The author diverts the emperor, and his nobility of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner. The diversions of the court of Lilliput described. The author has his liberty granted him upon certain conditions. My gentleness and good behaviour had gained so far on the emperor and his court, and indeed upon the army and people in general, that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short time. I took all possible methods to cultivate this favourable disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair. I had now made a good progress in understanding and speaking the language. The emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted with none so much as that of the rope-dancers, performed upon a slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches from the ground. Upon which I shall desire liberty, with the reader's patience, to enlarge a little.
作者以一种不寻常的方式使皇帝和贵族得到消遣；描写了小人国宫廷中的各种娱乐活动；在一定条件下，作者获得了自由。我的彬彬有礼和良好的行为举止已经博得了皇帝和满朝大臣的欢心。事实上，军队和人民大众也都对我有好感，所以我开始希望能在短期内获得自由。我采取一切可能的办法来讨好他们。渐渐地，当地人不那么担心我对他们会有什么危险了。有时候我躺在地上，让他们五六个人在我的手上跳舞；发展到最后，男孩女孩们都敢跑到我的头发里面来玩捉迷藏了。现在，我在理解和说他们语言方面也有了很大进步。有一天，皇帝要招待我观看他国内的几种表演。表演者技艺精湛，整个演出气势恢弘，我在其他任何一个国家都没见过这么精彩的演出。令我最开心的莫过于绳舞者的表演了。他们是在一根长约两英尺，离地面十二英寸高的白色细绳上表演的。这件事我想请读者耐心一点，听我仔细地讲一下。
This diversion is only practised by those persons who are candidates for great employments, and high favour at court. They are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens), five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office. Very often the chief ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty. Flimnap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the straight rope, at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole empire. I have seen him do the summerset several times together, upon a trencher fixed on a rope which is no thicker than a common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great officers are much upon a par.
这种娱乐项目只能由那些正在候补重要官职或希望获得朝廷恩宠的人来表演。他们从很小的时候起就开始接受这种技艺训练，而且这些人并非都是贵族出身或受过良好的教育。每当有重要官职空缺，不论是原官员过世还是失宠撤职（这是常有的事），五六位候补者呈请皇帝准许他们给皇帝陛下及朝廷百官表演一次绳上舞蹈。谁跳得最高但又没跌落下来，谁就接任这个职位。朝廷重臣们也常常奉命表演这一技艺，为了使皇帝相信他们并没有忘记自己的本领。财政大臣佛利姆奈浦在拉直的绳子上跳跃，能比全王国任何一位大臣至少要高出一英寸。我曾见过他在木盘上面能一连翻好几个跟斗，那个木盘固定在英国普通的包装线那么细的绳子上。依我看来，如果我没有偏心的话，我的朋友内务大臣瑞尔德里沙的本领仅次于财政大臣，其余的官员们则彼此不相上下。
These diversions are often attended with fatal accidents, whereof great numbers are on record. I myself have seen two or three candidates break a limb. But the danger is much greater, when the ministers themselves are commanded to show their dexterity; for, by contending to excel themselves and their fellows, they strain so far that there is hardly one of them who has not received a fall, and some of them two or three. I was assured that, a year or two before my arrival, Flimnap would infallibly have broke his neck, if one of the king's cushions, that accidentally lay on the ground, had not weakened the force of his fall.
