Judgment, and I find +that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second. + +Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou +still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave +him a _Parchment-roll_, and there was written within, _Fly +from the wrath to come_. + +The Man therefore read it, and looking upon _Evangelist_ very +carefully, said, Whither must I fly? + +Then said _Evangelist_, pointing with his finger over a very +wide field, Do you see yonder _Wicket-gate? The Man said, No. +Then sad the other, Do you see yonder shining Light? He said, I +think I do. then said _Evangelist_, Keep that Light in your +eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the Gate; at +which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt +do. + +So I saw in my Dream that the Man began to run. + +Now he had not run far from his own door, but his Wife and +Children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the +Man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, _Life! +Life! Eternal Life!_ So he looked not behind him, but fled +towards the middle of the Plain. + +The Neighbors also came out to see him run; and as he ran, some +mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and +among those that did so, there were two that resolved to fetch him +back by force. The name of the one was _Obstinate_, and the +name of the other was _Pliable_. Now by this time the Man was +got a good distance from them; but however they were resolved to +pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook +him. Then said the Man, Neighbors, wherefore are you come? They +said, To persuade you to go back with us. But he said, That can by +no means be; be content, good Neighbors, and go along with me. + +OBST. What, said _Obstinate_, and leave our friends and our +comforts behind us! + +CHR. Yes, said _Christian_, for that was his name, because +that _all_ which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared +with a _little_ of that that I am seeking to enjoy; and if +you will go along with me and hold it, you shall fare as I +myself; for there where I go, is enough and to spare: Come away, +and prove my words. Read it so, if you will, in my Book. + +OBST. Tush, said _Obstinate_, away with your Book; will you +go back with us or no? + +CHR. No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the +Plow. + +OBST. Come then, Neighbor _Pliable_, let us turn again, and +go home without him. + +PLI. Well, Neighbor _Obstinate_, said _Pliable_, I +intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my lot with +him. + +Now I saw in my Dream, that when _Obstinate_ was gone back, +_Christian_ and _Pliable_ went talking over the Plain. + +They drew near to a very miry _Slough_, that was in the midst +of the plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly +into the bog. The name of the slough was _Dispond_. Here they +wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and +_Christian_, because of the Burden that was on his back, +began to sink in the mire. + +PLI. Then said _Pliable_, Ah Neighbor _Christian_, where +are you now? + +CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not know. + +PLI. At that Pliable began to be offended, and angerly said to his +fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? +If we have such ill luck at our first setting out, what may we +expect 'twixt this and our Journey's end? May I get out again with +my life, you shall possess the Country alone. And with that he +gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that +side of the Slough which was next to his own house: so away he +went, and Christian saw him no more. + +Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Dispond +alone; he endeavoured to struggle to the side of the Slough, but +could not get out, because of the Burden that was upon his back: +But I beheld in my Dream, that a man came to him, whose name was +Help, who said, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and he +drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his +way. + +EVAN. What doest thou here, Christian? Art not thou the man that I +found crying without the walls of the City of Destruction? + +CHR. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man. + +EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little Wicket-gate? + +CHR. Yes, dear Sir, said Christian. + +EVAN. How is it then that thou art so quickly turned aside? for +thou art now out of the way. + +CHR. I met with a Gentleman so soon as I had got over the Slough +of Dispond, who persuaded me that I might, in the village before +me, find a man that could take off my Burden. + +EVAN. What was he? + +CHR. He looked like a Gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me +at last to yield; so I came hither: but when I beheld this Hill, +and how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it +should fall on my head. + +EVAN. From this little Wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath +this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to +destruction; hate therefore his turning thee out of the way, and +abhor thyself for hearkening to him. + +CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there hopes? May I now go back and go +up to the Wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent +back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to this +man's counsel: But may my sin be forgiven? + +EVAN. Then said _Evangelist_ to him, Thy sin is very great, +yet will the man at the Gate receive thee, for he has good-will +for men. So _Christian_ went on with haste, neither spake he +to any man by the way; and in process of time he got up to the +Gate. Now over the Gate there was written, _Knock and it shall +be opened unto you._ + +He knocked therefore more than once or twice, and at last there +came a grave person to the gate named _Good-will_, who asked +Who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have? + +CHR. I come from the City of _Destruction_, but am going to +Mount _Zion_, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. +I would therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by this Gate is +the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in. + +GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that +he opened the Gate. But how is it that you came alone? + +CHR. Because none of my Neighbors saw their danger, as I saw mine. + +GOOD-WILL. Did any of them know of your coming? + +CHR. Yes, my Wife and Children saw me at the first, and called +after me to turn again; also some of my Neighbors stood crying and +calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and +so came on my way. + +GOOD-WILL. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go +back? + +CHR. Yes, both _Obstinate_ and _Pliable_; but when they +saw that they could not prevail, _Obstinate_ went railing +back, but _Pliable_ came with me a little way. + +GOOD-WILL. But why did he not come through? + +CHR. We indeed came both together, until we came to the Slough of +_Dispond_, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was +my Neighbor Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure further. +Wherefore getting out again on that side next to his own house, he +told me I should possess the brave country alone for him; so he +went _his_ way, and I came _mine_: he after _Obstinate_, +and I to this Gate. + +_Christian_ began to gird up his loins, and to address +himself to his Journey. So the other told him, that some distance +from the Gate, he would come to the house of the _Interpreter_, +at whose door he should knock, and he would shew him excellent +things. Then _Christian_ took his leave of his Friend, and he +again bid him God speed. + +THE INTERPRETER SHOWS CHRISTIAN MANY EXCELLENT THINGS + +By John Bunyan + +Christian went on till he came to the house of the +_Interpreter_, where he knocked over and over; at last one +came to the door, and asked Who was there? + +CHR. Sir, here is a Traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of +the good man of this house to call here for my profit; I would +therefore speak with the Master of the house. So he called for the +Master of the house, who after a little time came to _Christian_, +and asked him what he would have? + +CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the City of +_Destruction_, and am going to the Mount _Zion_; and I was +told by the Man that stands at the Gate at the head of this +way, that if I called here, you would shew me excellent things, +such as would be a help to me in my Journey. + +INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in, I will shew thee that +which will be profitable to thee. + +I saw moreover in my Dream, that the _Interpreter_ took him +by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little +Children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was +_Passion_, and the name of the other _Patience_. _Passion_ +seemed to be much discontent; but _Patience_ was very quiet. +Then _Christian_ asked, What is the reason of the discontent +of _Passion_? The _Interpreter_ answered, The Governor +of them would have him stay for his best things till the +beginning of the next year; but he will have all now; but _Patience_ +is willing to wait. + +Then I saw that one came to _Passion_, and brought him a bag +of treasure, and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up +and rejoiced therein; and withal, laughed _Patience_ to +scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and +had nothing left but Rags. + +CHR. Then said _Christian_ to the _Interpreter_, Expound +this matter more fully to me. + +INTER. So he said, These two Lads are figures: _Passion_, of +the men of _this_ world; and _Patience_, of the men of _that_ +which is to come; for as here thou seest, _Passion_ will +have all now this year, that is to say, in this world; so +are the men of this world: they must have all their good +things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until +the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, _A Bird +in the Hand is worth two in the Bush_, is of more authority +with them than are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the +world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all +away, and had presently left him nothing but Rags; so will it be +with all such men at the end of this world. + +CHR. Then said _Christian_, Now I see that _Patience_ +has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he +stays for the best things. 2. And also because he will have the +Glory of his, when the other has nothing but Rags. + +INTER. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the +_next_ world will never wear out; but _these_ are suddenly +gone, Therefore _Passion_ had not so much reason to laugh +at _Patience_, because he had his good things first, as _Patience_ +will have to laugh at _Passion_, because he had his best +things last; for _first_ must give place to _last_, because +_last_ must have his time to come; but last gives place to +nothing; for there is not another to succeed, He therefore +that hath his portion _first_, must needs have a time to +spend it; but he that hath his portion _last_, must have +it lastingly; therefore it is said of Dives, _In thy lifetime +thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise_ Lazartis +_evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented_. + +CHR. Then I perceive 'tis not best to covet things that are now, +but to wait for things to come. + +INTER. You say truth: _For the things which are seen are_ +Temporal; _but the things that are not seen are_ Eternal. But +though this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly +appetite are such near neighbors one to another; and, again, +because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one to +another; therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fell +into _amity_, and that _distance_ is so continued between the second. + +Then I saw in my Dream that the _Interpreter_ took +_Christian_ by the hand, and led him into a place where was a +Fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always +casting much Water upon it, to quench it; yet did the Fire burn +higher and hotter. + +Then said _Christian,_ What means this? + +The _Interpreter answered,_ This Fire is the work of Grace +that is wrought in the heart; he that casts Water upon it, to +extinguish and put it out, is the _Devil;_ but in that thou +seest the Fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt +also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the backside +of the wall, where he saw a man with a Vessel of Oil in his hand, +of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the +Fire. + +Then said _Christian,_ What means this? + +The _Interpreter answered,_ This is Christ, who continually, +with the Oil of his Grace, maintains the work already begun in the +heart: by the means of which notwithstanding what the Devil can +do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. And in that thou +sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the Fire, +that is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how +this work of Grace is maintained in the soul. + +I saw also that the _Interpreter_ took him again by the hand, +and led him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately +Palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which _Christian_ +was greatly delighted: He saw also upon the top thereof, +certain persons walking, who were cloathed all in gold. + +Then said _Christian,_ May we go in thither? + +Then the _Interpreter_ took him, and led him up toward the +door of the Palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company +of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man +at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a Book +and his Inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should +enter therein; He saw also, that in the door-way stood many men in +armour to keep it, being resolved to do the men that would enter +what hurt and mischief they could. Now was _Christian_ somewhat +in a maze. At last, when every man started back for fear of +the armed men, _Christian_ saw a man of a very stout countenance +come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, _Set down +my name, Sir_: the which when he had done, he saw the man +draw his Sword, and put an Helmet upon his head, and rush +toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly +force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and +hacking most fiercely. So after, he had received and given many +wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way +through them all, and pressed forward into the Palace, at which +there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even +of those that walked upon the top of the Palace, saying, + + Come in, Come in; + Eternal Glory thou shalt win. + + +So he went in, and was cloathed with such garments as they. Then +_Christian_ smiled, and said, I think verily I know the +meaning of this. + +Now, said _Christian_, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the +_Interpreter_, till I have shewed thee a little more, and +after that thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand +again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man +in an Iron Cage. + +Now the Man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes +looking down to the ground, his hands folded together; and he +sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said _Christian_, +_What means this?_ At which the _Interpreter_ bid him talk +with the Man. + +Then said _Christian_ to the Man, _What art thou?_ The +Man answered, _I am what I was not once._ + +CHR. What wast thou once? + +MAN. The Man said, I was once a fair and flourishing Professor, +both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, +as I thought, fair for the Coelestial City, and had then even joy +at the thoughts that I should get thither. + +CHR. Well, but what art thou now? + +MAN. I am now a man of _Despair_, and am shut up in it, as in +this Iron Cage. I cannot get out; O _now_ I cannot. + +CHR. But how camest thou in this condition? + +MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the +neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the Word and the +goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I +tempted the Devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to +anger, and he has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I +_cannot_ repent. + +Then said _Christian_ to the _Interpreter_, But are +there no hopes for such a man as this? Ask him, said the +_Interpreter_. + +CHR. Then said _Christian_, Is there no hope, but you must be +kept in the Iron Cage of Despair? + +MAN. No, none at all. + +CHR. Why? The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. + +MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh, I have despised his +Person, I have despised his Righteousness, I have counted his +Blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the Spirit of Grace: +Therefore I have shut myself out of all the Promises, and there +now remains to me nothing but threatnings, dreadful threatnings, +fearful threatnings of certain Judgment and fiery Indignation, +which shall devour me as an Adversary. + +CHR. For what did you bring yourself into this condition? + +MAN. For the Lusts, Pleasures, and Profits of this World; in the +enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now +every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning +worm. + +CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn? + +MAN. God hath denied me repentance: his Word gives me no +encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this +Iron Cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O +Eternity! Eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I +must meet with in Eternity! + +INTER. Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian_, Let +this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting +caution to thee. + +CHR. Well, said _Christian_, this is fearful; God help me to +watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this +man's misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now? + +INTER. Tarry till I shall shew thee one thing more, and then thou +shalt go thy way. + +So he took _Christian_ by the hand again, and led him into a +Chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on +his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said _Christian_, +Why doth this man thus tremble? The _Interpreter_ then bid +him tell to _Christian_ the reason of his so doing. So he +began and said, This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and +behold the Heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundred and +lightned in most fearful wise, that it put me into an agony; so I +looked up in my Dream, and saw the Clouds rack at an unusual rate, +upon which I heard a great sound of a Trumpet, and saw also a Man +sit upon a Cloud, attended with the thousands of Heaven; they were +all in flaming fire, also the Heavens were in a burning flame. I +heard then a Voice saying, _Arise ye dead, and come to Judgment_; +and with that the Rocks rent, the Graves opened, and the +Dead that were therein came forth. Some of them were exceeding +glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under +the Mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the Cloud open the +Book, and bid the World draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a +fierce flame which issued out and came from before him, a +convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the Judge and +the Prisoners at the bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that +attended on the Man that sat on the Cloud, _Gather together the +Tares, the Chaff, and Stubble, and cast them into the burning +Lake_. And with that, the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout +I stood; out of the mouth of which there came in an abundant +manner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It +was also said to the same persons, _Gather my Wheat into the +Garner_. And with that I saw many catch'd up and carried away +into the Clouds, but I was left behind. I also sought to hide +myselfs but I could not, for the Man that sat upon the Cloud still +kept his eye upon me: my sins also came into my mind; and my +Conscience did accuse me on every side. Upon this I awaked from my +sleep. + +CHR. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight? + +MAN. Why, I thought that the day of Judgment was come, and that I +was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the Angels +gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of Hell +opened her mouth just where I stood: my Conscience too afflicted +me; and as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, +shewing indignation in his countenance. + +Then said the _Interpreter_ to _Christian, Hast thou +considered all these things_? + +CHR. Yes, and they put me in _hope_ and _fear_. + +INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be as a +Goad in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. +Then _Christian_ began to gird up his loins, and address +himself to his Journey. Then said the _Interpreter_, The +Comforter be always with thee, good _Christian_, to guide +thee in the way that leads to the City. So _Christian_ went +on his way. + + + + +CHRISTIAN'S FIGHT WITH THE MONSTER APOLLYON + +By John Bunyan + + +In the Valley of _Humiliation_, poor _Christian_ was +hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied +a foul _Fiend_ coming over the field to meet him; his name is +_Apollyon_. Then did _Christian_ begin to be afraid, and +to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground: But +he considered again that he had no Armour for his back, and +therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him the +greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his Darts. +Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground; For, +thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, +'twould be the best way to stand. + +So he went on, and _Apollyon_ met him. Now the Monster was +hideous to behold; he was cloathed with scales like a Fish (and +they are his pride); he had wings like a Dragon, feet like a Bear, +and out of his belly came Fire and Smoke; and his mouth was as the +mouth of a Lion. When he was come up to _Christian_, he +beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to +question with him. + +APOL. Whence come you? and whither are you bound? + +CHR. I am come from the City of _Destruction_, which is the +place of all evil, and am going to the City of _Zion_. + +APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my Subjects, for all that +country is mine, and I am the Prince and God of it. How is it then +that thou hast run away from the King? Were it not that I hope +thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one +blow to the ground. + +CHR. I was born indeed in your dominions, but your service was +hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on, _for the +wages of sin is death_; therefore when I was come to years, I +did as other considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might +find something better. + +APOL. There is no Prince that will thus lightly lose his Subjects, +neither will I as yet lose thee: but since thou complainest of thy +service and wages, be content to go back; what our country will +afford, I do here promise to give thee. + +CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of +Princes, and how can I with fairness go back with thee? + +APOL. Thou hast done in this, according to the Proverb, changed a +bad for a worse; but it is ordinary for those that have professed +themselves his Servants, after a while to give him the slip, and +return again to me: Do thou so too, and all shall be well. + +CHR. I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him; +how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a Traitor? + +APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by +all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back. + +CHR. What I promised thee was in my non-age; and besides, I count +that the Prince under whose Banner now I stand is able to absolve +me; yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with +thee; and besides, O thou destroying _Apollyon_, to speak +truth, I like his Service, his Wages, his Servants, his +Government, his Company and Country, better than thine; and +therefore leave off to persuade me further; I am his Servant, and +I will follow him. + +APOL. Consider again when thou art in cool blood, what thou art +like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that +for the most part, his Servants come to an ill end, because they +are transgressors against me and my ways: How many of them have +been put to shameful deaths; and besides, thou countest his +service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from the place +where he is to deliver any that served him out of our hands; but +as for me, how many times, as all the World very well knows, have +I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that have faithfully +served me, from him and his, though taken by them; and so I will +deliver thee. + +CHR. His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to +try their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as +for the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in +their account; for present deliverance, they do not much +expect it, for they stay for their Glory, and then they shall have +it, when their Prince comes in his and the Glory of the Angels. + +APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and +how dost thou think to receive wages of him? + +CHR. Wherein, O _Apollyon_, have I been unfaithful to him? + +APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost +choked in the Gulf of _Dispond_; thou didst attempt wrong +ways to be rid of thy Burden, whereas thou shouldest have stayed +till thy Prince had taken it off; thou didst sinfully sleep and +lose thy choice thing; thou wast also almost persuaded to go back, +at the sight of the Lions; and when thou talkest of thy Journey, +and of what thou hast heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous +of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest. + +CHR. All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out; but +the Prince whom I serve and honor is merciful, and ready to +forgive; but besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy +Country, for there I sucked them in, and I have groaned under +them, been sorry for them, and have obtained Pardon of my Prince. + +APOL. Then _Apollyon_ broke out into a grievous rage, saying, +I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his Person, his Laws, and +People; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee. + +CHR. _Apollyon_, beware what you do, for I am in the King's +High-way, the way of Holiness, therefore take heed to yourself. + +APOL. Then _Apollyon_ straddled quite over the whole breadth +of the way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter; prepare +thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal Den, that thou shalt go +no further; here will I spill thy soul. + +And with that he threw a flaming Dart at his breast, but +_Christian_ had a Shield in his hand, with which he caught +it, and so prevented the danger of that. + +Then did _Christian_ draw, for he saw 'twas time to bestir +him: and _Apollyon_ as fast made at him, throwing Darts as +thick as Hail; by the which, notwithstanding all that _Christian_ +could do to avoid it, _Apollyon_ wounded him in his _head,_ +his _hand,_ and _foot:_ This made _Christian_ give a little +back; _Apollyon_ therefore followed his work amain, and +_Christian_ again took courage, and resisted as manfully +as he could. This sore Combat lasted for above half a day, +even till _Christian_ was almost quite spent; for you must +know that _Christian,_ by reason of his wounds, must needs +grow weaker and weaker. + +Then _Apollyon_ espying his opportunity, began to gather up +close to _Christian,_ and wrestling with him, gave him a +dreadful fall; and with that _Christian's_ Sword flew out of +his hand. Then said _Apollyon, I am sure of thee now:_ and +with that he had almost pressed him to death, so that _Christian_ +began to despair of life: but as God would have it, while +_Apollyon_ was fetching of his last blow, thereby to make +a full end of this good man, _Christian_ nimbly stretched +out his hand for his Sword, and caught it, saying, _Rejoice +not against me, O mine Enemy! when I fall I shall arise;_ +and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give +back, as one that had received his mortal wound: _Christian,_ +perceiving that, made at him again, saying, _Nay, in all +these things we are more than Conquerors through him that +loved us._ And with that _Apollyon_ spread forth his Dragon's +wings, and sped him away, that _Christian_ for a season +saw him no more. + +In this Combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and heard as +I did, what yelling and hideous roaring _Apollyon_ made all +the time of the fight, he spake like a Dragon; and on the other +side, what sighs and groans burst from _Christian's_ heart. I +never saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look, +till he perceived he had wounded _Apollyon_ with his two- +edged Sword; then indeed he did smile, and look upward; but 'twas +the dreadfullest sight that ever I saw. + +So when the Battle was over, _Christian_ said, I will here +give thanks to him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the +Lion, to him that did help me against _Apollyon_. And so he +did, saying, Great _Beelzebub_, the Captain of this Fiend, +Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end He sent him harness'd out: +and he with rage That hellish was, did fiercely me engage: But +blessed _Michael_ helped me, and I By dint of Sword did +quickly make him fly. Therefore to him let me give lasting praise, +And thank and bless his holy name always. Then there came to him a +hand, with some of the leaves of the Tree of Life, the which +_Christian_ took, and applied to the wounds that he had +received in the Battle, and was healed immediately. He also sat +down in that place to eat Bread, and to drink of the Bottle that +was given him a little before; so being refreshed, he addressed +himself to his Journey, with his Sword drawn in his hand; for he +said, I know not but some other Enemy may be at hand. But he met +with no other affront from _Apollyon_ quite through this +Valley. + + + + +CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL ARE CAPTIVES IN DOUBTING CASTLE + +By John Bunyan + + +I saw then that they went on their way to a pleasant River, which +_David_ the King called the _River of God_, but _John_, _the +River of the Water of Life_. Now their way lay just upon +the bank of the River; here therefore _Christian_ and his +Companion walked with great delight; they drank also of the +water of the River, which was pleasant and enlivening to +their weary spirits; besides, on the banks of this River on +either side were _green Trees_, that bore all manner of Fruit; +and the Leaves of the Trees were good for Medicine; with +the Fruit of these Trees they were also much delighted; and the +Leaves they ate to prevent Surfeits, and other Diseases that are +incident to those that heat their blood by Travels. On either side +of the River was also a Meadow, curiously beautified with Lilies; +and it was green all the year long. In this Meadow they lay down +and slept, for here they might _lie down safely._ When they +awoke, they gathered again of the Fruit of the Trees, and drank +again of the water of the River, and then lay down again to sleep. +Thus they did several days and nights, and when they were +disposed to go on they eat and drank, and departed. + +Now I beheld in my Dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the +River and the way for a time parted; at which they were not a +little sorry, yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way +from the River was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their +Travels; _so the soul of the Pilgrims was much discouraged +because of the way._ Now a little before them, there was on the +left hand of the road a _Meadow_, and a Stile to go over into +it, and that Meadow is called _By-path-Meadow_. Then said +_Christian_ to his fellow, If this Meadow lieth along by our +way-side, let's go over into it. Then he went to the Stile to see, +and behold a Path lay along by the way on the other side of the +fence. 'Tis according to my wish, said _Christian_, here is +the easiest going; come good Hopeful, and let us go over. + +HOPE. But how if this Path should lead us out of the way? + +CHR. That's not like, said the other; look, doth it not go along +by the way-side? So _Hopeful_, being persuaded by his fellow, +went after him over the Stile. When they were gone over, and were +got into the Path, they found it very easy for their feet: and +withal, they looking before them, espied a man walking as they +did, (and his name was _Vain-confidence_) so they called +after him, and asked him whither that way led? He said, To the +Coelestial Gate. Look, said _Christian_, did I not tell you +so? by this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he +went before them. But behold the night came on, and it grew very +dark, so that they that were behind lost the sight of him that +went before. + +He therefore that went before (_Vain-confidence_ by name) not +seeing the way before him, fell into a deep Pit, which was on +purpose there made by the Prince of those grounds, to catch +_vain-glorious_ fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with +his fall. + +Now _Christian_ and his fellow heard him fall. So they called +to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard +a groaning. Then said _Hopeful_, Where are we now? Then was +his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the +way; and now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten in a very +dreadful manner, and the water rose amain. + +Then _Hopeful_ groaned in himself, saying, _Oh that I had +kept on my way!_ + +CHR. Who could have thought that this Path should have led us out +of the way? + +HOPE. I was afraid on't at the very first, and therefore gave you +that gentle caution. I would have spoken plainer, but that you are +older than I. + +CHR. Good Brother be not offended; I am sorry I have brought thee +out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent +danger; pray my Brother forgive me, I did not do it of an evil +intent. + +HOPE. Be comforted my brother, for I forgive thee; and believe too +that this shall be for our good, + +CHR. I am glad I have with me a merciful Brother; but we must not +stand thus, let's try to go back again. + +HOPE. But good Brother let me go before. + +CHE. No, if you please, let me go first, that if there be any +danger, I may be first therein, because by my means we are both +gone out of the way. + +HOPE. No, said Hopeful, you shall not go first; for your mind +being troubled may lead you out of the way again. Then for their +encouragement, they heard the voice of one saying, _Let thine +heart be towards the High-way, even the way that thou wentest, +turn again._ But by this time the waters were greatly risen; by +reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I +thought that it is easier going out of the way when we are in, +than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back; +but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in their going +back they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times. + +Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the +Stile that night. Wherefore at last, lighting under a little +shelter, they sat down there till the day brake; but being weary, +they fell asleep. Now there was not far from the place where they +lay, a Castle called _Doubting Castle_, the owner whereof was +Giant _Despair_, and it was in his grounds they were now +sleeping: wherefore he, getting up in the morning early, and +walking up and down in his fields, caught _Christian_ and +_Hopeful_ asleep in his grounds. Then with a _grim_ and +_surly_ voice he bid them awake, and asked them whence they +were? and what they did in his grounds? They told him they were +Pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the Giant, +You have this night trespassed on me, by trampling in and lying on +my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me. So they were +forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also had but +little to say, for they knew themselves in a fault. The Giant +therefore drove them before him, and put them into his Castle, +into a very dark Dungeon, nasty and stinking to the spirits of +these two men. Here then they lay from _Wednesday_ morning +till _Saturday_ night, without one bit of bread, or drop of +drink, or light, or any to ask how they did; they were therefore +here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Now +in this place _Christian_ had double sorrow, because 'twas +through his unadvised haste that they were brought into this +distress. + +Now Giant _Despair_ had a Wife, and her name was +_Diffidence_. So when he was gone to bed, he told his Wife +what he had done, to wit, that he had taken a couple of Prisoners +and cast them into his Dungeon, for trespassing on his grounds. +Then he asked her also what he had best do further to them. So she +asked him what they were, whence they came, and whither they were +bound; and he told her. Then she counselled him that when he arose +in the morning he should beat them without any mercy. So when he +arose, he getteth him a grievous Crab-tree Cudgel, and goes down +into the Dungeon to them, and there first falls to rating of them, +as if they were dogs, although they gave him never a word of +distaste. Then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in +such sort, that they were not able to help themselves, or to turn +them upon the floor. This done, he withdraws and leaves them, +there to condole their misery, and to mourn under their +distress: so all that day they spent the time in nothing but +sighs and bitter lamentations. The next night she talking +with her Husband about them further, and understanding that +they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them to make away +themselves. So when morning was come, he goes to them in a +surly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very sore with +the stripes that he had given them the day before, he told them, +that since they were never like to come out of that place, their +only way would be forthwith to make an end of themselves, either +with Knife, Halter, or Poison; For why, said he, should you chuse +life, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? But they +desired him to let them go. With that he looked ugly upon them, +and rushing to them had doubtless made an end of them himself, but +that he fell into one of his Fits, (for he sometimes in Sun-shine +weather fell into Fits) and lost for a time the use of his hand; +wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before, to consider what +to do. Then did the Prisoners consult between themselves, whether +'twas best to take his counsel or no; and thus they began to +discourse: + +[Illustration: CHRISTIAN NIMBLY STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND FOR HIS SWORD +_From the etching by William Strang_] + +CHR. Brother, said _Christian_, what shall we do? The life +that we now live is miserable: for my part I know not whether is +best, to live thus, or to die out of hand. _My soul chuseth +strangling rather than life,_ and the Grave is more easy for me +than this Dungeon. Shall we be ruled by the Giant? + +HOPE. Indeed our present condition is dreadful, and death would be +far more welcome to me than _thus_ for ever to abide; but yet +let us consider, the Lord of the Country to which we are going +hath said, Thou shalt do no murder, no not to another man's +person; much more then are we forbidden to take his counsel to +kill ourselves. And let us consider again, that all the Law is not +in the hand of Giant _Despair_. Others, so far as I can +understand, have been taken by him as well as we, and yet have +escaped out of his hand. Who knows but that God that made the +world may cause that Giant _Despair_ may die? or that at some +time or other he may forget to lock us in? or but he may in short +time have another of his Fits before us, and may lose the use of +his limbs? and if ever that should come to pass again, for my part +I am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man, and to try my utmost +to get from under his hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do +it before; but however, my Brother, let's be patient, and endure a +while; the time may come that may give us a happy release; but let +us not be our own murderers. With these words _Hopeful_ at +present did moderate the mind of his Brother; so they continued +together (in the dark) that day, in their sad and doleful +condition. + +Well, towards evening the Giant goes down into the Dungeon again, +to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but when he came +there he found them alive, and truly, alive was all; for now, what +for want of Bread and Water, and by reason of the Wounds they +received when he beat them, they could do little but breathe: But, +I say, he found them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, +and told them that seeing they disobeyed his counsel, it should be +worse with them than if they had never been born. + +At this they trembled greatly, and I think that _Christian_ +fell into a Swoon; but coming a little to himself again, they +renewed their discourse about the Giant's counsel, and whether yet +they had best to take it or no. Now _Christian_ again seemed +to be for doing it, but _Hopeful_ made his second reply as +followeth: + +HOPE. My Brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant thou +hast been heretofore? _Apollyon_ could not crush thee, nor +could all that thou didst hear, or see, or feel in the Valley of +the _Shadow of Death_. What hardship, terror, and amazement +hast thou already gone through, and art thou now nothing but fear? +Thou seest that I am in the Dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by +nature than thou art; also this Giant has wounded me as well as +thee, and hath also cut off the Bread and Water from my mouth; and +with thee I mourn without the light. But let's exercise a little +more patience, remember how thou playedst the man at Vanity Fair, +and wast neither afraid of the Chain, nor Cage, nor yet of bloody +Death: wherefore let us (at least to avoid the shame that becomes +not a Christian to be found in) bear up with patience as well as +we can. + +Now night being come again, and the Giant and his Wife being in +bed, she asked him concerning the Prisoners, and if they had taken +his counsel: To which he replied, They are sturdy Rogues, they +chuse rather to bear all hardship, than to make away themselves. +Then said she, Take them into the Castle-yard to-morrow, and shew +them the Bones and Skulls of those that thou hast already +dispatch'd, and make them believe, e'er a week comes to an end, +thou also wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their +fellows before them. + +So when the morning was come, the Giant goes to them again, and +takes them into the Castle-yard and shews them as his Wife had +bidden him. These, said he, were Pilgrims as you are, once, and +they trespassed in my grounds, as you have done; and when I +thought fit, I tore them in pieces, and so within ten days I will +do you. Go get you down to your Den again; and with that he beat +them all the way thither. They lay therefore all day on +_Saturday_ in a lamentable case, as before. Now when night +was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her Husband the Giant were +got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their +Prisoners; and withal the old Giant wondered, that he could +neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with +that his Wife replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hope +that some will come to relieve them, or that they have pick-locks +about them, by the means of which they hope to escape. And sayest +thou so, my dear? said the Giant, I will therefore search them in +the morning. + +Well on _Saturday_ about midnight they began to _pray_, +and continued in Prayer till almost break of day. + +Now a little before it was day, good _Christian_, as one half +amazed, brake out in passionate speech: _What a fool_, quoth +he, _am I, thus to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well +walk at liberty. I_ have a Key in my bosom called Promise, that +will, I am persuaded, open any Lock in _Doubting_ Castle. +Then said _Hopeful_, That's good news; good Brother, pluck it +out of thy bosom and try. + +Then _Christian_ pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try +at the Dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the Key) gave back, +and the door flew open with ease, and _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ +both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads +into the Castle-yard, and with his Key opened that door also. +After he went to the iron Gate, for that must be opened too, +but that Lock went damnable hard, yet the Key did open it. Then +they thrust open the Gate to make their escape with speed; but +that Gate as it opened made such a creaking, that it waked Giant +_Despair_, who hastily rising to pursue his Prisoners, felt +his limbs to fail, for his Fits took him again, so that he could +by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the +King's High-way again, and so were safe, because they were out of +his jurisdiction. + +Now when they were gone over the Stile, they began to contrive +with themselves what they should do at that Stile, to prevent +those that should come after from falling into the hands of Giant +_Despair_. So they consented to erect there a Pillar, and to +engrave upon the side thereof this sentence, _Over this Stile is +the way to_ Doubting _Castle, which is kept by Giant_ Despair, +_who despiseth the King of the Coelestial Country, and seeks +to destroy his holy Pilgrims._ Many therefore that followed +after read what was written, and escaped the danger. This +done, they sang as follows: + + Out of the way we went, and then we found + What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground; + And let them that come after have a care, + Lest heedlessness makes them, as we, to fare. + Lest they for trespassing his prisoners are, + Whose Castle's _Doubting, and whose name's Despair_. + + + + +CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL ARRIVE AT THE CAELESTIAL CITY + +By John Bunyan + + +I saw that as they went on, there met them two men, in Raiment +that shone like Gold, also their faces shone as the light. + +These men asked the Pilgrims whence they came? and they told them. +They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and +dangers, what comforts and pleasures they had met in the way? and +they told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two +difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City. + +And I slept, and Dreamed again, and saw the same two Pilgrims +going down the Mountains along the High-way towards the City. + +Now you must note that the City stood upon a mighty Hill, but the +Pilgrims went up that Hill with ease because they had these two +men to lead them up by the arms; also they had left their +_mortal Garments_ behind them in the River. They therefore +went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation +upon which the City was framed was higher than the Clouds. They +therefore went up through the Regions of the Air, sweetly talking +as they went, being comforted, because they safely got over the +River, and had such glorious Companions to attend them. + +The talk that they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory +of the place, who told them that the beauty and glory of it was +inexpressible. There, said they, is the Mount _Sion_, the +heavenly _Jerusalem_, the innumerable company of Angels, and +the Spirits of just men made perfect. You are going now, said +they, to the Paradise of God, wherein you shall see the Tree of +Life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and when you +come there, you shall have white Robes given you, and your walk +and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of +Eternity. There you shall not see again such things as you saw +when you were in the lower Region upon the earth, to wit, sorrow, +sickness, affliction, and health, _for the former things are +passed away_. You are now going to _Abraham_, to _Isaac_, +and _Jacob_, and to the Prophets, men that God hath taken +away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon +their beds, each one walking in his righteousness. The men +then asked, What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was +answered, You must there receive the comfort of all your toil, and +have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, +even the fruit of all your Prayers and Tears, and sufferings for +the King by the way. In that place you must wear Crowns of Gold, +and enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, _for +there you shall see him as he is_. There also you shall serve +him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom +you desired to serve in the World, though with much difficulty, +because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be +delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant +voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again, +that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy +receive even every one that follows into the holy place after you. +There also shall you be cloathed with Glory and Majesty, and put +into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When he +shall come with sound of Trumpet in the Clouds, as upon the wings +of the Wind, you shall come with him; and when he shall sit upon +the Throne of Judgment, you shall sit by him; yea, and when he +shall pass sentence upon all the workers of iniquity, let them be +Angels or Men, you also shall have a voice in that Judgment, +because they were his and your Enemies. Also when he shall again +return to the City, you shall go too, with sound of Trumpet, and +be ever with him. + +Now while they were thus drawing towards the Gate, behold a +company of the Heavenly Host came out to meet them; to whom it was +said by the other two Shining Ones, These are the men that have +loved our Lord when they were in the World, and that have left all +for his Holy Name, and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have +brought them thus far on their desired Journey, that they may go +in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy. Then the Heavenly +Host gave a great shout, saying, _Blessed are they that are +called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb._ There came out also +at this time to meet them, several of the King's Trumpeters, +cloathed in white and shining Raiment, who with melodious noises +and loud, made even the Heavens to echo with their sound. These +Trumpeters saluted _Christian_ and his fellow with ten thousand +welcomes from the World, and this they did with shouting and sound +of Trumpet. + +This done, they compassed them round on every side; some went +before, some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left, +(as 'twere to guard them through the upper Regions) continually +sounding as they went with melodious noise, in notes on high: so +that the very sight was to them that could behold it, as if Heaven +itself was come down to meet them. Thus therefore they walked on +together; and as they walked, ever and anon these Trumpeters, even +with joyful sound, would, by mixing their musick with looks and +gestures, still signify to _Christian_ and his Brother, how +welcome they were into their company, and with what gladness they +came to meet them; and now were these two men as 'twere in Heaven +before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of +Angels, and with hearing of their melodious notes. Here also they +had the City itself in view, and they thought they heard all the +Bells therein ring to welcome them thereto. But above all, the +warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own dwelling +there, with such company, and that for ever and ever. Oh, by what +tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed! And thus they +came up to the Gate. + +Now when they were come up to the Gate, there was written over it +in Letters of Gold, _Blessed are they that do his Commandments, +that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in +through the Gates into the City_. + +Then I saw in my Dream, that the Shining Men bid them call at the +Gate; the which when they did, some from above looked over the +Gate, to wit, _Enoch_, _Moses_, and _Elijah_, _&c_., to whom +it was said, These Pilgrims are come from the City of _Destruction_ +for the love that they bear to the King of this place; and +then the Pilgrims gave in unto them each man his Certificate, +which they had received in the beginning; those therefore +were carried in to the King, who when he had read them, said, +Where are the men? To whom it was answered, They are standing +without the Gate. The King then commanded to open the Gate, +_That the righteous nation_, saith he, _that keepeth Truth may enter in_. + +Now I saw in my Dream that these two men went in at the Gate: and +lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had Raiment +put on that shone like Gold. There was also that met them with +Harps and Crowns, and gave them to them, the Harps to praise +withal, and the Crowns in token of honour. Then I heard in my +Dream that all the Bells in the City rang again for joy, and that +it was said unto them, _Enter ye into the joy of your Lord_. +I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud +voice, saying, _Blessing, Honour, Glory, and Power, be to him +that sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb for ever and +ever_. + +Now just as the Gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in +after them, and behold, the City shone like the Sun; the Streets +also were paved with Gold, and in them walked many men, with +Crowns on their heads, Palms in their hands, and golden Harps to +sing praises withal. + +There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one +another without intermission, saying, _Holy, Holy, Holy, is the +Lord_. And after that they shut up the Gates. Which when I had +seen, I wished myself among them. + +Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to +look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the River-side; but he +soon got over, and that without half that difficulty which the +other two men met with. For it happened that there was then in +that place one Vain-hope a Ferry-man, that with his Boat helped +him over; so he, as the other I saw, did ascend the Hill to come +up to the Gate, only he came alone; neither did any man meet him +with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the Gate, he +looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, +supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to +him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the +Gate, Whence came you? and what would you have? He answered, I +have eat and drank in the presence of the King, and he has taught +in our Streets. Then they asked him for his Certificate, that +they might go in and shew it to the King. So he fumbled in his +bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, Have you none? But +the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he would +not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones that +conducted _Christian_ and _Hopeful_ to the City, to go out +and take _Ignorance_, and bind him hand and foot, and have +him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the +air to the door that I saw in the side of the Hill, and put him in +there. Then I saw that there was a way to Hell even from the Gates +of Heaven, as well as from the City of _Destruction_. So I +awoke, and behold it was a Dream. + + + + +IVANHOE AND GUY MANNERING + + +_Before we have reached the second +page of what Anthony Trollope called "the most favorite