Gulliver's travels

Extract # 1 : Arriving at Lilliput

 [l. 1] What became of my companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the rock, [l. 2] or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell ; but conclude they were all lost. For my own part, I swam [l. 3] as Fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and [l. 4] could feel no bottom : but when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, [l. 5] I found myself within my depth ; and by this time the storm was much abated. The declivity was [l. 6] so small, that I walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was about [l. 8] eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or inhabitants ; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not observe [l. 9] them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of the weather, and about half a pint of [l. 10] brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down [l. 11] on the grass, which was very short and soft ; where I slept sounder than ever I remember [l. 12] to have done in my life, and as I reckoned, above nine hours ; for when I awoke, [l. 13] it was just daylight.

 

Extract #2: Bound

[l. 1] I  attempted to rise, but was not able to stir : For as I happened to lie on my back, I found my [l. 2] arms and legs strongly fastened on each side to the ground ; and my hair, which was long and [l. 3] thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my body, [l. 4] from my armpits to my thighs. I could only look upwards ; the sun began to grow hot, and the [l. 5] light offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but in the posture I lay, could see  [ l. 6] nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which [was] [l. 7] advancing gently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin ; when bending my eyes [l. 8] downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature not six inches high, with a [l. 9] bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty more [l. 10] of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and [l. 11] roared so loud, that they all ran back in a fright ; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, [l. 12] were hurt (…). However they soon returned. (…) At length, struggling to get loose, I had the [l. 13] Fortune to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground ; [l. 14] for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had taken to bind me (…).

 

Gulliver's travels (1726) – Jonathan Swift.



Article ajouté le 2007-01-18 , consulté 60 fois

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