The author sets out as captain of a ship. His men conspire against him, confine him a long time to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land. He travels up into the country. The Yahoos, a strange sort of animal, described. The author meets two Houyhnhnms. 作者当了船长出外航海；他的部下对他图谋不轨，把他长期禁闭在舱里，后来又把他抛弃在一块不知名的陆地上；他进入这个国家；关于一种奇怪动物“雅虎”的描写；作者遇见两只“慧骃”。
I continued at home with my wife and children about five months, in a very happy condition, if I could have learned the lesson of knowing when I was well. I left my poor wife big with child, and accepted an advantageous offer made me to be captain of the Adventurer, a stout merchantman of 350 tons: for I understood navigation well, and being grown weary of a surgeon's employment at sea, which, however, I could exercise upon occasion, I took a skilful young man of that calling, one Robert Purefoy, into my ship. We set sail from Portsmouth upon the 7th day of September, 1710; on the 14th we met with Captain Pocock, of Bristol, at Teneriffe, who was going to the bay of Campechy to cut logwood. On the 16th, he was parted from us by a storm; I heard since my return, that his ship foundered, and none escaped but one cabin boy. He was an honest man, and a good sailor, but a little too positive in his own opinions, which was the cause of his destruction, as it has been with several others; for if he had followed my advice, he might have been safe at home with his family at this time, as well as myself. 我呆在家里跟妻子儿女共同度过了大约五个月的快乐日子，如果那时我知道什么是快乐日子就好了。我离开我那可怜的妻子时，她又怀孕了。我接受了一份待遇优厚的邀请，到载重三百五十吨的“冒险号”大商船上当了船长。这是因为我熟悉航海技术；另外，尽管有时也可以干医生，但我对在海上做外科医生这个工作已渐渐地感到厌倦了，于是我就招了一位技术熟练的年轻医生罗伯特·普里福伊到船上来担任外科大夫。一七一零年九月七日我们从朴茨茅斯起航，十四日在特内里费岛遇到了布里斯托尔的波科克船长，他正要到坎佩切湾去采伐墨水木。十六日的一场风暴把我们吹散了。这次航海完毕后我才听说他的船沉没了，除一名船舱的服务员之外，无一人幸免。他为人诚恳，是位优秀的海员，不过有点固执己见，因此他和其他一些水手毁在了自己手里。如果当时他听了我的话，也许这时候跟我一样平平安安地和自己家人在一起过日子。
I had several men who died in my ship of calentures, so that I was forced to get recruits out of Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, where I touched, by the direction of the merchants who employed me; which I had soon too much cause to repent: for I found afterwards, that most of them had been buccaneers. I had fifty hands onboard; and my orders were, that I should trade with the Indians in the South-Sea, and make what discoveries I could. These rogues, whom I had picked up, debauched my other men, and they all formed a conspiracy to seize the ship, and secure me; which they did one morning, rushing into my cabin, and binding me hand and foot, threatening to throw me overboard, if I offered to stir. I told them, "I was their prisoner, and would submit." This they made me swear to do, and then they unbound me, only fastening one of my legs with a chain, near my bed, and placed a sentry at my door with his piece charged, who was commanded to shoot me dead if I attempted my liberty. They sent me down victuals and drink, and took the government of the ship to themselves. Their design was to turn pirates and, plunder the Spaniards, which they could not do till they got more men. But first they resolved to sell the goods in the ship, and then go to Madagascar for recruits, several among them having died since my confinement. They sailed many weeks, and traded with the Indians; but I knew not what course they took, being kept a close prisoner in my cabin, and expecting nothing less than to be murdered, as they often threatened me. 