The author’s veracity1. His design in publishing this work. His censure2 of those travellers who swerve3 from the truth. The author clears himself from any sinister4 ends in writing. An objection answered. The method of planting colonies. His native country commended. The right of the crown to those countries described by the author is justified5. The difficulty of conquering them. The author takes his last leave of the reader; proposes his manner of living for the future; gives good advice, and concludes.
Thus, gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful history of my travels for sixteen years and above seven months: wherein I have not been so studious of ornament7 as of truth. I could, perhaps, like others, have astonished thee with strange improbable tales; but I rather chose to relate plain matter of fact, in the simplest manner and style; because my principal design was to inform, and not to amuse thee.
It is easy for us who travel into remote countries, which are seldom visited by Englishmen or other Europeans, to form descriptions of wonderful animals both at sea and land. Whereas a traveller’s chief aim should be to make men wiser and better, and to improve their minds by the bad, as well as good, example of what they deliver concerning foreign places.
I could heartily8 wish a law was enacted9, that every traveller, before he were permitted to publish his voyages, should be obliged to make oath before the Lord High Chancellor10, that all he intended to print was absolutely true to the best of his knowledge; for then the world would no longer be deceived, as it usually is, while some writers, to make their works pass the better upon the public, impose the grossest falsities on the unwary reader. I have perused12 several books of travels with great delight in my younger days; but having since gone over most parts of the globe, and been able to contradict many fabulous13 accounts from my own observation, it has given me a great disgust against this part of reading, and some indignation to see the credulity of mankind so impudently14 abused. Therefore, since my acquaintance were pleased to think my poor endeavours might not be unacceptable to my country, I imposed on myself, as a maxim15 never to be swerved16 from, that I would strictly17 adhere to truth; neither indeed can I be ever under the least temptation to vary from it, while I retain in my mind the lectures and example of my noble master and the other illustrious Houyhnhnms of whom I had so long the honour to be an humble19 hearer.
— Nec si miserum Fortuna Sinonem
Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba finget.
I know very well, how little reputation is to be got by writings which require neither genius nor learning, nor indeed any other talent, except a good memory, or an exact journal. I know likewise, that writers of travels, like dictionary-makers, are sunk into oblivion by the weight and bulk of those who come last, and therefore lie uppermost. And it is highly probable, that such travellers, who shall hereafter visit the countries described in this work of mine, may, by detecting my errors (if there be any), and adding many new discoveries of their own, justle me out of vogue20, and stand in my place, making the world forget that ever I was an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification21, if I wrote for fame: but as my sole intention was the public good, I cannot be altogether disappointed. For who can read of the virtues23 I have mentioned in the glorious Houyhnhnms, without being ashamed of his own vices24, when he considers himself as the reasoning, governing animal of his country? I shall say nothing of those remote nations where Yahoos preside; among which the least corrupted25 are the Brobdingnagians; whose wise maxims26 in morality and government it would be our happiness to observe. But I forbear descanting further, and rather leave the judicious27 reader to his own remarks and application.
I am not a little pleased that this work of mine can possibly meet with no censurers: for what objections can be made against a writer, who relates only plain facts, that happened in such distant countries, where we have not the least interest, with respect either to trade or negotiations28? I have carefully avoided every fault with which common writers of travels are often too justly charged. Besides, I meddle29 not the least with any party, but write without passion, prejudice, or ill-will against any man, or number of men, whatsoever30. I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct mankind; over whom I may, without breach31 of modesty32, pretend to some superiority, from the advantages I received by conversing33 so long among the most accomplished34 Houyhnhnms. I write without any view to profit or praise. I never suffer a word to pass that may look like reflection, or possibly give the least offence, even to those who are most ready to take it. So that I hope I may with justice pronounce myself an author perfectly35 blameless; against whom the tribes of Answerers, Considerers, Observers, Reflectors, Detectors36, Remarkers, will never be able to find matter for exercising their talents.
I confess, it was whispered to me, “that I was bound in duty, as a subject of England, to have given in a memorial to a secretary of state at my first coming over; because, whatever lands are discovered by a subject belong to the crown.” But I doubt whether our conquests in the countries I treat of would be as easy as those of Ferdinando Cortez over the naked Americans. The Lilliputians, I think, are hardly worth the charge of a fleet and army to reduce them; and I question whether it might be prudent37 or safe to attempt the Brobdingnagians; or whether an English army would be much at their ease with the Flying Island over their heads. The Houyhnhnms indeed appear not to be so well prepared for war, a science to which they are perfect strangers, and especially against missive weapons. However, supposing myself to be a minister of state, I could never give my advice for invading them. Their prudence38, unanimity39, unacquaintedness with fear, and their love of their country, would amply supply all defects in the military art. Imagine twenty thousand of them breaking into the midst of an European army, confounding the ranks, overturning the carriages, battering40 the warriors’ faces into mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder hoofs41; for they would well deserve the character given to Augustus, Recalcitrat undique tutus. But, instead of proposals for conquering that magnanimous nation, I rather wish they were in a capacity, or disposition42, to send a sufficient number of their inhabitants for civilizing43 Europe, by teaching us the first principles of honour, justice, truth, temperance, public spirit, fortitude44, chastity, friendship, benevolence45, and fidelity46. The names of all which virtues are still retained among us in most languages, and are to be met with in modern, as well as ancient authors; which I am able to assert from my own small reading.
