AModestProposal原文.docx

AModestProposal原文.docx

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AModestProposal原文

AModestProposal

ForPreventingtheChildrenofPoorPeople

inIreland,fromBeingaBurdenonTheirParents

orCountry,andforMakingThem

BeneficialtothePublick

ByJonathanSwift

EditedandannotatedbyJackLynch

SwiftwasIrish,andthoughhemuchpreferredlivinginEngland,heresentedBritishpoliciestowardtheIrish.InalettertoPopeof1729,hewrote,"Imagineanationthetwo-thirdsofwhoserevenuesarespentoutofit,andwhoarenotpermittedtotradewiththeotherthird,andwheretheprideofthewomenwillnotsuffer[allow]themtoweartheirownmanufacturesevenwheretheyexcelwhatcomefromabroad:

ThisisthetruestateofIrelandinaveryfewwords."HissupportforIrishcauseshasmadehimarenownedfigureinmodernIreland.Theparagraphnumbershavebeenaddedforthisedition.

[1]ItisamelanchollyObjecttothose,whowalkthroughthisgreatTown, 1 ortravelintheCountry,whentheyseetheStreets,theRoads,andCabbin-Doors,crowdedwithBeggarsofthefemaleSex,followedbythree,four,orsixChildren,allinRags,andimportuningeveryPassengerforanAlms.TheseMothersinsteadofbeingabletoworkfortheirhonestlivelyhood,areforcedtoemployalltheirtimeinStroling,tobegSustenancefortheirhelplessInfants,who,astheygrowupeitherturnThievesforwantofwork,orleavetheirdearnativeCountrytofightforthePretenderinSpain, 2 orsellthemselvestotheBarbadoes. 3 

[2]IthinkitisagreedbyallParties,thatthisprodigiousnumberofChildren,intheArms,orontheBacks,orattheheelsoftheirMothers,andfrequentlyoftheirFathers,isinthepresentdeplorablestateoftheKingdom,averygreatadditionalgrievance;andthereforewhoevercouldfindoutafair,cheapandeasymethodofmakingtheseChildrensoundandusefulMembersofthecommon-wealthwoulddeservesowellofthepublick,astohavehisStatuesetupforapreserveroftheNation.

[3]ButmyIntentionisveryfarfrombeingconfinedtoprovideonlyfortheChildrenofprofessedbeggars,itisofamuchgreaterextent,andshalltakeinthewholenumberofInfantsatacertainAge,whoarebornofParentsineffectaslittleabletosupportthem,asthosewhodemandourCharityintheStreets.

[4]Astomyownpart,havingturnedmythoughtsformanyYears,uponthisimportantSubject,andmaturelyweighedtheseveralSchemesofotherProjectors, 4 Ihavealwaysfoundthemgrosslymistakenintheircomputation.ItistrueaChild,justdroptfromit'sDam, 5 maybesupportedbyherMilk,foraSolaryearwithlittleotherNourishment,atmostnotabovetheValueoftwoShillings,whichtheMothermaycertainlyget,ortheValueinScraps,byherlawfulOccupationofbegging,anditisexactlyatoneyearOldthatIproposetoprovideforthem,insuchamanner,as,insteadofbeingaChargeupontheirParents,ortheParish, 6 orwanting 7 FoodandRaimentfortherestoftheirLives,theyshall,ontheContrary,contributetotheFeedingandpartlytotheCloathingofmanyThousands.

[5]ThereislikewiseanothergreatAdvantageinmyScheme,thatitwillpreventthosevoluntaryAbortions,andthathorridpracticeofWomenmurderingtheirBastardChildren,alas!

toofrequentamongus,SacrificingthepoorinnocentBabes,Idoubt, 8 moretoavoidtheExpence,thantheShame,whichwouldmoveTearsandPityinthemostSavageandinhumanbreast.

[6]ThenumberofSoulsinthisKingdombeingusuallyreckonedoneMillionandahalf,OftheseIcalculatetheremaybeabouttwohundredthousandCouplewhoseWivesarebreeders,fromwhichnumberISubstractthirtyThousandCouples,whoareabletomaintaintheirownChildren,althoughIapprehend 9 therecannotbesomany,underthepresentdistressesoftheKingdom,butthisbeinggranted,therewillremainanhundredandseventythousandBreeders.IagainSubtractfiftyThousandforthoseWomenwhomiscarry,orwhoseChildrendyebyaccident,ordiseasewithintheYear.ThereonlyremainanhundredandtwentythousandChildrenofpoorParentsannuallyborn:

Thequestionthereforeis,Howthisnumbershallbereared,andprovidedfor,which,asIhavealreadysaid,underthepresentSituationofAffairs,isutterlyimpossiblebyallthemethodshithertoproposed,forwecanneitheremploytheminHandicraft,orAgriculture;weneitherbuildHouses,（ImeanintheCountry）norcultivateLand:

 10 theycanveryseldompickupaLivelyhoodbyStealinguntiltheyarriveatsixyearsOld,exceptwheretheyareoftowardlyparts, 11 although,IconfesstheylearntheRudimentsmuchearlier;duringwhichtimetheycanhoweverbeproperlylookedupononlyasProbationers,asIhavebeeninformedbyaprincipalGentlemanintheCountyofCavan,whoprotestedtome,thatheneverknewaboveoneortwoInstancesundertheAgeofsix,eveninapartoftheKingdomsorenownedforthequickestproficiencyinthatArt.

