Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Sleep Bedtime Story - Gulliver's Travels

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Starting point is 00:00:46 please go to sleepcove.com slash support. That's sleepcove.com slash support. If you can't support the show right now, please subscribe with the bell to get alerts on all new free content thank you have you ever gazed in wonder at the great pyramid have you marvelled at the golden face of Tudankhamun

Starting point is 00:01:16 or admired the delicate features of Queen Nefertiti if you have you'll probably like the History of Egypt podcast every week we explore tales of this ancient culture The history of Egypt is available wherever you get your podcasting fix. Come, let me introduce you to the world of ancient Egypt. Hello and welcome to Sleep Cove, the podcast to Get a Good Night Sleep. This podcast is a sleep story of Gulliver's Travels. I hope you enjoy the classic tale as I read out Chapter 1.

Starting point is 00:02:02 Please do not listen to this or any sort of any story. sleep recording whilst driving or operating heavy machinery. Please listen in a place where you can safely go to sleep. Let's begin. Gulliver's travels into several remote nations of the world, the publisher to the reader. The author of these travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver, is my ancient and intimate friend. There is likewise some relation between us on the mother's side. About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver, growing wary of the concourse of curious people,

Starting point is 00:02:56 coming to his house at Redriff, made a small purchase of land with a convenient house near Newark in Nottinghamshire, his native country, where he now lives retired, yet in good esteem, among his neighbours. though Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire where his father dwelt. Yet I have heard him say his family came from Oxfordshire, to confirm which I have observed in the churchyard at Bamboree, in that country several tombs and monuments of the Gullivers. Before he quitted Redriff,

Starting point is 00:03:39 he left the custody of the following papers in my hands, with a liberty to dispose of them, as I should think fit. I have carefully perused them three times. The style is very plain and simple and the only fault I find is that the author, after the manner of travellers,

Starting point is 00:04:01 is a little too circumstantial. There is an air of truth apparent through the whole, and indeed the author was so distinguished for its veracity that it became a sort of providence, verb among his neighbours at Redriff, when anyone affirmed a thing to say it was true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken it.

Starting point is 00:04:26 By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom which the author's permission I communicated these papers, I have now ventured to send them into the world, hoping they may be, at least for some time, a better entertainment to our young, nobleman than the common scribbles of politics and party. The volume would have been at least twice as large if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the variations and bearings in the several voyages, together with the minute descriptions of the management of the ship in storms in the style of the sailors. likewise the account of longitude and latitudes

Starting point is 00:05:21 wherein I have reason to apprehend that Mr Gulliver may be a little disappointed but I was resolved to fit the work as much as possible to the general capacity of readers however in my own ignorance sincere affairs shall have led me to commit some mistakes I am alone and to rule for them If any traveller hath the curiosity to see the whole work at large

Starting point is 00:05:53 as it came from my hands of the author, I shall be ready to gratify him. As for any further particulars relating to the author, a reader will receive its satisfaction from the first pages of the book. Richard Simpson Page de Lilleeput Chapter 1 The author gives some account.

Starting point is 00:06:23 of himself and family. His first inducements to travel, he is shipwrecked, and swims for his life. Get safe on shore in the country of Lilliput, is made a prisoner and carried up the country. My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire.

Starting point is 00:06:50 Five sons. He sent me to a manual college in Cambridge at 14 years old. where I resided three years and applied myself close to my studies but the charge of maintaining me. Although I had very scanty allowance being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, which whom I continued four years. My father now amounts of money, I laid them out in learning navigation and other parts of the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be some time or other my fortune to do.

Starting point is 00:07:59 When I left Mr Bates, I went down to my father, where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John, and some other relations. I got £40 and a promise of £30 a year to maintain me at Leiden where I studied physics, two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages. Soon after my return from Leiden,

Starting point is 00:08:29 I was recommended by my good servant, Mr Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow Captain, Admiral panel commander, with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant and some other parts. When I came back, I resolved to settle in London, to which Mr Bates my master encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a small house and the old jewellery, and being advised to alter my condition. I married Mrs Mary Burton A second daughter to Mr Edmund Burton

Starting point is 00:09:13 Hosea and Newgate Street With whom I received £400 for a portion But my good master Bates Dying in two years after And I have having few friends My business began to fail For my conscience

Starting point is 00:09:34 Would not suffer me To imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife and some of my acquaintance, I determined to go to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships and made several voyages for six years

Starting point is 00:09:56 to the East and West Indies by which I got some addition to my fortune. Hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books, and when I was ashore in observing the manners and dispositions of the people,

Starting point is 00:10:20 as well as learning their language, wherein I had a great facility by the strength of my memory, of these two voyages, not proving very fortunate. I grew weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed from the old jewellery to Fetter Lane and from thence to whopping, hoping to get business among the sailors but it would not turn to account After three years' expectation that things would mend

Starting point is 00:11:00 I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Pritchard Master of the Antelope who was making a voyage to the South Sea We set sail from Bristol, May the 4th, 1699, and our voyage was at first very prosperous. It would not be proper for some reasons to trouble the reader with the particulars of our adventures in those seas. Let it suffice to inform him that in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the northwest of Van Demonsland. By an observation we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. 12 of our crew were dead by moderate labour and ill food.

