Gulliver's travels Two Rats

While I lay there in this state of mind, two rats crept up and ran back and forth on the bed. One ran up so near my face that I drew out my sword to ward him off. These dread brutes were so brave that they came at me on both sides, and one of them put his fore feet on my neck, but I had the good luck to give him a stout blow ere he could hurt me. He fell at my feet, and his mate made his way off, but not till I had dealt him a good wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled.

These rats were the size of a large dog, but much more quick and fierce; so that if I had not slept with my sword at my side, I have no doubt they would have torn me to pieces, and thus made an end of me. I took the length of the dead rat's tail, and found it to be two yards long, but could not have the nerve to draw it off the bed, where it lay, still in its blood. I saw that it was not yet dead, but with a strong slash on its neck, I put an end to its life.

When the dame came in and saw the blood on my clothes she ran and took me up in her hands to see if I was hurt. With a smile, I made a sign, that she might see the dead rats, and know no harm had come to me. At this she was glad, and bade her maid come in and take up the dead rats with a pair of tongs, and throw them out of the house.

Title: Gulliver's travels into several remote regions of the world: In words of one syllable. Authors: J. C. G., Jonathan Swift. Publisher: A.L.Burt, 1895. Original from: the University of Michigan. Digitized: Jul 2, 2009. Length: 92 pages. This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1895, are now in the public domain.

and also in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris) in this case (William James Linton December 7, 1812 - December 29, 1897) and that most commonly run for a period of 50 to 70 years from december 31 of that date.

Gulliver's travels pulling ships to shore

The Blefuscudians, who had not the least imagination of what I intended, were at first confounded with astonishment. They had seen me cut the cables, and thought my design was only to let the ships run adrift, or fall foul on each other: but when they perceived the whole fleet moving in order, and saw me pulling at the end, they set up such a scream of grief and despair as it is almost impossible to describe or conceive. When I had got out of danger, I stopped a while to pick out the arrows that stuck in my hands and face; and rubbed on some of the same ointment that was given me at my first arrival, as I have formerly mentioned. I then took off my spectacles, and waiting about an hour, till the tide was a little fallen, I waded through the middle with my cargo, and arrived safe at the royal port of Lilliput.

The Emperor and his whole court stood on the shore, expecting the issue of this great adventure. They saw the ships move forward in a large half-moon, but could not discern me, who was up to my breast in water. When I advanced to the middle of the channel, they were yet more in pain, because I was under water to my neck. The Emperor concluded me to be drowned, and that the enemy's fleet was approaching in an hostile manner: but he was soon eased of his fears; for the channel growing shallower every step I made, I came in a short time within hearing; and holding up the end of the cable, by which the fleet was fastened, I cried in a loud voice, Long live the most puissant Emperor of Lilliput! This great prince received me, at my landing, with all possible encomiums, and created me a Nardac upon the spot, which is the highest title of honour among them.

Title: Gulliver's travels into several remote regions of the world Author: Jonathan Swift. Publisher: G. Routledge and sons, 1880. Original from: the University of Michigan. Digitized: Feb 18, 2009. Length: 361 pages. Subjects: Fiction , Classics, Fiction , Humorous. This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired. This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years. See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" PDF. Works published before 1923, in this case 1880, are now in the public domain.