 Trusty John, the Blue Fairy Book. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Lucy Burgoyne. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, Chapter 30. Trusty John. Once upon a time there was an old king who was so ill that he thought to himself, I am most likely on my deathbed. Then he said, Send trusty John to me. Now trusty John was his favourite servant and was so called because all his life he had served him so faithfully. When he approached the bed, the king spoke to him. Most trusty John, I feel my end is drawing near and I could face it without a care were it not for my son. He is still too young to decide everything for himself and unless you promise me to instruct him in all he should know and to be to him as a father, I shall not close my eyes in peace. Then trusty John answered, I will never desert him and will serve him faithfully even though it should cost me my life. Then the old king said, Now I die comforted and in peace. And then he went on, After my death you must show him the whole castle, all the rooms and apartments and vaults and all the treasures that lie in them but you must not show him the last room in the long passage where the picture of the princess of the golden roof is hidden. When he beholds that picture he will fall violently in love with it and go off into a dead faint and for his sake he will encounter many dangers. You must guard him from this. And when trusty John had again given the king his hand upon it the old man became silent, laid his head on the pillow and died. When the old king had been carried to his grave trusty John told the young king what he had promised his father on his deathbed and added, And I shall assuredly keep my word and shall be faithful to you as I have been to him even though it should cost me my life. Now when the time of mourning was over trusty John said to him, it is time you should see your inheritance. I will show you your ancestral castle. So he took him over everything and let him see all the riches and splendid apartments. Only the one room where the picture was he did not open but the picture was placed so that if the door opened you go straight upon it and it was so beautifully painted that you imagined it lived and moved and that it was the most lovable and beautiful thing in the whole world. But the young king noticed that trusty John always missed one door and said, Why do you never open this one for me? There is something inside that would appall you, he answered. But the king replied, I have seen the whole castle and shall find out what is in there and with these words he approached the door and wanted to force it open. But trusty John held him back and said, I promised your father before his death that you shouldn't see what that room contains. It might bring both you and me to great grief. Ah, no, answered the young king. If I don't get in, it will be my certain destruction. I should have no peace night all day till I had seen what was in the room with my own eyes. Now I don't budge from the spot till you have opened the door. Then trusty John saw there was no way out of it so with a heavy heart and many sighs he took the key from the big bunch. When he had opened the door he stepped in first and thought to cover the likeness so that the king might not perceive it. But it was hopeless. The king stood on tiptoe and looked over his shoulder and when he saw the picture of the maid so beautiful and glittering with gold and precious stones he fell swirning to the ground. Trusty John lifted him up, carried him to bed and thought sorrowfully, the curses come upon us, gracious heaven, what will be the end of it all. Then he poured wine down his throat till he came to himself again. The first words he spoke were, Oh, who is the original of the beautiful picture? She is the princess of the golden roof and so trusty John. Then the king continued, My love for her is so great that if all the leaves on the trees had tongues they could not express it. My very life depends on my winning her. You are my most trusty John, you must stand by me. The faithful servant pondered long how they were to set about the matter for it was said to be difficult even to get into the presence of the princess. At length he hid upon a plan and spoke to the king. All the things she has about her, tables, chairs, dishes, goblets, bowls and all her household furniture are made of gold. You have in your treasure five tons of gold. Let the goldsmiths of your kingdom manufacture them into all manner of vases and vessels, into all sorts of birds and game and wonderful beasts that will please her. We shall go to her with them and try our luck. The king summoned all his goldsmiths and they had to work hard day and night till at length the most magnificent things were completed. When a ship had been laden with them, the faithful John disguised himself as a merchant and the king had to do the same so that they should be quite unrecognisable and so they crossed the seas and journeyed till they reached the town where the princess of the golden roof dwelt. Trusted John made the king remain behind on the ship and await his return. Perhaps he said, I may bring the princess back with me so see that everything is in order. Let the gold ornaments be arranged and the whole ship decorated. Then he took a few of the gold things in his apron, went ashore and proceeded straight to the palace. When he came to the courtyard he found a beautiful maiden standing at the well drawing water with two golden pales. And as she was about to carry away the glittering water she turned round and saw the stranger and asked him who he was. Then he replied, I am a merchant and opening his apron he let her peep in. Oh my, she cried, what beautiful gold wears. She set down her pales and examined one thing after the other. Then she said, the princess must see this. She has such a fancy for gold things that she will buy up all you have. She took him by the hand and let him into the palace for she was the lady's maid. When the princess had seen the wears she was quite enchanted and said, they are all so beautifully made that I shall buy everything you have. But trustee John said, I am only the servant of a rich merchant. What I have here is nothing compared to what my master has on his ship. His merchandise is more artistic and costly than anything that has ever been made in gold before. She desired to have everything brought up to her. But he said, there is such a quantity of things that it would take many days to bring them up and they would take up so many rooms that you would have no space for them in your house. Thus her desire and curiosity were excited to such an extent that at last she said, take me to your ship. I shall go there myself and view your master's treasures. Then trustee John was quite delighted and brought her to the ship and the king, when he beheld her, saw that she was even more beautiful than her picture and thought every moment that his heart would burst. She stepped on to the ship and the king led her inside. But trustee John remained behind with the steersman and ordered the ship to push off. Spread all sail that we may fly on the ocean like a bird in the air. Meanwhile, the king showed the princess inside all his gold wares every single bit of it dishes, goblets, bowls, the birds in game and all the wonderful beasts. Many hours passed thus and she was so happy that she did not notice that the ship was sailing away. After she had seen the last thing, she thanked the merchant and prepared to go home. But when she came to the ship's side, she saw that they were on the high seas, far from land and that the ship was speeding on its way under full canvas. Oh, she cried in terror. I am deceived, carried away and betrayed into the power of a merchant. I would rather have died, but the king seized her hand and spoke. I am no merchant, but a king of as high birth as yourself. And it was my great love for you that made me carry you off by a stratagem. The first time I saw your likeness, I fell to the ground in a swoon. When the princess of the golden roof heard this, she was comforted and her heart went out to him so that she willingly consented to become his wife. Now it happened one day while they were sailing on the high seas, the trusty John sitting on the four-part of the ship, fiddling away to himself, observed three ravens in the air flying toward him. He ceased playing and listened to what they were saying, for he understood their language the one croaked. Ha-ha! So he's bringing the princess of the golden roof home. Yes, answered the second, but he's not got her yet. Yes, he has, spake the third, for she's sitting beside him on the ship. The number one began again and cried. They all not help him when they reached the land a chestnut horse will dash forward to greet them. The king will wish to mount it, and if he does it will gallop away with him and disappear into the air and he will never see his bride again. Is there no escape for him? Ask number two. Oh yes, if someone else mounts quickly and shoots the horse dead with the pistol that is sticking in the holster then the young king is saved. But who's to do that? And anyone who knows it and tells him will be turned into stone from his feet to his knees. Then spake number two. I know more than that even if the horse is slain the young king will still not keep his bride. When they enter the palace together they will find a ready-made wedding shirt in a cupboard which looks as though it will woven of gold and silver but is really made of nothing but sulfur and tar. When the king puts it on it will burn him to his marrow and bones. Number three asked is there no way of escape then? Oh yes, answered number two. If someone seizes the shirt with gloved hands into the fire and lets it burn then the young king is saved. But what's the good? Anyone knowing this and telling it will have half his body turned into stone from his knees to his heart. Then number three spake. I know yet more though the bridal shirt to be burnt the king hasn't even then secured his bride. After the wedding and the young queen is dancing she will suddenly grow deadly white and drop down like one dead and unless someone lifts her up and draws three drops of blood from her right side and spits them out again she will die but if anyone who knows this betrays it he will be turned into stone from the crown of his head and rolls of his feet. When the ravens had thus conversed they fled onward but trusty John had taken it all in and was sad and depressed from that time forward for if he was silent to his master concerning what he had heard he would involve him in misfortune but if he took him into his confidence then he himself