Gulliver's Travels: Part 4: Voyage to Brobdingnag
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...
Land ahoy!
...at an island.
Food and water. We get what we need and set sail. And men, stay armed.
It was barren and rocky. I set off alone to explore, but I found nothing. When I returned to the beach...
Run! Back to the boat!
Where are you going?! Stop!
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.
What is this place?
I felt sick. Across the field I saw another man-creature, as tall as a church steeple, harvesting the giant corn.
What have we here?
Don't eat me!
He spoke a strange tongue.
[booming voice] Like a little... man.
Just then he scooped me up, close to his face. His breath was foul.
I think the wife would like to see this.
And he tucked me into his coat pocket. How I trembled with fear as he walked back to his house.
[Screams] It's a mouse! Get it out of my kitchen!
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.
It's a man! So tiny.
He must be hungry, mother.
Here, give him some meat.
Oh, thank you.
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]
What's that?!
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.
Good morning my little man. My name's Glumdalclitch. Glumdalclitch.
Glumdal... Oh, what? Your name? Glumdalclitch?
Oh, he said my name! He's so cute. I'm Glumdalclitch and you're...?
She's asking my name. I'm Gulliver. Gulliver! 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.
Gulliver! We're going to town. Come here.
To town? Yes, sir, of course.
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.
Why thank you Glumdalclitch.
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.
[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!
[sfx: gasping]
And the farmer opened the box. Out I stepped onto a table – in a room full of giant people...
Now Gulliver, show them what you can do.
Err, good day to you all! I am Gulliver!
And so I performed for them. I danced, and fenced with my sword… I drank another thimble of ale. The crowd loved me!
That's three crowns each. Next performance, at six o'clock. Thank you Madam... Thank you Sir...
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.
Father, he can't go on. He must rest today. He'll die.
Well, if he dies, we'll make no more money. Let's make as much as we can, first.
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.
