The author conducted by a Houyhnhnm to his house. The house described. The author’s reception. The food of the Houyhnhnms. The author in distress1 for want of meat. Is at last relieved. His manner of feeding in this country.
Having travelled about three miles, we came to a long kind of building, made of timber stuck in the ground, and wattled across; the roof was low and covered with straw. I now began to be a little comforted; and took out some toys, which travellers usually carry for presents to the savage2 Indians of America, and other parts, in hopes the people of the house would be thereby3 encouraged to receive me kindly4. The horse made me a sign to go in first; it was a large room with a smooth clay floor, and a rack and manger, extending the whole length on one side. There were three nags5 and two mares, not eating, but some of them sitting down upon their hams, which I very much wondered at; but wondered more to see the rest employed in domestic business; these seemed but ordinary cattle. However, this confirmed my first opinion, that a people who could so far civilise brute8 animals, must needs excel in wisdom all the nations of the world. The gray came in just after, and thereby prevented any ill treatment which the others might have given me. He neighed to them several times in a style of authority, and received answers.
Beyond this room there were three others, reaching the length of the house, to which you passed through three doors, opposite to each other, in the manner of a vista9. We went through the second room towards the third. Here the gray walked in first, beckoning10 me to attend: I waited in the second room, and got ready my presents for the master and mistress of the house; they were two knives, three bracelets11 of false pearls, a small looking-glass, and a bead12 necklace. The horse neighed three or four times, and I waited to hear some answers in a human voice, but I heard no other returns than in the same dialect, only one or two a little shriller than his. I began to think that this house must belong to some person of great note among them, because there appeared so much ceremony before I could gain admittance. But, that a man of quality should be served all by horses, was beyond my comprehension. I feared my brain was disturbed by my sufferings and misfortunes. I roused myself, and looked about me in the room where I was left alone: this was furnished like the first, only after a more elegant manner. I rubbed my eyes often, but the same objects still occurred. I pinched my arms and sides to awake myself, hoping I might be in a dream. I then absolutely concluded, that all these appearances could be nothing else but necromancy14 and magic. But I had no time to pursue these reflections; for the gray horse came to the door, and made me a sign to follow him into the third room where I saw a very comely15 mare7, together with a colt and foal, sitting on their haunches upon mats of straw, not unartfully made, and perfectly16 neat and clean.
The mare soon after my entrance rose from her mat, and coming up close, after having nicely observed my hands and face, gave me a most contemptuous look; and turning to the horse, I heard the word Yahoo often repeated betwixt them; the meaning of which word I could not then comprehend, although it was the first I had learned to pronounce. But I was soon better informed, to my everlasting17 mortification18; for the horse, beckoning to me with his head, and repeating the hhuun, hhuun, as he did upon the road, which I understood was to attend him, led me out into a kind of court, where was another building, at some distance from the house. Here we entered, and I saw three of those detestable creatures, which I first met after my landing, feeding upon roots, and the flesh of some animals, which I afterwards found to be that of asses19 and dogs, and now and then a cow, dead by accident or disease. They were all tied by the neck with strong withes fastened to a beam; they held their food between the claws of their fore13 feet, and tore it with their teeth.
The master horse ordered a sorrel nag6, one of his servants, to untie20 the largest of these animals, and take him into the yard. The beast and I were brought close together, and by our countenances22 diligently23 compared both by master and servant, who thereupon repeated several times the word Yahoo. My horror and astonishment24 are not to be described, when I observed in this abominable25 animal, a perfect human figure: the face of it indeed was flat and broad, the nose depressed26, the lips large, and the mouth wide; but these differences are common to all savage nations, where the lineaments of the countenance21 are distorted, by the natives suffering their infants to lie grovelling27 on the earth, or by carrying them on their backs, nuzzling with their face against the mothers’ shoulders. The fore-feet of the Yahoo differed from my hands in nothing else but the length of the nails, the coarseness and brownness of the palms, and the hairiness on the backs. There was the same resemblance between our feet, with the same differences; which I knew very well, though the horses did not, because of my shoes and stockings; the same in every part of our bodies except as to hairiness and colour, which I have already described.
The great difficulty that seemed to stick with the two horses, was to see the rest of my body so very different from that of a Yahoo, for which I was obliged to my clothes, whereof they had no conception. The sorrel nag offered me a root, which he held (after their manner, as we shall describe in its proper place) between his hoof28 and pastern; I took it in my hand, and, having smelt29 it, returned it to him again as civilly as I could. He brought out of the Yahoos’ kennel30 a piece of ass’s flesh; but it smelt so offensively that I turned from it with loathing31: he then threw it to the Yahoo, by whom it was greedily devoured32. He afterwards showed me a wisp of hay, and a fetlock full of oats; but I shook my head, to signify that neither of these were food for me. And indeed I now apprehended33 that I must absolutely starve, if I did not get to some of my own species; for as to those filthy35 Yahoos, although there were few greater lovers of mankind at that time than myself, yet I confess I never saw any sensitive being so detestable on all accounts; and the more I came near them the more hateful they grew, while I stayed in that country. This the master horse observed by my behaviour, and therefore sent the Yahoo back to his kennel. He then put his fore-hoof to his mouth, at which I was much surprised, although he did it with ease, and with a motion that appeared perfectly natural, and made other signs, to know what I would eat; but I could not return him such an answer as he was able to apprehend34; and if he had understood me, I did not see how it was possible to contrive36 any way for finding myself nourishment37. While we were thus engaged, I observed a cow passing by, whereupon I pointed38 to her, and expressed a desire to go and milk her. This had its effect; for he led me back into the house, and ordered a mare-servant to open a room, where a good store of milk lay in earthen and wooden vessels39, after a very orderly and cleanly manner. She gave me a large bowlful, of which I drank very heartily40, and found myself well refreshed.
