Chapter 5

           Thereadermaypleasetoobserve,thatthefollowingextractofmanyconversationsIhadwithmymaster,containsasummaryofthemostmaterialpointswhichwerediscoursedatseveraltimesforabovetwoyears;hishonouroftendesiringfullersatisfaction,asIfartherimprovedintheHouyhnhnmtongue.Ilaidbeforehim,aswellasIcould,thewholestateofEurope;Idiscoursedoftradeandmanufactures,ofartsandsciences;andtheanswersIgavetoallthequestionshemade,astheyaroseuponseveralsubjects,wereafundofconversationnottobeexhausted.ButIshallhereonlysetdownthesubstanceofwhatpassedbetweenusconcerningmyowncountry,reducingitinorderaswellasIcan,withoutanyregardtotimeorothercircumstances,whileIstrictlyadheretotruth.Myonlyconcernis,thatIshallhardlybeabletodojusticetomymaster’sargumentsandexpressions,whichmustneedssufferbymywantofcapacity,aswellasbyatranslationintoourbarbarousEnglish.

           Inobedience,therefore,tohishonour’scommands,IrelatedtohimtheRevolutionunderthePrinceofOrange;thelongwarwithFrance,enteredintobythesaidprince,andrenewedbyhissuccessor,thepresentqueen,whereinthegreatestpowersofChristendomwereengaged,andwhichstillcontinued:Icomputed,athisrequest,"thataboutamillionofYahoosmighthavebeenkilledinthewholeprogressofit;andperhapsahundredormorecitiestaken,andfivetimesasmanyshipsburntorsunk."