Fragment of Gulliver’s Travels. Part I, Chapter I. By Jonathan Swift.
My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire. Of five children, I was the third. He sent me to Emanuel College, Cambridge, when I was fourteen years old, and I lived there for three, seriously devoted to my studies; But since staying there represented too great a burden for such a small fortune, I became an apprentice with Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon of London, with whom I remained for four years, and with small amounts that my father sent me from time to time I learned navigation. and other parts of Mathematics, useful to those who have to travel, since I always believed that, sooner or later, traveling would be my lot. When I left Mr. Bates, I returned to my father; There, with the help of him, that of my uncle Juan and that of some other relative, I obtained forty pounds and the promise of thirty a year for my support in Leida. In this last point I studied Physics for two years and seven months, sure that it would be useful to me on long journeys.
Shortly after my return from Leida, on the recommendation of my good master Mr. Bates, I took a position as doctor on the Swallow, a ship commanded by Captain Abraham Panell, with whom in three and a half years I made a trip or two to the East and several to other points. When I returned I decided to settle in London, a goal encouraged by Mr. Bates, my teacher, by whom I was recommended to some clients. I rented part of a small house in Old Jewry; and I married Miss Mary Burton, second daughter of Mr. Edmund Burton, stocking-seller of Newgate Street.
But as my good teacher Bates died two years later, and I had few friends, my business began to decline. Thus, I consulted with my wife and a friend, and decided to return to the sea. I was successively a doctor on two ships, and during six years I made several voyages to the East and West Indies, which enabled me to somewhat increase my fortune. I spent my leisure hours reading the best ancient and modern authors, and for this purpose I always carried a good supply of books with me; and when we disembarked, in observing the customs and inclinations of the natives, as well as in learning their language, for which the firmness of my memory gave me great ease.