A continuation of the state of England under Queen Anne. The character of a first minister of state in European courts.
女王安妮统治下英格兰的状态继续进行。欧洲宫廷的首席大臣角色。

My master was yet wholly at a loss to understand what motives could incite this race of lawyers to perplex, disquiet, and weary themselves, and engage in a confederacy of injustice, merely for the sake of injuring their fellow-animals; —
我的主人完全不明白这些律师是出于什么动机，去困扰、沮丧和折磨自己，参与不公正的联盟，仅仅是为了伤害他们的同类。 —

neither could he comprehend what I meant in saying, they did it for hire. —
他也无法理解我所说的他们是为了金钱才这样做。 —

Whereupon I was at much pains to describe to him the use of money, the materials it was made of, and the value of the metals; —
因此我费了很大的力气向他描述了钱的用途，它是由什么材料制成的，以及金属的价值。 —

“that when a Yahoo had got a great store of this precious substance, he was able to purchase whatever he had a mind to; —
“也就是说，当雅虎有了大量宝贵的财富后，他能够购买他想要的任何东西； —

the finest clothing, the noblest houses, great tracts of land, the most costly meats and drinks, and have his choice of the most beautiful females. —
最好的衣物，最豪华的房屋，广阔的土地，最昂贵的食物和饮料，并可以挑选最美丽的雌性。 —

Therefore since money alone was able to perform all these feats, our Yahoos thought they could never have enough of it to spend, or to save, as they found themselves inclined, from their natural bent either to profusion or avarice; —
因此，既然金钱 alone 能够完成所有这些壮举，我们的 Yahoo 们认为他们永远不能有足够的金钱去花费或储蓄，因为他们发现自己要么过于挥霍，要么过于贪婪； —

that the rich man enjoyed the fruit of the poor man’s labour, and the latter were a thousand to one in proportion to the former; —
富人享受穷人劳动的果实，而前者相比后者占了千分之一的比例； —

that the bulk of our people were forced to live miserably, by labouring every day for small wages, to make a few live plentifully.”
我们的大部分人被迫以微薄的工资过着悲惨的生活，每天辛苦工作，只为了让少数人过得丰裕。”

I enlarged myself much on these, and many other particulars to the same purpose; —
我详细阐述了这些事实以及其他许多相关细节； —

but his honour was still to seek; for he went upon a supposition, that all animals had a title to their share in the productions of the earth, and especially those who presided over the rest. —
但是他的尊贵仍然不懂，因为他假设所有动物都有权分享地球的产物，尤其是那些管理其他动物的动物。 —

Therefore he desired I would let him know, “what these costly meats were, and how any of us happened to want them? —
因此，他希望我告诉他，“这些昂贵的食物是什么，以及我们中的任何人为什么需要它们？” —

” Whereupon I enumerated as many sorts as came into my head, with the various methods of dressing them, which could not be done without sending vessels by sea to every part of the world, as well for liquors to drink as for sauces and innumerable other conveniences. —
“于是我枚举了我所能想到的各种类型，并列举了各种处理它们的方法，这些方法离不开向世界各地的船只运送，无论是用于饮料的液体，还是用于酱料和其他不计其数的便利设施。” —

I assured him “that this whole globe of earth must be at least three times gone round before one of our better female Yahoos could get her breakfast, or a cup to put it in. —
“我向他保证‘在我们更好的雌性雅虎中，任何一个早餐都至少要绕地球三次，或出现一个世界上的合适杯子’。” —

” He said “that must needs be a miserable country which cannot furnish food for its own inhabitants. —
“他说，‘不能为自己的居民提供食物的国家必定是一个悲惨的国家。’” —

But what he chiefly wondered at was, how such vast tracts of ground as I described should be wholly without fresh water, and the people put to the necessity of sending over the sea for drink. —
“但他最惊讶的是，我所描述的如此广阔的土地居然完全没有淡水，居民被迫通过海运来取水。” —

” I replied “that England (the dear place of my nativity) was computed to produce three times the quantity of food more than its inhabitants are able to consume, as well as liquors extracted from grain, or pressed out of the fruit of certain trees, which made excellent drink, and the same proportion in every other convenience of life. —
“我回答说，我的祖国英格兰产出的食物数量是居民消耗的三倍，而且还有从谷物中提取的酒精饮料，或是从某些树木的果实中榨取的饮品，这些饮料很好喝，其他生活必需品的比例也是如此。 —

