Gulliver narrator I’m Gulliver. This is the story of my life in the strange land of Brobdingnag, where I was but the size of a mouse among giants.
My master, the farmer who found me, saw me as a way to make money. Every day I was made to perform for the amusement of a crowd. I danced and sang for them. Until one day, I collapsed with exhaustion.
Glumdalclitch Gulliver!
Gulliver narrator That was my dear Glumdalclitch, the farmer’s daughter, and my only true friend here.
Glumdalclitch He’s fainted! Father, I told you it was too much. He’ll die.
Farmer Don’t worry dear, he’s fine, aren’t you Gulliver?
Gulliver I’m… I’m OK.
Sladral Excuse me. I’m here on official business.
Gulliver narrator Although I was exhausted, I looked up to see a finely dressed man.
Sladral Will the little man live?
Farmer Oh, he’s as right as rain.
Sladral Good. The Queen has heard of this Gulliver, and would like to see him for herself.
Farmer Oh, of course my lord. But… well I’m like a father to him. I couldn’t…
Sladral We’ll pay you, of course. One thousand gold pieces? And the girl - she will come with us too and live in the palace.
Gulliver narrator Of course, the greedy farmer agreed without any hesitation. Before I knew it, we were on our way to the palace. I felt relieved.
Sladral Your Majesty. May I present, Mr Gulliver. Oh, and his maid, Glumdalclitch.
Glumdalclitch Your Majesty.
Queen Yes, yes, now where is this Gulliver?
Gulliver Down here, your Majesty. It is an honour. May I kiss your royal foot?
Queen He speaks! It’s true… Mr Gulliver, you may kiss… my fingertip!
Gulliver My lady.
Queen He’s lovely. He will dine with me tonight!
Gulliver narrator Despite the Queen’s beauty and kindness, at dinner I was quite appalled by her behaviour. At one mouthful she ate as much as 12 English farmers would eat in a meal – crunching the wing of a lark, bones and all – though it were nine times the size of a turkey.
Gulliver Quite an appetite, your Majesty!
Gulliver narration Not that it mattered. I was happy to rest and eat well. Everyone at court was enchanted by me!
Queen Are you enjoying the meat, Gulliver?
Gulliver Oh certainly, Madam. It’s delicious.
Queen Oh, have some more.
Gulliver narration Everyone at court loved me, except that is, the Queen’s dwarf**.**
Dwarf Pipsqueak.
Gulliver Pipsqueak? Me?
Gulliver narration He had lost his position now that he was no longer the shortest man in the kingdom. And he wasn’t happy.
Dwarf Yes. Quite a big meal for a little runt. Just you wait.
Queen Gulliver, do hurry and finish supper, I have a present for you!
Gulliver narration It was a house made by the finest craftsman in the land. It was the perfect size for me, with little chairs and a table, and even a lock to keep out rats. Best of all, laid on my bed, shirts of the finest silk. Though Brobdingnag silk is rather rough for a man of my size.
Life passed in this way for some time. I was treated like royalty! But in spite of the fine dining and beautiful clothes, life at court was not always so smooth. Especially because of my, adventures…
Queen Gulliver, tell them what happened today!
Gulliver I was attacked by a large fly, your Majesty.
Sladral Oh Gulliver, we heard you had an accident today?
Gulliver An apple, Sir. It fell on my back. It almost broke it…
Gulliver narrator I was getting upset. Even my dear Glumdalclitch seemed to find me funny. I had to get out of the court. I slipped away from everyone, and wandered down a vast hallway.
Dwarf Psst.
Gulliver Oh you. Go away, dwarf.
Dwarf That’s no way to speak to a friend. I have just the thing to soothe you after their mockery, Gulliver. Come with me.
Gulliver narrator I had no choice but to follow him. We arrived in a quiet study. The dwarf scooped me up.
Dwarf Some dessert, my friend? Or should I say, a just desert for you Gulliver?!
Gulliver Now, now. What’s this?
Gulliver narrator It was a giant bowl of honey. Over which the dwarf held me…
Gulliver Hey, we’re not enemies. Listen, you’re like a big brother to me…
Dwarf In you go.
Gulliver No, wait. Please.
[sfx: splash]
Dwarf No one will know.
Gulliver narrator I struggled and struggled, and tried to swim, taking mouthfuls of the sweet honey. But I had been a sailor for many years, and I made it out.
Gulliver There! Not so easy to stop me, dwarf!
Dwarf Oh, well done, Gulliver. Such a shame there are so many wasps at this time of year! They do so like honey…
Gulliver narrator And off he went. From the window, I heard a buzzing sound. Ten large wasps, the size of eagles – were flying towards me!
Gulliver Take that! And you. Come here, wasp! I’ve not finished with you.
Gulliver narrator I fought off the wasps. And collapsed, exhausted.
Life in Brobdingnag had become very dangerous for me. But how could I escape from this land of giants? I decided I had to meet with the king.
Vocabulary
right as rain (here) feeling well and healthy**
gold pieces** gold coins
fingertip the very end of a finger
appalled shocked
lark a small, brown bird
enchanted
attracted, pleased very much
pipsqueak old-fashioned insult for a small person
runt the smallest animal born in a group, here used as an insult
slipped away quietly escaped
soothe calm
mockery laughing at someone in a nasty way
just dessert (also ‘just deserts’)
to get what you deserve
Credits
Gulliver: Peter Kenny
Brobdingnag farmer: Neil Edgeller
Queen of Brobdingnag: Helen Belbin
Glumdalclitch: Alexandra Maher
Dwarf: Finn Aberdein
Original story: Jonathan Swift
Adaptation by: Sue Mushin
Illustrator: Adria Meserve
ELT consultant: Catherine Chapman
Producer: Finn Aberdein