我船上有几名水手患热病死了，所以我不得不在巴巴多斯和背风群岛招募新水手；雇我的商人曾经指示我可以在这两地作短暂停留，但过了不久我就开始懊悔起来，因为事后发现，这些新水手大部分都做过海盗。我船上一共有五十名水手，而我奉了东家的命令要到南洋地区与印度人做生意，并尽可能地想办法开创一些新生意。我招募来的这帮恶棍把我船上的其余水手全部扔到了海里，一起密谋要夺下这船，并且把我囚禁起来。一天早上，他们动手了，冲进船舱就把我手脚捆了起来，并威胁说要是我动一动，就把我扔到海里去。我对他们说自己当了俘虏，情愿归顺。他们就强迫我发誓表示屈服，然后给我松绑，用一根链子将我的两条腿拴在床跟前，同时在舱门口安排了一个哨兵，让他枪弹上膛，只要我企图逃跑就开枪打死我。他们把饮食给我送到下面的舱里来，自己开始指挥这艘船。他们的计划是去当海盗抢劫西班牙人，不过一时还做不成，因为他们还得等纠集到更多的人。他们决定先把船上的货物卖掉，然后去马达加斯加招募新手，我被囚禁以后，有几个水手已经死了。他们航行了好几个星期，同印度人做了一些生意，可是我一直被严严实实地禁闭在船舱里，不知道他们走的是哪条航线。他们一再威胁说要我把弄死，我也就认为自己只有死路一条了。
Upon the 9th day of May, 1711, one James Welch came down to my cabin, and said, "he had orders from the captain to set me ashore." I expostulated with him, but in vain; neither would he so much as tell me who their new captain was. They forced me into the long-boat, letting me put on my best suit of clothes, which were as good as new, and take a small bundle of linen, but no arms, except my hanger; and they were so civil as not to search my pockets, into which I conveyed what money I had, with some other little necessaries. They rowed about a league, and then set me down on a strand. I desired them to tell me what country it was.They all swore, "they knew no more than myself;" but said, "that the captain" (as they called him) "was resolved, after they had sold the lading, to get rid of me in the first place where they could discover land." They pushed off immediately, advising me to make haste for fear of being overtaken by the tide, and so bade me farewell. 一七一一年五月九日，一个名叫詹姆斯·韦尔奇的人来到了船舱里，说他奉船长之命来放我上岸。我劝了他半天也没用，他还是不肯告诉我他们的新船长是谁。他们逼我上了一艘长舢船，让我穿上最好的一身衣服，那差不多还是新的，又让我带了一包内衣，可是除腰刀之外不准我带任何武器；他们还算讲点礼貌，没有搜查我的口袋——里面放着我所有的钱和几件日常用品。他们划了大约有一里格，随后就把我放到了一片浅滩上。我求他们告诉我这是什么国家，他们却一起发誓说他们和我一样，也不知道这是什么地方，只说船长（他们这么称呼他）决定，在他们把船上的货卖光后，一见有陆地就把我赶下船去。他们立刻划船回去了，还劝我快点走开，要不潮水涌来就要把我吞没了，就这样他们和我告了别。
In this desolate condition I advanced forward, and soon got upon firm ground, where I sat down on a bank to rest myself, and consider what I had best do. When I was a little refreshed, I went up into the country, resolving to deliver myself to the first savages I should meet, and purchase my life from them by some bracelets, glass rings, and other toys, which sailors usually provide themselves with in those voyages, and whereof I had some about me. The land was divided by long rows of trees, not regularly planted, but naturally growing; there was great plenty of grass, and several fields of oats. I walked very circumspectly, for fear of being surprised, or suddenly shot with an arrow from behind, or on either side. I fell into a beaten road, where I saw many tracts of human feet, and some of cows, but most of horses. At last I beheld several animals in a field, and one or two of the same kind sitting in trees. Their shape was very singular and deformed, which a little discomposed me, so that I lay down behind a thicket to observe them better. Some of them coming forward near the place where I lay, gave me an opportunity of distinctly marking their form. Their heads and breasts were covered with a thick hair, some frizzled, and others lank; they had beards like goats, and a long ridge of hair down their backs, and the fore parts of their legs and feet; but the rest of their