But, in order to feed the luxury and intemperance of the males, and the vanity of the females, we sent away the greatest part of our necessary things to other countries, whence, in return, we brought the materials of diseases, folly, and vice, to spend among ourselves. —
但是，为了满足男性的奢侈和放纵，以及女性的虚荣，我们把大部分必需品送到其他国家，作为回报，我们带回了疾病、愚蠢和邪恶的素材，供我们自己消费。 —

Hence it follows of necessity, that vast numbers of our people are compelled to seek their livelihood by begging, robbing, stealing, cheating, pimping, flattering, suborning, forswearing, forging, gaming, lying, fawning, hectoring, voting, scribbling, star-gazing, poisoning, whoring, canting, libelling, freethinking, and the like occupations: —
因此，无可避免地，我们有大量的人被迫以乞讨、抢劫、偷窃、欺骗、拉皮条、谄媚、串供、伪证、打牌、说谎、奉承、威吓、投票、写东西、星观、行毒、卖淫、教假道、诽谤、自由思考等职业谋生。” —

” every one of which terms I was at much pains to make him understand.
“其中每一个术语我都费了很大的劲让他明白。

“That wine was not imported among us from foreign countries to supply the want of water or other drinks, but because it was a sort of liquid which made us merry by putting us out of our senses, diverted all melancholy thoughts, begat wild extravagant imaginations in the brain, raised our hopes and banished our fears, suspended every office of reason for a time, and deprived us of the use of our limbs, till we fell into a profound sleep; —
“那种酒不是为了弥补我们对水或其他饮料的需求而从外国进口的，而是因为它是一种能让我们陶醉的液体，使我们摆脱忧郁的思绪，在脑海中产生狂野而离奇的想象，提升我们的希望，摒除我们的恐惧，暂时停止一切理智活动，并剥夺我们使用四肢的能力，直到我们陷入深沉的睡眠； —

although it must be confessed, that we always awaked sick and dispirited; —
“虽然必须承认，我们总是醒来时感到恶心和失望； —

and that the use of this liquor filled us with diseases which made our lives uncomfortable and short.
“而且使用这种饮料使我们感染了导致生活不舒适且短暂的疾病。

“But beside all this, the bulk of our people supported themselves by furnishing the necessities or conveniences of life to the rich and to each other. —
“但除此之外，我们大多数人通过为富人和彼此提供生活必需品或便利而维持生计。 —

For instance, when I am at home, and dressed as I ought to be, I carry on my body the workmanship of a hundred tradesmen; —
“例如，当我在家，并且穿着得体时，我的身上承载着上百个工匠的劳作成果； —

the building and furniture of my house employ as many more, and five times the number to adorn my wife.”
我的房子的建筑和家具雇佣了更多的人，是我妻子的五倍来装饰。

I was going on to tell him of another sort of people, who get their livelihood by attending the sick, having, upon some occasions, informed his honour that many of my crew had died of diseases. —
我正要告诉他另一种通过照顾病人谋生的人，因为我曾经告诉他，我的船员中有许多人死于疾病。 —

But here it was with the utmost difficulty that I brought him to apprehend what I meant. —
但是我很难让他理解我指的是什么。 —

“He could easily conceive, that a Houyhnhnm, grew weak and heavy a few days before his death, or by some accident might hurt a limb; —
他可以很容易地理解一匹Houyhnhnm在死前几天会变得虚弱和沉重，或者在某些意外中可能会受伤； —

but that nature, who works all things to perfection, should suffer any pains to breed in our bodies, he thought impossible, and desired to know the reason of so unaccountable an evil.”
但是他认为大自然会让任何疼痛在我们的身体中滋生，这是不可能的，他想知道一个难以解释的邪恶的原因。

I told him “we fed on a thousand things which operated contrary to each other; —
我告诉他“我们吃了一千种相互相反的东西； —

that we ate when we were not hungry, and drank without the provocation of thirst; —
我们在不饥饿的时候吃饭，在没有口渴的情况下喝水。” —

that we sat whole nights drinking strong liquors, without eating a bit, which disposed us to sloth, inflamed our bodies, and precipitated or prevented digestion; —
我们整夜坐着喝着烈酒，一点东西都不吃，这使我们变得懒散，身体发炎，导致消化紊乱或阻碍消化。 —

that prostitute female Yahoos acquired a certain malady, which bred rottenness in the bones of those who fell into their embraces; —
那些妓女雅虎得了某种疾病，使那些与她们亲热的人骨头腐烂。 —

that this, and many other diseases, were propagated from father to son; —
这种疾病以及许多其他疾病会从父亲传给儿子。 —

so that great numbers came into the world with complicated maladies upon them; —
因此，许多人生来就患有复杂的疾病。 —

that it would be endless to give him a catalogue of all diseases incident to human bodies, for they would not be fewer than five or six hundred, spread over every limb and joint — in short, every part, external and intestine, having diseases appropriated to itself. —
描述人类身体所患疾病的目录将是无穷无尽的，因为它们不会少于五六百种，遍布于每个肢体和关节 - 简而言之，每个部位，无论是外部还是内部，都有与之相对应的疾病。 —

