Latest / Classic Adventure Books Library / 38 - Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift

Transcript

38 - Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift · Classic Adventure Books Library

• 0:00
  Chapter eleven, The Author's Dangerous Voyage. He arrives at New Holland, hoping
• 0:06
  to settle there, is wounded with an arrow by one of the natives,
• 0:11
  is seized and carried by force into a Portuguese ship the great civilities of the
• 0:16
  captain. The author arrives at England. I began this desperate voyage on February
• 0:24
  fifteep seventeen, fourteen fifteen, at nine o'clock in the morning. The wind
• 0:31
  was very favorable. However, I made use at first only of my paddles.
• 0:36
  But considering I should soon be weary and that the wind might chop about,
• 0:41
  I ventured to set up my little sail, and thus, with the
• 0:45
  help of the tide, I went at the rate of a league and a
• 0:48
  half an hour, as near as I could guess. My master and his
• 0:53
  friends continued on the shore till I was almost out of sight, and I
• 0:58
  often heard the sorrel Nag, who always loved me, crying out, Honya
• 1:03
  Ilya, ne'a maja, Yahoo, take care of thyself, gentle Yahoo.
• 1:11
  My design was, if possible, to discover some small island uninhabited, yet
• 1:17
  sufficient by my labour to furnish me with the necessaries of life, which I
• 1:22
  would have thought a greater happiness than to be first Minister in the politest court
• 1:26
  of Europe. So horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to live in
• 1:32
  society and under the government of Yahoos. For in such a solitude as I
• 1:38
  desired, I could at least enjoy my own thoughts and reflect with delight on
• 1:42
  the virtues of those inimitable hunums, without an opportunity of degenerating into the vices
• 1:49
  and corruptions of my own species. The reader may remember what I related when
• 1:57
  my crew conspired against me and confined me to my cabin. How I continued
• 2:01
  there several weeks without knowing what course we took, And when I was put
• 2:06
  ashore in the long boat, how the sailors told me, with oaths,
• 2:09
  whether true or false, that they knew not in what part of the world
• 2:14
  we were. However, I did then believe us to be about ten degrees
• 2:20
  southward of the Cape of Good Hope, or about forty five degrees southern latitude,
• 2:25
  as I gathered from some general words I overheard, among them being I
• 2:30
  suppose to the southeast in their intended voyage to Madagascar, and although this was
• 2:37
  little better than conjecture, yet I resolved to steer my course eastward, hoping
• 2:42
  to reach the southwest coast of New Holland and perhaps some such island as I
• 2:47
  desired lying westward of it. The wind was full west, and by six
• 2:53
  in the evening I computed I had gone eastward at least eighteen leagues when I
• 2:58
  spied a very small life about half a league off which I soon reached.
• 3:04
  It was nothing but a rock with one creek, naturally arched by the force
• 3:07
  of tempests. Here I put in my canoe, and climbing apart of the
• 3:14
  rock, I could plainly discover land to the east, extending from south to
• 3:19
  north. I lay all night in my canoe, and repeating my voyage early
• 3:23
  in the next morning, I arrived in seven hours to the southeast point of
• 3:28
  New Holland. This confirmed me in the opinion I have long entertained that the
• 3:34
  maps and charts placed this country at least three degrees more to the east than
• 3:38
  it really is, which thought I communicated many years ago to my worthy friend
• 3:44
  mister Herman moll And gave him my reasons for it, Although he has rather
• 3:50
  chosen to follow other authors. I saw no inhabitants in the place where I
• 3:54
  landed, and being unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into the country.
• 4:00
  I found some shell fish on the shore and ate them raw, not
• 4:04
  daring to kindle a fire for fear of being discovered by the natives. I
• 4:10
  continued three days, feeding on oysters and limpets to save my own provisions,
• 4:15
  and I fortunately found a brook of excellent water, which gave me great relief.
• 4:23
  On the fourth day, venturing out early a little too far, I
• 4:27
  saw twenty or thirty natives upon a height not above five hundred yards from me.