About noon, I saw coming towards the house a kind of vehicle drawn41 like a sledge42 by four Yahoos. There was in it an old steed, who seemed to be of quality; he alighted with his hind-feet forward, having by accident got a hurt in his left fore-foot. He came to dine with our horse, who received him with great civility. They dined in the best room, and had oats boiled in milk for the second course, which the old horse ate warm, but the rest cold. Their mangers were placed circular in the middle of the room, and divided into several partitions, round which they sat on their haunches, upon bosses of straw. In the middle was a large rack, with angles answering to every partition of the manger; so that each horse and mare ate their own hay, and their own mash43 of oats and milk, with much decency44 and regularity45. The behaviour of the young colt and foal appeared very modest, and that of the master and mistress extremely cheerful and complaisant46 to their guest. The gray ordered me to stand by him; and much discourse47 passed between him and his friend concerning me, as I found by the stranger’s often looking on me, and the frequent repetition of the word Yahoo.
I happened to wear my gloves, which the master gray observing, seemed perplexed48, discovering signs of wonder what I had done to my fore-feet. He put his hoof three or four times to them, as if he would signify, that I should reduce them to their former shape, which I presently did, pulling off both my gloves, and putting them into my pocket. This occasioned farther talk; and I saw the company was pleased with my behaviour, whereof I soon found the good effects. I was ordered to speak the few words I understood; and while they were at dinner, the master taught me the names for oats, milk, fire, water, and some others, which I could readily pronounce after him, having from my youth a great facility in learning languages.
When dinner was done, the master horse took me aside, and by signs and words made me understand the concern he was in that I had nothing to eat. Oats in their tongue are called hlunnh. This word I pronounced two or three times; for although I had refused them at first, yet, upon second thoughts, I considered that I could contrive to make of them a kind of bread, which might be sufficient, with milk, to keep me alive, till I could make my escape to some other country, and to creatures of my own species. The horse immediately ordered a white mare servant of his family to bring me a good quantity of oats in a sort of wooden tray. These I heated before the fire, as well as I could, and rubbed them till the husks came off, which I made a shift to winnow49 from the grain. I ground and beat them between two stones; then took water, and made them into a paste or cake, which I toasted at the fire and eat warm with milk. It was at first a very insipid50 diet, though common enough in many parts of Europe, but grew tolerable by time; and having been often reduced to hard fare in my life, this was not the first experiment I had made how easily nature is satisfied. And I cannot but observe, that I never had one hours sickness while I stayed in this island. It is true, I sometimes made a shift to catch a rabbit, or bird, by springs made of Yahoo’s hairs; and I often gathered wholesome51 herbs, which I boiled, and ate as salads with my bread; and now and then, for a rarity, I made a little butter, and drank the whey. I was at first at a great loss for salt, but custom soon reconciled me to the want of it; and I am confident that the frequent use of salt among us is an effect of luxury, and was first introduced only as a provocative52 to drink, except where it is necessary for preserving flesh in long voyages, or in places remote from great markets; for we observe no animal to be fond of it but man, and as to myself, when I left this country, it was a great while before I could endure the taste of it in anything that I ate.
This is enough to say upon the subject of my diet, wherewith other travellers fill their books, as if the readers were personally concerned whether we fare well or ill. However, it was necessary to mention this matter, lest the world should think it impossible that I could find sustenance53 for three years in such a country, and among such inhabitants.
When it grew towards evening, the master horse ordered a place for me to lodge54 in; it was but six yards from the house and separated from the stable of the Yahoos. Here I got some straw, and covering myself with my own clothes, slept very sound. But I was in a short time better accommodated, as the reader shall know hereafter, when I come to treat more particularly about my way of living.
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1
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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3
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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7
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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10
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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11
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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12
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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13
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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14
necromancy
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| n.巫术；通灵术 | |
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15
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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16
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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18
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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19
asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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20
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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21
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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22
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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23
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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24
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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25
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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26
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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27
grovelling
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| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
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28
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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29
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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30
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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31
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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32
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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33
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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34
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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35
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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36
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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37
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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38
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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39
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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40
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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41
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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42
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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43
mash
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| n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情 | |
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44
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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45
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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46
complaisant
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| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
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47
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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48
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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49
winnow
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| v．把（谷物）的杂质吹掉，扬去 | |
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50
insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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51
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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52
provocative
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| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
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53
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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54
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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