Spectator competition winners: Gulliver’s Day Out and other literary prequels

In Competition No. 3235, you were invited to invent a prequel to a well-known work of literature and supply an extract from it. In a stellar entry, Nick MacKinnon, Sue Pickard, Max Ross, Bob Trewin and Lorna Wood all shone, but the £25 prizes go to the following:

Believing it never to be my Fortune to travel in future Years, my Profession holding me fast in Respectability, I betook myself to London to discover what Strangenesses I might encounter in the Manners and Dispositions of People. Finding them of indifferent Stature and unwholesome Airs, yet was I minded to visit their Great Parliament, both for my Private Education but also thereby in hope of acquiring a great Tale as Souvenir, one to make my Name. Their Place being over-manned, as with hogs at a water-trough, and all making such Clamour, I could only coin them as Yahoos, each endeavouring to out-shout his Fellow. One tow-headed ruffian was the butt of rude banter for mighty Partying, though in truth I saw him no more than a poor Clown. This being ample to assure me of the Inanity of Humanity, yet I wonder if the whole World is belike. D.A. Prince/Gulliver’s Day Out

That’s my new husband painted on the wall, Ferrara’s duke; so dignified! I call myself blessed; his duchess, his blushing bride. His gaze on me is constant, filled with pride, his every thought for me, gifts rich and fine, his honoured name, nine hundred years, is mine. He never stoops to ask, for he can see my happiness. Sunsets, each orchard tree, my mule, the terrace, cherries, bring such joy, sir, ’tis all one! Sweet speeches I employ to show my gratitude, and with each glance my pleasure grows. In time, I hope, perchance he’ll have my portrait painted, his dear wife; Fra Pandolf’s brush will grant me lasting life. My image by the duke’s, mere feet apart, my loving smile immortalised in art. Janine