TO LILLIPUT. 133

pay my respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, a considerable
person at court came to my house very privately at night, in a
close chair, and, without sending his name, desired admittance.
After the common salutations were over, observing his lord-
ship's countenance full of concern, and inquiring into the
reason, he desired I would hear him with patience in a matter
that highly concerned my honour and my life. You must
know,” said he, “that Flimnap, the Lord High ‘Treasurer,
has an excessive hatred against you, for having been created a
nardac, when he is only agu/grum ; and he has represented to
his Majesty, that your desire of going to Blefuscu is a mark of
your disaffection to our monarch, He has also represented
to the council, that the expense of your support has already
drained the royal treasury, and will impoverish the whole
kingdom ; and a meeting of all the members of the royal
council is appointed to take place in three days, to consider in
what manner it will be best to make away with you. I leave
to your prudence what measures to pursue for your safety ;
and, to avoid the danger I should incur, were this visit known,
I must leave you as privately as I eame.” His lordship did so,
and I soon came to the resolution of setting out the next
morning for Blefuscu. I went to that side of the island where
our fleet lay. I seized a large man-of-war, tied a cable to the
prow, and lifting up the anchors, I stripped myself, put my
clothes (together with my coverlet, which I carried under my
arm) into the vessel, and drawing it after me, between wading
and swimming, arrived at the port of Blefuscu, where the
people had long expected me: they lent me two guides to
direct me to the capital city, which is of the same name. I
held them in my hands, till I came within two hundred yards
of the gate, and desired them to signify my arrival to one of
the secretaries, and let him know I there waited his Majesty's