Reading Help Gulliver's Travels. Part II, III, IV

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` PART II. A VOYAGE TO BROBDINGNAG. `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER I. `
` `
` [A great storm described; the long boat sent to fetch water; the `
` author goes with it to discover the country. He is left on shore, `
` is seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's house. `
` His reception, with several accidents that happened there. A `
` description of the inhabitants.] `
` `
` Having been condemned, by nature and fortune, to active and `
` restless life, in two months after my return, I again left my `
` native country, and took shipping in the Downs, on the 20th day of `
` June, 1702, in the Adventure, Captain John Nicholas, a Cornish man, `
` commander, bound for Surat. We had a very prosperous gale, till we `
` arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh water; `
` but discovering a leak, we unshipped our goods and wintered there; `
` for the captain falling sick of an ague, we could not leave the `
` Cape till the end of March. We then set sail, and had a good `
` voyage till we passed the Straits of Madagascar; but having got `
` northward of that island, and to about five degrees south latitude, `
` the winds, which in those seas are observed to blow a constant `
` equal gale between the north and west, from the beginning of `
` December to the beginning of May, on the 19th of April began to `
` blow with much greater violence, and more westerly than usual, `
` continuing so for twenty days together: during which time, we were `
` driven a little to the east of the Molucca Islands, and about three `
` degrees northward of the line, as our captain found by an `
` observation he took the 2nd of May, at which time the wind ceased, `
` and it was a perfect calm, whereat I was not a little rejoiced. `
` But he, being a man well experienced in the navigation of those `
` seas, bid us all prepare against a storm, which accordingly `
` happened the day following: for the southern wind, called the `
` southern monsoon, began to set in. `
` `
` Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and `
` stood by to hand the fore-sail; but making foul weather, we looked `
` the guns were all fast, and handed the mizen. The ship lay very `
` broad off, so we thought it better spooning before the sea, than `
` trying or hulling. We reefed the fore-sail and set him, and hauled `
` aft the fore-sheet; the helm was hard a-weather. The ship wore `
` bravely. We belayed the fore down-haul; but the sail was split, `
` and we hauled down the yard, and got the sail into the ship, and `
` unbound all the things clear of it. It was a very fierce storm; `
` the sea broke strange and dangerous. We hauled off upon the `
` laniard of the whip-staff, and helped the man at the helm. We `
` would not get down our topmast, but let all stand, because she `
` scudded before the sea very well, and we knew that the top-mast `
` being aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way `
` through the sea, seeing we had sea-room. When the storm was over, `
` we set fore-sail and main-sail, and brought the ship to. Then we `
` set the mizen, main-top-sail, and the fore-top-sail. Our course `
` was east-north-east, the wind was at south-west. We got the `
` starboard tacks aboard, we cast off our weather-braces and lifts; `
` we set in the lee-braces, and hauled forward by the weather- `
` bowlings, and hauled them tight, and belayed them, and hauled over `
` the mizen tack to windward, and kept her full and by as near as she `
` would lie. `
` `
` During this storm, which was followed by a strong wind west-south- `
` west, we were carried, by my computation, about five hundred `
` leagues to the east, so that the oldest sailor on board could not `
` tell in what part of the world we were. Our provisions held out `
` well, our ship was staunch, and our crew all in good health; but we `
` lay in the utmost distress for water. We thought it best to hold `
` on the same course, rather than turn more northerly, which might `
` have brought us to the north-west part of Great Tartary, and into `
` the Frozen Sea. `
` `
` On the 16th day of June, 1703, a boy on the top-mast discovered `
` land. On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or `
` continent (for we knew not whether;) on the south side whereof was `
` a small neck of land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too `
` shallow to hold a ship of above one hundred tons. We cast anchor `
` within a league of this creek, and our captain sent a dozen of his `
` men well armed in the long-boat, with vessels for water, if any `
` could be found. I desired his leave to go with them, that I might `
` see the country, and make what discoveries I could. When we came `
` to land we saw no river or spring, nor any sign of inhabitants. `
` Our men therefore wandered on the shore to find out some fresh `
` water near the sea, and I walked alone about a mile on the other `
` side, where I observed the country all barren and rocky. I now `
` began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my curiosity, I `
` returned gently down towards the creek; and the sea being full in `
` my view, I saw our men already got into the boat, and rowing for `
` life to the ship. I was going to holla after them, although it had `
` been to little purpose, when I observed a huge creature walking `
` after them in the sea, as fast as he could: he waded not much `
` deeper than his knees, and took prodigious strides: but our men `
` had the start of him half a league, and, the sea thereabouts being `
` full of sharp-pointed rocks, the monster was not able to overtake `
` the boat. This I was afterwards told, for I durst not stay to see `
` the issue of the adventure; but ran as fast as I could the way I `
` first went, and then climbed up a steep hill, which gave me some `
` prospect of the country. I found it fully cultivated; but that `
` which first surprised me was the length of the grass, which, in `
` those grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was about twenty feet `
` high. `
` `
` I fell into a high road, for so I took it to be, though it served `
` to the inhabitants only as a foot-path through a field of barley. `
` Here I walked on for some time, but could see little on either `
` side, it being now near harvest, and the corn rising at least forty `
