But by what I have
gathered from your own relation, and the answers I have with much pains
wrung and extorted from you, I cannot but conclude the bulk of your
natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that
nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth."
[Illustration: "YOU HAVE MADE A MOST ADMIRABLE PANEGYRIC." P. 79.]
CHAPTER VII
THE AUTHOR'S LOVE OF HIS COUNTRY. HE MAKES A PROPOSAL OF MUCH
ADVANTAGE TO THE KING, WHICH IS REJECTED. THE KING'S GREAT
IGNORANCE IN POLITICS. THE LEARNING OF THAT COUNTRY VERY IMPERFECT
AND CONFINED. THE LAWS, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS, AND PARTIES IN THE
STATE.
Nothing but an extreme love of truth could have hindered me from
concealing this part of my story. It was in vain to discover my
resentments, which were always turned into ridicule; and I was forced to
rest with patience, while my noble and beloved country was so
injuriously treated. I am as heartily sorry as any of my readers can
possibly be, that such an occasion was given: but this prince happened
to be so curious and inquisitive upon every particular, that it could
not consist either with gratitude or good manners, to refuse giving him
what satisfaction I was able. Yet this much I may be allowed to say, in
my own vindication, that I artfully eluded many of his questions, and
gave to every point a more favorable turn, by many degrees, than the
strictness of truth would allow.
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