would forfeit his life at last he said I will stand by my master though it should be my ruin now when they drew near the land it came to pass just as the ravens had predicted and a splendid chestnut horse bounded forward capital said the king this animal shall carry me to my palace and was about to mount but trusty John was too sharp for him and springing up quickly seized the pistol out of the holster and shot the horse dead then the other servants of the king who had no time looked favorably on trusty John cried out what a sin to kill the beautiful beast that was to bear the king to his palace but the king spoke silence let him alone he is ever my trusty John who knows for what good end he may have done this thing so they went on their way and entered the palace and there in the hall stood a cupboard in which laid the ready-made bridal shirt looking for all the world as though it were made of gold and silver the young king went toward it and was about to take hold of it but trusty John watching him aside seized it with his gloved hands threw it hastily into the fire and let it burn the other servants commenced grumbling again and said see he's actually burning the king's bridal shirt but the young king spoke who knows for what good purpose he does it let him alone he is my most trusty John then the wedding was celebrated the dance begun and the bride joined in but trusty John watched her countenance carefully of a sudden she grew deadly white and fell to the ground as if she were dead he at once sprung hastily toward her lifted her up and bore her to a room where he laid her down beside her he drew three drops of blood from her right side and spat them out she soon breathed again and came to herself but the young king had watched the proceeding and not knowing why trusty John had acted as he did he flew into a passion and cried throw him into prison on the following morning trusty John and he was condemned to be hanged as he stood on the gallows he said everyone doomed to death has the right to speak once before he dies and I too have that privilege yes said the king it shall be granted to you so trusty John spoke I am unjustly condemned I have been faithful to you and he proceeded to relate how he had heard the ravens conversation on the scene and how he had to do all he did in order to save his master then the king cried oh my most trusty John pardon pardon take him down but as he uttered the last word trusty John had fallen lifeless to the ground and was as stone the king and the queen were in despair and the king spoke ah how ill have I rewarded such great fidelity and made them lift up the stone image and place it in his bedroom near his bed as often as he looked at it he wept and said oh if I could only restore you to life my most trusty John after a time the queen gave birth to twins two small sons who throwed and grew and were a constant joy to her one day when the queen was at church and the two children sat and played with their father he gazed again full of grief on the stone statue and sigh wail oh if I could only restore you to life my most trusty John suddenly the stone began to speak and said yes you can restore me to life again if you are prepared to sacrifice what you hold most dear and the king cried out all I have in the will will I give up for your sake the stone continued if you cut off with your own hand the heads of your two children and smear me with their blood I shall come back to life the king was aghast when he heard that he had himself to put his children to death but when he thought of trusty John's fidelity and how he had even died for him he drew his sword and with his own hand cut the heads of his children and when he had smeared the stone with their blood life came back and trusty John stood once more safe and sound before him he spoke to the king your loyalty shall be rewarded and taking up the heads of the children he placed them on their bodies smeared the wounds with their blood and in a minute they were all right again jumping about as if nothing had happened then the king was full of joy and when he saw the queen coming he hid trusty John and the two children in a big cupboard as she entered he said to her did you pray in church yes she answered but my thoughts dwelt constantly on trusty John and of what he has suffered for us he spoke dear wife we can restore him to life but the price asked is our two little sons we must sacrifice them the queen grew white and her heart sunk but she replied we owe it to him on account of his great fidelity then he rejoiced that she was of the same mind as he had been and fetched the two children and trusty John out saying God be praised trusty John is free once more and we have our two small sons again then he related to her all that had passed and they lived together happily ever afterward footnote grim end of footnote story the brave little tailor the blue fairy book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Lucy Bergoin the blue fairy book by Andrew Lang Chapter 31 the brave little tailor one summer's day a little tailor sat on his table by the window in the best of spirits and sowed for dear life as he was sitting thus a peasant woman came down the street calling out good jam to sell good jam to sell this sounded sweetly in the tailor's ears he put his frail little head out of the window and shouted up here my good woman and you'll find a willing customer the woman climbed up the three flights of stairs with her heavy basket to the tailor's room and he made her spread out all the pots in a row before him he examined them all looked at them up and smelled them and said at last the jam seems good weigh me four ounces of it my good woman and even if it's a quarter of a pound I won't stick at it the woman who had hoped to find a good market gave him what he wanted but went away grumbling wrathfully now heaven shall bless this jam for my use cried the little tailor and it shall sustain he fetched some bread out of a cupboard cut a round off the loaf and spread the jam on it that won't taste amiss he said but I'll finish that waistcoat first before I take a bite he placed the bread beside him went on sewing and out of the lightness of his heart kept on making his stitches bigger and bigger in the meantime rose to the ceiling where heaps of flies were sitting and attracted them to such an extent that they swarmed onto it in masses Ha who invited you said the tailor and chased the unwelcome guests away but the flies who didn't understand English refused to let themselves be warned off and returned again in even greater numbers at last the little tailor losing all patience reached out of his chimney corner for a duster and exclaiming wait and I'll give it to you he beat the mercilessly with it when he left off he countered the slime and no fewer than seven lay dead before him without stretch leaks what a desperate fellow I am and was filled with admiration at his own courage the whole town must know about this and in great haste the little tailor cut out a girdle hemmed it and embroidered on it in big letters seven at a blow what did I say the town no the whole world shall hear of it he said and his heart beat for joy as a lamb the tail the tailor strapped the girdle round his waist and set out into the wide world that he considered his work room too small a field for his prowess before he set forth he looked round about him to see if there was anything in the house he could take with him on his journey but he found nothing except an old cheese an obsession of in front of the house he observed a bird that had been caught in some bushes and this he put into his wallet beside the cheese then he went on his way mirrorly and being light and agile he never felt tired his way led up a hill on the top of which sat a powerful giant who was calmly surveying the little tailor went up to him and greeting him cheerfully said good day friend there you sit at your ease viewing the whole wide world I'm just on my way there what do you say to accompanying me the giant looked contemptuously at the tailor and said what a poor wretched little creature you are that's a good joke the little tailor and unbuttoning his coat he showed the giant the girdle there now you can read what sort of a fellow I am the giant read seven at a blow and thinking they were human beings the tailor had slain he conceived a certain respect for the little man but first he thought he'd test him the stone in his hand he squeezed it till some drops of water ran out now you do the same said the giant if you really wish to be thought strong is that all said the little tailor that's child's play to me so he dived into his wallet brought out the cheese and pressed it till the way ran out my squeeze was in soothe better than yours said he the giant didn't know what to say that he couldn't have believed it of the little fellow to prove him again the giant lifted a stone and threw it so high that the eye could hardly follow it now my little pig me let me see you do that well thrown said the tailor but after all your stone fell to the ground I'll throw one that won't come down at all he dived into his wallet again and grasping the bird in his hand he threw it up into the air the bird enchanted to be free soared up into the sky and flew away never to return well what do you think of that little piece of business friend asked the tailor you can certainly throw said the giant but now let's see if you can carry a proper weight with these words he led the tailor to a huge oak tree which had been felled to the ground and said if you are strong enough help me to carry the tree out of the wood most certainly said the little tailor just you take the trunk on your shoulder I'll bear the top and branches which is certainly the heaviest part the giant laid the trunk on his shoulder but the tailor sat at his ease among the branches and the giant who couldn't see what was going on behind him had to carry the whole tree and the little tailor into the bargain there he sat behind in the best spirits lustily whistling a tune as if carrying the tree were mere sport the giant after dragging the heavy weight for some time could get on no further and shouted out hi I must let the tree fall the tailor sprung nimbly down seized the tree with both hands as if he had carried it the whole way said to the giant fancy a big lout like you not being able to carry a tree they continued to go on their way together and as they passed by a cherry tree the giant grasped the top of it where the ripest fruit hung gave the branches into the tailor's hand and bade him eat but the little tailor was far too weak to hold the tree down and when the giant let go the tree swung back into the air