Chapter 3

           Mygentlenessandgoodbehaviourhadgainedsofarontheemperorandhiscourt,andindeeduponthearmyandpeopleingeneral,thatIbegantoconceivehopesofgettingmylibertyinashorttime.Itookallpossiblemethodstocultivatethisfavourabledisposition.Thenativescame,bydegrees,tobelessapprehensiveofanydangerfromme.Iwouldsometimesliedown,andletfiveorsixofthemdanceonmyhand;andatlasttheboysandgirlswouldventuretocomeandplayathide-and-seekinmyhair.Ihadnowmadeagoodprogressinunderstandingandspeakingthelanguage.Theemperorhadamindonedaytoentertainmewithseveralofthecountryshows,whereintheyexceedallnationsIhaveknown,bothfordexterityandmagnificence.Iwasdivertedwithnonesomuchasthatoftherope-dancers,performeduponaslenderwhitethread,extendedabouttwofeet,andtwelveinchesfromtheground.UponwhichIshalldesireliberty,withthereader’spatience,toenlargealittle.

           Thisdiversionisonlypractisedbythosepersonswhoarecandidatesforgreatemployments,andhighfavouratcourt.Theyaretrainedinthisartfromtheiryouth,andarenotalwaysofnoblebirth,orliberaleducation.Whenagreatofficeisvacant,eitherbydeathordisgrace(whichoftenhappens,)fiveorsixofthosecandidatespetitiontheemperortoentertainhismajestyandthecourtwithadanceontherope;andwhoeverjumpsthehighest,withoutfalling,succeedsintheoffice.Veryoftenthechiefministersthemselvesarecommandedtoshowtheirskill,andtoconvincetheemperorthattheyhavenotlosttheirfaculty.Flimnap,thetreasurer,isallowedtocutacaperonthestraightrope,atleastaninchhigherthananyotherlordinthewholeempire.Ihaveseenhimdothesummersetseveraltimestogether,uponatrencherfixedonaropewhichisnothickerthanacommonpackthreadinEngland.

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