Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 6.djvu/180

158 civil wars; the last whereof, was happily put an end to, by this prince's grandfather, in a general composition; and the militia, then settled with common consent, has been ever since kept in the strictest duty.

Had always a strong impulse, that I should some time recover my liberty, though it was impossible to conjecture by what means, or to form any project, with the least hope of succeeding. The ship in which I sailed, was the first ever known to be driven within sight of that coast, and the king had given strict orders, that if at any time another appeared, it should be taken ashore, and with all its crew and passengers, brought in a tumbril to Lorbrulgrud. He was strongly bent to get me a woman of my own size, by whom I might propagate the breed; but I think I should rather have died, than undergone the disgrace, of leaving a posterity to be kept in cages, like tame canary birds, and perhaps, in time, sold about the kingdom, to persons of quality, for curiosities. I was indeed treated with much kindness: I was the favourtiefavourite [sic] of a great king and