, which he could not
put off much longer. He doubted, it would be impossible for me to swim to
another Country; and therefore wished I would contrive some Sort of Vehicle
resembling those I had described to him, that might carry me on the Sea; in
which Work I should have the Assistance of his own Servants, as well as those of
his Neighbours. He concluded, that for his own Part he could have been content
to keep me in his Service as long as I lived; because he found I had cured
myself of some bad Habits and Dispositions, by endeavouring, as far as my
inferior Nature was capable, to imitate the Houyhnhnms.
    I should here observe to the Reader, that a Decree of the general Assembly
in this Country, is expressed by the Word Hnhloayn, which signifies an
Exhortation; as near as I can render it: For they have no Conception how a
rational Creature can be compelled, but only advised, or exhorted; because no
Person can disobey Reason, without giving up his Claim to be a rational
Creature.
    I was struck with the utmost Grief and Despair at my Master's Discourse; and
being unable to support the Agonies I was under, I fell into a Swoon at his
Feet: When I came to myself, he told me, that he concluded I had been dead. (For
these People are subject to no such Imbecillities of Nature) I answered, in a
faint Voice, that Death would have been too great an Happiness; that although I
could not blame the Assembly's Exhortation, or the Urgency of his Friends; yet
in my weak and corrupt Judgment, I thought it might consist with Reason to have
been less rigorous. That, I could not swim a League, and probably the nearest
Land to theirs might be distant above an Hundred: That, many Materials,
necessary for making a small Vessel to carry me off, were wholly wanting in this
Country, which however, I would attempt in Obedience and Gratitude to his
Honour, although I concluded the thing to be impossible, and therefore looked on
myself as already devoted to Destruction. That, the certain Prospect of an
unnatural Death, was the least of my Evils: For, supposing I should escape with
Life by some strange Adventure, how could I think with Temper, of passing my
Days among Yahoos, and relapsing into my old Corruptions, for want of Examples
to lead and keep me within the Paths of Virtue. That, I knew too well upon what
solid Reasons all the Determinations of the wise Houyhnhnms were founded, not to
be shaken