bodies was bare, so that I might see their skins, which were of a brown buff colour. They had no tails, nor any hair at all on their buttocks, except about the anus, which, I presume, nature had placed there to defend them as they sat on the ground, for this posture they used, as well as lying down, and often stood on their hind feet. They climbed high trees as nimbly as a squirrel, for they had strong extended claws before and behind, terminating in sharp points, and hooked. They would often spring, and bound, and leap, with prodigious agility. The females were not so large as the males; they had long lank hair on their heads, but none on their faces, nor any thing more than a sort of down on the rest of their bodies, except about the anus and pudenda. The dugs hung between their fore feet, and often reached almost to the ground as they walked. The hair of both sexes was of several colours, brown, red, black, and yellow. Upon the whole, I never beheld, in all my travels, so disagreeable an animal, or one against which I naturally conceived so strong an antipathy. So that, thinking I had seen enough, full of contempt and aversion, I got up, and pursued the beaten road, hoping it might direct me to the cabin of some Indian. I had not got far, when I met one of these creatures full in my way, and coming up directly to me. The ugly monster, when he saw me, distorted several ways, every feature of his visage, and stared, as at an object he had never seen before; then approaching nearer, lifted up his fore-paw, whether out of curiosity or mischief I could not tell; but I drew my hanger, and gave him a good blow with the flat side of it, for I durst not strike with the edge, fearing the inhabitants might be provoked against me, if they should come to know that I had killed or maimed any of their cattle. When the beast felt the smart, he drew back, and roared so loud, that a herd of at least forty came flocking about me from the next field, howling and making odious faces; but I ran to the body of a tree, and leaning my back against it, kept them off by waving my hanger. Several of this cursed brood, getting hold of the branches behind, leaped up into the tree, whence they began to discharge their excrements on my head; however, I escaped pretty well by sticking close to the stem of the tree, but was almost stifled with the filth, which fell about me on every side. 我在这荒凉的地方朝前走着，没过多久也走上了坚实的土地。我在那找了一处堤上，坐下来休息了一会儿，考虑该怎么办才好。我精神振作了一些之后就进入了这个国家，决定向我首先遇到的野人投降，用些手镯、玻璃戒指以及别的玩具赎买我的性命；在航海途中，水手总要随身携带一些这类的玩意，因此我身上也带了几件。一长排一长排的树木把土地隔开。树不是人工种植，而是天然地长在那儿，到处是野草，还有几块燕麦田。我小心翼翼地走着，生怕受到惊吓，或者突然有一支箭从身后或两边飞来将我射死。我走上了一条人踩出来的路，看见上面有许多人的脚印，还有一些蹄印，不过多数是马蹄印。最后我在一块地里发现了几只动物，还有一两只它们的同类在树上坐着。它们的样子很奇特、很丑陋，这让我感觉到几分不安，因此我就在一处灌木丛后面卧下来看个清楚。其中有几只往前一直走，走近到我躺着的地方，这使我有机会把它们的样子看得清清楚楚。它们的头部和胸脯都覆盖着一层厚厚的毛发，有些卷曲，有些挺直；长着山羊一样的胡子，脊背上和腿脚的前面部分都长着长长的毛；身上其他地方光光的，所以我能看到它们那浅褐色的皮肤。它们没有尾巴，臀部除了肛门周围以外也都没有毛，我想那是因为它们经常坐在地上，有时躺下用后腿站立，在那儿长些毛用来保护肛门吧。它们爬到高耸的树上去，像松鼠一样敏捷，因为它们的前后脚都长着尖利如钩的长爪。它们时常蹦蹦跳跳，窜来窜去，行动灵巧至极。母的没有公的那么大，头上长着长而直的毛发，除了肛门和阴部的周围，身上其他地方就都只有一层茸毛，而脸上连绒毛也没有。乳房吊在两条前腿的中间，走路时几乎常常要碰到地面。公兽和母兽的毛发都有褐、红、黑、黄等几种不同的颜色，总而言之，在我历次的旅行中还从来没有见到过这种让我不舒服的动物，或者从来没有一种动物本能地就叫我感到这般厌恶。所以我想我已经看够了，心中充满了轻蔑和厌恶，就站起身来走到了原先那条人行道上，希望沿这路走去最终能找到一间印第安人的小屋。我还没走多远就碰上了一只动物横挡在路上，并且一直向我走来。那丑八怪见到我就做出种种鬼脸，两眼紧紧地盯着我，就像看一件它从未见过的东西。接着它向我靠得更近一些，不知是出于好奇还是想伤害我，一下抬起了前爪。我拔出腰刀，用刀背猛击了它一下；我不敢用锋刃的一面击它，怕当地居民知道我砍死或砍伤了他们的牲口而被激怒。那畜生感到刺痛后就一面往后退，一面狂吼起来；这一下立刻就有至少四十头这样的怪兽从邻近的地里跑过来将我围在中心，又是嗥又是扮可憎的鬼脸。我跑到一棵树干底下，背靠着树，挥舞着腰刀不让它们接近我的身体。有几只该死的畜生竟从树后面抓住树枝跳上了树，对准我的头顶拉屎。我紧紧贴住树干才算躲了过去，但差点儿被四周落下来的粪便的臭气闷死。