To remedy which, there was a sort of people bred up among us in the profession, or pretence, of curing the sick. —
为了解决这个问题，我们中充当治疗病人的专业人士或假装专业人士的一类人产生了。 —

And because I had some skill in the faculty, I would, in gratitude to his honour, let him know the whole mystery and method by which they proceed.
因为我在这个领域有些技能，所以为了对他的荣誉表示感激，我想告诉他他们是如何行事的整个秘密和方法。

“Their fundamental is, that all diseases arise from repletion; —
“他们的基本观点是，所有疾病都源于饮食过盛； —

whence they conclude, that a great evacuation of the body is necessary, either through the natural passage or upwards at the mouth. —
因此他们得出结论，身体需要进行大量排泄，可以通过自然通道或者通过口腔上方进行排毒。 —

Their next business is from herbs, minerals, gums, oils, shells, salts, juices, sea-weed, excrements, barks of trees, serpents, toads, frogs, spiders, dead men’s flesh and bones, birds, beasts, and fishes, to form a composition, for smell and taste, the most abominable, nauseous, and detestable, they can possibly contrive, which the stomach immediately rejects with loathing, and this they call a vomit; —
他们的下一步工作是利用草药、矿物质、树胶、油、贝壳、盐、汁液、海藻、排泄物、树皮、蛇、蟾蜍、青蛙、蜘蛛、死人的血肉和骨骼、鸟、兽和鱼等等，制作一种无法忍受的、恶心的、令人厌恶的药物，使胃立刻排斥并产生恶心感，他们称之为呕吐； —

or else, from the same store-house, with some other poisonous additions, they command us to take in at the orifice above or below (just as the physician then happens to be disposed) a medicine equally annoying and disgustful to the bowels; —
或者，使用相同的材料，加入其他有毒物质，命令我们从口腔上方或下方（根据医生当时的心情）摄入一种同样令人烦恶和厌恶的药物，对肠道产生刺激作用，他们称之为泻药或灌肠。 —

which, relaxing the belly, drives down all before it; and this they call a purge, or a clyster. —
这种药物通过松弛肠子，将所有东西都排出体外；他们称之为通便或者灌肠。” —

For nature (as the physicians allege) having intended the superior anterior orifice only for the intromission of solids and liquids, and the inferior posterior for ejection, these artists ingeniously considering that in all diseases nature is forced out of her seat, therefore, to replace her in it, the body must be treated in a manner directly contrary, by interchanging the use of each orifice; —
根据医生的说法，自然界本意上只把上位的前口用于摄入固体和液体，下位的后口用于排泄。这些艺术家聪明地认识到，在所有疾病中，自然界被迫离开了自己的位置，所以要重新让她回到原位，就必须对身体进行恰恰相反的处理，通过交换每个口的用途； —

forcing solids and liquids in at the anus, and making evacuations at the mouth.
在肛门处摄入固体和液体，而在口腔处排泄。

“But, besides real diseases, we are subject to many that are only imaginary, for which the physicians have invented imaginary cures; —
除了真正的疾病，我们也容易遭受一些想象中的疾病，而医生们为这些疾病发明了想象中的治疗方法； —

these have their several names, and so have the drugs that are proper for them; and with these our female Yahoos are always infested.
这些疾病拥有自己的名称，相应的药物也有所对应；而我们的雌性雅虎总是受到这些疾病的困扰。

“One great excellency in this tribe, is their skill at prognostics, wherein they seldom fail; —
这个部落在预测方面有着极高的技巧，他们很少会出错。 —

their predictions in real diseases, when they rise to any degree of malignity, generally portending death, which is always in their power, when recovery is not: —
他们对真实疾病的预测通常意味着疾病的程度严重，往往预示着死亡，而对于无法康复的病人，死亡对于他们来说总是确定无疑的。 —

and therefore, upon any unexpected signs of amendment, after they have pronounced their sentence, rather than be accused as false prophets, they know how to approve their sagacity to the world, by a seasonable dose.
因此，当他们已经宣判并突然出现好转的迹象时，他们会及时给予一剂药物，以证明自己的预测准确，避免被指责为虚假的先知。