novel in +the English language," the Commander of the Knights Templars and +his followers have reined up their horses outside the old hall of +Rotherwood, and a loud blast from the horn convinces us that they +won't wait very long for an invitation to enter. And there is +Rowena, for whom the Disinherited Knight shall fight against all +comers. We hold our breaths as he rides full-tilt at the Norman +Knight and strikes him full on the visor of his helmet, throwing +horse and rider to the ground. Here are Isaac the Jew and Rebecca +his beautiful daughter; and Wamba the jester, disguised as a monk, +is rescuing Cedric-- + +Does any boy or girl need to know more of what Ivanhoe is about? + +No one who begins to read Guy Mannering will wish to put it down +until he has finished it._ + + + + +IVANHOE + +Retold by Sir Edward Sullivan + + +At the time when King Richard, of the Lion Heart, was absent from +his country, and a prisoner in the power of the perfidious and +cruel Duke of Austria, there lived in England a highborn Saxon, +named Cedric. He was one of the few native princes who still +continued to occupy the home of his fathers; but, like many more +of the conquered English people, he had felt the tyranny and +oppressive insolence of the haughty Norman barons. He was a man of +great personal strength, possessed of a hasty and choleric temper, +but he had shrewdly refrained from showing any open hostility to +the successors of the Conqueror; and so contrived to maintain his +ancient state in his mansion at Rotherwood, while many others in a +similar situation had been compelled to give up their homes and +properties to the supporters of the Norman invader. + +He had an only son, Wilfred by name, with whom he had quarrelled; +and the young man, finding himself disinherited, had adopted the +profession of a champion of the Cross, and sailed away to +Palestine with the army of the Crusaders. + +One evening, in the autumn of the year, Cedric was about to sit +down to supper in the old hall at Rotherwood, when the blast of a +horn was heard at his gate. In a few minutes after, a warder +announced that the Prior Aymer, of Jorvaulx, and the good knight +Brian de Bois-Guilbert, commander of the valiant order of Knights +Templars, with a small retinue, requested hospitality and lodging +for the night, being on their way to a tournament which was to be +held not far from Ashby-de-la-Zouche. + +"Normans both," muttered Cedric; "but they are welcome to the +hospitality of Rotherwood. Admit them." + +The noble guests were ushered in shortly after, accompanied by +their attendants, and Cedric bade them welcome to his hall. + +When the repast was about to begin, the steward, suddenly raising +his wand, said aloud: "Forbear! Place for the Lady Rowena." As he +spoke a side-door at the upper end of the hall opened, and Rowena, +the fair and stately ward of Cedric, followed by four female +attendants, entered the apartment. All stood up to receive her, +and replying to their courtesy by a mute gesture of salutation, +she moved gracefully forward to assume her place at the board, +while the eyes of Brian de Bois-Guilbert seemed to be riveted by +the striking beauty of her face. + +As the banquet went on, conversation was interrupted by the +entrance of a page, who announced that there was a stranger at the +gate imploring admittance and hospitality. + +"Admit him," said Cedric, "be he who or what he may." + +The page retired; and returning shortly after, whispered into the +ear of his master: + +"It is a Jew, who calls himself Isaac of York." + +"St. Mary!" said the abbot, crossing himself, "an unbelieving Jew, +and admitted into this presence!" + + "A dog Jew," echoed the Templar, "to approach a defender of the +Holy Sepulchre!" + +"Peace, my worthy guests," said Cedric; "my hospitality must not +be bounded by your dislikes. Let him have a board and a morsel +apart." + +Introduced with little ceremony, and advancing with fear and +hesitation, and many a bow of deep humility, a tall thin old man, +with an aquiline nose and piercing black eyes, approached the +lower end of the board. Cedric nodded coldly in answer to his +repeated salutations, and signed to him to take a place at the +lower end of the table, where, however, no one offered to make +room for him. + +A pilgrim, at length, who sat by the chimney, took compassion upon +him, and resigned his seat, saying briefly, "Old man, my garments +are dried, my hunger is appeased, thou art both wet and fasting." +And, so saying, he placed some food before the Jew on the small +table at which he had himself supped, and, without waiting for the +old man's thanks, went to the other side of the hall. + +As the feast proceeded, a discussion arose amongst the banqueters +as to which knights had borne them best in Palestine among the +champions of the Cross. De Bois-Guilbert seemed to speak +slightingly of the English warriors, while giving the place of +honour to the Knights of the Temple. + +"The English chivalry were second to NONE" said the pilgrim, who +had listened to this conversation with marked impatience. "SECOND +to NONE, I say, who ever drew sword in defence of the Holy Land. I +say, besides, for I saw it, that King Richard himself and five of +his knights held a tournament after the taking of St. John-de- +Acre, as challengers, and proved themselves superior to all +comers." + +The swarthy countenance of the Templar grew darker with a bitter +scowl of rage as he listened to these words; but his angry +confusion became only more marked as the pilgrim went on to give +the names of the English knights who had so distinguished +themselves. He paused as he came to the name of the sixth. + +"His name dwells not in my memory," he said; "but he was a young +knight of lesser renown and lower rank." + +"Sir palmer," said Brian de Bois-Guilbert scornfully, "this +assumed forgetfulness, after so much has been remembered, comes +too late to serve your purpose. I will myself tell the name of the +knight before whose lance I fell: it was the Knight of Ivanhoe; +nor was there one of the six that, for his years, had more renown +in arms. Yet this will I say, and loudly, that, were he in +England, I would gladly meet him in this week's tournament, +mounted and armed as I now am." + +"If Ivanhoe ever returns from Palestine I will be his surety that +he meets you," replied the palmer. + +Not long after, the grace-cup was served round, and the guests, +after making deep obeisance to their landlord and the Lady +Rowena, arose, and retired with their attendants for the night. + +As the palmer was being guided to his chamber he was met by the +waiting-maid of Rowena, who informed him that her mistress desired +to speak with him. + +A short passage and an ascent of some steps led him to the lady's +apartment. + +As the pilgrim entered she ordered her attendants, excepting only +one, to retire. + +"Pilgrim," said the lady, after a moment's pause, during which she +seemed uncertain how to address him, "you this night mentioned a +name--I mean the name of Ivanhoe--I would gladly hear news of him. +Where and in what condition did you leave him?" + +"I know little of the Knight of Ivanhoe," answered the palmer with +a troubled voice. "He hath, I believe, surmounted the persecution +of his enemies in Palestine, and is on the eve of returning to +England." + +The Lady Rowena sighed deeply. + +"Would to God," she then said, "he were here safely arrived, and +able to bear arms in the approaching tourney. Should Athelstane of +Coningsburgh obtain the prize, Ivanhoe is like to hear evil +tidings when he reaches England." + +Finding that there was no further information to be obtained about +the knight, in whose fate she seemed to take so deep an interest, +she bade her maidens to offer the sleeping-cup to the holy man, +and having presented him with a piece of gold, wished him good- +night. + +As the palmer was being conducted to his room he inquired of his +attendant where Isaac the Jew was sleeping, and learned that he +occupied the room next to his own. + +As soon as it was dawn the pilgrim entered the small apartment +where the Jew was still asleep. Stirring him with his pilgrim's +staff, he told him that he should rise without delay, and leave +the mansion. "When the Templar crossed the hall yesternight," he +continued, "I heard him speak to his Mussulman slaves in the +Saracen language, which I well understand, and he charged them to +watch the journey of the Jew, to seize upon him when at a +convenient distance from the mansion, and to conduct him to the +castle of Philip de Malvoisin, or to that of Reginald Front-de- +Boeuf." + +It is impossible to describe the extremity of terror which seized +upon the Jew at this information. He knew only too well of the +relentless persecution to which his kindred were subjected at this +period, and how, upon the slightest and most unreasonable +pretences, their persons and their property were exposed to every +turn of popular fury. + +He rose, accordingly, in haste. + +It was not, however, such an easy matter to make their exit from +the mansion. Gurth, the swineherd, a servant of much importance at +that time, when appealed to open the gate, refused to let the +visitors out at such an unseasonable hour. + +"Nevertheless," said the pilgrim, "you will not, I think, refuse +_me_ that favour." + +So saying, he whispered something in his ear in Saxon. Gurth +started as if electrified, and hastened at once to procure their +mules for the travellers, and to open the postern gate to let them +out. + +As the pilgrim mounted, he reached his hand to Gurth, who kissed +it with the utmost possible veneration. The two travellers were +soon lost under the boughs of the forest path. + +They continued their journey at great speed; and the Jew noticed +with amazement that the palmer appeared to be familiar with every +path and outlet of the wood. When they had travelled some distance +from Rotherwood, and were approaching the town of Sheffield, the +Jew expressed a wish to recompense the palmer for the interest he +had taken in his affairs. + +"I desire no recompense," answered his fellow traveller. + +"Yet I can tell thee something thou lackest," said Isaac, "and, it +may be, supply it too. Thy wish even now is for a horse and +armour." + +The palmer started. + +"What fiend prompted that guess?" said he hastily. + +"Under that palmer's gown," replied the Jew, "is hidden a knight's +chain and spurs of gold. I saw them as you stooped over my bed +this morning." + +Without waiting to hear his companion's reply, he wrote some words +in Hebrew on a piece of paper, and handed it to the pilgrim, +saying: + +"In the town of Leicester all men know the rich Jew, Kirjath +Jairam of Lombardy; give him this scroll, and he will give thee +everything that can furnish thee forth for the tournament; when it +is over thou wilt return them safely. But hark thee, good youth, +thrust thyself not too forward in this vain hurly-burly. I speak +not for endangering the steed and coat of armour, but for the sake +of thine own life and limbs." + +"Gramercy for thy caution," said the palmer, smiling; "I will use +thy courtesy frankly--and it will go hard with me but I will +requite it." + +They then parted, and took different roads for the town of +Sheffield. + +When the morning of the tournament arrived the field of contest at +Ashby-de-la-Zouche presented a brilliant and romantic scene. On +the verge of a wood was an extensive meadow, of the finest and +most beautiful green turf, surrounded on one side by the forest, +and fringed on the other by straggling oak-trees. The ground, as +if fashioned on purpose for the martial display which was +intended, sloped gradually down on all sides to a level bottom, +which was enclosed for the lists with strong palisades. At each +end of the enclosure two heralds were stationed, and a strong body +of men-at-arms, for maintaining order and ascertaining the quality +of the knights who proposed to engage in the contest. + +On a platform beyond the southern entrance were pitched five +magnificent pavilions, adorned with pennons of russet and black-- +the chosen colours of the five knights challengers. That in the +centre, as the place of honour, had been assigned to Brian de +Bois-Guilbert, whose renown in all games of chivalry had +occasioned him to be adopted as the chief and leader of the +challengers. + +Outside the lists were galleries, spread with tapestry and +carpets, for the convenience of the ladies and nobles who were +expected to attend the tournament. Another gallery raised higher +than the rest, and opposite to the spot where the shock of combat +was to take place, was decorated with much magnificence, and +graced by a sort of throne and canopy, on which the royal arms +were emblazoned. Squires, pages, and yeomen, in rich liveries, +waited around the place of honour, which was designed for Prince +John, the brother of the absent king, and his attendants. Opposite +to this royal gallery was another, even more gaily decorated, +reserved as the seat of honour for the Queen of Beauty and of +Love. But who was to fill the place on the present occasion no one +was prepared to guess. + +Gradually the galleries became filled with knights, nobles and +ladies, while the lower space was crowded with yeomen and +burghers. + +Amongst the latter was Isaac the Jew, richly and magnificently +dressed, and accompanied by his daughter, the beautiful Rebecca, +whose exquisite form, shown to advantage by a becoming Eastern +dress, did not escape the quick eye of the prince himself, as he +rode by at the head of his numerous and gaily-dressed train. + +As the prince assumed his throne, he gave signal to the heralds to +proclaim the laws of the tournament, which were briefly as +follows: + +First: The five challengers were to undertake all comers. + +Secondly: Any knight might select any antagonist for combat by +touching his shield. If he did so with the reverse of his lance, +the trial of skill was made with what were called the arms of +courtesy, that is, with lances at whose extremity a piece of round +flat board was fixed, so that no danger was encountered, save from +the shock of the horses and riders. But if the shield was touched +with the sharp end of the lance, the knights were to fight as in +actual battle. + +Thirdly: The knight whom the prince should declare to be the +victor was to receive as prize a war-horse of exquisite beauty and +matchless strength, and in addition to this reward, he should have +the peculiar honour of naming the Queen of Love and Beauty. + +When the proclamation was made the heralds retired, and through +the open barriers five knights advanced slowly into the arena. +Approaching the challengers, each touched slightly, and with the +reverse of his lance, the shield of the antagonist to whom he +wished to oppose himself, and then retreated to the extremity of +the lists, where all remained drawn up in a line. + +At the flourish of clarions and trumpets they started out against +each other at full gallop; and such was the superior skill or good +fortune of the challengers, that those opposed to Bois-Guilbert, +Malvoisin, and Front-de-Boeuf rolled on the ground. The antagonist +of Grantmesnil broke his spear; while the fifth knight alone +maintained the honour of his party. + +A second and third party of knights took the field, and although +they had various success, yet, upon the whole, the advantage +decidedly remained with the challengers, not one of whom lost his +seat. A fourth combat followed; and here, too, the challengers +came off victorious. + +Prince John now began to talk of awarding the prize to Brian de +Bois-Guilbert, who had proved himself to be the best of the Norman +knights; but his attention, and that of the other spectators, was +arrested by the sound of a solitary trumpet, which breathed a note +of defiance from the northern end of the enclosure. + +All eyes were turned to see the new champion, and no sooner were +the barriers opened than he paced into the lists. His suit of +armour was formed of steel, richly inlaid with gold, and the +device on his shield was a young oak-tree pulled up by the roots, +with the word "Disinherited" inscribed upon it. Riding straight up +to Brian de Bois-Guilbert, he struck with the sharp end of his +spear the shield of the victorious Norman until it rang again. All +stood astonished at his presumption, but none more than the +redoubted knight whom he had thus defied to mortal combat. + +When the two champions stood opposed to each other at the two +extremities of the lists the public expectation was strained to +highest pitch. + +The trumpets had no sooner given the signal than the combatants +vanished from their posts with the speed of lightning, and closed +in the centre of the lists with the shock of a thunderbolt. The +lances burst into shivers, both the knights being almost unhorsed. +Retiring to the extremity of the lists, each received a fresh +lance from the attendants; and again, amidst a breathless silence, +they sprung from their stations, and closed in the centre of the +open space, with the same speed, the same dexterity, the same +violence, but not the same equal fortune, as before. + +The Norman's spear, striking the centre of his antagonist's +shield, went to shivers, and the Disinherited Knight reeled in his +saddle. On the other hand, the unknown champion had aimed his +spear's point at the helmet of his opponent. Fair and true he hit +the Norman on the visor, and saddle, horse, and man rolled on the +ground under a cloud of dust. + +"We shall meet again, I trust," said the defeated champion, as he +extricated himself from the stirrups and fallen steed. + +"If we do not," said the Disinherited Knight, "the fault will not +be mine. On foot or horseback, with spear, with axe, or with +sword, I am alike ready to encounter thee." + +Without alighting from his horse, the conqueror called for a bowl +of wine, and, opening the beaver of his helmet, announced that he +quaffed it "To all true English hearts, and to the confusion of +foreign tyrants." + +He then desired a herald to proclaim that he was willing to +encounter the rest of the challengers in the order in which they +pleased to advance against him. + +The gigantic Front-de-Boeuf, armed in sable armour, was the first +who took the field. But he was soon defeated. + +Sir Philip Malvoisin next advanced; and against him the stranger +was equally successful. De Grantmesnil soon after avowed himself +vanquished; and Ralph de Vipont summed up the list of the +stranger's triumphs, being hurled to the ground with such force +that he was borne senseless from the lists. + +The acclamations of thousands applauded the award of the prince, +announcing that day's honours to the Disinherited Knight. + +The marshal of the field now approached the victor, praying him to +suffer his helmet to be unlaced, ere they conducted him to receive +the prize of the day's tourney from the hands of Prince John. But +the Disinherited Knight, with all courtesy, declined their +request. The prince himself made many inquiries of those in his +company about the unknown stranger; but none could guess who he +might be. Someone suggested that it might, perhaps, be King +Richard himself; and John turned deadly pale as he heard the +words, for he had been plotting to seize the throne during his +brother's absence. + +The victorious knight received his prize, speaking not a word in +reply to the complimentary expressions of the prince, which he +only acknowledged with a low bow. Leaping into the saddle of the +richly-accoutred steed which had been presented to him, he rode up +to where the Lady Rowena was seated, and, heedless of the many +Norman beauties who graced the contest with their presence, +gracefully sinking the point of his lance he deposited the coronet +which it supported at the feet of the fair Saxon. The trumpets +instantly sounded, while the heralds proclaimed the Lady Rowena +the Queen of Beauty and of Love for the ensuing day. + +Soon after the vast multitude had retired from the deserted field +and lights began to glimmer through the twilight, announcing the +toil of the armourers, which was to continue through the whole +night in order to repair or alter the suits of armour to be used +again on the morrow. + +The next day dawned in unclouded splendour, and at ten o'clock the +whole plain was crowded with horsemen, horsewomen, and foot- +passengers, hastening to the tournament; and shortly after a grand +flourish of trumpets announced the arrival of Prince John and his +gorgeous retinue. + +About the same time arrived Cedric the Saxon with the Lady Rowena. +He had been accompanied on the previous day by another noble +Saxon, Athelstane, Lord of Coningsburgh, a suitor for the hand of +Rowena, and one who considered his union with that lady as a +matter already fixed beyond doubt, by the assent of Cedric and her +other friends. Rowena herself, however, had never given her +consent to such an alliance; and entertained but a poor opinion of +her would-be lover, whose pretensions for her hand she had +received with marked disdain. Her Saxon lover was not one of her +party at the tourney on the second day. He had observed with +displeasure that Rowena was selected by the victor on the +preceding day as the object of that honour which it became his +privilege to confer, and Athelstane, confident of his own strength +and skill, had himself donned his armour with a determination to +make his rival feel the weight of his battle-axe. + +The combat on the second day of the tournament was on a much more +extended scale than that of the previous one; and when the signal +for battle was given some fifty knights, at the same moment, +charged wildly at each other in the lists. The champions +encountered each other with the utmost fury, and with alternate +success; the tide of battle seeming to flow now toward the +southern, now toward the northern extremity of the lists as the +one or the other party prevailed. The clang of the blows, and the +shouts of the combatants, mixed fearfully with the sound of the +trumpets, and drowned the groans of those who fell, and lay +rolling beneath the feet of the horses. The splendid armour of the +knights was now defaced with dust and blood, and gave way at every +stroke of the sword and battle-axe; while the gay plumage, shorn +from the crests, drifted upon the breeze like snowflakes. + +In the thick of the press and turmoil of the fight Bois-Guilbert +and the Disinherited Knight repeatedly endeavoured to single out +each other, spurred by mutual animosity. Such, however, was the +crowd and confusion that, during the earlier part of the conflict, +their efforts to meet were unavailing. But when the field became +thin, by the numbers on either side who had yielded themselves +vanquished or had been rendered incapable of continuing the +strife, the Templar and the unknown knight at length encountered, +hand to hand, with all the fury that mortal animosity, joined to +rivalry of honour, could inspire. Such was the skill of each in +parrying and striking that the spectators broke forth into a +unanimous and involuntary shout of delight and admiration. + +But at this moment the party of the Disinherited Knight had the +worst. Front-de-Boeuf and Athelstane, having defeated those +immediately opposed to them, were now free to come to the aid of +their friend the Templar; and, turning their horses at the same +moment, the two spurred against the Disinherited Knight. + +This champion, exposed as he was to the furious assaults of three +opponents each of whom was almost a match for him single-handed, +must now have soon been overpowered when an unexpected incident +changed the fortunes of the day. + +Amongst the ranks of the Disinherited Knight was a champion in +black armour, mounted on a black horse, whose shield bore no +device of any kind. He had engaged with some few combatants, and +had easily defeated them during the earlier stages of the contest, +but seemed to take no further interest in the event of the fight, +acting the part rather of a spectator than of a party in the +tournament. + +The moment, however, he saw his leader so hard bestead he seemed +to throw aside his apathy, and setting spurs to his horse he came +to his assistance like a thunderbolt, exclaiming, in a voice like +a trumpet call, "Disinherited to the rescue!" + +Under the fury of his first stroke, Front-de-Boeuf, horse and all, +rolled stunned to the ground. He then turned his steed upon +Athelstane, and, wrenching from the hand of the bulky Saxon the +battle-axe which he wielded, bestowed him such a blow upon the +crest, that the Lord of Coningsburgh also lay senseless on the +field. Having achieved this double feat, he returned calmly to the +extremity of the lists, leaving his leader to cope as best he +could with Brian de Bois-Guilbert. This was no longer matter of so +much difficulty as formerly. The Templar's horse had bled much, +and gave way under the shock of the Disinherited Knight's charge. +As Bois-Guilbert rolled on the field, his antagonist sprung from +horseback, and was in the act of commanding his adversary to yield +or die, when Prince John gave the signal that the conflict was at +an end. + +It being now the duty of the prince to name the knight who had +done best, he determined, although contrary to the advice of those +about him, that the honour of the day remained with the Black +Knight. + +To the surprise of all present, however, the knight thus preferred +was nowhere to be found. He had left the lists immediately when +the conflict ceased, and had been observed by some spectators to +move slowly down one of the forest glades. After he had been +summoned twice by sound of trumpet, it became necessary to name +another; and the Disinherited Knight was for the second time named +champion of the day. + +As the victor was led towards the throne of the Lady Rowena, it +was observed that he tottered. Rowena was about to place the +chaplet which she held in her hand upon the helmet of the champion +who kneeled before her, when the marshals exclaimed, "It must not +be thus, his head must be bare;" and at once removed his helmet. +The features which were exposed were those of a young man of +twenty-five; but his countenance was as pale as death, and marked +in one or two places with streaks of blood. + +Rowena had no sooner beheld him than she uttered a faint shriek; +but at once summoning up all her energies, she placed upon the +drooping head of the victor the splendid chaplet which was the +destined reward of the day. + +The knight bent low, and kissed the hand of the lovely Sovereign +by whom his valour had been rewarded; and then, sinking yet +farther forward, lay prostrate at her feet. + +There was a general consternation. Cedric, who had been struck +mute by the sudden appearance of his banished son, now rushed +forward, as if to separate him from Rowena. But this had been +already accomplished by the marshals of the field, who, guessing +the cause of Ivanhoe's swoon, had hastened to undo his armour, and +found that the head of a lance had penetrated his breast-plate and +inflicted a wound in his side. + +The name of Ivanhoe was no sooner pronounced than it flew from +mouth to mouth throughout the vast assembly. It was not long ere +it reached the circle of the prince, whose brow darkened as he +heard the news. He knew that Ivanhoe had been a close attendant on +his brother King Richard in the Holy Land; and as such he looked +upon him as his own enemy. He was about to give the signal for +retiring from the lists, when a small billet was put into his +hand. He broke the seal with apparent agitation, and read the +words, "Take heed to yourself, for the devil is unchained." + +He turned as pale as death; and taking two of his courtiers aside, +he put the billet into their hands. "It means," he said in a +faltering voice, "that my brother Richard has obtained his +freedom." + +"It is time, then," said Fitzurse, his confidential attendant, "to +draw our party to a head, and prepare our forces to meet him." + +In sullen ill-humour the prince left the place of tournament to +hold high festival at the Castle of Ashby; but it was more than +his courtiers could do to rouse him from the overpowering gloom +which seemed to agitate his mind throughout the evening. On the +next day