XII MONGREL AND THE OTHER HORSE

 “Sage-Brush, you have been listening?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Isn’t it strange?”

 

“Well, no, Mongrel, I don’t know that it is.”

 

“Why don’t you?”

 

“I’ve seen a good many human beings in my time.  They are created as they are; they cannot help it.  They are only brutal¹ because that is their make; brutes² would be brutal if it was their make.”

 

“To me, Sage-Brush, man is most strange and unaccountable.  Why should he treat dumb animals that way when they are not doing any harm?”

 

“Man is not always like that, Mongrel; he is kind enough when he is not excited by religion.”

 

“Is the bull-fight a religious service?”

 

“I think so.  I have heard so.  It is held on Sunday.”

 

(A reflective pause, lasting³ some moments.)  Then:

 

“When we die, Sage-Brush, do we go to heaven and dwell with man?”

 

“My father thought not.  He believed we do not have to go there unless we deserve it.”

 

1 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

2 brutes   

兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性

参考例句：

• They're not like dogs; they're hideous brutes. 它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。
• Suddenly the foul musty odour of the brutes struck his nostrils. 突然，他的鼻尖闻到了老鼠的霉臭味。 来自英汉文学

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。