Путешествие Гулливера

           Iwasverymuchtired,anddisposedtosleep,whichmymistressperceiving,sheputmeonherownbed,andcoveredmewithacleanwhitehandkerchief,butlargerandcoarserthanthemainsailofaman-of-war.

           Isleptabouttwohours,anddreamtIwasathomewithmywifeandchildren,whichaggravatedmysorrowswhenIawaked,andfoundmyselfaloneinavastroom,betweentwoandthreehundredfeetwide,andabovetwohundredhigh,lyinginabedtwentyyardswide.Mymistresswasgoneaboutherhouseholdaffairs,andhadlockedmein.Thebedwaseightyardsfromthefloor.Somenaturalnecessitiesrequiredmetogetdown;Idurstnotpresumetocall;andifIhad,itwouldhavebeeninvain,withsuchavoiceasmine,atsogreatadistancefromtheroomwhereIlaytothekitchenwherethefamilykept.WhileIwasunderthesecircumstances,tworatscreptupthecurtains,andransmellingbackwardsandforwardsonthebed.Oneofthemcameupalmosttomyface,whereuponIroseinafright,anddrewoutmyhangertodefendmyself.Thesehorribleanimalshadtheboldnesstoattackmeonbothsides,andoneofthemheldhisfore-feetatmycollar;butIhadthegoodfortunetoripuphisbellybeforehecoulddomeanymischief.Hefelldownatmyfeet;andtheother,seeingthefateofhiscomrade,madehisescape,butnotwithoutonegoodwoundontheback,whichIgavehimashefled,andmadethebloodruntricklingfromhim.Afterthisexploit,Iwalkedgentlytoandfroonthebed,torecovermybreathandlossofspirits.Thesecreatureswereofthesizeofalargemastiff,butinfinitelymorenimbleandfierce;sothatifIhadtakenoffmybeltbeforeIwenttosleep,Imusthaveinfalliblybeentorntopiecesanddevoured.Imeasuredthetailofthedeadrat,andfoundittobetwoyardslong,wantinganinch;butitwentagainstmystomachtodragthecarcassoffthebed,whereitlaystillbleeding;Iobservedithadyetsomelife,butwithastrongslashacrosstheneck,Ithoroughlydespatchedit.