• 4:31
  They were stark naked men, women, and children round a fire,
• 4:36
  as I could discover by the smoke. One of them spied me and gave
• 4:42
  notice to the rest. Five of them advanced towards me, leaving the women
• 4:46
  and children at the fire. I made what haste I could to the shore,
• 4:50
  and getting into my canoe, shoved off. The savages, observing me
• 4:56
  retreat, ran after me, and before I could get f far enough into
• 5:00
  the sea, discharged an arrow which wounded me deeply on the inside of my
• 5:03
  left knee. I shall carry the mark to my grave. I apprehended the
• 5:12
  arrow might be poisoned, and paddling out of reach of their darts. Being
• 5:15
  a calm day, I made a shift to suck the wound and dress it
• 5:19
  as well as I could. I was at a loss what to do,
• 5:26
  for I durst not return to the same landing place, but stood to the
• 5:30
  north and was forced to paddle for the wind, though very gentle was against
• 5:34
  me, blowing northwest. As I was looking about for a secure landing place,
• 5:42
  I saw a sail to the north northeast, which appearing every minute more
• 5:46
  visible. I was in some doubt whether I should wait for them or not.
• 5:51
  But at last my detestation of the Yahoo race prevailed, and turning my
• 5:57
  canoe, I sailed and paddled together to the south and got into the same
• 6:01
  creek. Whence I set out in the morning. Choosing rather to trust myself
• 6:06
  among these barbarians then live with the European Yahoos, I drew up my canoe
• 6:14
  as close as I could to the shore, and hid myself behind a stone
• 6:17
  by the little brook, which, as I have already said, was excellent
• 6:21
  water. The ship came within half a league of this creek and sent a
• 6:28
  long boat with vessels to take in fresh water. For the place, it
• 6:31
  seems, was very well known, but I did not observe it till the
• 6:36
  boat was almost on shore, and it was too late to seek another hiding
• 6:41
  place. The seam in it their landing observed my canoe, and, drummaging
• 6:46
  it all over, easily conjectured that the owner could not be far off.
• 6:53
  Four of them, well armed, searched every cranny and lurking hole, till
• 6:58
  at last they found me flat on my face behind the stone. They gazed
• 7:03
  awhile in admiration at my strange uncouth dress, my coat made of skins,
• 7:09
  my wooden soled shoes, and my furred stockings. Whence, however, they
• 7:15
  concluded I was not a native of the place, who all go naked.
• 7:21
  One of the seamen in Portuguese bid me rise and asked who I was.
• 7:27
  I understood that language very well, and, getting upon my feet, said
• 7:31
  I was a poor yahoo, banished from the Whinnams, and desired they would
• 7:36
  please to let me depart. They admired to hear me answer them in their
• 7:42
  own tongue, and saw by my complexion I must be a European, but
• 7:46
  were at a last to know what I meant by yahoos and whinnams, and
• 7:53
  at the same time fell a laughing at my strange tone in speaking, which
• 7:57
  resembled the neighing of a horse. I trembled all the while, betwixt fear
• 8:03
  and hatred. I again desired leave to depart, and was gently moving to
• 8:07
  my canoe. But they laid hold of me, desiring to know what country
• 8:13
  I was of whence I came, with many other questions. I told them
• 8:20
  I was born in England whence I came about five years ago, and then
• 8:24
  their country and hours were at peace. I therefore hoped they would not treat
• 8:28
  me as an enemy, since I meant them no harm, but was a
• 8:33
  poor Yahoo seeking some desolate place where to pass the remainder of his unfortunate life.
• 8:41
  When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or saw anything
• 8:45
  more unnatural, for it appeared to me as monstrous, as of a dog
• 8:48
  or a cow should speak in England, or a Yahoo in whinnham Land.
• 8:54
  The honest Portuguese were equally amazed at my strange dress and the manner of delivering
• 9:01
  my words, which, however, they understood very well. They spoke to
• 9:05
  me with great humanity and said They were sure the captain would carry me gratis
• 9:11
  to Lisbon, whence they might return to my own country, that two of
• 9:16
  the seamen would go back to the ship, inform the captain of what they
• 9:20
  had seen, and receive his orders. In the meantime, unless I would
• 9:24
  give my solemn oath not to fly, they would secure me by force.
• 9:31
  I thought it best to comply with their proposal. They were very curious to
• 9:35
  know my story, but I gave them very little satisfaction, and they all
• 9:41
  conjectured that my misfortunes had impaired my reason. In two hours, the boat,
• 9:46
  which was laden with vessels of water, returned, with the captain's command
• 9:50
  to fetch me on board. I fell on my knees to preserve my liberty,
• 9:56
  but all was in vain, and the men, having tied me with
• 10:00
  cords, heed me into the boat. Whence I was taken into the ship,
• 10:03
  and thence into the captain's cabin. His name was Pedro de Mendez.