it was settled that the prince and all those who were +ready to support him should attend a meeting at York for the +purpose of making general arrangements for placing the crown upon +the head of the usurper, and ousting King Richard from his +sovereign rights. + +Meanwhile, Cedric the Saxon, when he saw his son drop down +senseless in the lists at Ashby, had given orders, half in pity, +half in anger, to his attendants to convey Ivanhoe to a place +where his wound might be dressed as soon as the crowd had +dispersed. The attendants were, however, anticipated in this good +office. The crowd dispersed, indeed, but the knight was nowhere to +be seen. The only information which could be collected from the +bystanders was, that he had been raised with care by certain well- +attired grooms, and placed in a litter belonging to a lady among +the spectators, in which he had immediately been transported out +of the press. + +Cedric and his friends, having seen the last of the tournament and +the festivities which followed it, now set out on their return to +Rotherwood. Their way lay through a thickly-wooded country, which +was at the time held to be dangerous to travellers from the number +of outlaws whom oppression and poverty had driven to despair, and +who occupied the forests in large bands. From these rovers, +however, Cedric and Athelstane accounted themselves secure, as +they had in attendance ten servants. They knew, besides, that the +outlaws were chiefly peasants and yeomen of Saxon descent, and +were generally supposed to respect the persons and property of +their countrymen. + +As the travellers journeyed on their way, they were alarmed by +repeated cries for assistance; and when they rode up to the place +from whence they came, they were surprised to find a horse-litter +placed upon the ground, beside which sat a young woman, richly +dressed in the Jewish fashion, while an old man, whose yellow cap +proclaimed him to belong to the same nation, walked up and down, +wringing his hands, as if affected by some strange disaster. + +It was some time before Isaac of York, for it was he, could +explain the nature of his trouble. When at length he began to come +to himself out of his agony of terror, he said that he had hired a +body-guard of six men at Ashby, together with mules for carrying +the litter of a sick friend; but that they all had fled away from +him, having heard that there was a strong band of outlaws lying +in wait in the woods before them. When he implored permission to +continue his journey under the protection of Cedric and his party, +Athelstane was strongly opposed to allowing the "dog of a Jew," as +he called him, to travel in their company. The Lady Rowena, +however, had at the same time been approached by the old man's +daughter, who, kissing the hem of her garment, implored her to +have compassion on them. "It is not for myself that I pray this +favour," said Rebecca; "nor is it even for that poor old man; but +it is in the name of one dear to many, and dear even to you, that +I beseech you to let this sick person be transported with care and +tenderness under your protection." + +So noble and solemn was the air with which Rebecca made this +appeal, that on the intercession of Rowena Cedric readily +consented to allow the Jew and his daughter, together with their +sick friend, to attach themselves to his party. + +Twilight was already coming on as the company proceeded on their +journey. The path upon which the party travelled was now so narrow +as not to admit above two riders abreast. They accordingly +quickened their pace, in order to get as rapidly as possible out +of the dangerous neighborhood which they were traversing. They had +just crossed a' brook, whose banks were broken, swampy, and +overgrown with dwarf willows, when they were assailed in front, +flank and rear by a large body of men in the dress of outlaws, and +with an impetuosity to which, in their confused and ill-prepared +condition, it was impossible to offer effectual resistance. Both +the Saxon chiefs were made prisoners at the same moment, while the +attendants, embarrassed with baggage, surprised and terrified at +the fate of their masters, fell an easy prey to the assailants; +and the Lady Rowena, the Jew and his daughter experienced the same +misfortune. Wamba, the jester, alone escaped, showing upon the +occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater +sense. As he wandered through the forest, a dog, which he +recognised, jumped up and fawned upon him, and Gurth, the +swineherd, shortly after made his appearance. He was horrified to +hear from his fellow-servant of the misfortune which had befallen +their master and his party; and the two were about to hasten away +for the purpose of procuring aid, when a third person suddenly +appeared, and commanded them both to halt. Notwithstanding the +twilight, and although his dress and arms showed him to be an +outlaw, Wamba recognised him to be Locksley, the yeoman, a man who +had carried off the prize for archery at the tournament a day or +two before. + +"What is the meaning of all this," he said; "or who is it that +rifle and ransom and make prisoners in these forests?" + +The yeoman then left, bidding Gurth and Wamba, on the peril of +their lives, not to stir until he returned. + +He was not long away, and on returning said that he had found out +who the attacking party were and whither they were bound. + +"Cedric the Saxon," he said, "the friend of the rights of +Englishmen, shall not want English hands to help him in this +extremity. Come, then, with me, until I gather more aid." + +So saying, he walked through the wood at a great pace, followed by +the jester and the swineherd. + +It was after three hours' good walking that the servants of +Cedric, with their mysterious guide, arrived at a small opening in +the forest. Beneath an enormous oak-tree several yeomen lay +stretched on the ground, while another, as sentinel, walked to and +fro in the moonlight shade. Locksley, on being recognised, was +welcomed with every token of respect and attachment; and he at +once gave orders to collect what force they could. + +"A set of gallants," he said, "who have been masquerading in such +guise as our own, are carrying a band of prisoners to Torquilstone, +the castle of Front-de-Boeuf. Our honour is concerned to punish +them, and we will find means to do so." + +In the meantime Cedric and the other prisoners had been hurried +along by Bois-Guilbert and De Bracy, and safely lodged in the +strong and ancient castle of Reginald Front-de-Boeuf. Once within +the castle, the prisoners were separated. Cedric and Athelstane +were confined in one apartment, the Lady Rowena in another, while +the poor Jew was hastily thrust into a dungeon-vault, the floor of +which was deep beneath the level of the ground, and his daughter +Rebecca was locked into a cell in a distant and sequestered +turret. + +The dungeon occupied by Isaac of York was dark and damp. Chains +and shackles, which had been the portion of former captives, hung +rusted on the gloomy walls, and in the rings of one of those sets +of fetters there remained the mouldering bones of some unhappy +prisoner who had been left to perish there in other days. At one +end of this ghastly apartment was a large fire-grate, over the top +of which were stretched some transverse bars of iron, half +devoured with rust. + +For nearly three hours the wretched Jew remained sitting in a +corner of his dungeon, when steps were heard on the stair by which +it was approached. The bolts were withdrawn, the hinges creaked as +the wicket opened, and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, followed by two +Saracen slaves of the Templar, entered the prison. + +"Most cursed dog of an accursed race!" he said to Isaac, "see'st +thou these scales? In these shalt thou weigh me out a thousand +silver pounds." + +"Holy Abraham!" returned the Jew, "heard man ever such a demand? +Not within the walls of York, ransack my house and that of all my +tribe, wilt thou find the tithe of that huge sum of silver." + +"Prepare, then," said the Norman, "for a long and lingering +death." + +And he ordered the slave to make ready the fire. + +"See'st thou, Isaac," he said, "the range of bars above that +glowing charcoal? On that warm couch shalt thou lie, stripped of +thy clothes. One of these slaves shall maintain the fire beneath +thee, while another shall anoint thy wretched limbs with oil, lest +the roast should burn. Now, choose between such a scorching bed +and the payment of a thousand pounds of silver; for, by the head +of my father, thou hast no other option." + +"So may Abraham, Jacob, and all the fathers of our people assist +me," said Isaac; "I cannot make the choice, because I have not the +means of satisfying your exorbitant demand." + +"Seize him, and strip him, slaves!" said the knight, "and let the +fathers of his race assist him if they can." + +The assistants stepped forward, and laying hands on the +unfortunate man, waited the hardhearted baron's further signal. + +The unhappy Jew eyed their savage countenances and that of Front- +de-Boeuf, in hope of discovering some symptoms of relenting; and +as he looked again at the glowing furnace his resolution at length +gave way. + +"I will pay!" he said. "That is," he added, after a moment's +pause, "I will pay it with the help of my brethren. Let my +daughter Rebecca go forth to York, and she will bring the treasure +here." + +"Thy daughter!" said Front-de-Boeuf, as if surprised. "By heavens! +Isaac, I would I had known of this; I gave the black-browed girl +to be a handmaiden to Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, to do as it +might please him with her. My word is passed to my comrade in +arms; nor would I break it for ten Jews and Jewesses to boot." + +The yell which Isaac raised at this unfeeling communication made +the vault ring. + +"Robber and villain!" he exclaimed, "I will pay thee nothing--not +one silver penny will I pay thee--unless my daughter is delivered +to me in safety and honour. Do thy worst. Take my life if thou +wilt, and say the Jew, amidst his tortures, knew how to disappoint +the Christian." + +"Strip him, slaves! and chain him down upon the bars," said Front- +de-Boeuf. + +The Saracens, in obedience to this savage order, had already torn +from the feeble and struggling old man his upper garment, and were +proceeding totally to disrobe him, when the sound of a bugle, +twice winded without the castle, penetrated even to the recesses +of the dungeon; and immediately after, loud voices were heard +calling for Sir Reginald Front-de-Boeuf. Unwilling to be found +engaged in his hellish occupation, the savage baron gave the +slaves a signal to restore Isaac's garment, and hastily quitted +the dungeon with his attendants. + +During the time the unhappy Jew was undergoing his terrible ordeal +in the gloomy dungeon, his daughter Rebecca, in her lonely turret, +had been exposed to attentions no less unpleasant. + +On being left in the secluded cell, she found herself in the +presence of an old hag, who kept murmuring to herself a Saxon +rhyme, as if to beat time to the spindle at which she was engaged. +As soon as they were alone the old woman addressed the Jewess, +telling her that she was once as young and fair as herself, when +Front-de-Boeuf, the father of the man who now lorded it in the +castle, attacked the place and slew her father and his seven sons, +and she became the prey and scorn of the conqueror. + +"Is there no help? Are there no means of escape?" said Rebecca. +"Richly, richly would I requite thine aid." + +"Think not of it," said the hag, "from hence there is no escape +but through the gates of death; and it is late, late," she added +shaking her gray head, "ere these open to us. Fare thee well, +Jewess!--thou hast to do with them that have neither scruple nor +pity." And so saying she left the room, locking the door behind +her. + +Before long a step was heard on the stair, and the door of the +turret-chamber slowly opened, and Brian de Bois-Guilbert entered +the room. He commenced to address the Jewess with flattering +speeches, saying that he loved her, and that she must now be his. +But Rebecca rejected his proffered love with scorn, protesting +that she would proclaim his villainy from one end of Europe to the +other. "At least," she said, "those who tremble not at thy crime +will hold thee accursed for having so far dishonoured the cross +thou wearest as to follow a daughter of my people." + +"Thou art keen-witted, Jewess," replied the Templar, well aware of +the truth of what she spoke; "but loud must be thy voice of +complaint, if it is heard beyond the iron walls of this castle. +One thing only can save thee, Rebecca. Submit to thy fate, embrace +our religion, and thou shalt go forth in such state that many a +Norman lady shall envy thee thy lot." + +"Submit to my fate!" said Rebecca, "and, sacred Heaven! to what +fate? Embrace thy religion, and what religion can it be that +harbours such a villain? Craven knight! forsworn priest! I spit at +thee and I defy thee. The God of Abraham's promise hath opened an +escape to His daughter, even from this abyss of infamy!" + +As she spoke she threw open the latticed window, and in an instant +after stood on the very verge of the parapet outside, with not the +slightest screen between her and the tremendous depth below. +Unprepared for such a desperate effort, Bois-Guilbert had time +neither to intercept nor to stop her. As he offered to advance, +she exclaimed, "Remain where thou art, proud Templar, or at thy +choice advance! One foot nearer, and I plunge myself from the +precipice; my body shall be crushed out of the very form of +humanity upon the stones below ere it become the victim of thy +brutality!" + +The Templar hesitated, and a resolution which would have never +yielded to pity or distress gave way to his admiration for her +fortitude. "Come down," he said, "rash girl! I swear by earth, and +sea, and sky, I will offer thee no offence. Many a law, many a +commandment have I broken, but my word never." + +"Thus far," said Rebecca, "I will trust thee;" and she descended +from the verge of the battlement, but remained standing close by +one of the embrasures. "Here," she said, "I take my stand. If thou +shalt attempt to diminish by one step the distance now between us, +thou shalt see that the Jewish maiden will rather trust her soul +with God than her honour to the Templar." + +As she spoke, the bugle was heard to sound, announcing that the +presence of the knight was required in another part of the castle; +and as he instantly obeyed the summons, Rebecca found herself once +more alone. + +When the Templar reached the hall of the castle, he found De Bracy +there already. They were soon after joined by Front-de-Boeuf. + +"Let us see the cause of this cursed clamour," said Front-de- +Boeuf. "Here is a letter, and if I mistake not, it is in Saxon." + +The Templar took the paper from his hand and read it. It was a +demand to surrender the prisoners within one hour, failing which +the castle would be instantly besieged; and it was signed at the +end by Wamba and Gurth, by the Black Knight and Locksley. + +The answer which was returned from the castle to this missive +announced that the prisoners would not be given up; but that +permission would be given to a man of religion to come to receive +their dying confession, as it had been determined to execute them +before noon. + +When this reply was brought back to the party of the Black Knight, +a hurried consultation was held as to what they should do. There +being no churchman amongst them, and as no one else seemed willing +to undertake the risk of trusting himself within the castle, +Wamba, the jester, was selected for the office. He was soon +muffled in his religious disguise; and imitating the solemn and +stately deportment of a friar, he departed to execute his mission. + +As he approached the castle gate, he was at once admitted, and +shortly after was ushered into the apartment where Cedric and +Athelstane were confined; and the three were left alone. It was +not long before Cedric recognised the voice of his jester. The +faithful servant at once suggested that his master should change +garments with him, and so make his escape. But it required the +strong pressure of both Wamba and Athelstane before Cedric would +consent. At length he yielded, and the exchange of dress was +accomplished. He left the apartment saying that he would rescue +his friends, or return and die along with them. + +In a low-arched and dusky passage by which Cedric endeavoured to +work his way to the hall, he was met by Urfried, the old crone of +the tower. + +"Come this way, father," she said to him; "thou art a stranger, +and canst not leave the castle without a guide. Come hither, for I +would speak with thee." + +So saying, she proceeded to conduct the unwilling Cedric into a +small apartment, the door of which she heedfully secured. "Thou +art a Saxon, father," she said to him; "the sounds of my native +language are sweet to mine ears, though seldom heard for many +years." + +She then told him the story of her unhappy and degraded life, and +how she was once the daughter of the noble thane of Torquilstone. + +"Thou the daughter of Torquil Wolfganger!" said Cedric; "thou-- +thou, the daughter of my father's friend and companion in arms!" + +"Thy father's friend!" echoed Urfried; "then Cedric, called the +Saxon, stands before me. But why this religious dress?" + +"It matters not who I am," said Cedric; "proceed, unhappy woman, +unhappy Ulrica, I should say, for thou canst be none other, with +thy tale of horror and guilt. Wretched woman!" he exclaimed, as +she concluded her miserable history, "so thou hast lived, when all +believed thee murdered; hast lived to merit our hate and +execration; lived to unite thyself with the vile tyrant who slew +thy nearest and dearest!" + +"I hated him with all my soul," replied Ulrica; "I also have had +my hours of vengeance; I have fomented the quarrels of our foes; I +have seen their blood flow, and heard their dying groans; I have +seen my oppressor fall at his own board by the hand of his own +son. Yet here I dwelt, till age, premature age, has stamped its +ghastly features on my countenance, scorned and insulted where I +was once obeyed. Thou art the first I have seen for twenty years +by whom God was feared or man regarded; and dost thou bid me +despair?" + +"I bid thee repent," said Cedric; "but I cannot, I will not, +longer abide with thee." + +"Stay yet a moment!" said Ulrica. "Revenge henceforth shall +possess me wholly, and thou thyself shalt say that, whatever was +the life of Ulrica, her death well became the daughter of the +noble Torquil. Hasten to lead your forces to the attack, and when +thou shalt see a red flag wave from the eastern turret, press the +Normans hard; they will have enough to do within. Begone, I pray +thee; follow thine own fate, and leave me to mine." + +As she spoke she vanished through a private door, and Front-de- +Boeuf entered the apartment. + +"Thy penitents, father," he said, "have made a long shrift; but +come, follow me through this passage, that I may dismiss thee by +the postern." + +As Cedric was leaving the castle, the Norman gave him a note to +carry to Philip de Malvoisin, begging him to send assistance with +all the speed he could. He promised the friar a large reward for +doing the errand, and as they parted at the postern door he thrust +into Cedric's reluctant hand a piece of gold, adding, "Remember, I +will flay off thy cowl and skin if thou failest in thy purpose." + +When Front-de-Boeuf rejoined his friends and found out the trick +which had been played upon him, and that Cedric had escaped, his +rage was unbounded, and it was only on De Bracy interceding for +him that he consented to spare the life of the poor jester. + +Before long the inmates of the castle had other things to occupy +them. The enemy was announced to be under their very walls; and +each knight repaired hastily to his post, and at the head of the +few followers whom they were able to muster they awaited with calm +determination the threatened assault. + +When at length the attack upon the castle was commenced all was at +once bustle and clamour within its gloomy walls. The heavy step of +men-at-arms traversed the battlements, or resounded on the narrow +and winding passages and the stairs which led to the various +bartizans and points of defence. The voices of the knights were +heard animating their followers, or directing means of defence; +while their commands were often drowned in the clashing of armour +or the clamourous shouts of those whom they addressed. The shrill +bugle without was answered by a flourish of Norman trumpets from +the battlements, while the cries of both parties augmented the +fearful din. Showers of well-directed arrows came pouring against +each embrasure and opening in the parapets, as well as every +window where a defender might be suspected to be stationed; and +these were answered by a furious discharge of whizzing shafts and +missiles from the walls. + +And so for some time the fight went on; many combatants falling on +either side. But soon the conflict became even more desperate when +the Black Knight, at the head of a body of his followers, led an +attack upon the outer barrier of the barbican. Down came the piles +and palisades before their irresistible onslaught; but their +headlong rush through the broken barriers was met by Front-de- +Boeuf himself and a number of the defenders. + +The two leaders came face to face, and fought hand to hand on the +breach amid the roar of their followers who watched the progress +of the strife. Hot and fierce was the combat that ensued between +them; but ere many minutes had passed the giant form of Front-de- +Boeuf tottered like an oak under the steel of the woodman, and +dropped to the ground. + +His followers rushed forward to where he lay, and their united +force compelling the Black Knight to pause, they dragged their +wounded leader within the walls. + +An interval of quiet now succeeded, the besiegers remaining in +possession of the outer defences of the castle, and the besieged +retiring for the time within the walls of the fortress. + +During the confusion which reigned amongst the followers of Front- +de-Boeuf when the attack had commenced, Rebecca had been allowed +to take the place of the old crone, Ulrica, who was in close +attendance on the wounded man who had been brought into the castle +in company with Isaac of York and the other captives. The sufferer +was Ivanhoe himself, who had so mysteriously disappeared on the +conclusion of the tournament, when his father, Cedric, had sent +his servants to attend him to a place of safety. The gallant young +warrior, who, as he fell fainting to the ground, seemed to be +abandoned by all the world, had been transported from the lists at +the entreaty of Rebecca, to the house at Ashby then occupied by +Isaac of York, where his wounds were dressed and tended by the +Jewish maiden herself. So great was her skill and knowledge of +medicine, that she undertook to restore the injured knight to +health in eight days' time; but she informed him of the necessity +they were under of removing to York, and of her father's +resolution to transport him thither, and tend him in his own house +until his wound should be healed. It was on their journey to that +town that they were overtaken on the road by Cedric and his party, +in whose company they were afterwards carried captive to the +Castle of Torquilstone. + +But to return to the assault. When Front-de-Boeuf, deeply wounded, +was rescued by his followers from the fury of the Black Knight, he +was conveyed to his chamber. As he lay upon his bed, racked with +pain and mental agony, and filled with the fear of rapidly +approaching death, he heard a voice address him. + +"Think on thy sins," it said, "Reginald Front-de-Boeuf; on +rebellion, on rapine, on murder." + +"Who is there? What art thou?" he exclaimed in terror. "Depart, +and haunt my couch no more; let me die in peace." + +"In peace thou shalt NOT die," repeated the voice; "even in death +shalt thou think on the groans which this castle has echoed, on +the blood that is engrained in its floors." + +"Go, leave me, fiend!" replied the wounded Norman. "Leave me and +seek the Saxon witch, Ulrica, who was my temptress; let her, as +well as I, taste the tortures which anticipate hell." + +"She already tastes them," said Ulrica, stepping before the couch +of Front-de-Boeuf; "she hath long drunken of this cup, and its +bitterness is now sweetened to see that thou dost partake it." + +"Detestable fury!" exclaimed the Norman. "Ho! Giles, Clement, +Eustace, seize this witch, and hurl her from the battlements; she +has betrayed us to the Saxon." + +"Call on them again, valiant baron," said the hag, with a smile of +grisly mockery; "but know, mighty chief, thou shalt have neither +answer nor aid. Listen to these horrid sounds," for the din of the +recommenced assault and defence now rung fearfully loud from the +battlements of the castle; "in that war-cry is the downfall of thy +house. And know, too, even now, the doom which all thy power and +strength is unable to avoid, though it is prepared for thee by +this feeble hand. Markest thou the smouldering and suffocating +vapour which already eddies in sable folds through the chamber? +Rememberest thou the magazine of fuel that is stored beneath these +apartments?" + +"Woman!" exclaimed the wounded man with fury, "thou hast not set +fire to it? By heaven thou hast, and the castle is in flames!" + +"They are fast rising, at least," said Ulrica; "and a signal shall +soon wave to warn the besiegers to press hard upon those who would +extinguish them. Farewell, Front-de-Boeuf; farewell for ever." + +So saying, she left the apartment; and Front-de-Boeuf could hear +the crash of the ponderous key, as she locked and double-locked +the door behind her. + +Meanwhile, the Black Knight had led his forces again to the +attack; and so vigorous was their assault, that before long the +gate of the castle alone separated them from those within. At this +moment the besiegers caught sight of the red flag upon the tower +which Ulrica had described to Cedric; and, as she had bade them +do, the assailants at once redoubled their efforts to break in the +postern gate. + +The defenders, finding the castle to be on fire, now determined to +sell their lives as dearly as they could; and, headed by De Bracy, +they threw open the gate, and were at once involved in a terrific +conflict with those outside. The Black Knight, with portentous +strength, forced his way inward in despite of De Bracy and his +followers. Two of the foremost instantly fell, and the rest gave +way, notwithstanding all their leaders' efforts to stop them. The +Black Knight was soon engaged in desperate combat with the Norman +chief, and the vaulted roof of the hall rung with their furious +blows. At length De Bracy fell. + +"Yield thee, De Bracy," said the Black Champion, stooping over +him, and holding against the bars of his helmet the fatal poniard +with which the knights despatched their enemies. "Yield thee, +rescue or no rescue, or thou art but a dead man." + +"I will not yield," replied the Norman faintly, "to an unknown +conqueror. Tell me thy name, or work thy pleasure on me." + +The Black Knight whispered something into the ear of the +vanquished. + +"I yield me to be true prisoner, rescue or no rescue," then +answered De Bracy, in a tone of sullen submission. + +"Go to the barbican," said the victor in a tone of authority, "and +wait there my further orders." + +"Yet first let me say," said De Bracy, "what it imports thee to +know. Wilfred of Ivanhoe is wounded and a prisoner, and will +perish in the burning castle without present help." + +"Wilfred of Ivanhoe!" exclaimed the Black Knight--"prisoner, and +perish! The life of every man in the castle shall answer it if a +hair of his head be singed. Show me his chamber!" + +When the Black Knight reached the room, Ivanhoe was alone. +Rebecca, who had remained with him until a few moments before, had +just been carried off forcibly by Bois-Guilbert. Raising the +wounded man with ease, the Black Knight rushed with him to the +postern gate, and having there delivered his burden