这些娱乐项目常常伴有致命的意外事故，许多事故被记录在案。我亲眼看到两三个候补人员跌断了胳膊或腿。但是更大的危险发生在大臣们奉命来表现技巧的时候，因为他们想超越自己或者超越其他同台竞技的人，他们全力以赴，很少有不摔下来的，而且有人要摔下来两三次。听说在我来到这地方一两年之前，佛利姆奈浦就出过事，要不是皇帝的一块坐垫恰好在地上减轻了他跌落的力量，他肯定摔死了。
There is likewise another diversion, which is only shown before the emperor and empress, and first minister, upon particular occasions. The emperor lays on the table three fine silken threads of six inches long; one is blue, the other red, and the third green. These threads are proposed as prizes for those persons whom the emperor has a mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his favour. The ceremony is performed in his majesty's great chamber of state, where the candidates are to undergo a trial of dexterity very different from the former, and such as I have not observed the least resemblance of in any other country of the new or old world. The emperor holds a stick in his hands, both ends parallel to the horizon, while the candidates advancing, one by one, sometimes leap over the stick, sometimes creep under it, backward and forward, several times, according as the stick is advanced or depressed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the stick, and his first minister the other; sometimes the minister has it entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part with most agility, and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping, is rewarded with the blue-coloured silk; the red is given to the next, and the green to the third, which they all wear girt twice round about the middle; and you see few great persons about this court who are not adorned with one of these girdles.
还有一种相似的娱乐项目，是在特别重大的节日里专为皇帝、皇后及首相大臣们表演的。皇帝在桌上放些紫、红、绿三根六英寸长的精美丝线。这三根丝线是皇帝准备的奖品，他打算以此奖励表演者，以示不同的恩典。仪式在皇宫的大殿上举行，候补人员要在这里经受的技艺考验和前面完全不同，这种技艺我在新旧大陆的任何一个国度都未曾见过有一丝相似的。皇帝手里拿一根棍子，两端与地面平行，候选人员一个接一个跑上前去，随着棍子的升落，有时跳过棍子，有时从棍子下爬行，来来回回反复几次。有时候皇帝和首相各拿棍子的一端，有时则由首相一人拿着。谁表演得最敏捷，坚持爬和跳的时间最长，谁就被奖以紫丝线，其次赏以红丝线，第三名得绿丝线。他们把丝线绕两圈围在腰间，你很少看见有朝廷重臣不佩戴这种腰带作装饰的。
The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to my very feet without starting. The riders would leap them over my hand, as I held it on the ground; and one of the emperor's huntsmen, upon a large courser, took my foot, shoe and all; which was indeed a prodigious leap. I had the good fortune to divert the emperor one day after a very extraordinary manner. I desired he would order several sticks of two feet high, and the thickness of an ordinary cane, to be brought me; whereupon his majesty commanded the master of his woods to give directions accordingly; and the next morning six woodmen arrived with as many carriages, drawn by eight horses to each. I took nine of these sticks, and fixing them firmly in the ground in a quadrangular figure, two feet and a half square, I took four other sticks, and tied them parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground; then I fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks that stood erect; and extended it on all sides, till it was tight as the top of a drum; and the four parallel sticks, rising about five inches higher than the handkerchief, served as ledges on each side. When I had finished my work, I desired the emperor to let a troop of his best horses twenty-four in number, come and exercise upon this plain. His majesty approved of the proposal, and I took them up, one by one, in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper officers to exercise them. As soon as they got into order they divided into two parties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and pursued, attacked and retired, and in short discovered the best military discipline I ever beheld. The parallel sticks secured them and their horses from falling over the stage; and the emperor was so much delighted, that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated several days, and once was pleased to be lifted up and give the word of command; and with great difficulty persuaded even the empress herself to let me hold her in her close chair within two yards of the stage, when she was able to take a full view of the whole performance. It was my good fortune, that no ill accident happened in these entertainments; only once a fiery horse, that belonged to one of the captains, pawing with his hoof, struck a hole in my handkerchief, and his foot slipping, he overthrew his rider and himself; but I immediately relieved them both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set down the troop with the other, in the same manner as I took them up. The horse that fell was strained in the left shoulder, but the rider got no hurt; and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could: however, I would not trust to the strength of it any more, in such dangerous enterprises.
