 of less Consequence to me, than the neighing of those two
degenerate Houyhnhnms I keep in my Stable; because, from these, degenerate as
they are, I still improve in some Virtues, without any Mixture of Vice.
    Do these miserable Animals presume to think that I am so far degenerated as
to defend my Veracity; Yahoo as I am, it is well known through all
Houyhnhnmland, that by the Instructions and Example of my illustrious Master, I
was able in the Compass of two Years (although I confess with the utmost
Difficulty) to remove that infernal Habit of Lying, Shuffling, Deceiving, and
Equivocating, so deeply rooted in the very Souls of all my Species; especially
the Europeans.
    I have other Complaints to make upon this vexatious Occasion; but I forbear
troubling myself or you any further. I must freely confess, that since my last
Return, some corruptions of my Yahoo Nature have revived in me by Conversing
with a few of your Species, and particularly those of mine own Family, by an
unavoidable Necessity; else I should never have attempted so absurd a Project as
that of reforming the Yahoo Race in this Kingdom; but, I have now done with all
such visionary Schemes for ever.
    April 2, 1727.
 

                          The Publisher to the Reader.

The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my antient and intimate
Friend; there is likewise some Relation between us by the Mother's Side. About
three Years ago Mr. Gulliver growing weary of the Concourse of curious People
coming to him at his House in Redriff, made a small Purchase of Land, with a
convenient House, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire, his native Country; where he
now lives retired, yet in good Esteem among his Neighbours.
    Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire, where his Father dwelt,
yet I have heard him say, his Family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I
have observed in the Church-Yard at Banbury, in that County, several Tombs and
Monuments of the Gullivers.
    Before he quitted Redriff, he left the Custody of the following Papers in my
Hands, with the Liberty to dispose of them as I should think fit. I have
carefully perused them three Times: The Style is very plain and simple; and the
only Fault I find is, that the Author, after the Manner of Travellers, is a
little too circumstantial. There is an Air of Truth apparent through the whole;
and indeed the Author was so distinguished for his Veracity, that it became a
Sort of Proverb among his Neighbours at Redriff, when any one affirmed