In the midst of this distress, I observed them all to run away on a sudden as fast as they could; at which I ventured to leave the tree and pursue the road, wondering what it was that could put them into this fright. But looking on my left hand, I saw a horse walking softly in the field; which my persecutors having sooner discovered, was the cause of their flight. The horse started a little, when he came near me, but soon recovering himself, looked full in my face with manifest tokens of wonder; he viewed my hands and feet, walking round me several times. I would have pursued my journey, but he placed himself directly in the way, yet looking with a very mild aspect, never offering the least violence. We stood gazing at each other for some time; at last I took the boldness to reach my hand towards his neck with a design to stroke it, using the common style and whistle of jockeys, when they are going to handle a strange horse. But this animal seemed to receive my civilities with disdain, shook his head, and bent his brows, softly raising up his right forefoot to remove my hand. Then he neighed three or four times, but in so different a cadence, that I almost began to think he was speaking to himself, in some language of his own. 在这危难之中，我看到这些畜生忽然全都飞快地跑开了，于是我就壮了壮胆离开树继续上路，心里还在想会是什么东西把它们吓成这个样子。我往左边一看，却看到了地里有一匹马在慢慢地走着。原来虐待我的那些畜生看到了它，所以全都跑了。这马走近我身边时先是稍微吃惊了一下，但马上就镇定了下来，对着我整张脸看，非常惊奇。它看看我的手和脚，围着我转了几圈。我本想继续赶路，它却硬挡在那儿，不过样子倒很温和，丝毫没有要硬来的意思。我们站在那儿互相盯着看了好一会，最后我竟壮大胆子摆出职业骑师驯野马的架势，吹着口哨，伸手要去抚摸它的脖子。可是这只动物似乎瞧不起我，不肯接受这种礼节，它摇摇脑袋皱皱眉，轻轻地抬起右前蹄把我的手推开了。接着它又嘶叫了三四声，可每次音调全不一样，我不由得要觉得它那是用自己的什么语言在跟自己说话。
While he and I were thus employed, another horse came up; who applying himself to the first in a very formal manner, they gently struck each other's right hoof before, neighing several times by turns, and varying the sound, which seemed to be almost articulate. They went some paces off, as if it were to confer together, walking side by side, backward and forward, like persons deliberating upon some affair of weight, but often turning their eyes towards me, as it were to watch that I might not escape. I was amazed to see such actions and behaviour in brute beasts; and concluded with myself, that if the inhabitants of this country were endued with a proportionable degree of reason, they must needs be the wisest people upon earth. This thought gave me so much comfort, that I resolved to go forward, until I could discover some house or village, or meet with any of the natives, leaving the two horses to discourse together as they pleased. But the first, who was a dapple gray, observing me to steal off, neighed after me in so expressive a tone, that I fancied myself to understand what he meant; whereupon I turned back, and came near to him to expect his farther commands, but concealing my fear as much as I could, for I began to be in some pain how this adventure might terminate; and the reader will easily believe I did not much like my present situation. 正当我和它这么相持不下的时候，又有一匹马走了过来。它很有礼貌地走到第一匹马跟前，互相轻轻地碰了碰右前蹄，然后用各不相同的声音互相嘶叫了几声，简直像是在清楚地说话。它们走开去几步，像是要一起商讨什么事；又肩并肩地来回走着，就像人在考虑什么重大事件一样，可是眼睛又不时地转过来朝我这边看，好像要看住我，怕我会逃跑似的。我看到这两头畜生的行为举止十分惊奇，心里想要是这个国家的居民的智慧和马儿成正比，那么他们一定是地球上最聪明的人了。我这么想着心里很是安慰，因此决定继续往前走，直到我找着房屋或村庄，或者遇到当地的居民为止。那两匹马愿意谈就随它们在那儿谈吧。可是第一匹马，那是匹深灰色斑纹马，见我要悄悄地溜走，就在我身后长嘶起来。那声音极富感情，我都觉得我听明白了它是什么意思。我于是转过身走到它跟前，看看它还有什么吩咐，一边却尽量掩饰自己内心的惶恐，因为我已经开始感到有几分痛苦，不知道这场险事到底会怎样收场。读者也很容易相信，我是非常不喜欢自己当时的处境的。