Starting point is 00:12:03 The rest were in very weak condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning of summer in the summer in the parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship, but the wind was so strong that we were driven directly upon it and immediately split, six of the crew of whom I was one having lent the down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship and the rock. We rode, by my computation, about three leagues, to we were able to work no longer,

Starting point is 00:12:49 being already spent with labour while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as those who escaped on the rock, all were left in the vessel? I cannot tell, but can conclude they were all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by tide and wind, and often let my legs drop and could feel no bottom, but when I was always always,

Starting point is 00:13:34 almost gone and able to struggle no longer, I found myself within my death, and where this time the storm had much abated. The declivity was so small that I walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjected was about 8 o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward nearly half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses. or inhabitants. At least I was in so weaker condition that I did not observe them. I was extremely tired and with that and the heat of the weather and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left the ship I found myself much inclined to sleep, which was very short and soft, where I slept as I reckoned about nine hours for which I await. It was daylight. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir, for as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground,

Starting point is 00:15:05 and my hair, which was long and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several, slender ligatures across my body. From my armpits to my thighs, I could only look upwards. The sun began to grow hot and the light offended my eyes. Views noise about me. But in the posture I lay could see nothing except the sky. In the little time I felt something alive moving on my left left. while advancing gently towards and looking over my breast. It came almost up to my chin. When, bending my eyes downwards as much as I could,

Starting point is 00:16:03 I perceived it to be a human creature, not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands and a quiver on his back. I felt at least forty more of the same kind, as I guessed, following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment and roared so loud that they all fell back in a fright, and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them who ventured so far as to get a full side of my face, lifted up his hands and eyes by a way of admiration and cried out in a shrill but distinct voice Hercania de Gaul the others repeated the same words several times but then I knew not what they meant

Starting point is 00:17:07 I lay all this while as the reader may believe in great uneasiness and a lump struggling to get loose I had the fortune to break the strings and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground for by lifting it up to my face I discovered the methods they had taken to bind me and at the same time with a violent pull which gave me excessive pain

Starting point is 00:17:40 I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on the left-hand side, so that I was just about to be able to turn my head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second time before I could seize them, whereupon there was a great shout in a very shrill accent, and after it ceased, I heard one of them cry a loud Togo Pernokak, when in an instant I felt about a moment. a hundred arrows discharged on my left hand, which pricked me like so many needles, and beside they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof many,

Starting point is 00:18:32 I suppose, fell on my body, though I felt them not, and some on my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows was all over I felt a groaning with grief and pain And then striving to get loose They discharged another volley larger than the first And some of them attempted with spears To stick me in the sides

Starting point is 00:19:01 But by good luck I had a buff jerkin Which they could not pierce Although it was the most prudent method to lie still, and my desire was to continue so till night, when my left hand, being already loose, I could easily free myself, and as for the inhabitants. I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me, if they were all the same size with him that I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people observed,

Starting point is 00:19:45 I was quiet. They discharged no more arrows, but by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased and about four yards from me over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour like that people at work. When turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stage erected about a foot and a half from the foot. And a half from ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it, from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, where I could not understand one syllable. But I should have mentioned that before the principal person began his oration, he cried out three times, Langro de'ul san.

Starting point is 00:20:45 These words and the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me, whereupon immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning to the right, and of observing the person and the gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to be of middle age, and taller than any of any of the age. are the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his train and seemed to somewhat longer than my middle finger, the other two, one on each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of threatenings and others of promises, pity and kindness.

Starting point is 00:21:45 I answered in a few words, but, in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness, and being almost famished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship. I found the demands of nature so strong upon me than I could not forbear showing my impatience, perhaps against the strict rules of decency, by putting my finger frequently to my mouth to signify that I wanted food. The Hugo, for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt, understood me very well. He descended from the stage and commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, a which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat which had been provided and sent thither by the king's orders. Upon the first intelligence he received of me, I observed that there was a flesh of several animals

Starting point is 00:22:57 that could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs and loins, shaped like those of mutton and very well-dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful and took three loaves at a time about the bigness of musket bullets they supplied me as fast as they could showing a thousand marks of wonder

Starting point is 00:23:30 and astonishment at my bulk and appetite I made them another sign that I wanted drink they found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me, and being a most ingenious people, they slung up with great dexterity one of the largest hogshead

Starting point is 00:23:53 that rolled it towards my hand and beat off the top and I drank it off at a drought, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint and tasted like a small wine of burgundy, but was me. more delicious. They brought me a second hoxhead, which I drank in the same manner, and made

Starting point is 00:24:18 signs for more, but they had none to give me. When I performed these wonders, they shouted for joy and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did the first. Hikina de Gaul. They made a sign that I should throw down the two hoax heads, but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borak Melova. And when they saw the vessels in the air, there was a universal shout of Ekinia Degel. I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body to see 40 or 50 of the first that came into my reach and dashed them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt would probably not be the worse they could do, and the promise of honour I made them,