由于战马和皇家御马每天都被带到我的跟前，它们已经不再胆怯，就算一直走到我的脚边也不会惊吓。我把手放在地上，骑手们就纵马从上面跃过去。其中有一名皇帝狩猎队的猎手，骑一匹高大的骏马从我穿着鞋的脚面跳了过去。这的确是惊人的一跳。一天，很荣幸，我有机会表演一种极其特别的游戏供皇帝消遣。我请求他吩咐人给我弄几根两英尺长的棍子来，像普通手杖一样粗细就行。皇帝就命令负责森林的官员前去照办。第二天清晨，六个伐木工人驾着几辆马车回来了，每辆车都由八匹马拉着。我从车上取下九根木棍牢牢地插在地上，摆出一个四边形，边长二点五平方英尺，然后又取了四根木棍横绑在这四边离地两英尺处，接着把手帕平铺在九根直立的木棍上绑紧，直到四面绷紧得就像鼓面一样。那四根横绑的高出手帕约五英寸的木棍当做四边的栏杆。我完成工作之后，就请皇帝派一支由二十四人组成的精骑兵来在这块平台上操演。皇帝同意了这一建议。我将这些马一匹一匹拿起来放到手上，骑着马的军官全副武装，准备操练。他们一站整齐就立刻分成两队，进行小规模的军事演习，发射钝箭，拔出刀剑，逃跑追击，攻打退却，总之表现出了我从未见过的严明的军事纪律。平台四边的横木保护人马不至于从平台上跌下来。皇帝高兴至极，命令这个游戏反复表演几天，而且有一次他甚至愿意让我把他举到平台上亲自去发号施令。他费了半天唇舌去说动皇后，让我把她连人带座位一同举到离平台不到两码的高处，这样她得以饱览操练的全景。算我运气好，几次表演都没什么不幸的事故发生。只有一次，一位队长骑的烈性马用蹄子乱踢，在手帕上踹出了个洞，马腿一滑，人仰马翻，但我立刻就将人马都救起来了，一手遮住洞，一手像原先送他们上台时那样将人马放回到地上。失足马的左肩胛扭伤了，但是骑手则什么事也没有。我尽量将手帕补好，不过我再也不相信这手帕的坚牢程度能经得起这种危险的游戏了。
About two or three days before I was set at liberty, as I was entertaining the court with this kind of feat, there arrived an express to inform his majesty, that some of his subjects, riding near the place where I was first taken up, had seen a great black substance lying on the ground, very oddly shaped, extending its edges round, as wide as his majesty's bedchamber, and rising up in the middle as high as a man; that it was no living creature, as they at first apprehended, for it lay on the grass without motion; and some of them had walked round it several times; that, by mounting upon each other's shoulders, they had got to the top, which was flat and even, and, stamping upon it, they found that it was hollow within; that they humbly conceived it might be something belonging to the man-mountain; and if his majesty pleased, they would undertake to bring it with only five horses. I presently knew what they meant, and was glad at heart to receive this intelligence. It seems, upon my first reaching the shore after our shipwreck, I was in such confusion, that before I came to the place where I went to sleep, my hat, which I had fastened with a string to my head while I was rowing, and had stuck on all the time I was swimming, fell off after I came to land; the string, as I conjecture, breaking by some accident, which I never observed, but thought my hat had been lost at sea. I entreated his imperial majesty to give orders it might be brought to me as soon as possible, describing to him the use and the nature of it; and the next day the waggoners arrived with it, but not in a very good condition; they had bored two holes in the brim, within an inch and half of the edge, and fastened two hooks in the holes; these hooks were tied by a long cord to the harness, and thus my hat was dragged along for above half an English mile; but, the ground in that country being extremely smooth and level, it received less damage than I expected.