bearing the little tailor with it when he had fallen to the ground again without hurting himself the giant said what do you mean to tell me you haven't the strength to hold down a feeble twig it wasn't strength that was wanting replied the tailor do you think that would have been for a man who has killed seven at a blow I jumped over the tree because the huntsmen are shooting among the branches near us do you do the like if you dare the giant made an attempt but couldn't get over the tree and stuck fast in the branches so that here too the little tailor had the better of him you're a fine fellow after all said the giant come and spend the night with us in our cave the little tailor willingly consented to do this and following his friend they went on till they reached a cave where several other giants were sitting round the fire each holding a roast sheep in his hand of which he was eating the little tailor looked about him and thought yes there's certainly more room to turn round in here than in my workshop the giant showed him a bed and made him lie down and have a good sleep but the bed was too big for the little tailor so he didn't get into it but crept away into the corner at midnight when the giant thought the little tailor was fast asleep he rose up and taking his big iron walking stick he broke the bed in two with a blow and thought he had made an end of the little grasshopper at early dawn the giants went off to the wood and quite forgot about the little tailor till all of a sudden they met him trudging along in the most cheerful manner the giants were terrified at the apparition and fearful lest he should slay them they all took to their heels as fast as they could the little tailor continued to follow his nose and after he wandered about for a long time he came to the courtyard of a royal palace and feeling tired he lay down on the grass and fell asleep while he lay there the people came bringing him all over red on his girdle seven at a blow oh they said what can this great hero of a hundred fights want in our peaceful land he must indeed be a mighty man of valor they went and told the king about him and said what a weighty and useful man he'd be in time of war and that it would be well to secure him at any price this council pleased the king and he sent one of his courtiers down to the little tailor to offer him when he awoke a commission in their army the messenger remained standing by the sleeper and waited till he stretched his limbs and opened his eyes when he tended his proposal that's the very thing I came here for he answered I'm quite ready to enter the king's service so he was received with all honour and given a special house of his own to live in but the other officers resented the success of the little tailor and wished him a thousand miles away what's to come of it all they asked each other if we quarrel with him we'll let out at us and at every blow seven will fall they'll soon be an end of us so they resolve to go in a body to the king and all to send in their papers we are not made they said to hold out against a man who kills seven at a blow the king was grieved at the thought of losing all his faithful servants of one man and he wished heartily that he had never set eyes on him or that he could get rid of him but he didn't dare to send him away for he feared he might kill him along with his people and place himself on the throne he pondered long and deeply over the matter and finally came to a conclusion he sent to the tailor that seeing what a great and more like hero he was he was about to make him an offer in a certain wood of his kingdom they dwelled two giants who did much harm by the way they robbed murdered, burned and plundered everything about them no one could approach them without endangering his life but if he could overcome all these two giants he should have his only daughter for a wife and half his kingdom into the bargain he might have a hundred horsemen too to back him up that's the very thing for a man like me thought the little tailor one doesn't get the offer of a beautiful princess and half the kingdom every day done with you he answered I'll soon put an end to the giants but I haven't the smallest need of your hundred horsemen a fellow who can slay seven men at a blow need not be afraid of two the little tailor set out and the hundred horsemen followed him when he came to the outskirts of the wood he said to his followers you wait here I'll manage the giants by myself and he went on into the wood casting his sharp little eyes right and left about him after a while he spied the two giants lying asleep under a tree and snoring till the very bows bent with the breeze the little tailor lost no time in filling his wallet with stones and then climbed up the tree under which they lay when he got to about the middle of it he slipped along a branch to least sat just above the sleepers when he threw down one stone after the other on the nearest giant the giant felt nothing for a long time but at last he woke up and pinching his companion said what did you strike me for I didn't strike you said the other must be dreaming they both lay down to sleep again and the tailor threw down a stone on the second giant who sprung up and cried what's that for why did you throw something at me I don't throw anything grabbed the first one they wrangled on for a time till as both were tired they made up the matter and fell asleep again the little tailor began his game once more and flung the larger stone he could find in his wallet with all his force and hit the first giant on the chest this is too much of a good thing he yelled and springing up like a madman he knocked his companion against the tree till he trembled he gave however as good as he got they were so enraged that they tore up trees and beat each other with them till they both fell dead at once on the ground then the little tailor jumped down it's a mercy he said that they didn't root up the tree on which I was perched or I should have had to jump like a squirrel onto another which nimble though I am would have been no easy job he drew his sword and gave each of the giants a very fine thrust or two on the breast and then went to the horseman and said the deed is done I've put an end to the two of them but I assure you it has been no easy matter for they even tore up trees in their struggle to defend themselves but all that's of no use to ever men at a blow weren't you wounded asked the horseman no fear answered the tailor they haven't touched a hair of my head but the horseman wouldn't believe him till they rode into the wood and found the giants weltering in their blood and the trees lying around torn up by the roots the little tailor now demanded the promise reward from the king but he repented his promise and pondered once more how he could rid himself of the hero before you obtain the hand of my daughter and half my kingdom he said to him you must do another deed of valor a unicorn is running about loose in the wood and doing much mischief you must first catch it I'm even less afraid of one unicorn than of two giants seven at a blow that's my motto he took a piece of cord and an axe with him went out to the wood and again told the men who had been sent with him to remain outside he hadn't to search long for the unicorn soon passed by and on perceiving the tailor dashed straight at him as though it were going to spike him on the spot gently gently said he not so fast my friend and standing still he waited till the beast was quite near when he sprung lightly behind a tree the unicorn ran with all its force against the tree and rammed its horn so firmly into the trunk that it had no strength left it out again and was thus successfully captured now I've caught my bird said the tailor and he came out from behind the tree placed the cord round its neck first then struck the horn out of the tree with his axe and when everything was in order led the beast before the king still the king didn't want to give him the promised reward and made a third demand the tailor was to catch a wild boar for him that did a great deal of harm in the wood and he might have the huntsman to help him willingly said the tailor that's mere child's play but he didn't take the huntsman into the wood with him and they were well enough pleased to remain behind for the wild boar had often received them in a manner which did not make them desire its further acquaintance as soon as the boar perceived the tailor it ran at him with foaming mouth and gleaming teeth and tried to knock him down but our alert little friend ran into a chapel that stood near and got out of the window again with a jump to the church but the tailor skipped round to the door and closed it securely so the raging beast was caught for it was far too heavy and unwieldy to spring out of the window the little tailor summoned the huntsman together that they might see the prisoner with their own eyes then the hero betook himself to the king who was obliged now whether he liked it or not to keep his promise and hand him over his daughter and half his kingdom had he known that no hero warrior but only a little tailor stood before him it would have gone even more to his heart so the wedding was celebrated with much splendour and little joy and the tailor became a king after a time the queen heard her husband saying one night in his sleep my lad make that waistcoat and patch these trousers or I'll buck your ears thus she learned in what rank the young gentleman had been born and next day she pulled forth her woes to her father and begged him to help her to get rid of her husband who was nothing more than a tailor the king comforted her and said leave your bedroom door open tonight my servants shall stand outside and when your husband is fast asleep they shall enter bind him fast and carry him onto a ship which shall sail away out into the wide ocean the queen was well satisfied with the idea the armor bearer who had overheard everything being much attached to his young master went straight to him and revealed the whole plot I'll soon put a stop to the business said the tailor that night he and his wife went to bed at the usual time and when she thought he had fallen asleep she got up opened the door the little tailor who had only pretended to be asleep began to call out in a clear voice my lad make that waistcoat and patch those trousers or I'll box your ears I have killed seven at a blow slain two giants led a unicorn captive and caught a wild boar then why should I be afraid of those men standing outside all the men when they heard the tailor saying these words were so terrified that they fled as if pursued by a wild army and didn't dare go near him again so the little