“They are likewise of special use to husbands and wives who are grown weary of their mates; —
他们对于已经对自己的配偶感到厌倦的丈夫和妻子来说也是特别有用的。 —

to eldest sons, to great ministers of state, and often to princes.”
对于长子、高级政府官员和时常对于亲王们有用。

I had formerly, upon occasion, discoursed with my master upon the nature of government in general, and particularly of our own excellent constitution, deservedly the wonder and envy of the whole world. —
我曾经与我的主人讨论过政府的性质，特别是我们自己优秀的宪法，它受到了整个世界的惊叹和羡慕。 —

But having here accidentally mentioned a minister of state, he commanded me, some time after, to inform him, “what species of Yahoo I particularly meant by that appellation.”
但是在这里我无意中提到了一位国家大臣，他在一段时间后命令我向他解释，“我特别指的是哪种雅虎。”

I told him, “that a first or chief minister of state, who was the person I intended to describe, was the creature wholly exempt from joy and grief, love and hatred, pity and anger; —
我告诉他：“一个国家的首席大臣或者是我要描述的人，他是一个完全没有喜悦和忧愁、爱恨、怜悯和愤怒的存在； —

at least, makes use of no other passions, but a violent desire of wealth, power, and titles; —
至少，他只有一个强烈的渴望财富、权力和头衔的激情； —

that he applies his words to all uses, except to the indication of his mind; —
他运用语言来达到各种目的，除了表达自己的内心； —

that he never tells a truth but with an intent that you should take it for a lie; —
他说真话时从无意思你相信它，而他说谎话时却设计让你相信它是真的； —

nor a lie, but with a design that you should take it for a truth; —
他从无意思你相信他的谎言，而他说真话时却设计让你相信它是谎言； —

that those he speaks worst of behind their backs are in the surest way of preferment; —
他对别人背后说的最坏的话的人却最有机会得到晋升； —

and whenever he begins to praise you to others, or to yourself, you are from that day forlorn. —
并且只要他开始赞美你对别人或者对自己，你就从那一天开始不幸； —

The worst mark you can receive is a promise, especially when it is confirmed with an oath; —
你收到的最糟糕的印记就是一个承诺，尤其是当它被誓言确认之后； —

after which, every wise man retires, and gives over all hopes.
此后，每个明智之人都会退出并放弃所有希望；

“There are three methods, by which a man may rise to be chief minister. —
“有三种方法，可以使一个人成为首席大臣。 —

The first is, by knowing how, with prudence, to dispose of a wife, a daughter, or a sister; —
第一种方法是明智地处理妻子、女儿或姐妹； —

the second, by betraying or undermining his predecessor; —
第二种方法是背叛或暗中破坏前任； —

and the third is, by a furious zeal, in public assemblies, against the corruption’s of the court. —
第三种方法是在公共集会中对朝廷的腐败行为表现出狂热的热情； —

But a wise prince would rather choose to employ those who practise the last of these methods; —
但聪明的王子更愿意雇佣那些采用最后一种方法的人； —

because such zealots prove always the most obsequious and subservient to the will and passions of their master. —
因为这些狂热分子总是最顺从和服从其主人的意愿和激情； —

That these ministers, having all employments at their disposal, preserve themselves in power, by bribing the majority of a senate or great council; —
这些大臣通过贿赂参议院或大委员会的多数派来保持自己的权力； —

and at last, by an expedient, called an act of indemnity” (whereof I described the nature to him), “they secure themselves from after-reckonings, and retire from the public laden with the spoils of the nation.
最后他们通过一种被称为“豁免法”的手段（我向他描述了其中的性质），使自己免受后来的追究，并带着国家的赃物从公众中退休；

“The palace of a chief minister is a seminary to breed up others in his own trade: —
“首席大臣的宫殿是一个孵化出他自己同行的地方。 —

the pages, lackeys, and porters, by imitating their master, become ministers of state in their several districts, and learn to excel in the three principal ingredients, of insolence, lying, and bribery. —
那些侍从、仆人和搬运工，通过模仿他们的主人，在各个地区成为国家的部长，并学会在傲慢、谎言和贿赂这三个主要元素中超群出众。 —

Accordingly, they have a subaltern court paid to them by persons of the best rank; —
因此，他们维持着一个由身份最高的人付给他们薪水的次要宫廷； —

and sometimes by the force of dexterity and impudence, arrive, through several gradations, to be successors to their lord.
有时凭借机智和厚颜无耻，通过几个层级上升，成为他们主人的继任者。

