And all the little monsters of the brook! Sure in that lake he dropt; my Grilly's drown'd!'

She dragg'd the cruet, but no Grildrig found.

'Vain is thy courage, Grilly, vain thy boast!

But little creatures enterprise the most. Trembling I've seen thee dare the kitten's paw,

Nay, mix with children, as they play'd at taw,

Nor fear the marbles as they bounding flew; Marbles to them, but rolling rocks to you! 30

'Why did I trust thee with that giddy youth?

Who from a page can ever learn the truth? Versed in court tricks, that money-loving

boy

Or in thy box now bounding on the main, Shall I ne'er bear thyself and house again? And shall I set thee on my hand no more, 61 To see thee leap the lines, and traverse o'er My spacious palm; of stature scarce a span, Mimic the actions of a real man?

No more behold thee turn my watch's key, As seamen at a capstan anchors weigh? How wert thou wont to walk with cautious tread,

A dish of tea, like milkpail, on thy head! How chase the mite that bore thy cheese away,

And keep the rolling maggot at a bay!' 70 She spoke; but broken accents stopp'd her voice,

Soft as the speaking - trumpet's mellow noise:

She sobb'd a storm, and wiped her flowing eyes,

Which seem'd like two broad suns in misty skies.

O squander not thy grief! those tears command

To weep upon our cod in Newfoundland; The plenteous pickle shall preserve the fish, And Europe taste thy sorrows in a dish.

TO MR. LEMUEL GULLIVER

THE GRATEFUL ADDRESS OF THE UNHAPPY HOUYHNHNMS NOW IN SLAVERY AND BONDAGE IN ENGLAND

Safe would I bear him to his journey's end,
For 't is a pleasure to support a friend.
But if my life be doom'd to serve the bad,
Oh! mayst thou never want an easy pad!
HOUYHNHNM

MARY GULLIVER TO CAPTAIN LEMUEL GULLIVER

AN EPISTLE

ARGUMENT

The captain, some time after his return, being retired to Mr. Sympson's in the country, Mrs. Gulliver, apprehending from his late behaviour some estrangement of his affections, writes him the following expostulatory, soothing, and tenderly complaining epistle.

Some say the Devil himself is in that

mare:

If so, our Dean shall drive him forth by

prayer.

Some think you mad, some think you are possess'd,

That Bedlam and clean straw will suit you best.

Vain means, alas, this frenzy to appease! That straw, that straw would heighten the disease.

My bed (the scene of all our former joys, Witness two lovely girls, two lovely boys) Alone I press: in dreams I call my dear, 41 I stretch my hand; no Gulliver is there! I wake, I rise, and shiv'ring with the frost Search all the house; my Gulliver is lost! Forth in the street I rush with frantic cries; The windows open, all the neighbours rise: 'Where sleeps my Gulliver? O tell me where.'

The neighbours answer, With the Sorrel Mare.'

At early morn I to the market haste (Studious in every thing to please thy taste);

50

A curious fowl and 'sparagus I chose (For I remember'd you were fond of those); Three shillings cost the first, the last seven