就在我获得自由的两三天前，一次当我正在给朝廷上下表演这种戏法供他们取乐时，忽然一位专差向皇帝报告说有几个百姓骑马走近我原先被俘的地方时，发现地上躺着一个很大的黑东西，样子很怪，圆圆的边，伸展开去有陛下的寝宫那么大，中间突起的部分有一人那么高。那个东西并不是像他们起初所担心的那样，是什么活的动物，因为有人绕它走了几圈，它在草地上躺着还是一动不动。他们踩着彼此的肩膀爬到了顶端，上面扁扁平平，用脚一踩才发现里面是空的。依他们的浅见，这东西有可能是巨人山的。如果皇帝准许，他们用五匹马就能把它拉回来。我立即就明白他们说的是什么了。听到这个消息，我真打心眼里高兴。可能翻船以后我刚上岸时十分恐慌，还没走到睡倒的地方，帽子就掉了。我划船时曾用绳子把帽子系在头上，游泳时也一直戴着，估计是上岸后发生了意外，绳子断了，而我一无所知，还以为帽子掉在海里了呢。我请求皇帝下令让他们帮我把帽子拉回来，并同时向他描述了帽子的用途和特性。第二天，车夫将帽子运来了，可是已经破旧了许多。他们在离帽檐不到一英寸半的地方钻了两个孔，在孔上绑上两个钩子。这些钩子经由一根长绳绑在马具上，我的帽子就这样被拖了半英里多路。不过这个国家的地面极为平整光滑，所以帽子所受的损伤比我预想的要轻许多。
Two days after this adventure, the emperor, having ordered that part of his army which quarters in and about his metropolis, to be in readiness, took a fancy of diverting himself in a very singular manner.
这件事过了两天后，皇帝命令驻扎在首都内外的一部分部队准备演习。原来他突然喜欢上了一种奇特的自娱自乐的方式。
He desired I would stand like a Colossus, with my legs as far asunder as I conveniently could. He then commanded his general (who was an old experienced leader, and a great patron of mine) to draw up the troops in close order, and march them under me; the foot by twenty-four abreast, and the horse by sixteen, with drums beating, colours flying, and pikes advanced. This body consisted of three thousand foot, and a thousand horse. His majesty gave orders, upon pain of death, that every soldier in his march should observe the strictest decency with regard to my person; which however could not prevent some of the younger officers from turning up their eyes as they passed under me: and, to confess the truth, my breeches were at that time in so ill a condition, that they afforded some opportunities for laughter and admiration.
他想要我像一座巨型雕像那样站着，两腿尽可能地分开，然后命令他的将军（一位经验丰富的老将，也是我的一位大恩人）列队排成密集队形，从我的胯下行军。步兵二十四人一排，骑兵十六人一排，敲鼓打旗，手持长枪挺进。这是一支由三千步兵和一千骑兵组成的军队。皇帝命令前进中每一名士兵必须严肃守纪，尊敬我个人，违者处死。不过这道命令并没有禁止住几位年轻军官在我胯下经过时抬起头来朝我看。说实话，我的裤子那时已经破得不成样子了，以至会引起那些军官的哄笑与惊奇。
I had sent so many memorials and petitions for my liberty, that his majesty at length mentioned the matter, first in the cabinet, and then in a full council; where it was opposed by none, except Skyresh Bolgolam, who was pleased, without any provocation, to be my mortal enemy. But it was carried against him by the whole board, and confirmed by the emperor. That minister was galbet, or admiral of the realm, very much in his master's confidence, and a person well versed in affairs, but of a morose and sour complexion. However, he was at length persuaded to comply; but prevailed that the articles and conditions upon which I should be set free, and to which I must swear, should be drawn up by himself. These articles were brought to me by Skyresh Bolgolam in person attended by two under-secretaries, and several persons of distinction. After they were read, I was demanded to swear to the performance of them; first in the manner of my own country, and afterwards in the method prescribed by their laws; which was, to hold my right foot in my left hand, and to place the middle finger of my right hand on the crown of my head, and my thumb on the tip of my right ear. But because the reader may be curious to have some idea of the style and manner of expression peculiar to that people, as well as to know the article upon which I recovered my liberty, I have made a translation of the whole instrument, word for word, as near as I was able, which I here offer to the public.