to the care of +two yeomen, he again entered the castle to assist in the rescue of +the other prisoners. + +One turret was now in bright flames, which flashed out furiously +from window and shot-hole. But in other parts the besiegers +pursued the defenders of the castle from chamber to chamber, and +satiated in their blood the vengeance which had long animated them +against the soldiers of the tyrant, Front-de Boeuf. Most of the +garrison resisted to the uttermost; few of them asked quarter, +none received it. + +As the fire commenced to spread rapidly through all parts of the +castle, Ulrica appeared on one of the turrets. Her long +dishevelled gray hair flew back from her uncovered head, while the +delight of gratified vengeance contended in her eyes with the fire +of insanity. Before long the towering flames had surmounted every +obstruction, and rose to the evening skies one huge and burning +beacon, seen far and wide through the adjacent country; tower +after tower crashed down, with blazing roof and rafter. The +vanquished, of whom very few remained, scattered and escaped into +the neighbouring wood. The maniac figure of Ulrica was for a long +time visible on the lofty stand she had chosen, tossing her arms +abroad with wild exultation. At length, with a terrific crash, the +whole turret gave way, and she perished in the flames which had +consumed her tyrant. + +When day dawned the outlaws and their rescued prisoners assembled +around the trysting-tree in the oak forest, beside the now ruined +castle. Two only of Front-de-Boeuf's captives were missing: +Athelstane and the Jewish maiden, the former being reported as +amongst the slain, and Rebecca having been carried off by Bois- +Guilbert before her friends could effect her rescue. + +When the outlaws had divided the spoils which they had taken from +the Castle of Torquilstone, Cedric prepared to take his departure. +He left the gallant band of foresters sorrowing deeply for his +lost friend, the Lord of Coningsburgh; and he and his followers +had scarce departed, when a procession moved slowly from under the +greenwood branches in the direction which he had taken, in the +centre of which was the car in which the body of Athelstane was +laid. + +When the funeral train had passed out of sight, Locksley addressed +the Black Knight, and asked him if he had any request to make, as +his reward for the gallantry he had displayed. + +"I accept the offer," said the knight; "and I ask permission to +dispose of Sir Maurice de Bracy at my own pleasure." + +"He is already thine," said Locksley, "and well for him!" + +"De Bracy," said the knight, "thou art free; depart. He whose +prisoner thou art scorns to take mean revenge for what is past. +But beware of the future, lest a worse thing befall thee. Maurice +de Bracy, I say, BEWARE!" De Bracy bowed low and in silence, threw +himself upon a horse, and galloped off through the wood. + +"Noble knight," then said Locksley, "I would fain beg your +acceptance of another gift. Here is a bugle, which an English +yeoman has once worn; I pray you to keep it as a memorial of your +gallant bearing. If ye should chance to be hard bestead in any +forest between Trent and Tees, wind three notes upon it, and ye +shall find helpers and rescue." + +"Gramercy for the gift, bold yeoman," said the knight; "and better +help than thine and thy rangers would I never seek, were it at my +utmost need." + +So saying, he mounted his strong war-horse, and rode off through +the forest. + +During all this time Isaac of York sat mournfully apart, grieving +for the loss of his dearly-loved daughter Rebecca. He was assured +that she was still alive, but that there was no hope of rescuing +her from the clutches of Bois-Guilbert, except by the payment of a +ransom of six hundred crowns. On consenting to pay this amount to +the Prior of Jorvaulx, who had just then joined the party in the +wood, the Jew was given a letter, written by the prior himself, +directed to Bois-Guilbert at the Preceptory of Templestowe, +whither the maiden had been carried off, commanding that Rebecca +should be set at liberty. And with this epistle the unhappy old +man set out to procure his daughter's liberation. + +Meanwhile there was brave feasting in the Castle of York to which +Prince John had invited those nobles, prelates, and leaders by +whose assistance he hoped to carry through his ambitious projects +upon his brother's throne. Deep was the prince's disappointment +when he learnt of the fall of Torquilstone, and the defeat of the +knights who failed to defend it, and on whose support he strongly +relied. The rumoured intelligence had scarcely reached him, when +De Bracy was ushered into his presence, his armour still bearing +the marks of the late fray, and covered with clay and dust from +crest to spur. + +"The Templar is fled," said De Bracy, in answer to the prince's +eager questions; "Front-de-Boeuf you will never see more; and," he +added in a low and emphatic tone, "Richard is in England; I have +seen him and spoken with him." + +Prince John turned pale, tottered, and caught at the back of an +oaken bench to support himself. + +On awakening from the stupor into which he had been thrown by the +unexpected intelligence, he determined to endeavour to seize his +brother, and hold him a prisoner. He appealed to De Bracy to +assist him in this project, and became at once deeply suspicious +of the knight's loyalty towards him when he declined to lift hand +against the man who had spared his own life. + +Driven almost to desperation, and with bitter complaints against +those who had promised to support him, John now treacherously +directed Waldemar Fitzurse, one of his most intimate attendants, +to depart at once, with a chosen band of followers, for the +purpose of overtaking King Richard, and, if possible, securing him +as a prisoner. + +In the meantime, Isaac of York, though suffering much from the +ill-treatment he had received at Torquilstone, made his way to the +Preceptory of Templestowe, for the purpose of negotiating his +daughter's redemption. Before reaching his destination he was told +that Lucas de Beaumanoir, the Grand Master of the Order of the +Templars, was then on visit to the preceptory. He had come, the +Jew was informed, for the purpose of correcting and punishing many +of the members of the body whose conduct had of late been open to +severe censure; and he was recognised, besides, as the most +tyrannical oppressor of the Jewish people. + +In spite of this ominous intelligence, Isaac pursued his way, and +on arriving at Templestowe was at once shown into the presence of +the Grand Master himself. With fear and trembling he produced the +letter of the Prior of Jorvaulx to Bois-Guilbert. Beaumanoir tore +open the seal and perused the letter in haste, with an expression +of surprise and horror. He had not until then been informed of the +presence of the Jewish maiden in the abode of the Templars, and +great was his fury and indignation on learning that she was +amongst them. He denounced Rebecca as a witch, by whose +enchantment Bois-Guilbert had been led to offend against the rules +of the Holy Order, and in tones of passion and scorn he refused to +listen to Isaac's protestations of her innocence. + +"Spurn this Jew from the gate," he said to one of his attendants, +"and shoot him dead if he oppose or turn again. With his daughter +we will deal as the Christian law and our own high office +warrant." + +Poor Isaac was hurried off accordingly, and expelled from the +preceptory, all his entreaties, and even his offers, unheard and +disregarded. He had hitherto feared for his daughter's honour; he +was now to tremble for her life. + +Orders were at once given by the Grand Master to prepare the great +hall of the preceptory for the trial of Rebecca as a sorceress; +and even the president of the establishment did not hesitate to +aid in procuring false evidence against the unfortunate Jewess, +for the purpose of ingratiating himself with Beaumanoir, from whom +he had kept secret the presence of Rebecca in the holy precincts. + +When the ponderous castle bell had tolled the point of noon, the +Jewess was led from her secluded chamber into the great hall in +which the Grand Master had for the time established his court of +justice. As she passed through the crowd of squires and yeomen, +who already filled the lower end of the vast apartment, a scrap of +paper was thrust into her hand, which she received almost +unconsciously, and continued to hold without examining its +contents. The assurance that she possessed some friend in this +awful assembly gave her courage to look around, and to mark into +whose presence she had been conducted. She gazed accordingly upon +a scene which might well have struck terror into a bolder heart +than hers. + +On an elevated seat at the upper end of the great hall, directly +before the accused, sat the Grand Master of the Temple, in full +and ample robes of flowing white, holding in his hand the mystic +staff, which bore the symbol of the Order. At his feet was placed +a table, occupied by two scribes, whose duty it was to record the +proceedings of the day. Their chairs were black and formed a +marked contrast to the warlike appearance of the knights who +attended the solemn gathering. The preceptors, of whom there were +four present, occupied seats behind their superiors; and behind +them stood the esquires of the Order, robed in white. + +The whole assembly wore an aspect of the most profound gravity-- +the reflection, as it were, of the sombre countenance of the +austere and relentless Grand Master. The lower part of the hall +was filled with guards and others whom curiosity had drawn +together to witness the important and impressive ceremony. + +The Grand Master himself, in a short speech, announced the charge +against the Jewess; and, on its conclusion, several witnesses were +called to prove the risks to which Bois-Guilbert exposed himself +in endeavouring to save Rebecca from the blazing castle; while +other witnesses testified to the apparent madness of the Templar +in bringing the Jewess to the preceptory. A poor Saxon peasant was +next dragged forward to the bar, who had been cured of a palsy by +the accused. Most unwilling was his testimony, and given with many +tears; but he admitted that two years since he had been unable to +stir from his bed until the remedies applied by Rebecca's +directions had in some degree restored the use of his limbs. With +a trembling hand he produced from his bosom a small box of +ointment, bearing some Hebrew characters upon the lid, which was, +with most of the audience, a sure proof that the devil had stood +apothecary. + +Witnesses skilled in medicine were then brought forward to prove +that they knew nothing of the materials of which the unguent was +compounded, and who suggested that it must have been manufactured +by means both unlawful and magical. Other witnesses came forward +to prove that Rebecca's cures were accomplished by means of +mutterings in an unknown tongue, and songs of a sweet, strange +sound, which made the ears of the hearer tingle and his heart +throb, adding that her garments were of a strange and mystic form, +and that she had rings impressed with cabalistic devices, all +which were, in those ignorant and superstitious times, easily +credited as proofs of guilt. + +On the conclusion of this weighty evidence the Grand Master in a +solemn tone demanded of Rebecca what she had to say against the +sentence of condemnation which he was about to pronounce. + +"To invoke your pity," said the lovely Jewess, with a voice +somewhat tremulous with emotion, "would, I am aware, be as useless +as I should hold it mean. To state that to relieve the sick and +wounded of another religion cannot be displeasing to God were also +unavailing; to plead that many things which these men (whom may +Heaven pardon!) have spoken against me are impossible would avail +me but little, since you believe in their possibility, and still +less would it advantage me to explain that the peculiarities of my +dress, language, and manners are those of my people. I am +friendless, defenceless, and the prisoner of my accuser there. He +is of your own faith; his lightest word would weigh down the most +solemn protestations of the distressed Jewess, and yet to himself, +yes, Brian de Bois-Guilbert, to thyself I appeal, whether these +accusations are not false?" + +There was a pause; all eyes turned to the Templar. He was silent. + +"Speak," she said, "if thou art a man; if thou art a Christian, +speak! I conjure thee, by the habit which thou dost wear, by the +name thou dost inherit, by the honour of thy mother, I conjure +thee to say, are these things true?" + +"Answer her, brother," said the Grand Master. + +"The scroll, the scroll!" was all that Bois-Guilbert uttered in +reply, looking to Rebecca. + +The Jewess instantly remembered the slip of paper which she +continued to hold in her hand, and, looking at it without being +observed, she read the words, _"Demand a champion!"_ + +"Rebecca," said the Grand Master, who believed the words of Bois- +Guilbert had reference to some other writing, "hast thou aught +else to say?" + +"There is yet one chance of life left to me," said the Jewess, +"even by your own fierce laws. I deny this charge; I maintain my +innocence. I challenge the privilege of trial by combat, and will +appear by my champion. There lies my gage." + +She took her embroidered glove from her hand and flung it down +before the Grand Master, with an air of mingled simplicity and +dignity which excited universal surprise and admiration. + +A short consultation then took place between Beaumanoir and the +preceptors, in which it was decided that Brian de Bois-Guilbert +was the fittest knight to do battle for the Holy Order. To him, +accordingly, the glove of Rebecca was handed; and the Jewess was +commanded to find a champion by the third day following. It was +further intimated to her that should she fail to do so, or if her +champion should be discomfited, she should die the death of a +sorceress, according to doom. + +Being granted permission to communicate with her father, she +hastily wrote a few lines in Hebrew to him, imploring him to seek +out Wilfred, the son of Cedric, and let him know that she was in +sore need of a champion. As it fortuned, the messenger who did her +errand had not far to go before he met Isaac of York. + +The poor old man, on learning his daughter's terrible condition, +was quite overcome; but, cheered in some measure by the kindly +words of a rabbi who was with him, he determined, weak and +feverish though he was, to make a last effort for the child he +loved so dearly. And having said farewell the two Jews parted, +Isaac to seek out Ivanhoe, and the rabbi to go to York to look for +other assistance. + +In the twilight of the day of her trial, if it could be called +such, a low knock was heard at the door of Rebecca's prison- +chamber; and shortly after Brian de Bois-Guilbert entered the +apartment. + +She drew back in terror at the sight of the man who had been the +cause of all her misfortunes; but he bade her not to be afraid. He +had come, he said, to tell her that he was prepared to refuse to +do battle for the Templars against her and sacrifice his name and +honour as a member of the Holy Order, and that he would leave the +preceptory, appear in three days in disguise, and himself be her +champion against any knight who should confront him, on one +condition: that she should accept him as a lover. + +Rebecca listened to his words, and then with scorn refused his +offer. + +"So be it then, proud damsel," said Bois-Guilbert; "thou hast +thyself decided thine own fate. I shall appear in the lists +against thy champion, and know that there lives not the knight who +may cope with me alone save Richard Coeur-de-Lion and his minion +Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe, as thou well knowest, is unable to bear his +corslet, and Richard is in a foreign prison. Farewell." And so +saying the Templar left the apartment. + +Pending this time, so full of terror and anxiety for poor Rebecca, +the Black Knight, having left the company of the generous outlaw, +held his way to a neighbouring religious house to which the +wounded Ivanhoe had been removed when the castle was taken. Here +he remained for the night; and the following day he set out for +Coningsburgh to attend the obsequies of the deceased Athelstane, +Wamba alone being his companion. + +They had ridden together for some distance when the quick eye of +the jester caught sight of some men in armour concealed in a brake +not far from where they were. + +Almost immediately after three arrows were discharged from the +suspected spot, one of which glanced off the visor of the Black +Knight. + +"Let us close with them," said the knight, and he rode straight to +the thicket. He was met by six or seven men-at-arms, who ran +against him with their lances at full career. Three of the weapons +struck against him, and splintered with as little effect as if +they had been driven against a tower of steel. + +The attacking party then drew their swords and assailed him on +every side. But many as they were to one they had met their +match; and a man reeled and fell at every blow delivered by the +Black Knight. His opponents, desperate as they were, now bore +back from his deadly blows, and it seemed as if the terror of his +single strength was about to gain the battle against such odds +when a knight in blue armour, who had kept himself behind the +other assailants, spurred forward with his lance, and taking aim, +not at the rider but at the steed, wounded the noble animal +mortally. + +"That was a felon stroke!" exclaimed the Black Knight, as the +horse fell to the earth bearing his rider along with him. + +At this moment Wamba winded the outlaw's bugle, which he had been +given to carry. The sudden sound made the murderers bear back once +more, and Wamba did not hesitate to rush in and assist his knight +to rise. + +"Shame on ye, false cowards!" exclaimed he in the blue harness; +"do ye fly from the empty blast of a horn blown by a jester?" + +Animated by his words, they attacked the Black Knight anew, whose +best refuge was now to place his back against an oak, and defend +himself with his sword. The felon knight, who had taken another +spear, watching the moment when his formidable antagonist was most +closely pressed, galloped against him in hopes to nail him with +his lance against the tree; but Wamba, springing forward in good +time, checked the fatal career of the Blue Knight, by hamstringing +his horse with a stroke of his sword; and horse and man went +heavily to the ground. Almost immediately after, a band of yeomen, +headed by Locksley, broke forth from the glade, who, joining +manfully in the fray, soon disposed of the ruffians, all of whom +lay on the spot dead, or mortally wounded. + +The visor of the Blue Knight, who still lay entangled under his +wounded steed, was now opened, and the features of Waldemar +Fitzurse were disclosed. + +"Stand back, my masters," said the Black Knight to those about +him; "I would speak with this man alone. And now, Waldemar +Fitzurse, say me the truth: confess who set thee on this +traitorous deed." + +"Richard," answered the fallen knight, "it was thy father's son." + +Richard's eyes sparkled with indignation, but his better nature +overcame it. "Take thy life unasked," he said; "but, on this +condition, that in three days thou shalt leave England, and that +thou wilt never mention the name of John of Anjou as connected +with thy felony." Then, turning to where the yeomen stood apart, +he said, "Let this knight have a steed, Locksley, and let him +depart unharmed. Thou bearest an English heart, and must needs +obey me. I am Richard of England!" + +At these words the yeomen kneeled down before him, tendering their +allegiance, while they implored pardon for their offences. + +"Rise, my friends," said Richard. "Your misdemeanours have been +atoned by the loyal services you rendered my distressed subjects +before the walls of Torquilstone, and the rescue you have this +day afforded your sovereign. Arise, my liegemen, and be good +subjects in future. And thou, brave Locksley--" + +"Call me no longer Locksley, my liege," said the outlaw; "I am +Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest." + +Before many more minutes had gone a sylvan repast was hastily +prepared beneath a huge oak-tree for the King of England. Amongst +those who partook of the forest hospitality of the outlaws were +Ivanhoe and Gurth, who just then came on the scene, the former now +all but cured of his wound, thanks to the healing balsam with +which he had been provided by Rebecca the Jewess. + +When the feast was concluded, the king, attended by Ivanhoe, +Wamba, and Gurth, proceeded on his way to Coningsburgh. As the +travellers approached the ancient Saxon fortress, they could see +the huge black banner floating from the top of the tower, which +announced that the obsequies of the late owner were still in the +act of being solemnized. All around the castle was a scene of busy +commotion, the whole countryside being gathered from far and near +to partake of the funeral banquet. Cooks and mendicants, +strolling soldiers from Palestine, pedlars, mechanics, wandering +palmers, hedge-priests, Saxon minstrels and Welsh bards, together +with jesters and jugglers, formed a motley and hungry gathering, +such as could only be seen on the occasion which now brought them +together; and through this riotous crowd Richard and his followers +with difficulty made their way. + +As they entered the apartment where Cedric sat, Ivanhoe muffled +his face in his mantle. Upon the entrance of Richard, the Saxon +arose gravely to bid him welcome. Having greeted him and his +friends with the mournful ceremony suited to the occasion, Cedric +led his knightly guest to another apartment, where he was about to +leave him, when the Black Knight took his hand. + +"I crave to remind you, noble thane," he said, "that when we last +parted you promised to grant me a boon." + +"It is granted ere named, noble knight," said Cedric, still +unaware that he was speaking to the king. + +"Know me, then, from henceforth," said the Black Knight, "as +Richard Plantagenet; the boon I crave is that thou wilt forgive +and receive to thy paternal affection this good knight here, +Wilfred of Ivanhoe." + +"And this is Wilfred!" said Cedric, pointing to his son. + +"My father! my father!" said Ivanhoe, prostrating himself at +Cedric's feet, "grant me thy forgiveness!" + +"Thou hast it, my son," said Cedric, raising him up. But he had +scarce uttered the words when the door flew open, and Athelstane, +arrayed in the garments of the grave, stood before them, pale, +haggard, and like something arisen from the dead. + +The effect of this apparition on the persons present was utterly +appalling. Cedric started back in amazement. Ivanhoe crossed +himself, repeating prayers in Saxon, Latin, and Norman-French, +while Richard alternately said "_Benedicite_" and swore, +"_Mort de ma vie!_" + +"In the name of God," said Cedric, starting back, "if thou art +mortal, speak! Living or dead, noble Athelstane, speak to Cedric!" + +"I will," said the spectre, "when I have collected breath. Alive, +saidst thou? I am as much alive as he can be who has fed on bread +and water for three days. I went down under the Templar's sword, +stunned, indeed, but unwounded, for the blade struck me flatlings, +being averted by the good mace with which I warded the blow. +Others, of both sides, were beaten down and slaughtered above me, +so that I never recovered my senses until I found myself in a +coffin--an open one, by good luck--placed before the altar in +church." + +Having concluded his story, still breathless with excitement, he +looked about him. He had caught a glimpse of Ivanhoe as he first +came into the apartment, but had lost sight of him owing to the +crowd of eager listeners by which the room was now thronged. +Filled with a spirit of generosity to his rival, he took the hand +of Rowena, who stood beside him, and was about to place it in that +of Ivanhoe, when it was found that Wilfred had vanished from the +room. + +It was at length discovered that a Jew had been to seek the +knight, and that, after a very brief conference, he had called for +Gurth and his armour, and had left the castle. King Richard was +also gone, and no one knew whither. + +Meanwhile, the tiltyard of the Preceptory of Templestowe was +prepared for the combat which should decide the life or death of +Rebecca. As the hour approached which was to determine the fate of +the unfortunate Jewess, a vast multitude had gathered to witness a +spectacle even in that age but seldom seen. + +At one end of the lists arose the throne of the Grand Master, +surrounded with seats for the preceptors and the knights of the +Order, over which floated the sacred standard of the Templars. + +At the opposite end was a pile of faggots, so arranged around a +stake, deeply fixed in the ground, as to leave a space for the +victim whom they were destined to consume. Close by stood four +black slaves, whose colour and African features, then so little +known in England, appalled the multitude, who gazed on them as +demons. + +Soon the slow and sullen sounds of the great church bell chilled +with awe the hearts of the assembled crowd; and before long the +Grand Master, preceded by a stately retinue, approached his +throne. Behind him came Brian de Bois-Guilbert, armed cap-a-pie in +bright armour, but looking ghastly pale. A long procession +followed, and next a guard of warders on foot, in sable livery, +amidst whom might be seen the pale form of the accused maiden. All +her ornaments had been removed, and a coarse white dress, of the +simplest form, had been substituted for her Oriental garments; yet +there was such an exquisite mixture of courage and resignation in +her look that even in this garb, and with no other ornament than +her long black tresses, each eye wept that looked upon her. + +The unfortunate Jewess was conducted to a black chair placed +near the pile; and soon after a loud and long flourish of trumpets +announced that the court were seated for judgment. + +There was a dead pause of many minutes. + +"No champion appears for the appellant," said the Grand Master. + +Another pause succeeded; and then the knights whispered to each +other that it was time to declare the pledge of Rebecca forfeited. +At this instant a knight, urging his horse to speed, appeared on +the plain advancing towards the lists. A hundred voices exclaimed, +"A champion! A champion!" and amidst a ringing cheer the knight +rode into the tilt-yard, although his horse appeared to reel from +fatigue. + +To the summons of the herald, who demanded his rank, his name, and +purpose, the stranger answered, raising his helmet as he spoke, "I +am Wilfred of Ivanhoe." + +"I will not fight with thee at present," said Bois-Guilbert. "Get +thy wounds healed." + +"Ha! proud Templar," said Ivanhoe, "hast thou forgotten that twice +didst thou fall before this lance? I will proclaim thee a coward +in every court in Europe unless thou do battle without farther +delay." + +"Dog of a Saxon!" said the Templar, "take thy lance, and prepare +for the death thou hast drawn upon thee!" + +At once each champion took his place, the trumpets sounded, and +the knights charged each other in full career. The wearied horse +of Ivanhoe, and its no less exhausted rider, went down, as all +had expected, before the well-aimed lance and vigorous steed of +the Templar. But although the spear of Ivanhoe did but touch the +shield of Bois-Guilbert, that champion, to the astonishment of all +who beheld it, reeled in his saddle, lost his stirrups, and fell +in the lists. + +Ivanhoe was soon on foot, hastening to mend his fortune with his +sword; but his antagonist arose not. Wilfred, placing his foot on +his breast, and the sword's point to his throat, commanded him to +yield him, or die on the spot. Bois-Guilbert returned no answer. + +"Slay him not, sir knight," cried the Grand Master. "We allow him +vanquished." + +He descended into the lists, and commanded them to unhelm the +conquered champion. His eyes were closed; the dark red flush was +still on his brow. As they looked on him in astonishment