Starting point is 00:25:14 for I interpreted my submissive behaviour, soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now could consider myself, as bound by the laws of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts, I could not sufficiently wonder at the courageousness of these diminution,

Starting point is 00:25:40 mortals who best venture to mount and walk upon my body while one of my hands was at liberty without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature I must appear to them. After some time when they observed that I made no more demands for meat there appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His Excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his friends, and producing his credentials under the Signet Royal,

Starting point is 00:26:28 which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes, without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate resolution. often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards thought, was towards the capital city, about half a mile distance. I answered in few words, but to no purpose, I made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other, but over his excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train, and then to my own head and body to signify that I desired my liberty

Starting point is 00:27:15 It appeared that he understood me well enough For he shook his head by way of agreement And held his hand in a posture to show That I must be carried as a prisoner However he made other signs To let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough and have very good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of my attempting to break my bonds,

Starting point is 00:27:45 but again I felt the smart of the arrows upon my face and hands, which were all blisters, and many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing, likewise, that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to them to let them know, that they might do with me what they pleased, Upon this the Hergo and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of the word of Pleplon-sur-lan, and I felt great numbers of people on my left-hand side,

Starting point is 00:28:28 relaxing the cords to such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right and to ease myself, with making water, which I very plentifully did. It was the great astonishment of the people, who, by conjecturing by my motion, which I was doing to do so, immediately opened to the right and left of me on that side to avoid the torrent, which fell with such noise and violence from me.

Starting point is 00:29:00 But before this, they abhorred my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which in a few minutes removed all the smarts of their arrows. This circumstances added to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which was very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, and I was afterwards assured. It was no wonder for the physicians by the Empress Order had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogshead of wine. It seems that first upon the moment I discovered sleeping on the ground, early notice of it by an express, and determined in the council that I should be tired in the manner I have related,

Starting point is 00:30:02 which was done in the night while I slept, that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to, me and the machine prepared to carry me to the capital city. This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous and I am confident it would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion. However, in my opinion it was extremely prudent as well as generous

Starting point is 00:30:38 for supposing these people had endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows while I was asleep. I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tired, after which, as they were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy. These people are the most excellent mathematicians and arrived to a great perfection

Starting point is 00:31:15 by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor. Who is a renowned patron of learning? The prince had several machines fixed on wheels for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often binds his largest men of war whereof some are nine feet long in the woods where the timber grows and has them carried on these engines

Starting point is 00:31:46 three or four hundred yards to the sea 500 carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had it was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground and about seven feet long and four feet wide

Starting point is 00:32:09 moving upon 20 two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which it seems set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel to me as I lay, but the principal difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle. 80 poles, each of one foot high, was erected for this purpose and very strong cords of the business of pack thread was fastened by hooks to my many bandages which the workmen had girt round their necks my hands and my body. 900 of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords by many pulleys fastened on the poles and thus in less than three hours it was raised and slung into the engine.

Starting point is 00:33:08 and there tied fast. All this I was told, for while the operation was before me, I lay in a profound sleep by the force of that medicine infused into my liquor. 1500 are the emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis,

Starting point is 00:33:34 which as I said was half a mile distant. About four hours after we began our journey I awakened to a very ridiculous accident With the carriage being stopped a while To ingest something that was out of order Two or three of the young natives had the curiosity To see how I looked when I was asleep They climbed up into the engine

Starting point is 00:33:58 And advancing very softly to my face One of the officers and the guards but the sharp end of his half-pike a good way up my left nostril which tickled my nose like a straw and made me sneeze violently whereupon they stole off unperceived and it was three weeks before I knew

Starting point is 00:34:18 the cause of me waking so suddenly a remaining part of the day and rested at night with 500 guards on each side of me half with torches half with bows and arrows ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir.

Starting point is 00:34:38 The next morning at sunrise we continued our march and arrived within 200 yards of the city gates about noon and all his court came to meet us that his great officers would by no means suffer his majesty to endanger his persons by mounting on my body. At the largest place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom,

Starting point is 00:35:12 which, having been polluted some years before, by an unnatural murder, was according to the zeal of these people, looked upon as profane, and therefore had been applied to common use and all the ornaments and furniture carried away. To this, it was determined I should lodge. The great gate fronting to the north,

Starting point is 00:35:37 was about four feet high and almost two feet wide, though which I could easily creep. On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inches from the ground, and to that on the left hand side the king smith conveyed four score and eleven chains, like those that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to the left of my leg with six and thirty padlocks over against this temple on the other side of the Great Highway

Starting point is 00:36:13 at 20 feet distance there was a turret at least five foot high here the emperor ascended with many principal lords of his court to have an opportunity of viewing me as I was told for I could not see them it was reckoned that about a hundred thousand inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand in spite of my guards.

Starting point is 00:36:40 I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand as several times who mounted my body by the help of ladders, but a proclamation was soon issued to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me, whereupon I rose up with as malaconic. a disposition as I had ever in my life. The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but being fixed within four inches of the gate,

Starting point is 00:37:20 allowing me to creep in and lie at my full length in the temple.

Guided Sleep Meditation & Sleep Hypnosis from Sleep Cove - Sleep Bedtime Story - Gulliver's Travels

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