Путешествие Гулливера

Chapter 5

           Hermajestysaid,ifIwouldcontriveaboat,herownjoinershouldmakeit,andshewouldprovideaplaceformetosailin.Thefellowwasaningeniousworkman,andbymyinstructions,intendays,finishedapleasure-boatwithallitstackling,ableconvenientlytoholdeightEuropeans.Whenitwasfinished,thequeenwassodelighted,thatsheranwithitinherlaptotheking,whoorderedittobeputintoacisternfullofwater,withmeinit,bywayoftrial,whereIcouldnotmanagemytwosculls,orlittleoars,forwantofroom.Butthequeenhadbeforecontrivedanotherproject.Sheorderedthejoinertomakeawoodentroughofthreehundredfeetlong,fiftybroad,andeightdeep;which,beingwellpitched,topreventleaking,wasplacedonthefloor,alongthewall,inanouterroomofthepalace.Ithadacocknearthebottomtoletoutthewater,whenitbegantogrowstale;andtwoservantscouldeasilyfillitinhalfanhour.HereIoftenusedtorowformyowndiversion,aswellasthatofthequeenandherladies,whothoughtthemselveswellentertainedwithmyskillandagility.SometimesIwouldputupmysail,andthenmybusinesswasonlytosteer,whiletheladiesgavemeagalewiththeirfans;and,whentheywereweary,someoftheirpageswouldblowmysailforwardwiththeirbreath,whileIshowedmyartbysteeringstarboardorlarboardasIpleased.WhenIhaddone,Glumdalclitchalwayscarriedbackmyboatintohercloset,andhungitonanailtodry.

           InthisexerciseIoncemetanaccident,whichhadliketohavecostmemylife;for,oneofthepageshavingputmyboatintothetrough,thegovernesswhoattendedGlumdalclitchveryofficiouslyliftedmeup,toplacemeintheboat:butIhappenedtoslipthroughherfingers,andshouldinfalliblyhavefallendownfortyfeetuponthefloor,if,bytheluckiestchanceintheworld,Ihadnotbeenstoppedbyacorking-pinthatstuckinthegoodgentlewoman’sstomacher;theheadofthepinpassingbetweenmyshirtandthewaistbandofmybreeches,andthusIwasheldbythemiddleintheair,tillGlumdalclitchrantomyrelief.

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