• 10:11
  He was a very courteous and generous person. He entreated me to give some
• 10:16
  account of myself, and desired to know what I would eat or drink.
• 10:20
  Said I should be used as well as himself, and spoke so many obliging
• 10:26
  things that I wondered to find such civilities from a yahoo. However, I
• 10:33
  remained silent and sullen. I was ready to faint at the very smell of
• 10:37
  him and his men. At last I desired something to eat out of my
• 10:41
  own canoe, but he ordered me a chicken and some excellent wine, and
• 10:46
  then directed I should be put to bed in a very clean cabin. I
• 10:52
  would not undress myself, but lay on the bedclothes, and in half an
• 10:56
  hour stole out. When I thought the crew at dinner and getting to the
• 11:01
  side of the ship, was going to leap into the sea and swim for
• 11:05
  my life rather than continue among the yahoos. But one of the seamen prevented
• 11:11
  me, and, having informed the captain, I was chained to my cabin.
• 11:18
  After dinner, Don Pedro came to me and desired to know my reason
• 11:22
  for so desperate an attempt. Assured me he only meant to do me all
• 11:28
  the service he was able, and spoke so very movingly that at last I
• 11:33
  descended to treat him like an animal, which had some little portion of reason.
• 11:39
  I gave him a very short relation of my voyage of the conspiracy against
• 11:43
  me by my own men, of the country where they set me on shore,
• 11:46
  and my five years of residence there, all which he looked upon as
• 11:52
  if it were a dream or a vision. Whereat I took great offense,
• 11:56
  for I had quite forgot the faculty of lying so peculiar to yahoos in all
• 12:01
  the countries where they preside, and consequently their disposition of suspecting truth in others
• 12:09
  of their own species. I asked him whether it were the custom in his
• 12:15
  country to say the thing which was not. I assured him I had almost
• 12:20
  forgot what he meant by falsehood, And if I had lived a thousand years
• 12:24
  in whinnham Land, I should never have heard a lie from the meanest servant.
• 12:28
  That I was altogether indifferent whether he believed me or not. But however,
• 12:33
  in return for his favors, I would give so much allowance to the
• 12:37
  corruption of his nature as to answer any objection he would please to make,
• 12:41
  and then he might easily discover the truth. The captain, a wise man,
• 12:48
  after many endeavors to catch me tripping in some part of my story,
• 12:52
  at last began to have a better opinion of my veracity. But he added
• 13:00
  that since I professed so inviolable an attachment to truth, I must give him
• 13:05
  my word an honor to bear him company in this voyage without attempting anything against
• 13:09
  my life or else. He would continue me as a prisoner till we arrived
• 13:13
  at Lisbon. I gave him the promise he required, but at the same
• 13:20
  time protested that I would suffer the greatest hardships rather than return to live among
• 13:24
  the yahoos. Our voyage passed without any considerable accident. In gratitude to the
• 13:31
  captain, I sometimes sat with him in his earnest request, and strove to
• 13:37
  conceal my antipathy against humankind, although it often broke out, which he suffered
• 13:43
  to pass without observation. But the greatest part of the day had confined myself
• 13:48
  to my cabin to avoid seeing any of the crew. The captain had often
• 13:54
  entreated me to strip myself of my savage dress and offered to lend me the
• 13:58
  best suit of clare he had. This I would not be prevailed on to
• 14:03
  accept a boring to cover myself with anything that had been on the back of
• 14:07
  a Yahoo. I only desired he would lend me two clean shirts, which
• 14:13
  having been washed since he wore them I believed would not so much defile me.
• 14:20
  These I changed every second day and washed them myself. We arrived at
• 14:26
  Lisbon November fifth, seventeen fifteen. At our landing, the captain forced me
• 14:33
  to cover myself with his cloak to prevent the rabble from crowding about me.
• 14:39
  I was conveyed to his own house, and at my earnest request, he
• 14:43
  led me up to the highest room. Backwards. I conjured him to conceal
• 14:48
  from all persons what I had told him of the Whinnams, because the least
• 14:52
  hint of such a story would not only draw numbers of people to see me,
• 14:58
  but probably put me in danger of being imprisoned or burnt by the inquisition.
