Путешествие Гулливера

           Inthemeantimetheemperorheldfrequentcouncils,todebatewhatcourseshouldbetakenwithme;andIwasafterwardsassuredbyaparticularfriend,apersonofgreatquality,whowasasmuchinthesecretasany,thatthecourtwasundermanydifficultiesconcerningme.Theyapprehendedmybreakingloose;thatmydietwouldbeveryexpensive,andmightcauseafamine.Sometimestheydeterminedtostarveme;oratleasttoshootmeinthefaceandhandswithpoisonedarrows,whichwouldsoondespatchme;butagaintheyconsidered,thatthestenchofsolargeacarcassmightproduceaplagueinthemetropolis,andprobablyspreadthroughthewholekingdom.Inthemidstoftheseconsultations,severalofficersofthearmywenttothedoorofthegreatcouncil-chamber,andtwoofthembeingadmitted,gaveanaccountofmybehaviourtothesixcriminalsabove-mentioned;whichmadesofavourableanimpressioninthebreastofhismajestyandthewholeboard,inmybehalf,thatanimperialcommissionwasissuedout,obligingallthevillages,ninehundredyardsroundthecity,todeliverineverymorningsixbeeves,fortysheep,andothervictualsformysustenance;togetherwithaproportionablequantityofbread,andwine,andotherliquors;fortheduepaymentofwhich,hismajestygaveassignmentsuponhistreasury:—forthisprinceliveschieflyuponhisowndemesnes;seldom,exceptupongreatoccasions,raisinganysubsidiesuponhissubjects,whoareboundtoattendhiminhiswarsattheirownexpense.Anestablishmentwasalsomadeofsixhundredpersonstobemydomestics,whohadboard-wagesallowedfortheirmaintenance,andtentsbuiltforthemveryconvenientlyoneachsideofmydoor.Itwaslikewiseordered,thatthreehundredtailorsshouldmakemeasuitofclothes,afterthefashionofthecountry;thatsixofhismajesty’sgreatestscholarsshouldbeemployedtoinstructmeintheirlanguage;andlastly,thattheemperor’shorses,andthoseofthenobilityandtroopsofguards,shouldbefrequentlyexercisedinmysight,toaccustomthemselvestome.