Путешествие Гулливера

Chapter 3

           Whoeverperformshispartwithmostagility,andholdsoutthelongestinleapingandcreeping,isrewardedwiththeblue-colouredsilk;theredisgiventothenext,andthegreentothethird,whichtheyallweargirttwiceroundaboutthemiddle;andyouseefewgreatpersonsaboutthiscourtwhoarenotadornedwithoneofthesegirdles.

           Thehorsesofthearmy,andthoseoftheroyalstables,havingbeendailyledbeforeme,werenolongershy,butwouldcomeuptomyveryfeetwithoutstarting.Theriderswouldleapthemovermyhand,asIhelditontheground;andoneoftheemperor’shuntsmen,uponalargecourser,tookmyfoot,shoeandall;whichwasindeedaprodigiousleap.Ihadthegoodfortunetodiverttheemperoronedayafteraveryextraordinarymanner.Idesiredhewouldorderseveralsticksoftwofeethigh,andthethicknessofanordinarycane,tobebroughtme;whereuponhismajestycommandedthemasterofhiswoodstogivedirectionsaccordingly;andthenextmorningsixwoodmenarrivedwithasmanycarriages,drawnbyeighthorsestoeach.Itooknineofthesesticks,andfixingthemfirmlyinthegroundinaquadrangularfigure,twofeetandahalfsquare,Itookfourothersticks,andtiedthemparallelateachcorner,abouttwofeetfromtheground;thenIfastenedmyhandkerchieftotheninesticksthatstooderect;andextendeditonallsides,tillitwastightasthetopofadrum;andthefourparallelsticks,risingaboutfiveincheshigherthanthehandkerchief,servedasledgesoneachside.WhenIhadfinishedmywork,Idesiredtheemperortoletatroopofhisbesthorsestwenty-fourinnumber,comeandexerciseuponthisplain.Hismajestyapprovedoftheproposal,andItookthemup,onebyone,inmyhands,readymountedandarmed,withtheproperofficerstoexercisethem.Assoonastheygotintoordertheydividedintotwoparties,performedmockskirmishes,dischargedbluntarrows,drewtheirswords,fledandpursued,attackedandretired,andinshortdiscoveredthebestmilitarydisciplineIeverbeheld.

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