• 15:03
  The captain persuaded me to accept a suit of clothes newly made, but
• 15:07
  I would not suffer the tailor to take my measure. However, don Pedro,
• 15:13
  being almost of my size, they fitted me well enough. He accouted
• 15:18
  me with other necessaries or new which I aired for twenty four hours before I
• 15:24
  would use them. The captain had no wife, nor above three servants,
• 15:30
  none of which were suffered to attend at meals, and his whole deportment was
• 15:33
  so obliging added to a very good human understanding that I really began to tolerate
• 15:39
  his company. He gained so far upon me that I ventured to look out
• 15:46
  of the back window. By degrees. I was brought into another room,
• 15:50
  whence I peeped into the street, but drew my head back in affright.
• 15:56
  In a week's time he seduced me down to the door. I found my
• 16:00
  terror gradually lessened, but my hatred and contempt seemed to increase. I was
• 16:07
  at last bold enough to walk the street in his company, but kept my
• 16:11
  nose well stopped with rue or sometimes of a tobacco. In ten days,
• 16:17
  Don Pedro, to whom I had given some account of my domestic affairs,
• 16:22
  put it upon me as a matter of honor and conscience that I ought to
• 16:26
  return to my native country and live at home with my wife and children.
• 16:32
  He told me there was an English ship in the port, just ready to
• 16:36
  sail, and he would furnish me with all things necessary. It would be
• 16:41
  tedious to repeat his arguments and my contradictions. He said, it was altogether
• 16:48
  impossible to find such a solitary island as I desired to live in, but
• 16:52
  I might command in my own house and pass my time in a manner as
• 16:56
  recluse as I pleased, I complied at last, finding I could not do
• 17:03
  better. I left Lisbon the twenty fourth day of November in an English merchantman.
• 17:08
  But who was the Master I never inquired. Dom Pedro accompanied me to
• 17:15
  the ship and lent me twenty pounds. He took kind leave of me and
• 17:19
  embraced me at a parting which I bore as well as I could. During
• 17:26
  this last voyage I had no commerce with the Master or any of his men,
• 17:30
  but pretending I was sick, kept clothes in my cabin. On the
• 17:36
  fifth of December seventeen fifteen, we cast Anchor in the downs about nine in
• 17:41
  the morning, and at three in the afternoon I got savee to my house
• 17:45
  at Rotherheath. My wife and family received me with great surprise and joy,
• 17:52
  because they concluded me certainly dead. But I must freely confess the sight of
• 17:57
  them filled me only with hatred, disgust and contempt, and the more by
• 18:03
  reflecting on the near alliance I had to them. For although since my unfortunate
• 18:08
  exile from the Wynham country, I had compelled myself to tolerate the site of
• 18:14
  yahoos and to converse with Don Pedro de Mendez. Yet my memory and imagination
• 18:19
  were perpetually filled with the virtues and ideas of those exalted Whinnhems. And when
• 18:27
  I began to consider that by copulating with one of the Yahoo species, I
• 18:33
  had become a parent of more, it struck me with the utmost shame,
• 18:37
  confusion, and horror. As soon as I entered the house, my wife
• 18:42
  took me in her arms and kissed me, at which, having not been
• 18:47
  used to the touch of that odious animal for so many years, I fell
• 18:52
  into a swoon for almost an hour. At the time I am writing,
• 18:56
  it is five years since my last return to England. During the first year
• 19:02
  I could not endure my wife or children in my presence. The very smell
• 19:06
  of them was intolerable. Much less could I suffer them to eat in the
• 19:10
  same room. To this hour, they dare not presume to touch my bread
• 19:15
  or drink out of the same cup. Neither was I ever able to let
• 19:19
  one of them take me by the hand. The first money I laid out
• 19:23
  was to buy two young stone horses, which I keep in a good stable,
• 19:29
  and next to them the groom is my greatest favorite, for I feel
• 19:33
  my spirits revived by the smell he contracts in the stables. My horses understand
• 19:38
  me tolerably well. I converse with them at least four hours every day.
• 19:45
  They are strange as to bridle or saddle. They live in great amity with
• 19:48
  me and friendship to each other. And apart four Chapter eleven