tailor was and remained a king all the days of his life end the story a voyage to Lilliput of the Blue Fairy Book this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Betsy Bush in Marquette, Michigan July 2007 the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang a voyage to Lilliput chapter one my father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire and I was a third of four sons he sent me to Cambridge at fourteen years old and after studying there three years I was bound apprentice to Mr. Bates a famous surgeon in London there, as my father now and then sent me small sums of money I spent them in learning navigation and other arts useful to those who travel as I always believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do three years after my leaving him my good master Mr. Bates recommended me as ship's surgeon to the Swallow on which I voyaged three years when I came back I settled in London and having taken part of a small house I married Miss Mary Burton daughter of Mr. Edmund Burton Hosier but my good master Bates left me after and as I had few friends my business began to fail and I determined to go again to sea after several voyages I accepted an offer from Captain W. Prichard master of the antelope who was making a voyage to the South Sea we set sail from Bristol May 4th 1699 and our voyage at first was very prosperous to the East Indies we were driven by a violent storm to the Northwest of Van Diamond's land 12 of our crew died from hard labor and bad food and the rest were in a very weak condition on the 5th of November the weather being very hazy the seamen spied a rock within 120 yards of the ship but the wind was so strong that we were driven straight upon it and immediately split six of the crew of whom I was one letting down the boat got clear of the ship and we rode about three leagues till we could work no longer we therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves and in about half an hour the boat was upset by a sudden squall what became of my companions in the boat or those who escaped on the rock or were left in the vessel I cannot tell but I saw lost for my part I swam as fortune directed me and was pushed forward by wind and tide but when I was able to struggle no longer I found myself within my depth by this time the storm was much abated I reached the shore at last about eight o'clock in the evening and advanced nearly half a mile inland but could not discover any sign of inhabitants I was extremely tired and with the heat of the weather I found myself much inclined to sleep I lay down on the grass which was very short and soft and slept sounder than ever I did in my life for about nine hours when I woke it was just daylight I attempted to rise but could not for as I happened to be lying on my back I found my arms and legs were fastened on each side to the ground and my hair which was long and thick tied down in the same manner I could only look upward the sun began to grow hot and the light hurt my eyes I heard a confused noise about me but could see nothing except the sky in a little time I felt something alive and moving on my left leg which advancing gently over my breast came almost up to my chin when bending my eyes downward 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 40 more 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 were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground I soon returned and one of them who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face lifted up his hands in admiration I lay all this while in great uneasiness but at length struggling to get loose I succeeded in breaking the strings that fastened my left arm to the ground and at the same time with a violent pull that gave me extreme pain I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair 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 where upon there was a great shout and in an instant I felt above a hundred arrows discharged on my left hand which pricked me like so many needles moreover they shot another flight into the air of which some fell on my face which I immediately covered with my left hand when this shower of arrows was over I groaned with grief and pain and then, striving again to get loose, they discharged another flight of arrows larger than the first and some of them tried to stab me with their spears but by good luck I had on a leather jacket which they could not pierce by this time I thought it most prudent to lie still till night when my left hand being already loose I could easily free myself and as for the inhabitants I thought I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me if they were all of the same size as him I saw when the people observed that I was quiet they discharged no more arrows but by the noise I heard I knew that their numbers was increased and about four yards from me for more than an hour there was a knocking like people at work turning my head that way as well as the pegs and strings would let me I saw a stage set up about a foot and a half from the ground with two or three ladders to mount it from this one of them who seemed to be a person of quality made me a long speech of which I could not understand a word though I could tell from his manner that he sometimes threatened me and sometimes spoke with pity and kindness I answered in few words but in the most submissive manner and being almost famished with hunger I could not help showing my impatience by putting my finger frequently to my mouth to signify that I wanted food he understood me very well and descending from the stage commanded that several ladders should be set against my sides on which more than a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked toward my mouth with baskets full of food which had been sent by the king's order when the first received tidings of me there were legs and shoulders like mutton but smaller than the wings of a lark I ate them two or three at a mouthful and took three loaves at a time they supplied me as fast as they could with a thousand marks of wonder at my appetite I then made a sign that I wanted something to drink they guessed that a small quantity would not suffice me and being a most ingenious people they slung up one of their largest hogsheads then rolled it toward my hand and beat out the top I drank it off at a draft which I might well do for it did not hold half a pint they brought me a second hogshead which I drank and made signs for more but they had none to give me however I could not wonder enough at the daring of these tiny mortals who ventured to mount and walk upon my body while one of my hands was free without trembling at the very sight of so huge a creature as I must have seemed to them after some time there appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty his excellency having mounted my right leg advanced to my face with about a dozen of his retinue and spoke about ten minutes often pointing forward which, as I afterward found was toward the capital city about half a mile distant whether it was commanded by his majesty that I should be conveyed I 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 to show that I desired my liberty he seemed to understand me well enough for he shook his head though he made other signs to let me know that I should have meat and drink enough and very good treatment I thought of attempting to escape but when I felt the smart of their arrows on my face and hands which were all in blisters and observed likewise that the number of my enemies increased I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleased then they dobbed my face and hands with a sweet smelling ointment which in a few minutes removed all the smarts of the arrows the relief from pain and hunger made me drowsy I slept about eight hours as I was told afterward and it was no wonder for the physicians by the emperor's orders had mingled a sleeping draft in the hog's heads of wine it seems that when I was discovered sleeping on the ground after my landing the emperor had early notice of it and determined 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 and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately set to work to prepare the engine it was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground about seven feet long and four feet wide moving upon twenty two wheels but the difficulty was to place me on it eighty poles were erected for this purpose and very strong cords which the workmen had tied around my neck, hands, body and legs nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords by pulleys fastened on the poles and in less than three hours I was raised and slung into the engine and there tied fast fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest horses each about four inches and a half high were then employed to draw me toward the capital but while all this was done I still lay in a deep sleep and I did not wake till four hours after we began our journey the emperor and all his court came out to meet us when we reached the capital but his great officials would not suffer his majesty to risk his person by mounting on my body where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple supposed to be the largest in the whole kingdom and here it was determined that I should lodge near the great gate through which I could easily creep they fixed ninety-one chains like those which hung to a lady's watch which were locked to my left leg with thirty-six padlocks and when the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose they cut all the strings that bound me then I rose up feeling as melancholy as ever I did in my life but the noise and astonishment of the people on seeing me rise and walk were inexpressible the chains that held my left leg were about two yards long and gave me not only freedom to walk backward and forward in a semicircle but to creep in and lie at full length inside the temple the emperor advancing toward me from among the courtiers almost magnificently clad surveyed me with great admiration but kept beyond the length of my chain he was taller by about the breadth of my nail than any of his court which alone was enough to strike awe into the beholders and graceful and majestic the better to behold him I lay down on my side so that my face was level with his and he stood three yards off however I have had him since many times in my hand and therefore cannot be deceived his dress was very simple but he wore a light helmet of gold adorned with jewels and a plume he held his sword drawn in his hand to defend himself if I should break loose it was almost three inches long and the hilt was of gold enriched with diamonds his voice was shrill but very clear his