This great lord, whose name was Munodi, ordered me an apartment in his own house, where I continued during my stay, and was entertained in a most hospitable manner.

Gulliver explains his arrival in Balnibarbi, a land ruled from the floating island of Laputa. He carries a letter of introduction to Lord Munodi from a nobleman on Laputa, a person held in contempt by the court because he understands neither music nor mathematics. As usual, Gulliver boasts about being entertained by important people. He feels impressed by hospitality, especially toward himself.

This Lord Munodi was a person of the first rank, and had been some years Governor of Lagado, but, by a cabal of ministers, was discharged for insufficiency. However, the king treated him with tenderness, as a well-meaning man, but of a low contemptible understanding.

Gulliver describes Lord Munodi’s status in society. Lord Munodi may no longer function as the former governor of Lagado, the capital city of Balnibarbi, but he still claims the king’s affection. The abstract thinkers on Laputa consider Lord Munodi stupid. But the reader already experienced the silly level of thought in Laputa and as such can infer Lord Munodi possesses intellect after all.

But, in three hours traveling, the scene was wholly altered; we came into a most beautiful country; the farmers’ houses at small distances, neatly built, the fields enclosed, containing vineyards, corn-grounds, and meadows. Neither do I remember to have seen a more delightful prospect. His Excellency observed my countenance to clear up; he told me with a sigh, that there his estate began, and would continue the same, till we should come to his house. That his countrymen ridiculed and despised him, for managing his affairs no better, and for setting so ill an example to the kingdom, which however was followed by very few, such as were old and wilful, and weak like himself.

After a tour of the badly built houses, ragged people, and unproductive fields of Balnibarbi, Gulliver reaches Lord Munodi’s country estate. As the reader expects, Gulliver describes a well-run, efficient estate. The comparison of the farming methods satirizes new technologies that lack sense. Lord Munodi endures the ridicule of the academics for not embracing every new idea, but his success practicing enclosed fields and crop rotation attest to his shrewdness.

In a few days we came back to town, and his Excellency, considering the bad character he had in the Academy, would not go with me himself, but recommended me to a friend of his, to bear me company thither. My Lord was pleased to represent me as a great admirer of projects, and a person of much curiosity and easy belief, which, indeed, was not without truth, for I had myself been a sort of projector in my younger days.

Gulliver explains that, with great courtesy, Lord Munodi refrains from taking him to the academy established by the king, so that Gulliver will not suffer from Munodi’s disgrace. Lord Munodi’s introduction of Gulliver shows that he understands Gulliver’s character quite well—curious but also easy to gull.

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