Gulliver has just arrived in Borbdingnag, the land of Giants: In the next few weeks, I began to have
some very interesting conversations with the King. He was an intelligent, understanding person.
“Tell me more about your country,” he said to me one day. “I would like to hear about your laws, your
political life, and your customs and traditions. Tell me everything. There may be something that we can
usefully copy here in Brobdingnag.”
“I shall be delighted, sir, “I answered proudly. “Our king controls out three great countries, Scotland,
Ireland and England. We grow much of our own food, and our weather is neither too hot or nor too cold.
There are two groups of men who make our laws. One is called the
House of Lords and the other is called the House of Commons – these
are the most honest, intelligent, and sensible men in the country, and
are freely chosen by the people. We have judges to decide the
punishment for criminals, and we have a large army, which cannot be
defeated by any other in the world.”
While I was talking, the King was making notes. For several days I
continued my explanation, and I also described British history over the
last hundred years. Then the King asked me a large number of
questions.
“Why,” he asked, “are you so often at war? Either you find fighting
enjoyable, or you have difficult neighbours! Why do you need an army
at all? You would not be afraid of any other country if you were peaceful people!