imperial majesty spoke off into me and I answered but neither of us could understand a word Chapter 2 after about two hours the court retired and I was left with a strong guard to keep away the crowd some of whom had had the impudence to shoot their arrows at me as I sat by the door of my house but the colonel ordered six of them to be seized and delivered bound into my hands I put five of them into my coat pocket and as to the sixth I made a face as if I would eat him alive the poor man screamed terribly and the colonel and his officers were much distressed especially when they saw me take out my pen knife but I soon set them at ease for cutting the strings he was bound with I put him gently on the ground and away he ran I treated the rest in the same manner taking them one by one out of my pocket and I saw that both the soldiers and people were delighted at this mark of my kindness toward night I got with some difficulty into my house where I lay on the ground as I had to do for a fortnight he ordered for me out of six hundred beds of the ordinary measure six hundred servants were appointed me and three hundred tailors made me a suit of clothes moreover six of his majesty's greatest scholars were employed to teach me their language so that soon I was able to converse after a fashion with the emperor who often honored me with his visits the first words I learned were to desire that he would please to give me my liberty every day repeated on my knees but he answered that this must be a work of time and that first I must swear a peace with him and his kingdom he told me also that by the laws of the nation I must be searched by two of his officers and that as this could not be done without my help he trusted them in my hands and whatever they took from me should be returned when I left the country I took up the two officers and put them into my coat pockets these gentlemen having pen, ink and paper about them made an exact list of everything they saw which I afterward translated into English and which ran as follows in the right coat pocket of the great man mountain we found only one great piece of coarse cloth large enough to cover the carpet of your majesty's chief room of state in the left pocket we saw a huge silver chest with a silver cover which we could not lift we desired that it should be opened and one of us stepping into it found himself up to the mid-leg in a sort of dust some of which flying into our faces sent us both into a fit of sneezing in his right waistcoat pocket we found a number of white thin substances folded one over another about the size of three men tied with a strong cable and marked with black figures which we humbly conceived to be writings in the left there was a sort of engine from the back of which extended twenty long poles with which we conjecture the man mountain combs his head in the smaller pocket on the right side were several round flat pieces of white and red metal of different sizes some of the white which appeared to be silver were so large and heavy that my comrade and I could hardly lift them from another pocket hung a huge silver chain with a wonderful kind of engine fastened to it a globe half silver and half of some transparent metal for on the transparent side we saw certain strange figures and thought we could touch them till we found our fingers stopped by the shining substance this engine made an incessant noise like a water mill and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal or the god he worships but probably the latter as he told us that he seldom did anything without consulting it this is a list of what we found about the body of the man mountain who treated us with great civility I had one private pocket which escaped their search containing a pair of spectacles and a small spyglass which being of no consequence to the emperor I did not think myself bound in honor to discover Chapter 3 The behavior gained so far on the emperor and his court and indeed on the people in general that I began to have hopes of getting my liberty in a short time the natives came by degrees to be less fearful of 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 ventured to come and play at hide and seek in my hair the horses of the army and of the royal stables were no longer shy and daily led before me and one of the emperor's huntsmen on a large corsair took my foot, shoe, and all which was indeed a prodigious sleep I amused the emperor one day in a very extraordinary manner I took nine sticks and fixed them firmly in the ground in a square then I took four other sticks and tied them parallel at each corner about two feet from the ground I fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks stood erect and extended it on all sides till it was as tight as the top of a drum and I desired the emperor to let a troop of his best horse, twenty-four in number, come and exercise upon this plane His majesty approved of the proposal and I took them up one by one with the proper officers to exercise them as soon as they got into order they divided into two parties discharged blunt arrows drew their swords, fled and pursued and in short showed the best military discipline I ever beheld the parallel sticks secured them and their horses from falling off the stage and the emperor was so much delighted that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated several days and persuaded the empress herself to let me hold her in her chair within two yards of the stage once she could view the whole performance fortunately no accident happened only once a fiery horse the whole in my handkerchief and overthrew his rider and himself but I immediately relieved them both and covering the whole with my hand I set down the troop with the other as I had taken them up the horse that fell was strained in the shoulder but the rider was not 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 I had sent so many petitions for my liberty Majesty at length mentioned the matter in a full council where it was opposed by none except Skyrish Bulgalam admiral of the realm who was pleased without any provocation to be my mortal enemy however he agreed at length though he succeeded in himself drawing up the conditions on which I should be set free after they were read I was requested to swear to perform them in the method prescribed by their laws which was to hold my right foot in my left hand with the middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head and my thumb on the top of my right ear but I have made a translation of the conditions which I here offer to the public Goal-based Mamarine Gurdial Most mighty emperor of Lilliput Delight and terror of the universe whose dominions extend to the ends of the globe monarch of all monarchs whose sons of men whose feet press down to the center 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 proposeth to the man-mountain lately arrived at our celestial dominions the following articles which by a solemn oath he shall be obliged to perform First The man-mountain shall not depart from our dominions without our license under the great seal Second 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 doors Third 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 Fourth As he walks the said roads he shall take the utmost care not 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 Fifth If an express requires extraordinary speed the man-mountain shall be obliged upon his pocket the messenger and horse a six days journey and return the said messenger if so required safe to our imperial presence Sixth He shall be our ally against our enemies in the island of Blefescue and do his utmost to destroy their fleet which is now preparing to invade us Lastly upon his solemn oath to observe all the above articles the said man-mountain emphasized the importance 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 B'el Furoehck the Twelve-Day of The Ninety-first Moon of Our Rain I swore to these articles with great cheerfulness whereupon my chains were immediately unlocked and I was at full liberty One morning about a fortnight after gained my freedom. Relgersoll, the Emperor's Secretary for Private Affairs, came to my house, attended only by one servant. He ordered his coach to wait at a distance, and desired that I should give him an hour's audience. I offered to lie down that he might, the more conveniently, reach my ear, but he chose rather to let me hold him in my hand during our conversation. He began with compliments on my liberty, but he added that, save for the present state of things at court, perhaps I might not have obtained it so soon. For, he said, however flourishing we may seem to foreigners, we are in danger of an invasion from the island of Blefescue, which is the other great empire of the universe, almost as large and as powerful as this of his majesty. For as to what we have heard you say, that there are other kingdoms in the world, inhabited by human creatures as large as yourself, our philosophers are very doubtful, and rather conjecture that you dropped from the moon, or one of the stars. Perhaps a hundred mortals of your size would soon destroy all the fruit and cattle of his majesty's dominions. Besides, our histories of six thousand moons make no mention of any other regions than the two mighty empires of Lilliput and Blefescue, which, as I was going to tell you, are engaged in a most obstinate war, which began in the following manner. It is allowed on all hands that the primitive way of breaking eggs was upon the larger end, but his present majesty's grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers, whereupon the emperor, his father, made a law commanding all his subjects to break the smaller end of their eggs. The people so highly resented this law, there have been six rebellions raised on the account, wherein one emperor lost his life and another his crown. It is calculated that eleven hundred persons have at different times suffered rather than break their eggs at the smaller end, but these rebels, the Big Endians, have found so much encouragement at the emperor of Blefescue's court, to which they always fled for refuge, that a bloody war, as I said, has been carried on between the two empires for six and thirty moons, and now the Blefescueians have equipped a large fleet, and are preparing to descend upon us. Therefore his imperial majesty, placing great confidence in your valor and strength, has commanded me to set the case before you. I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the emperor, and to let him know that I was ready, at the risk of my life, to defend him against all invaders. It was not long before I communicated to his majesty the plan I formed for seizing