Gullivers Travels, Part 4, Voyage to Brobdingnag"

Gulliver narrator My name is Gulliver. Let me tell you the story of my second voyage, to the strange land of Brobdingnag.

I had spent the winter in England, but soon became restless . I said farewell to my wife and family to seek my fortune across the sea once more. The wide world waited for me!

But sea voyages don’t always go to plan. A huge storm blew up. And when it passed, we found ourselves.

Sailor Land ahoy!

Gulliver narrator .at an island.

Sailor Food and water. We get what we need and set sail. And men, stay armed .

Gulliver narrator It was barren and rocky. I set off alone to explore, but I found nothing. When I returned to the beach.

Sailor Run! Back to the boat!

Gulliver Where are you going?! Stop!

Gulliver narrator The men were already in back in the boat, rowing for their lives , and. a huge creature was chasing them, like a man, but so. tall. I can’t tell you what happened, for I turned and ran for my life.

I ran into a giant field, where I hid under stalks of corn rising 40 feet into the sky.

Gulliver What is this place?

Gulliver narrator I felt sick. Across the field I saw another man-creature, as tall as a church steeple , harvesting the giant corn.

Brobdingnag farmer What have we here?

Gulliver
Don’t eat me!

Gulliver narrator He spoke a strange tongue .

Brobdingnag farmer [booming voice] Like a little. man.

Gulliver narrator Just then he scooped me up, close to his face. His breath was foul .

Brobdingnag farmer I think the wife would like to see this.

Gulliver narrator And he tucked me into his coat pocket. How I trembled with fear as he walked back to his house.

Farmer’s wife [Screams] It’s a mouse! Get it out of my kitchen!

Gulliver narrator The farmer’s wife was shocked when she saw me. For there I stood, on their kitchen table, his whole, huge family looking at me.

Farmer’s wife It’s a man! So tiny.

Glumdalclitch He must be hungry, mother.

Farmer’s wife Here, give him some meat.

Gulliver Oh, thank you.

Gulliver narrator
And they pushed a huge slice of meat my way. With a thimble of ale .

My drinking seemed to amuse them. The ale made me a little bolder, and I did a little dance for them. Perhaps they would treat me well. But just then.

[sfx: baby crying]

Gulliver What’s that?!

Gulliver narrator A huge baby, that’s what it was. Thankfully, the baby soon fell asleep.

And so did I. The farmer’s daughter tucked me into bed with a handkerchief for a blanket. It was heavy and rough like the sail of a warship, but I was exhausted.

Glumdalclitch Good morning my little man. My name’s Glumdalclitch. Glumdalclitch.

Gulliver Glumdal. Oh, what? Your name? Glumdalclitch?

Glumdalclitch Oh, he said my name! He’s so cute. I’m Glumdalclitch and you’re.?

Gulliver
She’s asking my name. I’m Gulliver. Gulliver!

Gulliver narrator The farmer’s daughter must have been only nine or ten years old, and a mere 30 feet tall. She was kind to me and became my closest friend. Over the next days she taught me their language, which I learned fast. Life was good, for a while.

Farmer Gulliver! We’re going to town. Come here.

Gulliver To town? Yes, sir, of course.

Glumdalclitch Don’t worry Gulliver, we’re taking you to market, so people can see you. You’ve become quite famous! Here, I’ve made this little travelling box.

Gulliver
Why thank you Glumdalclitch.

Gulliver narrator I climbed inside, and off we went. The journey was bumpy, like rising and falling in a ship in a great storm. Finally we came to a rest, somewhere. indoors.

Farmer [To Gulliver] Now then little man, let’s see if we can earn ourselves a pretty penny .

[To the crowd] Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the smallest man in Brobdingnag!

Crowd [sfx: gasping]

Gulliver narrator And the farmer opened the box. Out I stepped onto a table - in a room full of giant people.

Farmer Now Gulliver, show them what you can do.

Gulliver Err, good day to you all! I am Gulliver!

Gulliver narrator And so I performed for them. I danced, and fenced with my sword… I drank another thimble of ale. The crowd loved me!

Farmer That’s three crowns each. Next performance, at six o’clock. Thank you Madam. Thank you Sir.

Gulliver narrator And so it went. The next day we did three shows. Then ten the next. Then 15. I was exhausted. But the farmer kept pushing me. Poor Glumdalclitch tried to stop him. But it was no use.

Glumdalclitch Father, he can’t go on. He must rest today. He’ll die.

Farmer Well, if he dies, we’ll make no more money . Let’s make as much as we can, first.

Gulliver narrator I lost my appetite. I feared I would die here, in this strange land, miles from home. Oh, if only I had stayed at home in England, none of this would have happened! But just as I thought all was lost. something wonderful happened. I’ll tell you about that, next time.