“He is usually governed by a decayed wench, or favourite footman, who are the tunnels through which all graces are conveyed, and may properly be called, in the last resort, the governors of the kingdom.”
“通常他受某个失势的女人或宠信的男仆控制，他们是传递所有优点的渠道，可以称作，最终决策者国家的统治者。”

One day, in discourse, my master, having heard me mention the nobility of my country, was pleased to make me a compliment which I could not pretend to deserve: —
有一天，在谈话中，我主人听我提到我的国家的贵族阶层，对我进行了一种我实在不配得到的恭维。 —

“that he was sure I must have been born of some noble family, because I far exceeded in shape, colour, and cleanliness, all the Yahoos of his nation, although I seemed to fail in strength and agility, which must be imputed to my different way of living from those other brutes; —
“他确信我一定是出生在某个贵族家庭，因为在体型、肤色和清洁方面，我远远超过了他的族人雅虎，尽管在力量和敏捷方面似乎不及他们，这要归因于我与那些畜生有不同的生活方式； —

and besides I was not only endowed with the faculty of speech, but likewise with some rudiments of reason, to a degree that, with all his acquaintance, I passed for a prodigy.”
而且我不仅有语言的能力，还有一些初级的理智，以至于在他所有的熟人中，我被视为一个奇迹。”

He made me observe, “that among the Houyhnhnms, the white, the sorrel, and the iron-gray, were not so exactly shaped as the bay, the dapple-gray, and the black; —
他让我注意到，“在侯云恩姆族中，白色、栗色和铁灰色的马并不像栗色、花斑灰和黑色的马那样完美地成形； —

nor born with equal talents of mind, or a capacity to improve them; —
他们的心智才能也不相等，或者说没有提高能力的潜力； —

and therefore continued always in the condition of servants, without ever aspiring to match out of their own race, which in that country would be reckoned monstrous and unnatural.”
因此，他们始终处于仆人的地位，从来没有奢望嫁到其他种族，在那个国家，这将被视为怪异和不自然。”

I made his honour my most humble acknowledgments for the good opinion he was pleased to conceive of me, but assured him at the same time, “that my birth was of the lower sort, having been born of plain honest parents, who were just able to give me a tolerable education; —
我向他表示最谦卑的感谢，对他对我的高度评价，但同时向他保证，“我的出身属于下层阶级，出生于普通而诚实的父母，他们有能力给予我过得去的教育； —

that nobility, among us, was altogether a different thing from the idea he had of it; —
贵族在我们这里与他所认为的完全不同； —

that our young noblemen are bred from their childhood in idleness and luxury; —
我们的年轻贵族从小就生活在懒惰和奢华中； —

that, as soon as years will permit, they consume their vigour, and contract odious diseases among lewd females; —
一旦年岁允许，他们就在放荡女人中耗尽精力并感染令人厌恶的疾病； —

and when their fortunes are almost ruined, they marry some woman of mean birth, disagreeable person, and unsound constitution (merely for the sake of money), whom they hate and despise. —
当他们的财富几乎耗尽时，他们娶一些出身低微、相貌不好并且体质不健康的女人（纯粹是为了金钱），他们憎恶并鄙视她们； —

That the productions of such marriages are generally scrofulous, rickety, or deformed children; —
这类婚姻所生产的子女通常都是有结核病、软骨病或畸形的孩子； —

by which means the family seldom continues above three generations, unless the wife takes care to provide a healthy father, among her neighbours or domestics, in order to improve and continue the breed. —
除非妻子费心为家族提供一个健康的父亲，通常家族很少延续超过三代，这通常是通过在邻里或家仆中选择。 —

That a weak diseased body, a meagre countenance, and sallow complexion, are the true marks of noble blood; —
虚弱病态的身体，消瘦的容貌和苍白的肤色真正是高贵血统的标志； —

and a healthy robust appearance is so disgraceful in a man of quality, that the world concludes his real father to have been a groom or a coachman. —
而一个健康强壮的外表在贵族男人身上是如此可耻，以至于世人会认为他的亲生父亲是马夫或教练夫。 —

The imperfections of his mind run parallel with those of his body, being a composition of spleen, dullness, ignorance, caprice, sensuality, and pride.
他的思想缺陷与他的身体缺陷一样，由怒气、愚笨、无知、反复无常、纵欲和傲慢组成。

“Without the consent of this illustrious body, no law can be enacted, repealed, or altered: —
“在这个威望的机构未经同意的情况下，任何法律都不能被制定、废除或改变。 —

and these nobles have likewise the decision of all our possessions, without appeal.”
这些贵族还享有对我们所有财产的裁决权，无需上诉。”