04-02-04-格列佛游记 [15]
．I had to stay in bed for two weeks after this，before I felt well enough to meet peo－ple again．The monkey was caught and killed．
When I next saw the King，he asked me about this experi－ence．‘How did you feel，’he said，‘when the monkey was holding you up on the roof？’
‘Sir，’I replied bravely，‘I was afraid，that's true．But next time an animal like that attacks me，I shall not hesitate．I'll pull out my sword like this’-and I showed him what I would do－‘and give the creature such a wound that it will never come near me again！’
But while I waved my tiny sword in the air，the King and his lords laughed loudly．I had wanted to prove my bravery， but I failed，because to them I was only an unimportant little creature．I realized later that this often happens in England，when we laugh at someone of no family，fortune，or intelli-gence，who pretends to be as important as our great leaders．
In the next few weeks，I began to have some very interest－ing conversations with the King．He was an intelligent，un－derstanding person．
‘Tell me more about your country，’he said to me one day．‘I would like to hear about your laws，your political life，and your customs．Tell me everything．There may be something that we can usefully copy here in Brobdingnag．’
‘I shall be delighted， sir，’I answered proudly．‘Our king controls our three great countries，Scotland，Ireland and Eng－land．We grow much of our own food，and our weather is nei-ther too hot nor too cold．There are two groups Of men who make our laws．One is called the House of Lords－they are men from the oldest and greatest families in the country．The other is called the House of Commons－these are the most honest，intelligent，and sensible men in the country，and are freely chosen by the people．We have judges to decide punish－ments for criminals，and we have a large army，which cannot be defeated by any other in the world．’
While I was talking，the King was making notes．For sev－eral days I continued my explanation，and I also described British history over the last hundred years．Then the King asked me a large number of questions．These were some of them．
‘How do you teach and train young people of good family？If the last son of an old family dies，how do you make new lords for the House of Lords？Are these lords really the most suitable people to make the country's laws？And in the House of Commons，are these men really so honest and intelligent？Do rich men never buy their way into this House？You say the lawmakers receive no pay，but are you sure that they never ac-cept bribes？’
Then he asked questions about our lawcourts．‘Why are your trials so long and so expensive？How much do your lawyers and judges really know about the laws？How carefully do they decide between right and wrong？’
‘And why，’he went on，‘are you so often at war？Either you enjoy fighting，or you have very difficult neighbours！Why do you need an army at all？You would not be afraid of any other country，if you were peaceful people．And in the last hundred years you've done nothing but rob，fight，and mur-der！Your recent history shows the very worst effects of cruel－ ty，jealousy，dishonesty，and madness！’
I tried to answer the King as well as I could，but he did not think our system was a good one．
‘No，my little friend’he said kindly but seriously，‘I'm sorry for you．You've proved to me that your country has nothing valuable to offer us．Perhaps once，in the past，your political life was adequately organized，but now it is clear that there is laziness and selfishness in every part of the system．Your politicians can be bribed，your soldiers aren't really brave，your judges and lawyers are neither reasonable nor hon-est，and your lawmakers themselves know little and do less．I sincerely hope that you，who have spent most of your life trav-elling，have a better character than most Englishmen．But from what you've told me，I'm afraid that your countrymen are foe worst little nation of insects that has ever crawled upon the ground．’
I am very sorry to have to report these words of the King’ s，and I only do so because of my love of the truth．I must tell you exactly what happened
When I next saw the King，he asked me about this experi－ence．‘How did you feel，’he said，‘when the monkey was holding you up on the roof？’
‘Sir，’I replied bravely，‘I was afraid，that's true．But next time an animal like that attacks me，I shall not hesitate．I'll pull out my sword like this’-and I showed him what I would do－‘and give the creature such a wound that it will never come near me again！’
But while I waved my tiny sword in the air，the King and his lords laughed loudly．I had wanted to prove my bravery， but I failed，because to them I was only an unimportant little creature．I realized later that this often happens in England，when we laugh at someone of no family，fortune，or intelli-gence，who pretends to be as important as our great leaders．
In the next few weeks，I began to have some very interest－ing conversations with the King．He was an intelligent，un－derstanding person．
‘Tell me more about your country，’he said to me one day．‘I would like to hear about your laws，your political life，and your customs．Tell me everything．There may be something that we can usefully copy here in Brobdingnag．’
‘I shall be delighted， sir，’I answered proudly．‘Our king controls our three great countries，Scotland，Ireland and Eng－land．We grow much of our own food，and our weather is nei-ther too hot nor too cold．There are two groups Of men who make our laws．One is called the House of Lords－they are men from the oldest and greatest families in the country．The other is called the House of Commons－these are the most honest，intelligent，and sensible men in the country，and are freely chosen by the people．We have judges to decide punish－ments for criminals，and we have a large army，which cannot be defeated by any other in the world．’
While I was talking，the King was making notes．For sev－eral days I continued my explanation，and I also described British history over the last hundred years．Then the King asked me a large number of questions．These were some of them．
‘How do you teach and train young people of good family？If the last son of an old family dies，how do you make new lords for the House of Lords？Are these lords really the most suitable people to make the country's laws？And in the House of Commons，are these men really so honest and intelligent？Do rich men never buy their way into this House？You say the lawmakers receive no pay，but are you sure that they never ac-cept bribes？’
Then he asked questions about our lawcourts．‘Why are your trials so long and so expensive？How much do your lawyers and judges really know about the laws？How carefully do they decide between right and wrong？’
‘And why，’he went on，‘are you so often at war？Either you enjoy fighting，or you have very difficult neighbours！Why do you need an army at all？You would not be afraid of any other country，if you were peaceful people．And in the last hundred years you've done nothing but rob，fight，and mur-der！Your recent history shows the very worst effects of cruel－ ty，jealousy，dishonesty，and madness！’
I tried to answer the King as well as I could，but he did not think our system was a good one．
‘No，my little friend’he said kindly but seriously，‘I'm sorry for you．You've proved to me that your country has nothing valuable to offer us．Perhaps once，in the past，your political life was adequately organized，but now it is clear that there is laziness and selfishness in every part of the system．Your politicians can be bribed，your soldiers aren't really brave，your judges and lawyers are neither reasonable nor hon-est，and your lawmakers themselves know little and do less．I sincerely hope that you，who have spent most of your life trav-elling，have a better character than most Englishmen．But from what you've told me，I'm afraid that your countrymen are foe worst little nation of insects that has ever crawled upon the ground．’
I am very sorry to have to report these words of the King’ s，and I only do so because of my love of the truth．I must tell you exactly what happened