But I had another reason, which made me less forward to enlarge his majesty’s dominions47 by my discoveries. To say the truth, I had conceived a few scruples49 with relation to the distributive justice of princes upon those occasions. For instance, a crew of pirates are driven by a storm they know not whither; at length a boy discovers land from the topmast; they go on shore to rob and plunder50, they see a harmless people, are entertained with kindness; they give the country a new name; they take formal possession of it for their king; they set up a rotten plank51, or a stone, for a memorial; they murder two or three dozen of the natives, bring away a couple more, by force, for a sample; return home, and get their pardon. Here commences a new dominion48 acquired with a title by divine right. Ships are sent with the first opportunity; the natives driven out or destroyed; their princes tortured to discover their gold; a free license52 given to all acts of inhumanity and lust18, the earth reeking53 with the blood of its inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers, employed in so pious54 an expedition, is a modern colony, sent to convert and civilize55 an idolatrous and barbarous people!
But this description, I confess, does by no means affect the British nation, who may be an example to the whole world for their wisdom, care, and justice in planting colonies; their liberal endowments for the advancement56 of religion and learning; their choice of devout57 and able pastors58 to propagate Christianity; their caution in stocking their provinces with people of sober lives and conversations from this the mother kingdom; their strict regard to the distribution of justice, in supplying the civil administration through all their colonies with officers of the greatest abilities, utter strangers to corruption59; and, to crown all, by sending the most vigilant60 and virtuous61 governors, who have no other views than the happiness of the people over whom they preside, and the honour of the king their master.
But as those countries which I have described do not appear to have any desire of being conquered and enslaved, murdered or driven out by colonies, nor abound62 either in gold, silver, sugar, or tobacco, I did humbly63 conceive, they were by no means proper objects of our zeal64, our valour, or our interest. However, if those whom it more concerns think fit to be of another opinion, I am ready to depose65, when I shall be lawfully66 called, that no European did ever visit those countries before me. I mean, if the inhabitants ought to be believed, unless a dispute may arise concerning the two Yahoos, said to have been seen many years ago upon a mountain in Houyhnhnmland.
But, as to the formality of taking possession in my sovereign’s name, it never came once into my thoughts; and if it had, yet, as my affairs then stood, I should perhaps, in point of prudence and self-preservation, have put it off to a better opportunity.
Having thus answered the only objection that can ever be raised against me as a traveller, I here take a final leave of all my courteous67 readers, and return to enjoy my own speculations68 in my little garden at Redriff; to apply those excellent lessons of virtue22 which I learned among the Houyhnhnms; to instruct the Yahoos of my own family, is far as I shall find them docible animals; to behold69 my figure often in a glass, and thus, if possible, habituate myself by time to tolerate the sight of a human creature; to lament70 the brutality71 to Houyhnhnms in my own country, but always treat their persons with respect, for the sake of my noble master, his family, his friends, and the whole Houyhnhnm race, whom these of ours have the honour to resemble in all their lineaments, however their intellectuals came to degenerate72.
I began last week to permit my wife to sit at dinner with me, at the farthest end of a long table; and to answer (but with the utmost brevity) the few questions I asked her. Yet, the smell of a Yahoo continuing very offensive, I always keep my nose well stopped with rue11, lavender, or tobacco leaves. And, although it be hard for a man late in life to remove old habits, I am not altogether out of hopes, in some time, to suffer a neighbour Yahoo in my company, without the apprehensions73 I am yet under of his teeth or his claws.
My reconcilement to the Yahoo kind in general might not be so difficult, if they would be content with those vices and follies74 only which nature has entitled them to. I am not in the least provoked at the sight of a lawyer, a pickpocket75, a colonel, a fool, a lord, a gamester, a politician, a whoremonger, a physician, an evidence, a suborner, an attorney, a traitor76, or the like; this is all according to the due course of things: but when I behold a lump of deformity and diseases, both in body and mind, smitten77 with pride, it immediately breaks all the measures of my patience; neither shall I be ever able to comprehend how such an animal, and such a vice6, could tally78 together. The wise and virtuous Houyhnhnms, who abound in all excellences79 that can adorn80 a rational creature, have no name for this vice in their language, which has no terms to express any thing that is evil, except those whereby they describe the detestable qualities of their Yahoos, among which they were not able to distinguish this of pride, for want of thoroughly81 understanding human nature, as it shows itself in other countries where that animal presides. But I, who had more experience, could plainly observe some rudiments82 of it among the wild Yahoos.
But the Houyhnhnms, who live under the government of reason, are no more proud of the good qualities they possess, than I should be for not wanting a leg or an arm; which no man in his wits would boast of, although he must be miserable83 without them. I dwell the longer upon this subject from the desire I have to make the society of an English Yahoo by any means not insupportable; and therefore I here entreat84 those who have any tincture of this absurd vice, that they will not presume to come in my sight.
The End
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veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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13
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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impudently
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maxim
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| n.格言，箴言 | |
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swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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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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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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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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maxims
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| n.格言，座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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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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detectors
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| 探测器( detector的名词复数 ) | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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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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civilizing
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| v.使文明，使开化( civilize的现在分词 ) | |
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44
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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45
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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46
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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47
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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49
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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52
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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53
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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54
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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55
civilize
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| vt.使文明，使开化 (=civilise) | |
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56
advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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pastors
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| n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 ) | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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abound
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| vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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depose
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| vt.免职；宣誓作证 | |
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lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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75
pickpocket
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| n.扒手；v.扒窃 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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excellences
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| n.卓越( excellence的名词复数 )；（只用于所修饰的名词后）杰出的；卓越的；出类拔萃的 | |
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adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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81
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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82
rudiments
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| n.基础知识，入门 | |
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83
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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84
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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