the eyes +opened, but they were fixed and glazed. The flush passed from his +brow, and gave way to the pallid hue of death. + +Unscathed by the lance of his enemy, he had died a victim to the +violence of his own contending passions. + +"This is indeed the judgment of God," said the Grand Master, +looking upwards; "Thy will be done!" + +Turning then to Wilfred of Ivanhoe, he said, "I pronounce the +maiden free and guiltless. The arms and the body of the deceased +knight are at the will of the victor." + +His further speech was interrupted by a clattering of horses' +feet, and the Black Knight, followed by a numerous band of men- +at-arms, galloped into the lists. + +At a glance he saw how matters stood. "Bohun," he said, addressing +one of his attendant knights, "do thine office." + +The officer stepped forward, and, laying his hand on the shoulder +of Albert de Malvoisin, said, "I arrest thee of high treason." + +"Who dares to arrest a Knight of the Temple in my presence?" said +the Grand Master; "and by whose authority is this bold outrage +offered?" + +"By my authority," said the king, raising his visor, "and by the +order of Richard Plantagenet who stands before you." + +While he spoke the royal standard of England was seen to float +over the towers of the preceptory instead of the Temple banner; +and before long the followers of the king were in complete +possession of the entire castle. + +Meanwhile Rebecca, giddy and almost senseless at the rapid change +of circumstances, was locked in the arms of her aged father; and +shortly after the two retreated hurriedly from the lists. + +Not many days passed before the nuptials of Wilfred and the fair +Rowena were celebrated in the noble minster of York, attended by +the king in person. + +On the second morning after this happy bridal Rebecca was shown +into the apartment of the Lady of Ivanhoe. She had come, she said, +to pay the debt of gratitude which she owed to Wilfred, and to ask +his wife to transmit to him her grateful farewell. She prayed that +God might bless their union, and, as she rose to leave, she +handed Rowena a casket filled with most precious jewels. "Accept +them, lady," she said; "to me they are valueless; I will never +wear jewels more. My father and I, we are going to a far country +where at least we shall dwell in liberty. He to whom I dedicate my +future life will be my Comforter if I do His will. Say this to thy +lord should he chance to inquire after the fate of her whose life +he saved." She then hastened to bid Rowena adieu, and glided from +the apartment. + +Wilfred lived long and happily with his bride, for they were +attached to each other by the bonds of early affection, and they +loved each other the more from the recollection of the obstacles +which had so long impeded their union. + + + + +GUY MANNERING + +Retold by Sir Edward Sullivan + + +The Castle of Ellangowan was an old and massive structure, +situated by the seashore in the southwestern part of Scotland. It +had been for many years the dwelling-place of a family named +Bertram, each of whom had in succession borne the title of the +Laird of Ellangowan. They had once been people of wealth and +importance in the neighbourhood; but through lack of prudence and +other misfortunes, they had, one after another, lost much of the +greatness and prosperity which had belonged to them in better +days. One of their number became at last so poor that he could no +longer maintain the old family residence; so he contented himself +with occupying a much smaller house which he had himself built, +from the windows of which he could still look out on the ancient +abode of his forefathers, as it dwindled year by year to the +condition of a neglected ruin. + +At the time that our story commences, one Godfrey Bertram was the +Laird of Ellangowan, and the owner of the now diminished estates. +He was a good-tempered, easy-going kind of man, and became, in +consequence, very popular with all the poorer people of the +district, and especially with the gipsies, a large number of whom +were at all times to be found in the neighbourhood. + +His wife had brought him a little money when he married; and he +and she continued to lead a quiet and not unhappy life in their +new home. Amongst Mr. Bertram's most intimate companions in his +retirement was one Abel Sampson, a tall and awkward-looking man, +with a harsh voice and huge feet, who was known to the people +around as "the dominie." He was a man who spoke but little, and +generally used very long words when he did; but he had a kindly +and good-natured heart. He was for a time the parish schoolmaster +at the village of Kippletringan, which was close to Ellangowan, +and was employed now and then as a kind of clerk by the laird. + +The village of Kippletringan was situated a little distance from +the sea; and although the neighbourhood was dignified by the +possession of a customhouse, the place was still the favourite +haunt of a large body of desperate and determined smugglers, who, +it was supposed, were assisted by many of the small shopkeepers of +the locality in disposing of the contraband goods which were +surreptitiously brought from foreign parts. + +One cloudy November evening, a young traveller, Guy Mannering by +name, just come from the University of Oxford, was making his way +with difficulty over the wild and lonely moorland which extended +for many miles on the outskirts of the village. He had lost the +road to Kippletringan, whither he was bound, but was lucky enough +to find a guide to conduct him there before he had gone completely +astray; and late at night he arrived at Godfrey Bertram's house, +where he was hospitably welcomed by the owner. Supper was got +ready, a good bottle of wine was opened, and the laird and the +dominic and Guy Mannering were enjoying themselves comfortably, +when the conversation was interrupted by the shrill voice of +someone coming upstairs. + +"It's Meg Merrilies, the gipsy, as sure as I'm a sinner," said Mr. +Bertram; and, as the door opened, a tall woman, full six feet +high, with weather-beaten features and hair as black as midnight, +stepped into the room. + +Her appearance was altogether of so strange a kind, that it made +Mannering start. After some conversation with the laird, the gipsy +woman informed him that she had come to tell the fortune of his +little son, who was born that night, and asked to be told the +exact hour of his birth. + +Now Guy Mannering himself, amongst other accomplishments, +possessed a knowledge of the stars; and on learning the time at +which young Bertram was born, he went outside to study the +heavens, with a view to foretelling what the future of the child +would be. + +The sky had become beautifully clear, for the rising wind had +swept away the clouds with which it had been previously overcast, +and the observer was enabled to note carefully the positions of +the principal planets, from which he made out that three periods +of the infant's life would be attended by great danger to him, +namely, his fifth, his tenth, and his twenty-first year. + +On the morning following, Mannering strolled out towards the old +castle, thinking to himself whether he should tell Mr. Bertram +what he had learned from the stars respecting his young son's +future life. The castle was merely a ruin at this time, and as he +wandered amidst the gloomy remnants of the ancient structure, his +attention was arrested by the voice of the gipsy whom he had seen +the night before. He soon found an opening in one of the walls +through which he could observe Meg Merrilies without himself being +seen. + +She was sitting on a broken stone, in a strange, wild dress, and +engaged in spinning a thread drawn from wool of three different +colours. She was at the same time half singing and half muttering +a kind of charm, which seemed to have reference to the child which +had been born the night before; and as she finished, Mannering +heard her murmur something about the thread of life being three +times broken and three times mended, and distinctly heard her +say: "He'll be a lucky lad an he win through wi't." [Footnote: "He +will be a lucky lad if he lives through it."] + +He was about to speak to the gipsy, when he heard a hoarse voice +calling to her in angry tones from outside, and in a moment after, +a man, who was apparently a sea-captain, came in to where Meg +Merrilies was seated. + +He was short in height, but prodigiously muscular, strong, and +thick-set, with a surly and savage scowl upon his unpleasant +features. He spoke with a foreign accent, and upbraided the gipsy +for keeping him waiting so long, ordering her, with a curse, to +come and bless his ship before it set out on its voyage. While +still addressing the gipsy, he caught sight of Guy Mannering, and +was about to draw a weapon against him, when she told him that he +was a friend of Mr. Bertram's. He then introduced himself to +Mannering, and said his name was Dirck Hatteraick, the captain of +the vessel that was lying off the shore. Mannering wished him +good-day shortly after, and as he saw him embarking in a small +boat, he was convinced, from his conversation and appearance, that +the captain was a smuggler. + +On returning to the new house at Ellangowan, Mannering learned +from Mr. Bertram that this Dirck Hatteraick was the terror of all +the excise and custom-house cruisers, with which he had had many a +fierce fight. + +Before Guy Mannering took his departure from Ellangowan, Mr. +Bertram asked him the result of his studying the stars on the +preceding night, and, in reply, was handed a paper by Mannering, +which he was told he should keep in a sealed envelope for five +whole years. + +When the visitor had gone, Mrs. Bertram, the mother of the baby +boy, was very anxious to read the paper, for she was a superstitious +lady; but after a struggle with her curiosity, she contented +herself with making a small velvet bag, into which she sewed +the paper, and the whole was then hung as a charm round the +neck of her young child. + +Time rolled on, and when little Harry Bertram grew to be four +years old, he was already a great favourite with Dominie Sampson, +who had acted as his tutor and was his constant companion. But +just about this time the Laird of Ellangowan was appointed one of +the magistrates of the county; and shortly after his appointment +he began, little by little, to become very unpopular with the +gipsies, with whom he had before been such a favourite. He thought +it his duty now to punish and exterminate all amongst them who +were poachers and trespassers, and caused even the poor beggars at +his door to be sent to the workhouse. + +One tribe of these gipsies, amongst whom Meg Merrilies was a kind +of queen, had lived for a long time unmolested in a few huts in a +glen upon the estate of Ellangowan, at a place called Derncleugh. +It was a miserable and squalid village, but for all that Mr. +Bertram was determined to evict them and all their poor +belongings. He was no doubt doing as the law directed him, but, as +far as concerned the inhabitants of Derncleugh, he was acting with +great harshness, for Meg Merrilies had all along shown a strong +affection for his boy, little Harry Bertram. + +The day of eviction came at length, and a large body of men under +the direction of Frank Kennedy, a custom-house officer, made their +way to the miserable village, and on the gipsies refusing to leave +peaceably, proceeded to unroof their cottages and pull down the +wretched doors and windows. There was no resistance, and when the +work was ended, the now homeless tribe gathered together the +remnants of their property, and set forth with sullen and +revengeful thoughts to look for a new settlement. + +Mr. Bertram had been some distance from home on the day of the +eviction; but on returning in the evening he met the troop of +gipsies. Some of the men muttered angry remarks as he passed them +on the road, but he thought it best to make no answer. Meg +Merrilies had, however, lagged behind the rest, and was standing +alone on a high bank above the road as the laird went by. Her +dress was even stranger than usual, and her black hair hung loose +about her, while her dark eyes flashed angrily. She had a light +sapling in her hand, and as the laird looked up to where she +stood, she said to him: + +"Ride your ways, Laird of Ellangowan! ride your ways, Godfrey +Bertram! This day have ye quenched seven smoking hearths--see if +your own fire burn the blither for that. Ye have riven the roof +off seven cottar houses--look if your own roof-tree stand the +faster. Ride your ways, Godfrey Bertram! what do ye glower after +our folk for? There's thirty hearts there that would have spent +their life-blood ere ye had scratched your finger. Yes, there's +thirty yonder, from the old wife of an hundred to the babe that +was born last week, that ye have turned out o' their houses, to +sleep with the black-cock in the moors! Ride your ways, Ellan- +gowan! Our bairns are hanging at our weary backs; look that your +braw cradle at home be the fairer spread up. Not that I am wishing +ill to little Harry, God forbid! So ride your way, for these are +the last words ye'll ever hear Meg Merrilies speak, and this is +the last twig that I'll ever cut in the bonny woods of Ellangowan." + +And having uttered this dark and threatening speech, she turned +contemptuously from him, to join her comrades in misfortune. + +Meanwhile, the smugglers under their captain, Dirck Hatteraick, +had been carrying on their lawless trade as usual, and the Laird +of Ellangowan was as determined to put them down as he had been to +get rid of the gipsies. He was actively assisted in his endeavours +against them by the same Frank Kennedy who had carried out the +eviction of Meg Merrilies and her companions, and the smugglers +had sworn to be revenged upon their enemy. + +On the day that young Harry Bertram was five years old, Dirck +Hatteraick's ship was in the bay outside the village of +Kippletringan. A sloop of war in the king's service was pursuing +it in order to seize the smuggled goods which were on board, when +Frank Kennedy, looking out, saw that Hatteraick was likely to +escape, as he had got his vessel round a headland called Warroch +Point, where it was concealed from the sloop, unless someone went +down to the Point and made a signal to the pursuers. + +He accordingly mounted his horse and galloped off. On his way he +happened to meet little Bertram, who was walking with the dominie, +and as he had often promised to give the child a ride, he took him +up on his nag, and rode off towards the Point. + +Shortly afterwards the discharges of several cannon were heard, +and after an interval a still louder explosion, as of a vessel +blown up. + +As evening came on, Mr. and Mrs. Bertram were expecting little +Harry to come home, and as he did not return, became very uneasy +about him. After waiting for him in anxiety for some time, the +news came in that Kennedy's horse had come back riderless to its +stable. + +All was now bustle at Ellangowan. The laird and his servants +rushed away to the wood of Warroch; but they searched long and in +vain for any trace of Kennedy or the boy. It was already growing +dark, when a shrill and piercing shout was heard from the sea- +shore under the wood, and on hurrying to the place, Mr. Bertram +was horrified to see the dead body of Frank Kennedy lying on the +beach, right under a high precipice of rocks. + +In his wild dismay and terror for his child, and remembering the +words of Meg Merrilies, the laird hurried away to Derncleugh, +hoping to get some news of him from any of the gipsies who might +still be lingering round the place. He wandered amongst the ruins +of the cottages, where he found no one, although he noticed the +remains of a fire in one of the huts. After a little, one of his +servants came running to him and told him to come home at once-- +that Mrs. Bertram was dying. Half stupefied, he went back; but +only to find that his wife was dead, that a little daughter had +been born to him, and that his boy was gone. + +The sheriff of the county arrived next morning and opened an +inquiry. The wood was again searched, with the result that traces +of a struggle were found near the top of the cliff, over the place +where Kennedy's body was found lying. Footprints of men and of a +small boy were seen here and there. Witnesses who were examined +said that they had seen the smuggler's ship grounding, and taking +fire, and finally blowing up with a great explosion; but no one +could say what had become of its crew. The gipsies were suspected, +and Meg Merrilies was arrested; but when questioned she denied +that she had been at the place. They found, however, a cut upon +her arm; and on removing the handkerchief with which she had it +bounda it was found to be marked with the name of Harry Bertram. + +No further evidence could be procured of her guilt, and she was at +length set free, under sentence of banishment from the county. + +For many years after this Mr. Bertram continued to live a solitary +and mournful life at Ellangowan. The poor dominie never ceased to +blame himself for the loss of the boy, as Harry was in his charge +on the day on which he had disappeared; but he still lived with +the laird as before, and was chiefly employed in teaching +Bertram's daughter, little Lucy, who was now growing up into a +gentle and bonny girl. + +The laird had been always a bad man of business, and after his +wife's death he got into the hands of a scheming and dishonest +attorney named Glossin, who in the end craftily succeeded in +making himself rich at the expense of his employer. + +The debts of the laird became at length so many that the property +at Ellangowan had to be mortgaged, and things ultimately went so +badly with the poor owner, that the men to whom he owed so much +money determined to insist on the estate being sold, together with +the house and all the furniture. + +It was rumoured, too, amongst the country-folk that Glossin was +the man, of all others, who was most eager to turn the Bertrams +out of their house, in order that he might buy the property +himself, and become the Laird of Ellangowan. + +Now the property in Ellangowan had been what is called "settled" +in such a way that it could not be sold if Mr. Bertram had a son +living. It was therefore likely to be disposed of very cheap, as +no one knew for certain that young Bertram was dead; while if he +should happen to be alive, there was still a chance of his coming +back and claiming the estates. + +When Glossin, the attorney, found that there was no more to be got +out of his client in the way of money, he commenced openly to show +the wickedness of his bad and cruel nature; and the very sight of +him became hateful to the unhappy Godfrey Bertram. + +So things went on until Lucy Bertram was seventeen years old, and +her father had become a weak and poor old man, and then Glossin +determined to play his last card. + +The estates of Ellangowan were advertised to be sold to the +highest bidder, and a day was fixed for the auction. + +Before describing how the sale took place, it will be necessary to +tell something of Guy Mannering, who, as will be remembered, had +left Ellangowan shortly after the day that young Harry Bertram was +born. + +He became a soldier; and having served for a long time in India, +was appointed colonel of his regiment. His wife and daughter were +with him there, and they had become very intimate with a young +officer in the same regiment, called Vanbeest Brown, who, it was +supposed, had came from Holland, where he had previously been +engaged in trade of some kind. Colonel Mannering, for some reason, +never cared for Brown, but chiefly because he had foolishly +listened to the dishonourable suggestions of a friend, who, for +reasons of his own, had secretly poisoned his mind against the +young officer. The dislike ripened after some time into an open +quarrel, followed by a duel between the colonel and his subaltern, +in which, after exchanging shots, Mannering believed he killed his +adversary. Mrs. Mannering died shortly after, and the colonel and +his daughter returned to England. + +Now it so happened that Colonel Mannering arrived at the village +of Kippletringan a day or two before the time at which the sale of +Ellangowan was to take place. He was much distressed at hearing +the pitiable account that was given to him of his old friend, +Godfrey Bertram; and the idea at once occurred to him that he +would buy the property himself, and by doing so help the laird. + +Accordingly, on the day of the auction, he made his way to +Ellangowan House, where he was told, on inquiry, that the old +laird was dangerously ill, and was to be found up at the ruined +castle in company with his daughter. Thither Colonel Mannering +went to look for him. He found old Mr. Bertram sitting in an easy- +chair on the slope beside the castle with his feet wrapped in +blankets, and beside him his daughter and the dominie, and a +handsome young man whom he did not recognise, but who, he +afterwards learned, was a gentleman called Charles Hazlewood, who +was deeply in love with Miss Bertram. + +Mannering was much affected when the old laird failed to remember +him, for he had not forgotten his hospitable kindness many years +before, on the night when little Harry was born. While he was +engaged in conversation with Miss Bertram and her companion, a +voice was heard close by, which Lucy at once recognised as that of +her father's enemy, Glossin, and she sent the dominie to keep him +away. The sound of the voice had, however, also reached the old +man's ears. He started up on hearing it, and turning towards +Glossin, he addressed him in tones of passion and indignation. + +"Out of my sight, ye viper," he said; "ye frozen viper that I +warmed till ye stung me! Are ye not afraid that the walls of my +father's dwelling should fall and crush ye, limb and bone? Were ye +not friendless, houseless, penniless, when I took ye by the hand; +and are ye not expelling me--me, and that innocent girl-- +friendless, houseless, and penniless, from the house that has +sheltered us and ours for a thousand years?" + +A few moments after, the carriage was announced, in which Lucy +Bertram and her father were to leave their home; but it was no +longer necessary. The old Laird of Ellangowan was so exhausted by +his last effort of indignant anger, that when he sunk upon his +chair, he expired almost without a struggle or a groan. + +The sale of the property was then postponed until after the +funeral; and Colonel Mannering, having done what he could for Miss +Bertram in her unhappy condition, left the neighbourhood with the +intention of returning in time for the adjourned sale, for the +purpose of buying the estate. + +The appointed hour for the auction at length arrived, but Colonel +Mannering had not come back. No one had even received a letter +from him; and in his absence, as there was no other bidder, the +infamous Glossin was declared to be the lawful purchaser, and a +new Laird of Ellangowan. + +At six o'clock that night a drunken post-boy reached the village +with a letter from the colonel, containing instructions to buy the +property. It had been delayed on its way, and was now no longer of +any use. + +Poor Lucy Bertram now found herself an orphan without house or +home; but the kindness of some neighbours named Mac-Morlan, to +some extent, assuaged the misery of her position. They insisted on +her coming to live with them and Mr. Mac-Morlan even offered the +dominie a clerkship in his establishment, where he might still be +near his lady pupil, to whom, in spite of his strange and awkward +ways, he was devotedly attached for her father's sake. + +When Colonel Mannering, after the death of Mr. Bertram, left +Ellangowan with the intention of coming back to buy the property, +he travelled some distance, and after a while came to a post-town +where he expected some letters. He received one letter, which +displeased him very much, from a great friend of his who was +living in the north of England, Mr. Mervyn by name, in whose care +he had left his daughter, Julia Mannering, when he was starting +for Kippletringan. This letter informed him that Miss Mannering +was being serenaded at night from the lake beside the house by +some unknown stranger, who had, however, disappeared before the +letter was written. + +On reading this intelligence the colonel hastened at once to Mr. +Mervyn's residence, having first sent off the instructions in +reference to the purchase of the Ellangowan estate which, as +already said, arrived too late. + +The lover who had been serenading Julia Mannering was in reality, +the same Vanbeest Brown whom she had known in India, and with whom +her father had fought the duel. Colonel Mannering had, however, no +idea that Brown was still alive, and the daughter was afraid to +tell her father that he was. Captain Brown, as he was now known, +was a handsome and gallant young fellow; and, having returned to +England with his regiment, and being still deeply devoted to Miss +Mannering, he had lost no time in making his way to where she was +staying in the house of Mr. Mervyn, her father's friend. + +When Mannering arrived at Mr. Mervyn's, he said very little about +the information which had been the cause of his return; but he +told his daughter that he had taken a place near Kippletringan, +called Woodbourne, where he meant to reside for some time. He also +told her that she would have a pleasant companion in Lucy Bertram, +the daughter of an old friend of his, who was going to stay with +them in his new house. + +Accordingly, as soon as Woodbourne was made ready to receive them, +the colonel and his daughter Julia took up their residence there, +and Lucy Bertram became their guest. Another inmate of the new +house was the dominie, for whom Colonel Mannering had a liking, +and who, he knew, could not bear to be parted altogether from Miss +Bertram, whose tutor he had been from her earliest days. When the +poor half-cracked dominie heard that he was to be employed as +Colonel Mannering's librarian, his joy knew no bounds; and on +seeing the large number of old books which were committed to his +charge he became almost crazy with delight, and shouted his +favourite word, "Pro-di-gi-ous!" till the roof rung to his +raptures. + +After a little time Lucy Bertram and Miss Mannering became fast +friends, but the latter was careful never to say anything to her +new companion about her lover, Captain Brown. + +Now, Brown, when he found that Julia Mannering had gone to +Woodbourne, determined to follow her, with the purpose of resuming +his addresses, and he accordingly set out on foot towards the +North. + +It was a fine clear frosty winter's day when he found himself in +the wilds of Cumberland on his way to his destination in Scotland. +He had walked for some distance, when he stopped at a small +public-house to procure refreshment. He here fell in with a farmer +named Dandie Dinmont, a big, rollicking fellow, with an honest +face and kindly ways, with whom he became friends in a very little +time. + +There was another person, however, in the inn on whom Brown could +not avoid repeatedly fixing his eyes--a tall, witch-like woman. It +was Meg Merrilies the gipsy; but time had grizzled her raven +locks, and added many wrinkles to her wild features. As he looked +at her, he could not help saying to himself: "Have I dreamed of +such a figure?" + +As he was asking himself the question, the gipsy suddenly made two +strides towards him and seized his hand, at the same time saying +to him: + +"In God's name, young man, tell me your name, and whence you +come!" + +"My name is Brown, mother, and I come from the East Indies," he +answered. + +On hearing his answer she dropped his hand with a sigh, and said: + +"It cannot be, then--it cannot be; but be what ye will, ye have a +face and a tongue that puts me in mind of old times." As Brown +took his departure on foot, the gipsy looked after him and +muttered to herself: "I maun [Footnote: I must.] see that lad +again." + +The traveller had gone a considerable distance across the lonely +moorland through which his road lay, when his little dog Wasp +began to bark furiously at something in front of them. Brown +quickened his pace, and soon caught sight of the subject