The author relates several particulars of the Yahoos. The great virtues2 of the Houyhnhnms. The education and exercise of their youth. Their general assembly.
As I ought to have understood human nature much better than I supposed it possible for my master to do, so it was easy to apply the character he gave of the Yahoos to myself and my countrymen; and I believed I could yet make further discoveries, from my own observation. I therefore often begged his honour to let me go among the herds4 of Yahoos in the neighbourhood; to which he always very graciously consented, being perfectly5 convinced that the hatred6 I bore these brutes7 would never suffer me to be corrupted9 by them; and his honour ordered one of his servants, a strong sorrel nag10, very honest and good-natured, to be my guard; without whose protection I durst not undertake such adventures. For I have already told the reader how much I was pestered11 by these odious12 animals, upon my first arrival; and I afterwards failed very narrowly, three or four times, of falling into their clutches, when I happened to stray at any distance without my hanger13. And I have reason to believe they had some imagination that I was of their own species, which I often assisted myself by stripping up my sleeves, and showing my naked arms and breasts in their sight, when my protector was with me. At which times they would approach as near as they durst, and imitate my actions after the manner of monkeys, but ever with great signs of hatred; as a tame jackdaw with cap and stockings is always persecuted14 by the wild ones, when he happens to be got among them.
They are prodigiously15 nimble from their infancy16. However, I once caught a young male of three years old, and endeavoured, by all marks of tenderness, to make it quiet; but the little imp17 fell a squalling, and scratching, and biting with such violence, that I was forced to let it go; and it was high time, for a whole troop of old ones came about us at the noise, but finding the cub18 was safe (for away it ran), and my sorrel nag being by, they durst not venture near us. I observed the young animal’s flesh to smell very rank, and the stink19 was somewhat between a weasel and a fox, but much more disagreeable. I forgot another circumstance (and perhaps I might have the reader’s pardon if it were wholly omitted), that while I held the odious vermin in my hands, it voided its filthy20 excrements of a yellow liquid substance all over my clothes; but by good fortune there was a small brook21 hard by, where I washed myself as clean as I could; although I durst not come into my master’s presence until I were sufficiently22 aired.
By what I could discover, the Yahoos appear to be the most unteachable of all animals: their capacity never reaching higher than to draw or carry burdens. Yet I am of opinion, this defect arises chiefly from a perverse23, restive24 disposition25; for they are cunning, malicious26, treacherous27, and revengeful. They are strong and hardy28, but of a cowardly spirit, and, by consequence, insolent29, abject30, and cruel. It is observed, that the red haired of both sexes are more libidinous31 and mischievous32 than the rest, whom yet they much exceed in strength and activity.
The Houyhnhnms keep the Yahoos for present use in huts not far from the house; but the rest are sent abroad to certain fields, where they dig up roots, eat several kinds of herbs, and search about for carrion33, or sometimes catch weasels and luhimuhs (a sort of wild rat), which they greedily devour34. Nature has taught them to dig deep holes with their nails on the side of a rising ground, wherein they lie by themselves; only the kennels35 of the females are larger, sufficient to hold two or three cubs36.
They swim from their infancy like frogs, and are able to continue long under water, where they often take fish, which the females carry home to their young. And, upon this occasion, I hope the reader will pardon my relating an odd adventure.
Being one day abroad with my protector the sorrel nag, and the weather exceeding hot, I entreated37 him to let me bathe in a river that was near. He consented, and I immediately stripped myself stark39 naked, and went down softly into the stream. It happened that a young female Yahoo, standing40 behind a bank, saw the whole proceeding41, and inflamed42 by desire, as the nag and I conjectured43, came running with all speed, and leaped into the water, within five yards of the place where I bathed. I was never in my life so terribly frightened. The nag was grazing at some distance, not suspecting any harm. She embraced me after a most fulsome44 manner. I roared as loud as I could, and the nag came galloping45 towards me, whereupon she quitted her grasp, with the utmost reluctancy, and leaped upon the opposite bank, where she stood gazing and howling all the time I was putting on my clothes.
This was a matter of diversion to my master and his family, as well as of mortification46 to myself. For now I could no longer deny that I was a real Yahoo in every limb and feature, since the females had a natural propensity47 to me, as one of their own species. Neither was the hair of this brute8 of a red colour (which might have been some excuse for an appetite a little irregular), but black as a sloe, and her countenance48 did not make an appearance altogether so hideous49 as the rest of her kind; for I think she could not be above eleven years old.
Having lived three years in this country, the reader, I suppose, will expect that I should, like other travellers, give him some account of the manners and customs of its inhabitants, which it was indeed my principal study to learn.
