…both the soldiers and people were highly obliged at this Mark of my clemency, which was represented very much to my Advantage at Court.

Answer: These lines are taken from Chapter 2, Part 1 of Jonathan Swift’s satirical work Gulliver’s Travels. Here the narrator points out the way in which he won over the hostile Lilliputians through his friendly behavior.

Gulliver found himself landing on the land of Lilliputians following the wreckage of his ship in a violent storm. For the Lilliputians, Gulliver was an amazing creature with his great size and huge figure. He became an object of attraction to them. They were very eager to come as near as possible to the huge body of Gulliver. As they were very curious about him, they disturbed and teased him in various ways. In one of such occasions. some Lilliputians were causing great disturbances to Gulliver. Six of the ringleaders were seized and their hands were bound. They were then delivered to Gulliver for punishment to be meted out to them. He took them in his right hand and put five of them into his coat pocket. He made a countenance to the remaining one as if he would eat him alive. He was terrified, but Gulliver took out his pen knife, cut his strings and let him go. He also treated the rest in the same manner. All were very happy at Gulliver’s kind treatment of them. It was reported at the court and it went to his advantage. Their ill-feeling toward Gulliver melted and they finally took him as a good man.

This is a humorous description of Gulliver and the behavior of the Lilliputians towards him. The point to notice here is how Gulliver’s friendly behavior makes the unruly Lilliputians sympathetic and friendly towards him.