of the +terrier's alarm. In a hollow, a little below him, was his late +companion Dandie Dinmont, engaged with two other men in a +desperate struggle. In a moment Brown, who was both strong and +active, came to the rescue; and, after a short fight, the two +would-be murderers of the farmer were flying for their own lives +across the heath, pursued by Wasp. Dinmont then took his friend +upon his pony, and they succeeded after some time in reaching +Charlie's Hope, the farmer's home, where they were welcomed by his +wife and a large troop of children. + +The next few days were spent salmon spearing, and hunting otters +on the hills in the neighbourhood. One of the huntsmen, of whom +there were a large number out, was a dark-featured man, resembling +a gipsy in his appearance; and Brown noticed that whenever he +approached him he endeavoured to hide his face. He could not +remember, however, having ever seen the man before; but he +learned, on asking about him, that he was a stranger in those +parts, who had come from the south-west of Scotland, and that his +name was Gabriel. Nothing further was known about him at Charlie's +Hope. + +Brown's visit to Dandie Dinmont was now at an end, and he again +took the road for Woodbourne, the residence of Julia Mannering. + +He had hired a chaise and horses, but had not gone far on the wild +road to Kippletringan when night came on and the snow fell +heavily; and shortly after, to make matters worse, the driver +missed the way. When the horses were unable to proceed any +further, Brown dismounted from the carriage in order to look for a +house where he could ask the way; and as he wandered through the +plantations which skirted the road, he saw a light in the distance +amongst the trees. After traversing a deep and dangerous glen, he +reached the house from which the light shone. It was an old and +ruinous building. Before approaching the door, he peeped in +through an aperture in the ruined wall, and saw in the room inside +the figure of a man, stretched on a straw bed, with a blanket +thrown over it. He could see that the man was dying. A woman clad +in a long cloak was sitting by the bedside, and moistening at +times the lips of the man with some liquid. She was singing a low +monotonous strain. + +She paused in her singing, and Brown heard a few deep groans come +from the dying man. + +"It will not be," she muttered to herself. "He cannot pass away +with that on his mind; I must open the door." + +Brown stood before her as she opened the door, and he at once +recognised the same gipsy woman whom he had met in the inn a few +days before. He noticed, too, that there was a roll of linen about +the dying man's head, which was deeply stained with blood. + +"Wretched woman, who has done this?" exclaimed Brown. + +And the gipsy answered: "They that were permitted;" and she added +after a few moments, "He's dead now." + +Sounds of voices at a distance were now heard. "They are coming," +said she to Brown; "you are a dead man." He was about to rush out, +when the gipsy seized him with a strong grasp. "Here," she said, +"here, be still, and you are safe; stir not, whatever you see or +hear, and nothing shall befall you!" + +She made him lie down among a parcel of straw, and covered him +carefully; and then resumed her song. + +Brown, though a soldier and a brave one, was terrified as he lay +in his hiding-place. Peeping out through the straw, he saw five +rough-looking men come in who seemed to be gipsies and sailors. +They closed round the fire and commenced to drink, holding +consultation together in a strange gibberish which he could not +altogether understand. Whenever the gipsy woman addressed them, +she spoke angrily to them; and more than once she called them +murderers; they, however, did not seem to mind her. + +They continued drinking and talking for a considerable time, but +all that Brown could make out was that there was someone whom they +were going to murder. They also referred to a murder committed +some twenty years before, in which their dead companion had had a +hand. + +After some time spent in this way, one of the party went out and +brought in a portmanteau, which Brown at once recognised as the +one he had left in the chaise. They ripped it open, and after +examining the contents, which included all the owner's ready +money, with the exception of a trifling sum in his pocket, they +divided the whole amongst them. Then they drank more; and it was +not until morning that they left the building. When they left, +they carried the dead body with them. + +No sooner were they well outside, than Meg Merrilies got up from +where she had been pretending to be asleep, and told Brown to +follow her instantly. Brown obeyed with alacrity, feeling that he +was already out of reach of danger when the villains had gone out; +but before leaving he took up a cutlass belonging to one of the +five, and brought it with him in the belief that he might yet have +to fight with them for his life. The snow lay on the ground as he +and the gipsy came out, and as he followed her he noticed that she +chose the track the men had taken, so that her footprints might +not be seen. + +After a while, however, she turned from the track, and led the way +up a steep and rugged path under the snow-laden trees, and on +reaching a place some distance farther on, she pointed out the +direction of Kippletringan, and told her companion to make what +speed he could. Brown was entirely at a loss to make out the +reason the gipsy had for taking such an interest in preserving his +life from her comrades; and was even more puzzled by her conduct +when she took an old purse from her pocket before parting, and +gave it to him. + +She said as she handed it to him: "Many's the alms your house has +given Meg and hers." And Brown, as he thanked her for her +kindness, asked her how he could repay the money she had given +him. + +"I have two boons to crave," answered the gipsy, speaking low and +hastily: "one is that you will never speak of what you have seen +this night; the other, that when I next call for you, be it in +church or market, at wedding or at burial, meal-time or fasting, +that ye leave everything else and come with me." + +"That will do you little good, mother," answered Brown. + +"But 'twill do yourself much good," replied Meg Merrilies. "I know +what I am asking, and I know it has been the will of God to +preserve you in strange dangers, and that I shall be the means to +set you in your father's seat again. So give your promise, and +mind that you owe your life to me this blessed night." + +When Brown had promised, she parted from him, and was soon out of +sight. + +The young soldier could come to no other conclusion but that the +woman was mad; and having in this way solved the mystery to his +own satisfaction, he strode quickly on through the wood in search +of the highroad to Kippletringan. + +He reached the village at length, and engaged a room at the Gordon +Arms, a comfortable inn kept by a Mrs. Mac-Candlish. On opening +the purse which the gipsy had given him, he was astonished to find +that it contained money and jewels worth about a hundred pounds. +He accordingly entrusted it to the landlady of the inn for safe +keeping. + +The day after his arrival at the village of Kippletringan, he +determined to see Miss Mannering; and learning that she was +likely to be found with a party of skaters on a lake in the +neighbourhood, he proceeded in that direction. + +The skating party, of whom Julia Mannering was one, consisted of +herself and Lucy Bertram, and young Charles Hazlewood, who, as +before mentioned, was Miss Bertram's lover. Having spent some time +upon the ice, they were returning to Woodbourne through the +plantation. Hazlewood, who had a gun with him, had offered his arm +to Miss Mannering, who was tired after skating, as they walked +towards home. When they had proceeded some little distance in this +way, Brown happened to meet them. He was wearing the rough suit in +which he had spent the night in the gipsy's house, having been +unable to procure a change on account of his portmanteau having +been stolen. + +Julia Mannering, who had had no intimation that her old lover was +in the district, uttered a scream when she suddenly saw him +standing before her; and Hazlewood, fancying from the rough +appearance of the stranger that he was either a gipsy or a tramp, +pointed his gun towards him, and ordered him to keep off. + +Brown, in a fit of jealousy, and fearing that the gun might go +off, rushed upon Hazlewood and seized the fowling-piece. But in +the struggle which ensued between them it was discharged by +accident, and young Hazlewood fell to the ground, wounded in the +shoulder. + +Brown, when he saw what had occurred, became frightened at the +thought of the dangers of his position. He bounded over a hedge +which divided the footpath from the plantation, and was not heard +of again for a considerable time. + +On the news of Hazlewood's being wounded getting abroad, the +neighbourhood was thrown into a ferment of indignation. All the +circumstances of the occurrence were exaggerated. It was +universally believed that the attacking party was a smuggler or a +gipsy, and that he had attempted in broad daylight to murder the +young man. It was stated that the assailant had been seen earlier +in the day wearing a smuggler's cutlass; and the purse which had +been left at the inn was opened and found to contain property +which had been previously stolen. Charles Hazlewood himself, +however, continued to protest that the wounding was accidental; +while the only person who could give any real account of the +mysterious stranger, namely Julia Mannering, for reasons best +known to herself, never pretended that she had any idea who he +was. + +Amongst those who were most active in their endeavours to capture +the missing Brown was Glossin, the new Laird of Ellangowan. It was +plain, too, that he had some other motive for apprehending him +than merely the desire to do his duty as a magistrate of the +county, which he had now become. + +On returning to his house one day, he was informed that Mac- +Guffog, the thief-taker, had made a prisoner, and that he was +waiting with him in the kitchen. When the prisoner was introduced +to the magistrate's room, Glossin at once recognised that it was +Dirck Hatteraick, the smuggler captain. + +In the interview which took place between them, no one else being +present, it transpired that Glossin had been a kind of partner +with the smuggler at the time of Kennedy's murder and the +disappearance of young Harry Bertram. Dirck Hatteraick told him, +too, very plainly, that if he was to be condemned he would let the +secret out and ruin Glossin. Glossin, who was much terrified at +the thought of being discovered, then arranged, like a villain +that he was, to imprison Hatteraick for that night in a room in +the old castle of Ellangowan, and at the same time give him a +small file with which he might rid himself of his handcuffs and +escape. During the interview between them, Hatteraick also told +the attorney that young Bertram was still alive, and at +Kippletringan. Glossin's situation was therefore perilous in the +extreme, for the schemes of a life of villainy seemed at once to +be crumbling around and about him. + +Hatteraick was accordingly then sent to his place of confinement +in the old castle. + +At midnight Glossin looked out from his bedroom towards the +castle, and after watching for some time in an agony of guilty +suspense, he saw the dark form of a man, whom he knew to be +Hatteraick, drop from the prison window and make his way to the +beach, where he succeeded in shoving out a boat which was lying +there. In a few minutes after, he had hoisted the sail, and soon +disappeared round the Point of Warroch. + +Great was the alarm and confusion the next morning when it was +discovered that the smuggler had escaped from prison. Constables +were sent out in every direction to search for him, and Glossin +took care to send them to places where they would be least likely +to find him. + +In the meantime he himself made his way to a cave by the seashore +near the Point of Warroch, where he had arranged with Hatteraick +to meet him the day after his escape. + +Glossin had never been near this spot since the day on which the +unfortunate Kennedy was murdered; and the terrible scene came back +to his mind with all its accompaniments of horror as he stealthily +approached the cavern. When he reached it and went in, he found +Hatteraick in the dark and shivering with cold. + +During the conversation that ensued between them he learned from +the smuggler what had become of young Bertram after Kennedy's +murder. He had been taken to Holland, Hatteraick said, and left +with an old merchant named Vanbeest Brown, who took a fancy to the +boy and called him by his own name. He had afterwards been sent to +India; but the smuggler knew nothing of him from the time he went +there. Bertram had, however, been seen, he said, a few days +before, among the hills by a gipsy named Gabriel. + +Glossin then discovered for the first time that it was young +Bertram, in reality, who had wounded Hazlewood. In his terror at +the thought of losing his property at Ellangowan if it came to be +known that Harry Bertram was alive, yet at all times fertile in +every kind of villainous device, Glossin now hit upon a new plan +to get rid of the man who stood between him and his peace of mind. +By making large promises to Hatteraick he induced the smuggler to +agree to come by night, with a large body of his men, to the +prison where Bertram would be confined for his attack on +Hazlewood, and to break open the doors and carry him off. He said +he would have the soldiers withdrawn on some pretence or other, so +as to make the rescue more certain; and having completed the +details of this desperate and lawless piece of villainy, he went +back to Ellangowan. + +But it is time to return to Brown, who was now a fugitive from +justice in consequence of the unlucky accident of which his +rashness had been the cause. He determined to make his way to +England, and to wait there until he received letters from friends +in his regiment establishing his identity, in possession of which +he could again show himself at Kippletringan, and offer to young +Hazlewood any explanation or satisfaction he might require. He +accordingly took ship for Cumberland. He chanced on board to meet +a man whose daughter was at the time in Colonel Mannering's +service at Woodbourne and by his means contrived to get a letter +delivered to Miss Mannering, in which he begged of her to forgive +him for his rash conduct towards Hazlewood. Having landed on the +English coast, he wrote to the colonel of his regiment for such +testimony of his rank in the army as should place his character as +a gentleman and an officer beyond question; and, as he was now +reduced to great straits for want of funds, he wrote to his sturdy +farmer friend, Dandie Dinmont, for the loan of a little money. + +After a delay of some days, he received a short letter from Miss +Mannering, in which she upbraided him for his thoughtless conduct, +and bade him good-bye, telling him on no account to come back to +Woodbourne. + +On reading it over, he came somehow to the conclusion that Miss +Mannering meant the opposite of all she had written, and in this +belief he set sail at once for Kippletringan. + +After a rough and dangerous voyage by night, he found himself in +the morning off the Scottish coast. The weather had now cleared. A +woody cape, that stretched into the sea, lay some little distance +from the vessel; and, in answer to Brown's inquiries, the boatman +told him that it was Warroch Point. Close beside it was the old +castle of Ellangowan; and Brown felt a strange longing, as he +looked at it, to be put ashore for the purpose of examining it +more closely. The boatman readily acceded to his wishes, and +landed him on the beach beneath the ruins. + +And thus, in complete ignorance of his own real identity, +surrounded by dangers, and without the assistance of a friend +within the circle of several hundred miles, accused of a heavy +crime, and almost penniless, did the weary wanderer, for the first +time after an interval of many eventful years, approach the +remains of the castle where his ancestors had once dwelt in lordly +splendour. + +It will have dawned upon the reader before now that the young +soldier known to him as Brown was in reality no other than the +Harry Bertram who had disappeared on the day when Kennedy was +murdered. The name of Brown will consequently be dropped during +the remainder of the story, and our hero will be called by his +proper appellation--Bertram. + +After wandering for some time through the ruined apartments of the +castle, he stepped outside, and happened by chance to stand on the +very spot where his father--the old Laird of Ellangowan--had +died. + +Glossin at that moment chanced to be engaged close by with a +surveyor, in reference to some building plans connected with an +intended addition to his house; and he was just saying to his +companion that the whole ruin should be pulled down, when Bertram +met him, and said: + +"Would you destroy this fine old castle, sir?" + +His face, person, and voice were so exactly like those of his +father when alive, that Glossin almost believed that the grave had +given up its dead. + +But after a time he recovered his self-possession, and then set +himself to discover if Bertram, whom he recognised, had any +knowledge of his own identity. He was much terrified when he heard +him repeat some lines of an old song, which he said he had learnt +in his childhood: + + "The dark shall be light, + And the wrong made right, + When Bertram's right and Bertram's might + Shall meet on ...;" + + +but, although he could not recall the end of the last line, +Glossin thought he knew already a good deal too much about it. + +A few of Glossin's men were now seen approaching up the slope, +whereupon he immediately assumed a different attitude and tone +towards Bertram. + +"I believe your name is Brown, sir?" said Glossin. + +"And what of that, sir?" replied Bertram. + +"Why in that case," said Glossin, "you are my prisoner in the +king's name." + +After a slight resistance the prisoner was secured, and shortly +after was brought before Sir Robert Hazlewood, one of the county +magistrates, and accused of maliciously wounding Charles +Hazlewood, his son. + +In reply to the questions put to him, the prisoner said that he +was a captain in a regiment of horse in his Majesty's service, and +in a frank, manly way described how the wounding of Charles +Hazlewood was merely an accident, for which he expressed a sincere +sorrow. When required to give some proof of his rank in the army, +he stated that his luggage had been stolen. When asked to say +where he had spent the night on which it was taken, his promise +to Meg Merrilies came to his mind, and he replied that he must +refuse to answer the question. He was then pressed to account for +his having worn a smuggler's cutlass; but he also declined to +explain that matter. And his answers were equally unsatisfactory +when questioned on the subject of the purse which the gipsy had +given him. + +Having failed to give any explanation of so many suspicious +circumstances, the warrant for his committal to gaol was made out, +although he stated that Colonel Mannering, whom he had known in +India, could, if sent for, give evidence of his character and +rank. + +The colonel was, however, away from home at the time, and the +friendless and unfortunate Bertram was removed to prison, pending +Mannering's return. + +"And now," said Glossin to himself, "to find Dirck Hatteraick and +his people--to get the guard sent off--and then for the grand cast +of the dice." And so saying he hastened away to complete with the +smuggler captain the villainous plan on which they had previously +agreed. + +The prison in which Bertram now found himself was a building which +adjoined the custom-house, and both were close beside the sea. +Mac-Guffog, who has been already mentioned, was at the time the +keeper; and a gruff and surly custodian he was, too. Bertram, +however, succeeded in procuring from him the luxury of a separate +room by promising the keeper a large sum of money. He was +accordingly ushered into a small ill-furnished apartment, through +the barred windows of which he could get a glimpse of the sea +which was dashing sullenly against the outer walls. + +As he was reflecting on his miserable situation, his attention was +attracted by a loud knocking at the gate of the gaol; and shortly +after his little dog Wasp, which he had left in the care of Dandie +Dinmont, and Dinmont himself were shown into his room. + +Bertram was delighted to have his old friend with him, and in +answer to his eager inquiries as to how he came to be in prison, +told him about the accident to young Hazlewood, and that he had +been mistaken for a smuggler. + +Dinmont, on his part, then related how he had come to know of +Bertram's being locked up. Gabriel, the huntsman on the moors, he +said, had informed him in a mysterious way that Bertram was in +gaol, and that he was badly in need of a good friend to stay with +him night and day for a day or two. Dinmont added that he had +ridden sixty miles that day to come to his assistance. + +They were interrupted in their conversation by Mac-Guffog, who +told them that it was time for the visitor to leave; but by means +of further promises he was induced to allow Dinmont to spend the +night in the same room with his friend; and in no longtime after +the two occupants of the wretched apartment were fast asleep. + +Colonel Mannering, who had been from home for some days, returned +to Woodbourne the night of the day on which Bertram had been sent +to prison. The morning after his arrival, the dominie, who even +after so many years continued to blame himself for the loss of +little Harry, made his way, in a spirit of curiosity, to Warroch +Point, a place he had never approached since the child had +disappeared. As he wandered home again, filled with gloomy +recollections of the day of Kennedy's murder, his steps bore him +to the neighbourhood of Derncleugh, with its ruined remains of the +old gipsy village. The place had for many years had the reputation +of being haunted; more especially the tower, or Kaim, of +Derncleugh. As he was passing by it, the door suddenly opened, and +Meg Merrilies stepped out and stood before him. The dominie, +believing she was some sorceress, addressed her in Latin, but the +gipsy queen angrily interrupted him. + +"Listen, ye fool, to what I tell ye," she said, "or ye'll rue it +while there's a limb o' ye hangs together. Tell Colonel Mannering +that I know he's seeking me. He knows, and I know, that the blood +will be wiped out, and the lost will be found-- + + And Bertram's right, and Bertram's might, + Shall meet on Ellangowan height. + + +Give him this letter, don't fail, and tell him the time's coming +now. Bid him to look at the stars as he looked at them before, and +to do what I desire him in the letter." + +She then led the frightened dominie by a short cut through the +woods for about a quarter of a mile, and on reaching the common +told him to stand still. + +"Look," she said, "how the setting sun breaks through the cloud +that's been darkening the sky all day. See the stream o' light +that falls on the old tower of Ellangowan; that's not for nothing. +Here I stood," she went on, stretching out her long sinewy arm +and clenched hand--"here I stood when I told the last Laird of +Ellangowan what was coming on his house, and did that fall to the +ground? And here I stand again to bid God prosper the just heir of +Ellangowan that will soon be brought to his own. I'll no live to +see it, maybe; but there will be many a blithe eye see it though +mine be closed. And now, Abel Sampson, as ever ye loved the house +of Ellangowan, away with my message to the English colonel as if +life and death were upon your haste." + +So saying, she turned suddenly from the amazed dominie, who +hurried back to Woodbourne, exclaiming as he went, "Prodigious! +prodigious! pro-di-gi-ous!" + +The kindly interest of Meg Merrilies in the fate of Bertram did +not, however, end here. + +Shortly after quitting the dominie she met young Hazlewood on the +road, and told him, in a mysterious way, that the guard of +soldiers had been drawn off from the custom-house, and brought to +his father's house, in the expectation of an attack being made +upon it that night. + +"Nobody means to touch his house," she added; "so send the +horsemen back to their post quietly. They will have work to-night; +the guns will flash and the swords will glitter in the moonlight." + +She then asked him if he bore any malice to the man that wounded +him, and on Hazlewood assuring her that he had always thought it +was an accident, she said: "Then do what I bid ye, for if he was +left to his ill wishers he would be a bloody corpse ere +morn." And she then disappeared into the wood. + +Charles Hazlewood, who now felt certain some diabolical plot was +on foot for the murder of the man who had accidentally wounded +him, rode back at once to his father's house. + +He found the place occupied with dragoons, and instantly +endeavoured to persuade his father to send them back to the +custom-house. + +Glossin had, however, impressed the old man with a fixed idea of +the impending danger to his house, and he refused to allow the +soldiers to go. While his son was still arguing with him, the +sheriff of the country came in hurriedly, and told him that he had +had information that the removal of the troops from the custom- +house was only part of a plan, and that they should at once +return. Orders were accordingly given without delay, and the +dragoons were shortly after on their way again to the place from +which they came. + +But we must return to Bertram and his companion in their +unpleasant abode, in the prison. + +Towards midnight Bertram woke after his first sleep. The air of +the small apartment had become close and confined, and he got up +for the purpose, if possible, of opening the window. His failure +to open it reminded him painfully that he was now a prisoner. He +was no longer inclined to sleep, so he continued for some time to +gaze out on the troubled sea, as it rolled under the indistinct +light of a hazy and often overclouded moon. As he looked he +fancied he saw in the distance a boat being rowed towards the +shore; and before long he found that he had not been mistaken. +The boat, which was a large one, drew nearer and nearer, and as it +reached the land some twenty men jumped on shore, and disappeared +up a dark passage which divided the prison from the custom-house. +Almost immediately after, Bertram could hear a tumult in the outer +yard of the bridewell, and, being unable to guess what its meaning +was, he awoke Dinmont. + +The smell of fire now commenced to reach the room, and, on Dinmont +looking out of the window, he exclaimed: "Lord's sake, captain! +come here; they have broken in the custom-house!" + +Looking from the prison window they could see the gang of +smugglers hurrying here and there, some with lighted torches, +others carrying barrels towards the shore. It was plain, too, from +the thick clouds of smoke that rolled past the window that the +prison was itself on fire. + +Dinmont roared loudly for Mac-Guffog to let them out, but all was +silent in the gaol. Outside, the shouts of the smugglers and the +mob resounded far and wide, and it seemed as if the keeper had +himself escaped, and left his prisoners to perish in the flames. + +But now a new and fierce attack was heard at the outer gate. It +was soon forced in with sledgehammers and crows, and, before long, +some three or four of the principal smugglers hurried to the +apartment of Bertram with lighted torches, and armed with +cutlasses and pistols. Two of them seized on Bertram, but one of +them whispered in his ear, "Make no resistance till you are +outside." They dragged him roughly to the gate, but amid the riot +and confusion which prevailed, the sound as of a body of horse +advancing was heard. A few moments after, the dragoons were +engaged with the rioters. Shots were fired, and the glittering +broadswords of the