the enemy's whole fleet. The empire of Blefescue is an island, parted from Lilliput only by a channel eight hundred yards wide. I consulted the most experienced seamen on the depth of the channel, and they told me that in the middle, at high water, it was seventy glum-guffs, about six feet of European measure. I walked toward the coast, where, lying down behind a hillock, I took out my spy-glass, and viewed the enemy's fleet at anchor, about fifty men of war, and other vessels. I then came back to my house and gave orders for a great quantity of the strongest cables and bars of iron. The cable was about as thick as pack-thread, and the bars of the length and size of a knitting needle. I troubled the cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason twisted three of the iron bars together, bending the ends into a hook. Having thus fixed fifty hooks, to as many cables, I went back to the coast and taking off my coat, shoes, and stockings, walked into the sea, in my leather jacket, about half an hour before high water. I waited, with what haste I could, swimming in the middle about thirty yards till I felt ground, and thus arrived at the fleet in less than half an hour. The enemy was so frightened, when they saw me, that they leaped out of their ships and swam ashore, where there could not be fewer than thirty thousand. Then, fastening a hook to the hole at the prow of each ship, I tied all the cords together at the end. Meanwhile, the enemy discharged several thousand arrows, many of which stuck in my hands and face. My greatest fear was for my eyes, which I should have lost if I had not suddenly thought of the pair of spectacles which had escaped the emperor's searchers. These I took out and fastened upon my nose, and thus armed went on with my work in spite of the arrows, many of which struck against the glasses of my spectacles, but without any other effect than slightly disturbing them. Then, taking the knot in my hand, I began to pull, but not a ship would stir, for they were too fast held by their anchors. Thus the boldest part of my enterprise remained. Letting go the cord, I resolutely cut with my knife the cables that fastened the anchors, receiving more than two hundred shots in the face and hands. Then I took up again 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. When the Blytheschudians saw the fleet moving in order, and me pulling at the end, they set up a scream of grief and despair that it is impossible to describe. When I had got out of danger, I stopped awhile 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 arrival. I then took off my spectacles, and after waiting about an hour till the tide was a little fallen, I waded on to the royal port of Lilliput. The emperor and his whole court stood on the shore awaiting me. They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who, in the middle of the channel, was underwater up to my neck. The emperor concluded that I was drowned, and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in a hostile manner. But he was soon set at ease, 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 purest emperor of Lilliput! The prince received me at my landing with all possible joy, and made me a gnardle on the spot, which is the highest title of honor among them. His majesty desired that I would take some opportunity to bring all the rest of his enemy's ships into his ports, and seemed to think of nothing less than conquering the whole empire of Blefescu, and becoming the sole monarch of the world. But I plainly protested that I would never be the means of bringing a free and brave people into slavery, and though the wisest of the ministers were of my opinion, my open refusal was so opposed to his majesty's ambition that he would never forgive me. And from this time a plot began between himself and those of his ministers who were my enemies, that nearly ended in my utter destruction. About three weeks after this exploit there arrived an embassy from Blefescu with humble offers of peace, which was soon concluded on terms very advantageous to our emperor. There were six ambassadors with a train of about five hundred persons, all very magnificent. Having been privately told that I had befriended them, they made me a visit, and paying me many compliments on my valor and generosity, invited me to their kingdom in the emperor their master's name. I asked them to present my most humble respects to the emperor their master, 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 permission to visit the Blefescu-dian monarch. This he granted me, but in a very cold manner, of which I afterward learned the reason. When I was just preparing to pay my respects to the emperor of Blefescu, a distinguished person at court, to whom I had once done a great service, came to my house very privately at night, and without sending his name desired admission. I put his lordship into my coat pocket, and giving orders to a trusty servant to admit no one, I fastened to the door, placed my visitor on the table, and sat down by it. His lordship's face was full of trouble, and he asked me to hear him with patience, in a matter that highly concerned my honor and my life. "'You are aware,' he said, that Skyrish Bulgalam has been your mortal enemy ever since your arrival, and his hatred is increased since your great success against Blefescu, by which his glory as admiral is obscured. This lord and others have accused you of treason, and several councils have been called in the most private manner on your account. Out of gratitude for your favors, I procured information of the whole proceedings, venturing my head for your service, and this was the charge against you. First, that you, having brought to the imperial fleet of Blefescu into the royal port, were commanded by his majesty to seize all the other ships, and put to death all the Big Endian exiles, and also all the people of the empire who would not immediately consent to break their eggs at the smaller end. And that, like a false traitor to his most serene majesty, you excused yourself from the service on pretense of unwillingness to force the consciences and destroy the liberties and lives of an innocent people. Again, when ambassadors arrived from the court of Blefescu, like a false traitor, you aided and entertained them, though you knew them to be servants of a prince lately in open war against his imperial majesty. Moreover, you are now preparing, contrary to the duty of a faithful subject, to voyage to the court of Blefescu. In the debate on this charge, my friend continued, his majesty often urged the services you have done him, while the admiral and treasurer insisted that you should be put to a shameful death. But Reldrassel, secretary for private affairs, who has always proved himself your friend, suggested that if his majesty would please to spare your life and only give orders to put out both your eyes, justice might in some measure be satisfied. At this, Bulgolam rose up in fury, wondering how the secretary dared to desire to preserve the life of the traitor, and the treasurer pointing out the expense of keeping you also urged your death. But his majesty was graciously pleased to say that since the council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a punishment, some other might afterward be inflicted. And the secretary, humbly desiring to be heard again, said that, as to expense your allowance, might be gradually lessened, so that, for want of sufficient food, you should grow weak and faint and die in a few months. And his majesty's subjects might cut your flesh from your bones and bury it, leaving the skeleton for the admiration of posterity. Thus, through the great friendship of the secretary the affair was arranged, it was commanded that the plan of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret, but the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the books. In three days your friend the secretary will come to your house and read the accusation before you, and point out the great mercy of his majesty that only condones you to the loss of your eyes, which he does not doubt you will submit to humbly and gratefully. Twenty of his majesty's surgeons will attend to see the operation well performed by discharging very sharp pointed arrows into the balls of your eyes as you lie on the ground. I leave you, said my friend, to consider what measures you will take, and to escape suspicion I must immediately return as secretly as I came. His lordship did so, and I remained alone in great perplexity. At first I was bent on resistance, for while I had liberty I could easily, with stones, pelt the metropolis to pieces, but I soon rejected that idea with horror, remembering the oath I had made to the emperor, and the favors I had received from him. At last, having his majesty's leave to pay my respects to the emperor of Blefescue, I resolved to take this opportunity. Before the three days had passed I wrote a letter to my friend the secretary telling him of my resolution, and without waiting for an answer went to the coast, and entering the channel between waiting and swimming reached the port of Blefescue where the people who had long expected me led me to the capital. His majesty, with the royal family and great officers of the court, came out to receive me, and they entertained me in a manner suited to the generosity of so great a prince. I did not, however, mention my disgrace with the emperor of Vliliput, since I did not suppose that prince would disclose the secret while I was out of his power, but in this it soon appeared I was deceived. CHAPTER V Three days after my arrival, walking out of curiosity to the northeast coast of the island, I observed at some distance in the sea something that looked like a boat overturned. I pulled off my shoes and stockings and, waiting two or three hundred yards, I plainly saw it to be a real boat, which I supposed might by some tempest have been driven from a ship. I returned immediately to the city for help, and after a huge amount of labor I managed to get my boat to the royal port of Blefescue where a great crowd of people appeared, full of wonder at 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 once I might return to my native country and begged his orders for materials to fit it up and leave to depart, which after many kindly speeches he was pleased to grant. Meanwhile the emperor of Vliliput, uneasy at my long absence but never imagining that I had the least notice of his designs, sent a person of rank to inform the emperor of Blefescue of my disgrace. This messenger had orders to represent the great mercy of his master, who was content to punish me with the loss of my eyes, and who expected that his brother of Blefescue would have me sent back to Vliliput, bound hand and foot, to be punished as a traitor. The emperor of Blefescue answered with many civil excuses. He said that as for sending me bound his brother knew it was impossible. Moreover, though I had taken away his fleet, he was grateful to me for many good offices I had done him in making the peace. But that 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, and he hoped in a few weeks both empires would be free from me. With this answer the messenger returned to Vliliput, and I, though the monarch of Blefescue secretly offered me his gracious protection, if I would continue in his service, hastened my departure, resolving never more to put confidence in princes. In about a month I was ready to take leave. The emperor of Blefescue, with the empress and the royal family, came out of the palace, and I lay down on my face to kiss their hands, which they graciously gave me. His majesty presented me with fifty purses of sprugs, their greatest gold coin, and his picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of my gloves, to keep it from being hurt. Many other ceremonies took place at my departure. I stored the boat with meat and drink, and took six cows and two bulls alive, with as many ews and rams, intending to carry them into my own country, 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 pledged my honor not to carry away any of his subjects, though with their own consent and desire. Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail. When I had made twenty-four leagues by my reckoning, from the island of Bluffescue, I saw a sail steering to the northeast. I hailed her, but could get no answer, yet I found I gained upon her for the wind slackened, and in half an hour she spied me and discharged a gun. I came up with her between five and six in the evening, September twenty-six, 1701, 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. The captain received me with kindness, and asked me to tell him what place I came from last, but at my answer he thought I was raving. However, I took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great astonishment, clearly convinced him. We arrived in England on the thirteenth of April, 1702. I stayed two months with my wife and family, but my eager desire to see foreign countries would suffer me to remain no longer. However, while in England, I made great profit by showing my cattle to persons of quality and others. And before I began my second voyage, I sold them for six hundred pounds. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife, and fixed her in a good house, then taking leave of her and my boy and girl, with tears on both sides, I sailed on board the adventure. Begin note, swift, end note. End of A Voyage to Lilliput, from the Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The Princess on the Glass Hill of the Blue Fairy Book This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jeanette Selig. The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The Princess on the Glass Hill Once upon a time there was a man who had a meadow which lay on the side of a mountain, and in the meadow there was a barn in which he stored hay. But there had not been much hay in the barn for the last two years, for every St. John's Eve when the grass was in the height of its figure, it was all eaten clean up, just as if a whole flock of sheep had knotted down to the ground during the night. This happened once, and it happened twice, but then the man got tired of losing his crop, and said to his sons, he had three of them and the third was called Cinderlad, that one of them must go and sleep in the barn on St. John's night, for it was absurd to let the grass be eaten up again, blade and stock, as it had been the last two years. And the one who went to watch must keep a sharp look out, the man said. The eldest was quite willing to go to the meadow, he would watch the grass, he said, and he would do it so well that neither man nor beast nor even the devil himself should have any of it. So when evening came he went to the barn and lay down to sleep. But when night was drawing near there was such a rumbling and such an earthquake that the walls and roof shook again, and the lad jumped up and took to his heels as fast as he could and never even looked back, and the barn remained empty that year, just as it had been for the last two. Next St. John's Eve, the man again said that he could not go on in this way, losing all the grass in the outlying field year after year, and that one of his sons must just go there and watch it and watch well too. So the next oldest son was willing to show what he could do. He went to the barn and lay down to sleep as his brother had done. But when night was drawing near there was a great rumbling and then an earthquake which was even worse than that on the former St. John's night, and when the youth heard it he was terrified and went off running as if for a wager. The year after it was Cinderlad's turn, but when he made ready to go the others laughed at him and mocked him. Well, you were just the right one to watch the hey, you who have never learned anything but how to sit among the ashes and bake yourself, said they. Cinderlad however did not trouble himself about what they said, but when evening drew near rambled away to the outlying field. When he got there he went into the barn and lay down, but in about an hour's time the rumbling and creaking began and it was frightful to hear it. Well, if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it, thought Cinderlad. In a little time the creaking began again and the earth quaked so that all the hay flew about the boy. Oh, if it gets no worse than that I can manage to stand it, thought Cinderlad. But then came a third rumbling and a third earthquake so violent that the boy thought the walls and roof had fallen down. But when that was over everything suddenly grew as still as death around him. I am pretty sure that it will come again, thought Cinderlad, but no it did not. Everything was quiet and everything stayed quiet and when he had lain still a short time he heard something that sounded as if a horse were standing, chewing just outside the barn door. He stole away to the door which was a jar to see what was there and a horse was standing, eating. It was so big and fat and fine a horse that Cinderlad had never seen one like it before and a saddle and bridle lay upon it and a complete suit of armor for a night and everything was of copper and so bright that it shone again. Ha ha, it is thou who eatest up our hay then, thought the boy, but I will stop that. So he made haste and took out his steel for striking fire and threw it over the horse and then it had no power to stir from the spot and became so tame that the boy could do what he liked with it. So he mounted it and rode away to a place which no one knew of but himself and there he tied it up. When he went home again his brothers laughed and asked how he had got on. You didn't lie long in the barn if even you have been so far as the field, said they. I lay in the barn till the sun rose but I saw nothing and heard nothing, not I, said the boy. God knows what there was to make you two so frightened. Well, we shall soon see whether you have watched the meadow or not, answered the brothers, but when they got there the grass was all standing just as long and as thick as it had been the night before. The next St. John's Eve it was the same thing. Once again neither of the two brothers dared to go to the outlying field to watch the crop but Cinderlad went and everything happened exactly the same as on the previous St. John's Eve. First there was a rumbling on an earthquake and then there was another and then a third but all three earthquakes were much, very much more violent than they had been the year before. Then everything became as still as death again and the boy heard something chewing outside the barn door so he stole as softly as he could to the door which was slightly ajar and again there was a horse standing close by the wall of the house eating and chewing and it was far larger and fatter than the first horse and it had a saddle on its back and a bridle was on it too and a full suit of armor for a night all of bright silver and as beautiful as anyone could wish to see. Ho-ho! thought the boy. Is it thou who eatest up our hay in the night? But I will put a stop to that. So he took out his steel for striking fire and threw it over the horse's mane and the beast stood there as quiet as a lamb. Then the boy rode this horse too away to the place where he kept the other and then went home again. I suppose you will tell us that you have watched well again this time, said the brothers. Well so I have, said Cinderlad. So they went there again and there the grass was standing as high and as thick as it had been before. But that did not make them any kinder to Cinderlad. When the third St. John's night came neither of the two elder brothers dared to lie in the outlying barn to watch the grass for they had been so heartily frightened the night that they had slept there that they could not get over it. But Cinderlad dared to go and everything happened just the same as on the two former nights. There were three earthquakes each worse than the other and the last flung the boy from one wall of the barn to the other but then everything suddenly became still as death. When he had lain quietly a short time he heard something chewing outside the barn door. Then he once more stole to the door which was slightly a jar and behold a horse was standing just outside it which was much larger and fatter than the two others he had caught. Ho-ho! It is thou then who art eating up our hay this time, thought the boy, but I will put a stop to that. So he pulled out his steel for striking fire and threw it over the horse and it stood as still as if it had been nailed to the field and the boy could do just what he liked with it. Then he mounted it and rode away to the place where he had the two others and then he went home again. Then the two brothers mocked him just as they had done before and told him that they could see that he must have watched the grass very carefully that night for he looked just as if he were walking in his sleep but Cinder Lad did not trouble himself about that but just bad them go to the field and see. They did go and this time too the grass was standing looking as fine and as thick as ever. The king of the country in which Cinder Lad's father dwelt had a daughter whom he would give to no one who could not ride up to the top of the glass hill for there was a high high hill of glass slippery as ice and it was close to the king's