art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant either by death or disgrace (which often happens) five or six of those candidates petition the Emperor to entertain his Majesty and the court with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps the highest without falling, succeeds in the office. What is Swift satirizing in the excerpt? corrupt politicians rope dancers Liliputians Gulliver's ignorance