我已经给皇帝上了许多奏章要求恢复自由，他终于提出了此事，先是在内阁会议上，接着又在全体国务委员会议上。除了斯开瑞什•博尔戈兰姆之外，别人都没有反对，这个人我并未惹他，却偏要做我不共戴天的敌人。但是全体内阁成员都反对他，而我的请求因此得到了皇帝的批准。这位大臣是个“葛贝特”，即当朝的海军大将，深得皇帝信任，也通晓国家事务，不过性格阴郁乖戾。他最后还是被说服了，但是坚持我的释放文件和条件应该由他亲自起草，并且我得宣誓信守那些条件。这些文件由斯开瑞什•博尔戈兰姆在两位次官与几位显要的陪同下亲手交给了我。他们宣读完文件之后，要求我宣誓坚决遵守执行以上条件。我先是按照自己国家的仪式，然后再按照他们的法律所规定的方式宣誓。他们的方式是：左手拿住右脚，再把右手中指放在头顶，大拇指放在右耳耳尖上。但是因为读者可能好奇，想了解一下这个民族特有的文章风格和表达方式以及我恢复自由所应该遵守的条款，我就将整个文件尽可能地逐字逐句翻译出来，供大家一看：
Golbasto Momarem Evlame Gurdilo Shefin Mully Ully Gue, most mighty Emperor of Lilliput, delight and terror of the universe, whose dominions extend five thousand blustrugs (about twelve miles in circumference) to the extremities of the globe; monarch of all monarchs, taller than the sons of men; whose feet press down to the centre, and whose head strikes against the sun; at whose nod the princes of the earth shake their knees; pleasant as the spring, comfortable as the summer, fruitful as autumn, dreadful as winter; his most sublime majesty proposes to the man-mountain, lately arrived at our celestial dominions, the following articles, which, by a solemn oath, he shall be obliged to perform:
高尔伯斯脱•莫马仑•依芙莱姆•歌尔达洛•谢芬•木利•乌利•古，利立浦国至高无上的皇帝，举世拥戴和畏惧，领土延伸五千布拉斯特洛格（周界约十二英里），直达地球四极；身高超过人类的万王之王；脚踏地心，头顶太阳；他一点头，全球君王双膝颤抖；他像春天那样快乐，像夏天那样让人舒适，像秋天那样丰饶，像冬天那样令人敬畏。至高无上的吾皇陛下向不久前来到我们天朝圣国的巨人山提出如下条款，巨人山须庄严宣誓并遵守执行：
1st, the man-mountain shall not depart from our dominions, without our license under our great seal.
一、如果没有加盖我国国玺的许可证，巨人山不得擅自离开本土。
2nd, he shall not presume to come into our metropolis, without our express order; at which time, the inhabitants shall have two hours warning to keep within doors.
二、没有得到命令，巨人山不准擅自进入首都；如经特许，居民应该在两小时前接到警报足不出户。
3rd, the said man-mountain shall confine his walks to our principal high roads, and not offer to walk, or lie down, in a meadow or field of corn.
三、巨人山必须将自己的行走地点限定在我国的主路上，不得随便在草地上或庄稼地里行走卧躺。
4th, as he walks the said roads, he shall take the utmost care not to trample upon the bodies of any of our loving subjects, their horses, or carriages, nor take any of our subjects into his hands without their own consent.
四、在上述大路上走动时要绝对小心，不得践踏我国民众及其车马；不经本人同意，不得将我国民众拿到手里。
5th, if an express requires extraordinary despatch, the man-mountain shall be obliged to carry, in his pocket, the messenger and horse a six days journey, once in every moon, and return the said messenger back (if so required) safe to our imperial presence.
五、如果遇到需要特殊传递的急件，巨人山须将专差连人带马装进口袋跑完六天的路程，一月一次。如果必要，还须将该专差安全地送到皇帝驾前。
6th, he shall be our ally against our enemies in the island of Blefuscu, and do his utmost to destroy their fleet, which is now preparing to invade us.