As these noble Houyhnhnms are endowed by nature with a general disposition to all virtues, and have no conceptions or ideas of what is evil in a rational creature, so their grand maxim50 is, to cultivate reason, and to be wholly governed by it. Neither is reason among them a point problematical, as with us, where men can argue with plausibility51 on both sides of the question, but strikes you with immediate38 conviction; as it must needs do, where it is not mingled52, obscured, or discoloured, by passion and interest. I remember it was with extreme difficulty that I could bring my master to understand the meaning of the word opinion, or how a point could be disputable; because reason taught us to affirm or deny only where we are certain; and beyond our knowledge we cannot do either. So that controversies53, wranglings, disputes, and positiveness, in false or dubious54 propositions, are evils unknown among the Houyhnhnms. In the like manner, when I used to explain to him our several systems of natural philosophy, he would laugh, “that a creature pretending to reason, should value itself upon the knowledge of other people’s conjectures55, and in things where that knowledge, if it were certain, could be of no use.” Wherein he agreed entirely56 with the sentiments of Socrates, as Plato delivers them; which I mention as the highest honour I can do that prince of philosophers. I have often since reflected, what destruction such doctrine57 would make in the libraries of Europe; and how many paths of fame would be then shut up in the learned world.
Friendship and benevolence58 are the two principal virtues among the Houyhnhnms; and these not confined to particular objects, but universal to the whole race; for a stranger from the remotest part is equally treated with the nearest neighbour, and wherever he goes, looks upon himself as at home. They preserve decency59 and civility in the highest degrees, but are altogether ignorant of ceremony. They have no fondness for their colts or foals, but the care they take in educating them proceeds entirely from the dictates60 of reason. And I observed my master to show the same affection to his neighbour’s issue, that he had for his own. They will have it that nature teaches them to love the whole species, and it is reason only that makes a distinction of persons, where there is a superior degree of virtue1.
When the matron Houyhnhnms have produced one of each sex, they no longer accompany with their consorts61, except they lose one of their issue by some casualty, which very seldom happens; but in such a case they meet again; or when the like accident befalls a person whose wife is past bearing, some other couple bestow63 on him one of their own colts, and then go together again until the mother is pregnant. This caution is necessary, to prevent the country from being overburdened with numbers. But the race of inferior Houyhnhnms, bred up to be servants, is not so strictly64 limited upon this article: these are allowed to produce three of each sex, to be domestics in the noble families.
In their marriages, they are exactly careful to choose such colours as will not make any disagreeable mixture in the breed. Strength is chiefly valued in the male, and comeliness65 in the female; not upon the account of love, but to preserve the race from degenerating66; for where a female happens to excel in strength, a consort62 is chosen, with regard to comeliness.
Courtship, love, presents, jointures, settlements have no place in their thoughts, or terms whereby to express them in their language. The young couple meet, and are joined, merely because it is the determination of their parents and friends; it is what they see done every day, and they look upon it as one of the necessary actions of a reasonable being. But the violation67 of marriage, or any other unchastity, was never heard of; and the married pair pass their lives with the same friendship and mutual68 benevolence, that they bear to all others of the same species who come in their way, without jealousy69, fondness, quarrelling, or discontent.
In educating the youth of both sexes, their method is admirable, and highly deserves our imitation. These are not suffered to taste a grain of oats, except upon certain days, till eighteen years old; nor milk, but very rarely; and in summer they graze two hours in the morning, and as many in the evening, which their parents likewise observe; but the servants are not allowed above half that time, and a great part of their grass is brought home, which they eat at the most convenient hours, when they can be best spared from work.
Temperance, industry, exercise, and cleanliness, are the lessons equally enjoined70 to the young ones of both sexes: and my master thought it monstrous71 in us, to give the females a different kind of education from the males, except in some articles of domestic management; whereby, as he truly observed, one half of our natives were good for nothing but bringing children into the world; and to trust the care of our children to such useless animals, he said, was yet a greater instance of brutality72.
But the Houyhnhnms train up their youth to strength, speed, and hardiness73, by exercising them in running races up and down steep hills, and over hard stony74 grounds; and when they are all in a sweat, they are ordered to leap over head and ears into a pond or river. Four times a year the youth of a certain district meet to show their proficiency75 in running and leaping, and other feats76 of strength and agility77; where the victor is rewarded with a song in his or her praise. On this festival, the servants drive a herd3 of Yahoos into the field, laden78 with hay, and oats, and milk, for a repast to the Houyhnhnms; after which, these brutes are immediately driven back again, for fear of being noisome79 to the assembly.
Every fourth year, at the vernal equinox, there is a representative council of the whole nation, which meets in a plain about twenty miles from our house, and continues about five or six days. Here they inquire into the state and condition of the several districts; whether they abound80 or be deficient81 in hay or oats, or cows, or Yahoos; and wherever there is any want (which is but seldom) it is immediately supplied by unanimous consent and contribution. Here likewise the regulation of children is settled: as for instance, if a Houyhnhnm has two males, he changes one of them with another that has two females; and when a child has been lost by any casualty, where the mother is past breeding, it is determined82 what family in the district shall breed another to supply the loss.
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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corrupted
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| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
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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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pestered
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| 使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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hanger
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| n.吊架，吊轴承；挂钩 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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stink
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| vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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libidinous
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fulsome
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| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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plausibility
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| n. 似有道理, 能言善辩 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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controversies
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| 争论 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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consorts
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| n.配偶( consort的名词复数 )；（演奏古典音乐的）一组乐师；一组古典乐器；一起v.结伴( consort的第三人称单数 )；交往；相称；调和 | |
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consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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comeliness
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| n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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degenerating
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的现在分词 ) | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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hardiness
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| n.耐劳性，强壮；勇气，胆子 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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noisome
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| adj.有害的，可厌的 | |
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abound
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| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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