soldiers began to flash in the air. "Now," +whispered the man at Bertram's left, "shake off that fellow and +follow me." + +Bertram, with a violent and sudden effort, burst away from the man +on his right, and closely following his mysterious friend, +attended by the faithful Dinmont, who never left him, ran quickly +down a narrow lane which led from the main street. + +No pursuit took place, as the smugglers had enough to do to defend +themselves against the dragoons. At the end of the lane there was +a post-chaise and horses waiting. + +"Are you here in God's name?" said the guide to the driver. + +"Ay, troth I am," said he. + +"Open the carriage, then. You, gentlemen, get into it; in a short +time you'll be in a place of safety, and remember your promise to +the gipsy wife." + +Bertram and Dinmont got in at once, followed by little Wasp, and +in a moment found themselves travelling at a breakneck pace, +neither of them knowing where on earth they were going to. + +They were, in fact, on the way to Woodbourne, for the carriage had +been sent by Colonel Mannering, after he had read the letter which +the dominie brought him from Meg Merrilies. The note had given him +no intimation, however, of the persons who were to be conveyed in +the chaise to Woodbourne, merely telling him that it should bring +the folk that should ask if it were there in God's name. + +As the colonel's clock was striking one that night the sound of +carriage wheels was heard in the distance, and in no long space +after, Bertram and Dinmont found themselves at Woodbourne. +Bewilderment and astonishment were depicted on the faces of all as +Bertram stepped into the parlour. The colonel saw before him the +man whom he supposed he had killed in India; Julia beheld her +lover; and Lucy Bertram at once recognised the person who had +fired upon young Hazlewood. Each one remained silent, not knowing +what to say, when the absent-minded dominie, looking up from a +book he had been studying in a corner, exclaimed: + +"If the grave can give up the dead, that is my dear and honoured +master!" + +A lawyer friend of the colonel's, a Mr. Pleydall, was staying at +Woodbourne that night, and he at once set about endeavouring to +solve the mystery. He questioned Bertram as to his recollections +of childhood, and elicited from him some of the incidents of his +early life, with which the reader is already acquainted. Amongst +the persons whom Bertram recalled, "there was," he said, "a tall, +thin, kind-tempered man, who used to teach me my letters and walk +with me." + +On hearing this, the poor dominie could contain his feelings no +longer, and rising hastily from his chair, with clasped hands, +trembling limbs and streaming eyes, he called out aloud: + +"Harry Bertram, look at me! Was I not the man?" + +"Yes," said Bertram, starting from his seat as if a sudden light +had burst in upon his mind. "Yes, that was my very name, and that +is the voice and the figure of my kind old master!" + +The following day Colonel Mannering and Mr. Pleydall succeeded in +getting Sir Robert Hazlewood to accept bail for Bertram. While +they were so engaged, Bertram, with his newly-found sister and +Miss Mannering, went walking to the castle of Ellangowan. + +Close by the ruin they were suddenly confronted by Meg Merrilies, +who addressed Bertram, saying: + +"Remember your promise, and follow me." + +It was in vain that his sister and her companion urged him not to +go with the gipsy. He told them he must obey. Then, bidding them +good-bye, he started to follow Meg Merrilies, accompanied by +Dinmont, who had come up a few minutes before. + +With quick, long strides the gipsy proceeded straight across the +wintry heath. She turned neither to the left nor the right, and +moved more like a ghost than a human being. On reaching the wood, +she plunged into it, moving still rapidly in the direction of +Derncleugh. After travelling thus for some time, she came at +length to the ruined tower where Bertram had previously spent the +night in concealment from the smugglers. Producing a key from her +pocket, the gipsy opened the door and led the way in. She offered +Bertram and Dinmont food and drink, and fearing to offend her, +they took a little. + +"And now," she said, "ye must have arms; but use them not rashly; +take captive, but save life; let the law have its own--he must +speak ere he die." + +She then supplied the two with loaded pistols, and started afresh +through the wood in the direction of Warroch Point. She led them +by a long and winding passage almost overgrown with brushwood, +until they suddenly found themselves by the seashore. They were +soon outside the secret cave. + +"Follow me as I creep in," she said. "I have placed the firewood +so as to screen you. Bide behind it for a space, till I say-- +_The hour and the man are both come_. Then run in on him, +take his arms and bind him tight." + +And having said so, she crept in upon her hands and knees, +followed by Bertram and his friend. + +As they were creeping in, Dinmont, who was last of the party, felt +his leg caught by someone from behind. He with difficulty +suppressed a shout, and was much relieved when he heard a voice +behind him say: "Be still, I am a friend--Charles Hazlewood." + +He had been sent after the others by Lucy Bertram and Miss +Mannering, and had only overtaken them as they were making their +way into the cavern. + +Meg Merrilies, on reaching the interior, was greeted by Dirck +Hatteraick with a curse in his old fashion--the smuggler had been +expecting her, and was waiting with anxiety for news of his band. +The only light within the cave was from a charcoal fire, the dark- +red glow from which gave a dismal and unearthly appearance to the +smuggler's hiding place. + +Bertram and his friends had advanced far enough to enable them to +stand upright, and concealed from the view of Hatteraick, they +listened to his conversation with the gipsy. + +"Have you seen Glossin?" he said to her. + +"No," replied Meg Merrilies; "you've missed your blow, ye blood- +spiller! and ye have nothing to expect from the tempter." + +"What am I to do, then?" said the smuggler, with a Dutch oath. + +"Do?" answered the gipsy. "Die like a man, or be hanged like a +dog. Didn't I tell ye, when ye took away the boy Harry Bertram, in +spite of my prayers, that he would come back again in his twenty- +first year? You'll never need to leave this." + +"What makes you say that?" asked Hatteraick. + +And Meg, who now threw some flax upon the fire, which rose in a +bright flame, answered: "_Because the hour and the man are both +come_." + +At the appointed signal, Bertram and his companions rushed upon +Hatteraick. The ruffian, who instantly saw he was betrayed, turned +his first vengeance on Meg Merrilies, at whom he discharged a +pistol. + +She fell, with a piercing shriek, muttering, "I knew it would be +this way." + +A terrific struggle ensued between the smuggler and his +assailants, in which Hatteraick contrived to discharge a second +bullet at Bertram, which only missed its mark by a lucky accident. +Strong, however, as the ruffian was, he was not equal to the joint +efforts of the three men, and at length he was fairly mastered, +disarmed, and tightly bound. + +Hazlewood, whose horse was outside the cave, then rode off for +assistance, and after some time returned with several others. The +prisoner was carried out, still firmly bound, and also Meg +Merrilies, who was still living, though desperately wounded in the +chest. + +They wished to take her to the nearest cottage, but she refused to +be moved anywhere but to the Kaim of Derncleugh. Accordingly they +bore her to the vault in the ruined tower. + +The alarm had now spread through the countryside that Kennedy's +murderer had been taken on the very spot where the murder had been +committed years before; and a crowd of people, with a clergyman +and a surgeon, had flocked to the place where the dying gipsy lay. +She, however, refused all offers of assistance, and called for +Harry Bertram. + +When Bertram approached the wretched bed on which she lay, she +took his hand. + +"Look at him," she said to those about her, "the image of his dead +father. And hear me now--let that man," pointing to Hatteraick, +"deny what I say if he can." And then she told the story of how +the young boy had been carried off from Warroch Wood; how she +saved his life from smugglers who would have murdered him; and how +she swore an oath to keep the secret till he was one-and-twenty, +and vowed that if she lived to see the day of his return she would +set him again in his father's seat, though every step was on a +dead man. "Dirck Hatteraick," she said, "you and I will never +meet again until we are before the Judgment-seat--will ye dare +deny it?" + +And as Hatteraick refused to open his lips, she added: "Farewell! +and God forgive you! your hand has sealed my evidence." + +And shortly after, as she heard the crowd about her greet Bertram +with enthusiastic cheers as the true Laird of Ellangowan, her +troubled spirit passed peacefully away. + +The following day, Hatteraick was brought before the magistrates +at Kippletringan. The dying declaration of Meg Merrilies was +proved by the surgeon and the clergyman who had heard it. Bertram +again told his recollections of early childhood. Gabriel, the +gipsy, the same man who had avoided meeting Bertram's eye when out +hunting with Dandie Dinmont, told the whole story of Kennedy's +murder, as he was at Warroch Point on the day of its occurrence. +He stated that Glossin was present and accepted a bribe to keep +the matter a secret. This witness also stated that it was he that +had told his aunt, Meg Merrilies, that Bertram had returned to the +country; and that it was by her orders that three or four of the +gipsies had mingled in the crowd when the custom-house was +attacked, for the purpose of helping Bertram to escape. He also +added that Meg Merrilies had often said that Harry Bertram carried +the proof of his birth hung round his neck. + +Bertram here produced the velvet bag which had been worked by his +mother, and which he said he had always continued to wear. On its +being opened, Colonel Mannering instantly recognised his own +writing on the paper it enclosed, proving to everyone's +satisfaction that the wearer was the real heir of Ellangowan. + +The investigation was concluded by both Hatteraick and Glossin +being sent to gaol. + +The smuggler, whose violence and strength were well known, was +secured in what was called the condemned ward. In this apartment, +which was near the top of the prison, his feet were chained to an +iron bar firmly fixed at the height of about six inches from the +floor. The chain enabled him to move a distance of about four feet +from the bar, and when thus secured his handcuffs were removed. + +Glossin was confined in another room, his mind still teeming with +schemes of future deceit to cover his former villainies. As he +reflected on his position, he came to a determination to see +Hatteraick, if possible, and to induce him by a tempting bribe to +give evidence in his favour when his trial came on. + +Accordingly, when Mac-Guffog, the keeper, appeared at night time, +he gave him some gold pieces, and so obtained his consent to an +interview with his fellow prisoner. + +The keeper, however, told him that as the prison rules were now +much stricter than before, his seeing Hatteraick would be only on +condition that he should spend the whole night with him. + +As the prison clock tolled ten, Glossin slipped off his shoes, and +silently followed Mac-Guffog to the smuggler's room. As he +entered, the door was locked on the outside; and he found himself +alone with the former partner of his guilt. The cell was so dark +that it was some time before he could detect the form of the +smuggler, who was lying on a pallet-bed beside the bar. + +"Dirck Hatteraick," he whispered. And the smuggler, recognising +his voice, told him with a curse to begone. + +"Speak to me no more. I'm dangerous." + +"Then," said Glossin, losing his temper, "at least get up, for an +obstinate Dutch brute!" But he had barely uttered the words when +Hatteraick sprang from where he lay and grappled with him. So +sudden and irresistible was the attack, that Glossin fell, the +back part of his neck coming full upon the iron bar with stunning +violence. Nor did the ruffian release the deadly grip upon his +throat until the last remnant of life had left his victim's +miserable corpse. + +On the day following the death of Glossin, Dirck Hatteraick was +himself found dead in the cell, having hanged himself by means of +a cord taken from his bed, which he had cunningly contrived to +attach to the prison wall. + +Little more remains to be told. Bertram was before long restored +to the possession of his father's house and property, and Julia +Mannering became his wife. + +His sister Lucy found a husband in her old lover Charles +Hazlewood, and the dominie was raised once again to a condition of +ecstatic happiness, seeing "his little Harry"--as he still +continued to call him--now Laird of Ellangowan, and himself +librarian in the house to which he had been so long a stranger. + + + + +THE STARTLING ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN + + +_Although the short book from which these stories are taken was +written in 1785 by Rudolf Erich Raspe, a German of many talents +who took up his residence in England, there really was a Baron +Munchausen who served the author as a model. His whole name was +Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Munchausen, a German, of course, but +serving in the Russian army. After several campaigns against the +Turks, he retired from the army and amused himself by telling +awful whoppers about his bravery as a soldier and huntsman. + +A German editor who visited the baron two years before he died was +told by the baron's neighbors that he really did tell wonderful +stories in his younger days._ + + + + +AN ADVENTURE WITH A LION AND A CROCODILE + +By R. E. Raspe + + +Some years before my beard announced approaching manhood, or, in +other words, when I was neither man nor boy, but between both, I +expressed in repeated conversations a strong desire of seeing the +world, from which I was discouraged by my parents, though my +father had been no inconsiderable traveller himself. A cousin by +my mother's side took a liking to me, often said I was a fine +forward youth, and was much inclined to gratify my curiosity. His +eloquence had more effect than mine, for my father consented to my +accompanying him in a voyage to the island of Ceylon, where his +uncle had resided as governor many years. + +We sailed from Amsterdam with despatches from their High +Mightinesses the States of Holland, and in about six weeks we +arrived at Ceylon, where we were received with great marks of +friendship and true politeness. + +After we had resided at Ceylon about a fortnight I accompanied one +of the governor's brothers upon a shooting party. + +Near the banks of a large piece of water, which had engaged my +attention, I thought I heard a rustling noise behind; on turning +about I was almost petrified (as who would not be?) at the sight +of a lion, which was evidently approaching with the intention of +satisfying his appetite with my poor carcass, and that without +asking my consent. + +What was to be done in this horrible dilemma? I had not even a +moment for reflection; my piece was only charged with swan-shot, +and I had no other about me. However, though I could have no idea +of killing such an animal with that weak kind of ammunition, yet I +had some hopes of frightening him by the report, and perhaps of +wounding him also. I immediately let fly, without waiting till he +was within reach; and the report did but enrage him, for he now +quickened his pace and seemed to approach me full speed. I +attempted to escape, but that only added (if an addition could be +made) to my distress; for the moment I turned about I found a +large crocodile, with his mouth extended almost ready to receive +me. On my right hand was the piece of water before mentioned, and +on my left a deep precipice, said to have, as I have since +learned, a receptacle at the bottom for venomous creatures; in +short, I gave myself up as lost, for the lion was now upon his +hind legs, just in the act of seizing me. I fell involuntarily to +the ground with fear, and, as it afterward appeared, he sprang +over me. I lay some time in a situation which no language can +describe, expecting to feel his teeth or talons in some part of me +every moment. After waiting in this prostrate situation a few +seconds, I heard a violent but unusual noise, differing from any +sound that had ever before assailed my ears; nor is it at all to +be wondered at, when I inform you from whence it proceeded. +After listening for some time, I ventured to raise my head and +look round, when, to my unspeakable joy, I perceived the lion had, +by the eagerness with which he sprang at me, jumped forward, as I +fell, into the crocodile's mouth! which, as before observed, was +wide open; the head of the one stuck in the throat of the other, +and they were struggling to extricate themselves. I fortunately +recollected my hunting knife which was by my side; with this +instrument I severed the lion's head at one blow, and the body +fell at my feet! I then, with the butt-end of my fowling-piece, +rammed the head farther into the throat of the crocodile, and +destroyed him, by suffocation, for he could neither gorge nor +eject it. + +Soon after I had thus gained a complete victory over my two +powerful adversaries, my companion arrived in search of me; for +finding I did not follow him into the wood, he returned, +apprehending I had lost my way or met with some accident. + +After mutual congratulations we measured the crocodile, which was +just forty feet in length. + + + + +CROSSING THE THAMES WITHOUT THE AID OF BRIDGE, BOAT OR BALLOON + +By R. E. Raspe + + +My first visit to England was about the beginning of George the +Third's reign. I had occasion to go down to Wapping to see some +goods shipped, which I was sending to some friends at Hamburgh: +after that business was over, I took the Tower Wharf in my way +back. Here I found the sun very powerful, and I was so much +fatigued that I stepped into one of the cannon to compose me, +where I fell fast asleep. + +This was about noon; it was the fourth of June, the king's +birthday. Exactly at one o'clock these cannon were all discharged +in memory of the day they had been all charged that morning, and +having no suspicion of my situation, I was shot over the houses on +the opposite side of the river, into a farmer's yard, between +Bermondsey and Deptford, where I fell upon a large haystack +without waking, and continued there in a sound sleep till hay +became so extravagantly dear (which was about three months after), +that the farmer found it to his interest to send his whole stock +to market. The stack I was reposing on was the largest in the +yard, containing about five hundred load; they began to cut that +first. I waked (with the voices of the people who had ascended the +ladders to begin at the top) and got up, totally ignorant of my +situation. In attempting to run away, I fell upon the farmer to +whom the hay belonged, and broke his neck, yet received no injury +myself! I afterwards found, to my great consolation, that this +fellow was a most detestable character, always keeping the produce +of his grounds for extravagant markets. + + + + +TWO STRANGE ADVENTURES IN RUSSIA + +By R. E. Raspe + + +I set off from Rome on a journey to Russia, in the midst of +winter, from a just notion that frost and snow must, of course, +mend the roads, which every traveller had described as uncommonly +bad through the northern parts of Germany, Poland, Courland, and +Livonia. I went on horseback as the most convenient manner of +travelling; I was but lightly clothed, and of this I felt the +inconvenience the more I advanced northeast. What must not a poor +old man have suffered in that severe weather and climate, whom I +saw on a bleak common in Poland, lying on the road, helpless, +shivering and hardly having wherewithal to cover his nakedness? I +pitied the poor soul; though I felt the severity of the air +myself, I threw my mantle over him, and immediately I heard a +voice from the heavens, blessing me for that piece of charity, +saying: "You will be rewarded, my son, in time." + +I went on: night and darkness overtook me. No village was to be +seen. The country was covered with snow and I was unacquainted +with the road. + +Tired, I alighted and fastened my horse to something, like a +pointed stump of a tree, which appeared above the snow. For the +sake of safety, I placed my pistols under my arm and lay down on +the snow, where I slept so soundly that I did not open my eyes +till full daylight. It is not easy to conceive my astonishment to +find myself in the midst of a village, lying in a church-yard, nor +was my horse to be seen, but I heard him soon after neigh +somewhere above me. On looking upwards, I beheld him hanging by +his bridle to the weathercock of the steeple. Matters were now +very plain to me: the village had been covered with snow +overnight; a sudden change of weather had taken place; I had sunk +down to the church-yard whilst asleep, gently, and in the same +proportion as the snow had melted away; and what in the dark I had +taken to be a stump of a little tree appearing above the snow, to +which I had tied my horse, proved to have been the cross or +weathercock of the steeple! + +Without long consideration I took one of my pistols, shot the +bridle in two, brought down the horse, and proceeded on my +journey. He carried me well. Advancing into the interior parts of +Russia, I found travelling on horseback rather unfashionable in +winter, so I submitted, as I always do, to the custom of the +country, took a single horse sledge, and drove towards St. +Petersburg. + +I do not exactly recollect whether it was Eastland or Jugemanland, +but I remember that in the midst of a dreary forest I spied a +terrible wolf making after me with all the speed of ravenous +winter hunger. He soon overtook me; there was no possibility of +escape. Mechanically I laid myself down flat in the sledge, and +let my horse run for our safety. What I wished, but hardly hoped +or expected, happened immediately after. The wolf did not mind me +in the least, but took a leap over me, and falling furiously on +the horse, began instantly to tear and devour the hind part of the +poor animal, which ran the faster for his pain and terror. Thus +unnoticed and safe myself, I lifted my head slyly up, and with +horror I beheld that the wolf had ate his way into the horse's +body. It was not long before he had fairly forced himself into it, +when I took my advantage and fell upon him with the butt-end of my +whip. This unexpected attack in his rear frightened him so much +that he leapt forward with all his might, the horse's carcass +dropped on the ground, but in his place the wolf was in the +harness, and I on my part whipping him continually, we both +arrived in full career safe at St. Petersburg, contrary to our +respective expectations, and very much to the astonishment of the +spectators. + + + + +SHOOTING A STAG WITH CHERRY-STONES + +By R. E. Raspe + + +You have heard, I dare say, of the hunter and sportsman's saint +and protector, St. Hubert, and of the noble stag which appeared to +him in the forest with the holy cross between his antlers. I have +paid my homage to that saint every year in good fellowship, and +seen this stag a thousand times, either painted in churches or +embroidered in the stars of his knights; so that, upon the honor +and conscience of a good sportsman, I hardly know whether there +may not have been formerly, or whether there are not such crossed +stags even at this present day. But let me now relate that which +happened to myself some little time ago. + +I had been out shooting all day, and had quite expended my powder +and shot, when I found myself unexpectedly in presence of a +stately stag, looking at me as unconcernedly as if he had known of +my empty pouches. I charged immediately with powder, and upon it a +good handful of cherrystones, for I had sucked the fruit as far as +the hurry would permit. Thus I let fly at him, and hit him just on +the middle of the forehead, between his antlers; it stunned him-- +he staggered--yet he made off, and I lost sight of him, to my +chagrin. + +This happened to me in France. Afterwards I visited Russia, and +remained there for about a year. + +At length, there being no immediate prospect of war with Turkey, I +returned to France on leave for a few months, and was staying in +the same chateau as I had been when I had fired off this +remarkable charge. + +We hunted again in the fine forest I had then traversed, with a +gay party of French nobles and sportsmen. I had separated myself +somewhat from my companions, when, in the opening of a beautiful +glade, I beheld a noble stag, with a fine full-grown cherry-tree +above ten feet high between his antlers. + +I immediately recollected my former adventure, looked upon him as +my property, and brought him to the ground by one shot, which at +once gave me the haunch and cherry sauce, for the tree was covered +with the richest fruit, the like of which I had never tasted +before. + + + + +THE BARON'S WONDERFUL DOG + +By R. E. Raspe + + +I had married a lady of great beauty, who, having heard of my +sporting exploits, desired, a short time after our marriage, to go +out with me on a shooting expedition. I went on in front to start +something, and I soon saw my dog stop before several hundred +coveys of partridges. I waited for my wife, who was following me +with my lieutenant and a servant. I waited a long time; nobody +came. + +At length, very uneasy, I went back, and, when I was half-way to +the place where I had left my wife, I heard lamentable groans. +They seemed quite near, and yet I could see no trace of a human +being. I jumped off my horse; I put my ear to the ground, and not +only heard the groans distinctly rising from beneath, but my +wife's voice and those of my lieutenant and servant. + +I remarked at the same time, not far from the spot, the shaft of a +coal-pit, and I had no doubt that my wife and her unfortunate +companions had been swallowed up in it. I rode full speed to the +nearest village to fetch the miners, who after great efforts +succeeded in drawing the unfortunate individuals buried in the +pit--which measured ninety feet--to the surface. + +They first drew up the man-servant; then his horse; next the +lieutenant; next his horse; and at length my wife on her little +palfrey. The most curious part of this affair was that, in spite +of the awful depth to which they had fallen, no one was hurt, not +even the horses, if we except a few slight contusions. But they +had had a terrible fright, and were quite unable to pursue our +intended sport. + +In all this confusion I quite forgot my setter, as no doubt you +also have. + +The next day I was obliged to go away on duty, and did not return +home for a fortnight. On my return I asked for Diana, my setter. +No one knew anything about her. My servants thought she had +followed me. She was certainly lost, and I never hoped to see her +again! At length a bright idea occurred to me: + +"She is perhaps still watching the partridges." + +I hastened, full of hope and joy, to the spot, and actually there +she was!--my noble Diana--on the very place where I had left her a +fortnight before. + +"Hi, Diana!" I cried. "Seize them!" + +She instantly sprang the partridges; they rose, and I killed +twenty-five at one shot. But the poor beast had scarcely strength +enough to follow me, she was so thin and famished. I was obliged +to carry her back to the house on my horse, where rest, feeding, +and great care soon restored her to health. + +I was thoroughly glad to get her back again. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Junior Classics, V5 +by Edited by William Patten + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE JUNIOR CLASSICS, V5 *** + +This file should be named 6328.txt or 6328.zip + +Produced by Ralph Zimmerman, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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