 determined to press a City to Rubbish, orders the
Island to descend with great Gentleness, out of a Pretence of Tenderness to his
People, but indeed for fear of breaking the Adamantine Bottom; in which Case it
is the Opinion of all their Philosophers, that the Load-stone could no longer
hold it up, and the whole Mass would fall to the Ground.
    By a fundamental Law of this Realm, neither the King nor either of his two
elder Sons, are permitted to leave the Island; nor the Queen till she is past
Child-
 

                                   Chap. IV.

The Author leaves Laputa, is conveyed to Balnibarbi, arrives at the Metropolis.
A Description of the Metropolis and the Country adjoining. The Author hospitably
received by a great Lord. His Conversation with that Lord.
 
Although I cannot say that I was ill treated in this Island, yet I must confess
I thought my self too much neglected, not without some Degree of Contempt. For
neither Prince nor People appeared to be curious in any Part of Knowledge,
except Mathematicks and Musick, wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that
Account very little regarded.
    On the other Side, after having seen all the Curiosities of the Island, I
was very desirous to leave it, being heartily weary of those People. They were
indeed excellent in two Sciences for which I have great Esteem, and wherein I am
not unversed; but at the same time so abstracted and involved in Speculation,
that I never met with such disagreeable Companions. I conversed only with Women,
Tradesmen, Flappers, and Court-Pages, during two Months of my Abode there; by
which at last I rendered my self extremely contemptible; yet these were the only
People from whom I could ever receive a reasonable Answer.
    I had obtained by hard Study a good Degree of Knowledge in their Language: I
was weary of being confined to an Island where I received so little Countenance;
and resolved to leave it with the first Opportunity.
    There was a great Lord at Court, nearly related to the King, and for that
Reason alone used with respect. He was universally reckoned the most ignorant
and stupid Person among them. He had performed many eminent Services for the
Crown, had great natural and acquired Parts, adorned with Integrity and Honour;
but so ill an Ear for Musick, that his Detractors reported he had been often
known to beat Time in the wrong Place; neither could his Tutors without extreme
Difficulty teach him to demonstrate the most easy Proposition in the
Mathematicks. He was pleased to shew me many Marks of Favour, often did me the
Honour of