[7]IamassuredbyourMerchants,thataBoyorGirl,beforetwelveyearsOld,isnosaleableCommodity,andevenwhentheycometothisAge,theywillnotyieldabovethreePounds,orthreePoundsandhalfaCrownatmostontheExchange,whichcannotturntoAccounteithertotheParentsortheKingdom,theChargeofNutrimentsandRagshavingbeenatleastfourtimesthatValue.

[8]Ishallnowthereforehumblyproposemyownthoughts,whichIhopewillnotbelyabletotheleastObjection.

[9]IhavebeenassuredbyaveryknowingAmericanofmyacquaintanceinLondon,thatayounghealthyChildwellNursedisatayearOld,amostdelicious,nourishing,andwholesomeFood,whetherStewed,Roasted,Baked,orBoyled,andImakenodoubtthatitwillequallyserveinaFricasie,orRagoust. 12 

[10]Idothereforehumblyofferittopublickconsideration,thatofthehundredandtwentythousandChildren,alreadycomputed,twentythousandmaybereservedforBreed,whereofonlyonefourthparttobeMales,whichismorethanweallowtoSheep,blackCattle,orSwine,andmyreasonis,thattheseChildrenareseldomtheFruitsofMarriage,aCircumstancenotmuchregardedbyourSavages,therefore,oneMalewillbesufficienttoservefourFemales.ThattheremaininghundredthousandmayatayearOldbeofferedinSaletothepersonsofQuality, 13 andFortune,throughtheKingdom,alwaysadvisingtheMothertoletthemSuckplentifullyinthelastMonth,soastorenderthemPlump,andFatforagoodTable.AChildwillmaketwoDishesatanEntertainmentforFriends,andwhentheFamilydinesalone,theforeorhindQuarterwillmakeareasonableDish,andseasonedwithalittlePepperorSaltwillbeverygoodBoiledonthefourthDay,especiallyinWinter.

[11]IhavereckoneduponaMedium,thataChildjustbornwillweigh12pounds,andinasolarYeariftollerablynursedencreasethto28Pounds.

[12]Igrantthisfoodwillbesomewhatdear, 14 andthereforeveryproperforLandlords, 15 who,astheyhavealreadydevouredmostoftheParents,seemtohavethebestTitletotheChildren.

[13]Infant'sfleshwillbeinSeasonthroughouttheYear,butmoreplentifulinMarch,andalittlebeforeandafter;forwearetoldbyagraveAuthor 16 aneminentFrenchphysitian,thatFishbeingaprolifickDyet,therearemoreChildrenborninRomanCatholickCountriesaboutnineMonthsafterLent,thanatanyotherSeason,thereforereckoningaYearafterLent,theMarketswillbemoregluttedthanusual,becausetheNumberofPopishInfants,isatleastthreetooneinthisKingdom,andthereforeitwillhaveoneotherCollateraladvantagebylesseningtheNumberofPapistsamongus.

[14]IhavealreadycomputedtheChargeofnursingaBeggarsChild（inwhichlistIreckonallCottagers,Labourers,andfourfifthsoftheFarmers）tobeabouttwoShillingsperAnnum,Ragsincluded;andIbelievenoGentlemanwouldrepinetogiveTenShillingsfortheCarcassofagoodfatChild,which,asIhavesaidwillmakefourDishesofexcellentNutritiveMeat,whenhehathonlysomeparticularfriend,orhisownFamilytoDinewithhim.ThustheSquirewilllearntobeagoodLandlord,andgrowpopularamonghisTenants,theMotherwillhaveEightShillingsneatprofit,andbefitforWorktillsheproducethanotherChild.

[15]Thosewhoaremorethrifty（asImustconfesstheTimesrequire）mayflaytheCarcass;theSkinofwhich,Artificially 17 dressed,willmakeadmirableGlovesforLadies,andSummerBootsforfineGentlemen.

[16]AstoourCityofDublin,Shambles 18 maybeappointedforthispurpose,inthemostconvenientpartsofit,andButcherswemaybeassuredwillnotbewanting,althoughIratherrecommendbuyingtheChildrenalive,anddressingthemhotfromtheKnife,aswedoroastingPigs.

[17]AveryworthyPerson,atrueLoverofhisCountry,andwhoseVirtuesIhighlyesteem,waslatelypleased,indiscoursingonthismatter,toofferarefinementuponmyScheme.Hesaid,thatmanyGentlemenofthisKingdom,havingoflatedestroyedtheirDeer,heconceivedthatthewantofVenisonmightbewellsupplyedbytheBodiesofyoungLadsandMaidens,notexceedingfourteenYearsofAge,norundertwelve;sogreataNumberofbothSexesineveryCountybeingnowreadytoStarve,forwantofWorkandService:

AndthesetobedisposedofbytheirParentsifalive,orotherwisebytheirnearestRelations.Butwithduedeferencetosoexcellentafriend,andsodeservingaPatriot,IcannotbealtogetherinhisSentiments,forastotheMales,myAmericanacquaintanceassuredmefromfrequentExperience,thattheirfleshwasgenerallyToughandLean,likethatofourSchool-boys,bycontinualexercise,andtheirTastedisagreeable,andtoFattenthemwouldnotanswertheCharge.ThenastotheFemales,itwould,Ithink,withhumbleSubmission,be