a modest proposal-第3部分

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eat　up　our　whole　nation　without　it。



After　all；　I　am　not　so　violently　bent　upon　my　own　opinion；　as　to

reject　any　offer；　proposed　by　wise　men；　which　shall　be　found

equally　innocent；　cheap；　easy；　and　effectual。　But　before

something　of　that　kind　shall　be　advanced　in　contradiction　to　my

scheme；　and　offering　a　better；　I　desire　the　author　or　authors

will　be　pleased　maturely　to　consider　two　points。　First；　As　things

now　stand；　how　they　will　be　able　to　find　food　and　raiment　for　a

hundred　thousand　useless　mouths　and　backs。　And　secondly；　There

being　a　round　million　of　creatures　in　humane　figure　throughout

this　kingdom；　whose　whole　subsistence　put　into　a　common　stock；

would　leave　them　in　debt　two　million　of　pounds　sterling；　adding

those　who　are　beggars　by　profession；　to　the　bulk　of　farmers；

cottagers　and　labourers；　with　their　wives　and　children；　who　are

beggars　in　effect；　I　desire　those　politicians　who　dislike　my

overture；　and　may　perhaps　be　so　bold　to　attempt　an　answer；　that

they　will　first　ask　the　parents　of　these　mortals；　whether　they

would　not　at　this　day　think　it　a　great　happiness　to　have　been

sold　for　food　at　a　year　old；　in　the　manner　I　prescribe；　and

thereby　have　avoided　such　a　perpetual　scene　of　misfortunes；　as

they　have　since　gone　through；　by　the　oppression　of　landlords；　the

impossibility　of　paying　rent　without　money　or　trade；　the　want　of

common　sustenance；　with　neither　house　nor　cloaths　to　cover　them

from　the　inclemencies　of　the　weather；　and　the　most　inevitable

prospect　of　intailing　the　like；　or　greater　miseries；　upon　their

breed　for　ever。



I　profess；　in　the　sincerity　of　my　heart；　that　I　have　not　the

least　personal　interest　in　endeavouring　to　promote　this　necessary

work；　having　no　other　motive　than　the　publick　good　of　my　country；

by　advancing　our　trade；　providing　for　infants；　relieving　the

poor；　and　giving　some　pleasure　to　the　rich。　I　have　no　children；

by　which　I　can　propose　to　get　a　single　penny；　the　youngest　being

nine　years　old；　and　my　wife　past　child…bearing。











End