六、他应和我国结盟迎战布莱夫斯库岛的敌人，竭尽全力摧毁他们正准备向我们发起进攻的舰队。
7th, that the said man-mountain shall, at his times of leisure, be aiding and assisting to our workmen, in helping to raise certain great stones, towards covering the wall of the principal park, and other our royal buildings.
七、在空闲的时候，巨人山应该帮助我们的工匠抬运巨石，建造大公园园墙以及其他皇家建筑。
8th, that the said man-mountain shall, in two moons' time, deliver in an exact survey of the circumference of our dominions, by a computation of his own paces round the coast.
八、巨人山要在两个月内，用沿海岸线步测的方法，呈交我国一份疆域周长的精确测量报告。
Lastly, that, upon his solemn oath to observe all the above articles, the said man-mountain shall have a daily allowance of meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1728 of our subjects, with free access to our royal person, and other marks of our favour. Given at our palace at Belfaborac, the twelfth day of the ninety-first moon of our reign.
最后，巨人山如果郑重宣誓遵守所有条款，每天即可得到足以维持我国一千七百二十八个国民生活的肉食与饮料，有随时谒见皇帝和享受皇帝其他恩典的权利。我皇登基以来第九十一月十二日于伯尔法勃拉克宫。
I swore and subscribed to these articles with great cheerfulness and content, although some of them were not so honourable as I could have wished; which proceeded wholly from the malice of Skyresh Bolgolam, the highadmiral; whereupon my chains were immediately unlocked, and I was at full liberty. The emperor himself, in person, did me the honour to be by at the whole ceremony. I made my acknowledgements by prostrating myself at his majesty's feet, but he commanded me to rise; and after many gracious expressions, which, to avoid the censure of vanity, I shall not repeat, he added, "that he hoped I should prove a useful servant, and well deserve all the favours he had already conferred upon me, or might do for the future."
我心甘情愿地宣了誓，并且在条款上签了字。尽管有几条不如我想象的那么体面，那完全是海军大将斯开瑞什•博尔戈兰姆心存不良所致。锁住我的链子一打开，我就获得了完全的自由。皇帝也特别赏光，亲临了整个仪式。我俯身伏在皇帝脚下表示感恩，但是他命令我站起来。我又说了很多殷勤的话，不过为了避免别人批评我虚荣，我就不再在这里来回重复了。他又说希望我做一名有用的仆从，才不辜负他已经赏赐给我和将来还可以赏给我的恩典。
The reader may please to observe, that, in the last article of the recovery of my liberty, the emperor stipulates to allow me a quantity of meat and drink sufficient for the support of 1724 Lilliputians. Some time after, asking a friend at court how they came to fix on that determinate number, he told me that his majesty's mathematicians, having taken the height of my body by the help of a quadrant, and finding it to exceed theirs in the proportion of twelve to one, they concluded from the similarity of their bodies, that mine must contain at least 1724 of theirs, and consequently would require as much food as was necessary to support that number of Lilliputians. By which the reader may conceive an idea of the ingenuity of that people, as well as the prudent and exact economy of so great a prince.
读者也许会注意到，在让我恢复自由的条款中的最后一条中，皇帝规定每天供给我足以维持一千七百二十八个小人国臣民的肉食与饮料。不久以后我问在朝廷做官的一位朋友，他们怎样得出了这样一个精确的数目。他告诉我说，御用数学家们借助四分仪测定了我的身高，计算出我身高和他们的比例是十二比一，由于他们的身体大致相同，因此得出结论：我的身体至少可抵得上一千七百二十八个小人国的人，这样也就需要可以维持这么多人生活的相应数量的食物了。读者由此可以想象得到，这个民族是多么的足智多谋，这位伟大的君王的经济原则是多么的精明、精确。
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