` feet. I was an hour walking to the end of this field, which was `
` fenced in with a hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet `
` high, and the trees so lofty that I could make no computation of `
` their altitude. There was a stile to pass from this field into the `
` next. It had four steps, and a stone to cross over when you came `
` to the uppermost. It was impossible for me to climb this stile, `
` because every step was six-feet high, and the upper stone about `
` twenty. I was endeavouring to find some gap in the hedge, when I `
` discovered one of the inhabitants in the next field, advancing `
` towards the stile, of the same size with him whom I saw in the sea `
` pursuing our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire `
` steeple, and took about ten yards at every stride, as near as I `
` could guess. I was struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, `
` and ran to hide myself in the corn, whence I saw him at the top of `
` the stile looking back into the next field on the right hand, and `
` heard him call in a voice many degrees louder than a speaking- `
` trumpet: but the noise was so high in the air, that at first I `
` certainly thought it was thunder. Whereupon seven monsters, like `
` himself, came towards him with reaping-hooks in their hands, each `
` hook about the largeness of six scythes. These people were not so `
` well clad as the first, whose servants or labourers they seemed to `
` be; for, upon some words he spoke, they went to reap the corn in `
` the field where I lay. I kept from them at as great a distance as `
` I could, but was forced to move with extreme difficulty, for the `
` stalks of the corn were sometimes not above a foot distant, so that `
` I could hardly squeeze my body betwixt them. However, I made a `
` shift to go forward, till I came to a part of the field where the `
` corn had been laid by the rain and wind. Here it was impossible `
` for me to advance a step; for the stalks were so interwoven, that I `
` could not creep through, and the beards of the fallen ears so `
` strong and pointed, that they pierced through my clothes into my `
` flesh. At the same time I heard the reapers not a hundred yards `
` behind me. Being quite dispirited with toil, and wholly overcome `
` by grief and dispair, I lay down between two ridges, and heartily `
` wished I might there end my days. I bemoaned my desolate widow and `
` fatherless children. I lamented my own folly and wilfulness, in `
` attempting a second voyage, against the advice of all my friends `
` and relations. In this terrible agitation of mind, I could not `
` forbear thinking of Lilliput, whose inhabitants looked upon me as `
` the greatest prodigy that ever appeared in the world; where I was `
` able to draw an imperial fleet in my hand, and perform those other `
` actions, which will be recorded for ever in the chronicles of that `
` empire, while posterity shall hardly believe them, although `
` attested by millions. I reflected what a mortification it must `
` prove to me, to appear as inconsiderable in this nation, as one `
` single Lilliputian would be among us. But this I conceived was to `
` be the least of my misfortunes; for, as human creatures are `
` observed to be more savage and cruel in proportion to their bulk, `
` what could I expect but to be a morsel in the mouth of the first `
` among these enormous barbarians that should happen to seize me? `
` Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right, when they tell us that `
` nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It might `
` have pleased fortune, to have let the Lilliputians find some `
` nation, where the people were as diminutive with respect to them, `
` as they were to me. And who knows but that even this prodigious `
` race of mortals might be equally overmatched in some distant part `
` of the world, whereof we have yet no discovery. `
` `
` Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with `
` these reflections, when one of the reapers, approaching within ten `
` yards of the ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the `
` next step I should be squashed to death under his foot, or cut in `
` two with his reaping-hook. And therefore, when he was again about `
` to move, I screamed as loud as fear could make me: whereupon the `
` huge creature trod short, and, looking round about under him for `
` some time, at last espied me as I lay on the ground. He considered `
` awhile, with the caution of one who endeavours to lay hold on a `
` small dangerous animal in such a manner that it shall not be able `
` either to scratch or bite him, as I myself have sometimes done with `
` a weasel in England. At length he ventured to take me behind, by `
` the middle, between his fore-finger and thumb, and brought me `
` within three yards of his eyes, that he might behold my shape more `
` perfectly. I guessed his meaning, and my good fortune gave me so `
` much presence of mind, that I resolved not to struggle in the least `
` as he held me in the air above sixty feet from the ground, although `
` he grievously pinched my sides, for fear I should slip through his `
` fingers. All I ventured was to raise mine eyes towards the sun, `
` and place my hands together in a supplicating posture, and to speak `
` some words in a humble melancholy tone, suitable to the condition I `
` then was in: for I apprehended every moment that he would dash me `
` against the ground, as we usually do any little hateful animal, `
` which we have a mind to destroy. But my good star would have it, `
` that he appeared pleased with my voice and gestures, and began to `
` look upon me as a curiosity, much wondering to hear me pronounce `
` articulate words, although he could not understand them. In the `
` mean time I was not able to forbear groaning and shedding tears, `
` and turning my head towards my sides; letting him know, as well as `
` I could, how cruelly I was hurt by the pressure of his thumb and `
` finger. He seemed to apprehend my meaning; for, lifting up the `
` lappet of his coat, he put me gently into it, and immediately ran `
` along with me to his master, who was a substantial farmer, and the `
` same person I had first seen in the field. `
` `
` The farmer having (as I suppose by their talk) received such an `
` account of me as his servant could give him, took a piece of a `
` small straw, about the size of a walking-staff, and therewith `
`