, Beauty, and Energy of
their own Tongues, with an avowed Contempt for that of their Neighbour: Yet our
Emperor standing upon the Advantage he had got by the Seizure of their Fleet,
obliged them to deliver their Credentials, and make their Speech in the
Lilliputian Tongue. And it must be confessed, that from the great Intercourse of
Trade and Commerce between both Realms; from the continual Reception of Exiles,
which is mutual among them; and from the Custom in each Empire to send their
young Nobility and richer Gentry to the other, in order to polish themselves, by
seeing the World, and understanding Men and Manners; there are few Persons of
Distinction, or Merchants, or Seamen, who dwell in the Maritime Parts, but what
can hold Conversation in both Tongues; as I found some Weeks after, when I went
to pay my Respects to the Emperor of Blefuscu, which in the Midst of great
Misfortunes, through the Malice of my Enemies, proved a very happy Adventure to
me, as I shall relate in its proper Place.
    The Reader may remember, that when I signed those Articles upon which I
recovered my Liberty, there were some which I disliked upon Account of their
being too servile, neither could any thing but an extreme Necessity have forced
me to submit. But being now a Nardac, of the highest Rank in that Empire, such
Offices were looked upon as below my Dignity; and the Emperor (to do him
Justice) never once mentioned them to me. However, it was not long before I had
an Opportunity of doing his Majesty, at least, as I then thought, a most signal
Service. I was alarmed at Midnight with the Cries of many Hundred People at my
Door; by which being suddenly awaked, I was in some Kind of Terror. I heard the
Word Burglum repeated incessantly; several of the Emperor's Court making their
Way through the Croud, intreated me to come immediately to the Palace, where her
Imperial Majesty's Apartment was on fire, by the Carelessness of a Maid of
Honour, who fell asleep while she was reading a Romance. I got up in an Instant;
and Orders being given to clear the Way before me; and it being likewise a
Moonshine Night, I made a shift to get to the Palace without trampling on any of
the People. I found they had already applied Ladders to the Walls of the
Apartment, and were well provided with Buckets, but the Water was at some
Distance. These Buckets were about the Size of a large Thimble, and the poor
People supplied me with them as
