 But I must freely confess, that the many
Virtues of those excellent Quadrupeds placed in opposite View to human
Corruptions, had so far opened mine Eyes, and enlarged my Understanding, that I
began to view the Actions and Passions of Man in a very different Light; and to
think the Honour of my own Kind not worth managing; which, besides, it was
impossible for me to do before a Person of so acute a Judgment as my Master, who
daily convinced me of a thousand Faults in my self, whereof I had not the least
Perception before, and which with us would never be numbered even among human
Infirmities. I had likewise learned from his Example an utter Detestation of all
Falsehood or Disguise; and Truth appeared so amiable to me, that I determined
upon sacrificing every thing to it.
    Let me deal so candidly with the Reader, as to confess, that there was yet a
much stronger Motive for the Freedom I took in my Representation of Things. I
had not been a Year in this Country, before I contracted such a Love and
Veneration for the Inhabitants, that I entered on a firm Resolution never to
return to human Kind, but to pass the rest of my Life among these admirable
Houyhnhnms in the Contemplation and Practice of every Virtue; where I could have
no Example or Incitement to Vice. But it was decreed by Fortune, my perpetual
Enemy, that so great a Felicity should not fall to my Share. However, it is now
some Comfort to reflect, that in what I said of my Countrymen, I extenuated
their Faults as much as I durst before so strict an Examiner; and upon every
Article, gave as favourable a Turn as the Matter would bear. For, indeed, who is
there alive that will not be swayed by his Byass and Partiality to the Place of
his Birth?
    I have related the Substance of several Conversations I had with my Master,
during the greatest Part of the Time I had the Honour to be in his Service; but
have indeed for Brevity sake omitted much more than is here set down.
    When I had answered all his Questions, and his Curiosity seemed to be fully
satisfied; he sent for me one Morning early, and commanding me to sit down at
some Distance, (an Honour which he had never before conferred upon me) He said,
he had been very seriously considering my whole Story, as far as it related both
to my self and my Country: That, he looked upon us as a Sort of Animals to whose
Share, by what Accident he could not conjecture, some small Pittance of Reason