palace. Upon the very top of this the king's daughter was to sit with three gold apples in her lap and the man who could ride up and take the three golden apples should marry her and have half the kingdom. The king had this proclaimed in every church in the whole kingdom and in many other kingdoms too. The princess was very beautiful and all who saw her fell violently in love with her even in spite of themselves. So it is needless to say that all the princes and knights were eager to win her and have the kingdom besides and that for this cause they came riding Viver from the very end of the world dressed so splendidly that their raiments gleamed in the sunshine and riding on horses which seemed to dance as they went and there was not one of these princes who did not think that he was sure to win the princess. When the day appointed by the king had come there was such a host of knights and princes under the glass hill that they seemed to swarm and everyone who could walk or even creep was there too to see who won the king's daughter. Sunderlad's two brothers were there too but they would not hear of letting him go with them for he was so dirty and black was sleeping and grubbing among the ashes that they said everyone would laugh at them if they were seen in the company of such an oath. Well then I will go all alone by myself said Sunderlad. When the two brothers got to the glass hill all the princes and knights were trying to ride up it and their horses were in a foam but it was all in vain for no sooner did the horses set foot upon the hill than down they slipped and there was not one which could get even so much as a couple of yards up nor was that strange for the hill was as smooth as a glass window pane and as steep as the side of a house but they were all eager to win the king's daughter and half the kingdom so they rode and they slipped and thus it went on. At length all the horses were so tired that they could do no more and so hot that the foam dropped from them and the riders were forced to give up the attempt. The king was just thinking that he would cause it to be proclaimed that the riding should begin afresh on the following day when perhaps it might go better when suddenly a knight came riding up on so fine a horse that no one had ever seen the like of it before and the knight had armor of copper and his bridle was of copper too and all his accoutrements were so bright that they shone again. The other knights all called out to him that he must just as well spare himself the trouble of trying to ride up the glass hill for it was of no use to try but he did not heed them and rode straight off to it and went up as if it were nothing at all. Thus he rode for a long way. It may have been a third part of the way up but when he had got so far he turned his horse round and rode down again but the princess thought that she had never yet seen so handsome a knight and while he was riding up she was sitting thinking oh how I hope he may be able to come up to the top and when she saw that he was turning his horse back she threw one of the golden apples down after him and it rolled into his shoe but when he had come down from off the hill he rode away and that's so fast that no one knew what had become of him. So all the princes and knights were bitten to present themselves before the king that night so that he who had ridden so far up the glass hill might show the golden apple which the king's daughter had thrown down but no one had anything to show. One knight presented himself after the other and none could show the apple. At night two cinderlads brothers came home again and had a long story to tell about riding up the glass hill. At first they said there was not one who was able to get even so much as one step up but then came a knight who had armor of copper and a bridle of copper and his armor and trappings were so bright that they shown to a great distance and it was something like a sight to see him riding. He rode one third of the way up the glass hill and he could easily have ridden the whole of it if he had liked but he had turned back for he had made up his mind that that was enough for once. Oh I should have liked to see him too that I should said cinderlad who was as usual sitting by the chimney among the cinders. You indeed said the brothers you look as if you were fit to be among such great lords nasty beast that you are to sit there. Next day the brothers were for setting out again and this time too cinderlad begged them to let him go with them and see who rode but no they said he was not fit to do that for he was much too ugly and dirty. Well well then I will go all alone by myself said cinderlad. So the brothers went to the glass hill and all the princes and knights began to ride again and this time they had taken care to roughen the shoes of their horses but that did not help them they rode and they slipped as they had done the day before and not one of them could get even so far as a yard up the hill. When they had tied out their horses so that they could do no more they again had to stop altogether but just as the king was thinking that it would be well to proclaim that the riding should take place next day for the last time so that they might have one more chance he suddenly but thought himself that it would be well to wait a little longer to see if the knight in copper armor would come on this day too but nothing was to be seen of him just as they were still looking for him however came a knight riding on a steed that was much much finer than that which the knight in copper armor had ridden and this knight had silver armor and a silver saddle and bridle and all were so bright that they shone and glistened when he was a long way off again the other knights called to him and said that he might just as well give up the attempt to ride up the glass hill for it was useless to try but the knight paid no heed to that but rode straight away to the glass hill and went still farther up than the knight in copper armor had gone but when he had ridden two-thirds of the way up he turned his horse around and rode down again the princess liked this knight still better than she had the other and sat longing that he might be able to get up above and when she saw him turning back she threw the second apple after him and it rolled into his shoe and as soon as he had got down the glass hill he rode away so fast that no one could see what had become of him in the evening when everyone was to appear before the king and princess in order that he who had the golden apple might show it one knight went in after the other but none of them had a golden apple to show at night the two brothers went home as they had done the night before and told how things had gone and how everyone had ridden but no one had been able to get up the hill but last of all they said came one in silver armor and he had a silver bridle on his horse and a silver saddle and oh but he could ride he took his horse two-thirds of the way up the hill but then he turned back he was a fine fellow said the brothers and the princess threw the second golden apple to him oh how i should have liked to see him too said cinder lad oh indeed he was a little brighter than the ashes that you sit grubbing among you dirty black creature said the brothers on the third day everything went just as on the former days cinder lad wanted to go with them to look at the riding but the two brothers would not have him in their company and when they got to the glass hill there was no one who could ride even so far as a yard up it and everyone waited for the night in silver armor but he was neither to be seen nor heard of at last after a long time came a night riding upon a horse that was such a fine one its equal had never yet been seen the night had golden armor and the horse a golden saddle and bridle and these were all so bright that they shone and dazzled everyone even while the night was still at a great distance the other princes and knights were not able even to call to him to tell him how useless it was to try to ascend the hill so amazed were they at the sight of his magnificence he rode straight away to the glass hill and galloped up it as if it were no hill at all so that the princess had not even time to wish that he might get up the whole way as soon as he had ridden to the top he took the third golden apple from the lap of the princess and then turned his horse about and rode down again and vanished from their sight before anyone was able to say a word to him when the two brothers came home again at night they had much to tell of how the riding had gone that day and at last they told about the night in the golden armor too he was a fine fellow that was such another splendid night is not to be found on earth said the brothers oh how I should have liked to see him too said cinder lad well he shone nearly as brightly as the coal heaps that thou art always lying raking among dirty black creature that thou art said the brothers next day all the knights and princes were to appear before the king and princess it had been too late for them to do it the night before in order that he who had the golden apple might produce it they all went in turn first princes and then knights but none of them had a golden apple but somebody must have it said the king for with our own eyes we all saw a man ride up and take it so he commanded that everyone in the kingdom should come to the palace and see if he could show the apple and one after the other they all came but no one had the golden apple and after a long long time cinder lads two brothers came likewise they were the last of all so the king inquired of them if there was no one else in the kingdom left to come oh yes we have a brother said the two but he never got the golden apple he never left the cinder heap on any of the three days never mind that said the king as everyone else has come to the palace let him come to so cinder lad was forced to go to the king's palace hast thou the golden apple asked the king yes here is the first and here is the second and here is the third two said cinder lad and he took all three apples out of his pocket and with that drew off his sooty rags and appeared there before them in his bright golden armor which gleamed as he stood thou shalt have my daughter and the half of my kingdom and thou hast well earned both said the king so there was a wedding and cinder lad got the king's daughter and everyone made merry at the wedding for all of them could make merry though they could not ride up the glass hill and if they have not left off their merry making they must be at it still us björnsson and moa end of the princess on the glass hill recording by janette sea lake