 two mighty Powers have, as I was going to tell you, been engaged
in a most obstinate War for six and thirty Moons past. It began upon the
following Occasion. It is allowed on all Hands, that the primitive Way of
breaking Eggs before we eat them, was upon the larger End: But his present
Majesty's Grand-father, while he was a Boy, going to eat an Egg, and breaking it
according to the ancient Practice, happened to cut one of his Fingers. Whereupon
the Emperor his Father, published an Edict, commanding all his Subjects, upon
great Penalties, to break the smaller End of their Eggs. The People so highly
resented this Law, that our Histories tell us, there have been six Rebellions
raised on that Account; wherein one Emperor lost his Life, and another his
Crown. These civil Commotions were constantly fomented by the Monarchs of
Blefuscu; and when they were quelled, the Exiles always fled for Refuge to that
Empire. It is computed, that eleven Thousand Persons have, at several Times,
suffered Death, rather than submit to break their Eggs at the smaller End. Many
hundred large Volumes have been published upon this Controversy: But the Books
of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole Party rendred
incapable by Law of holding Employments. During the Course of these Troubles,
the Emperors of Blefuscu did frequently expostulate by their Ambassadors,
accusing us of making a Schism in Religion, by offending against a fundamental
Doctrine of our great Prophet Lustrog, in the fifty-fourth Chapter of the
Brundrecal, (which is their Alcoran.) This, however, is thought to be a meer
Strain upon the Text: For the Words are these; That all true Believers shall
break their Eggs at the convenient End: and which is the convenient End, seems,
in my humble Opinion, to be left to every Man's Conscience, or at least in the
Power of the chief Magistrate to determine. Now the Big-Endian Exiles have found
so much Credit in the Emperor of Blefuscu's Court; and so much private
Assistance and Encouragement from their Party here at home, that a bloody War
hath been carried on between the two Empires for six and thirty Moons with
various Success; during which Time we have lost Forty Capital Ships, and a much
greater Number of smaller Vessels, together with thirty thousand of our best
Seamen and Soldiers; and the Damage received by the Enemy is reckoned to be
somewhat greater than ours. However, they have now equipped a numerous Fleet,
and are just preparing to make a