The two horses came up close to me, looking with great earnestness upon my face and hands. The gray steed rubbed my hat all round with his right fore-hoof, and discomposed it so much that I was forced to adjust it better by taking it off and settling it again; whereat, both he and his companion (who was a brown bay) appeared to be much surprised; the latter felt the lappet of my coat, and finding it to hang loose about me, they both looked with new signs of wonder. He stroked my right hand, seeming to admire the softness and colour; but he squeezed it so hard between his hoof and his pastern, that I was forced to roar; after which they both touched me with all possible tenderness. They were under great perplexity about my shoes and stockings, which they felt very often, neighing to each other, and using various gestures, not unlike those of a philosopher, when he would attempt to solve some new and difficult phenomenon. 两匹马走到我跟前，仔细地端详我的脸和手。那匹灰色马用右前蹄摸了摸我的礼帽，把帽子弄得不成样子。我只好把帽子摘下来整理了一下，又重新戴了上去。那两匹马看到我这么做更觉得惊讶了；栗色马摸了摸我的上衣襟，发现那是穿在我身上的，它俩就露出了更加惊奇的神色。它又摸摸我的右手，似乎十分羡慕那颜色和那柔滑的样子，可是它又将我的手使劲地在它的蹄子与蹄骸中间猛夹，弄得我疼得大叫起来，然后它们又尽量温存地抚弄我。它们看了我的鞋和袜感到十分困惑，不时地去摸一摸，又相互嘶叫一阵，做出种种姿势，就像是一位哲学家想要解决什么新的难题时的样子。
Upon the whole, the behaviour of these animals was so orderly and rational, so acute and judicious, that I at last concluded they must needs be magicians, who had thus metamorphosed themselves upon some design, and seeing a stranger in the way, resolved to divert themselves with him; or, perhaps, were really amazed at the sight of a man so very different in habit, feature, and complexion, from those who might probably live in so remote a climate. Upon the strength of this reasoning, I ventured to address them in the following manner: "Gentlemen, if you be conjurers, as I have good cause to believe, you can understand my language; therefore I make bold to let your worships know that I am a poor distressed Englishman, driven by his misfortunes upon your coast; and I entreat one of you to let me ride upon his back, as if he were a real horse, to some house or village where I can be relieved. 总之，这两只动物的举止很有条理、很有理性、观察敏锐而且判断正确，所以，我最后断定它们一定是魔术师用了某种法术把它们变成现在这个样子，见路上来了个陌生人，用这样的方法同他来寻开心。要么它们也许是真的吃惊，见到这么一个人——服装、外形与面貌都和生活在这么遥远的地方的人完全不同。我想来想去觉得有理，就壮着胆子对他们说了以下的话：“先生们，如果你们是魔法师，我相信你们一定是，你们肯定能听懂任何语言，所以我要冒昧地告诉两位阁下，我是一名可怜的英国人，由于遭遇不幸漂到你们这海岸上来了，我请求你们中哪一位允许我骑到背上，就像是骑真的马一样，把我驮到某个人家或者村庄，那样我就有救了。
In return of which favour, I will make you a present of this knife and bracelet," taking them out of my pocket. The two creatures stood silent while I spoke, seeming to listen with great attention, and when I had ended, they neighed frequently towards each other, as if they were engaged in serious conversation. I plainly observed that their language expressed the passions very well, and the words might, with little pains, be resolved into an alphabet more easily than the Chinese. 为了报答这恩惠，我愿意把这把刀和手镯当礼物送给你们。”说话间我就把刀和手镯从口袋里取了出来。这两只动物在我说话时默默地站在那儿，似乎很用心地在听我说。我说完之后，它们相互嘶叫了好一阵子，仿佛是在进行什么严肃的谈话。我清楚地观察到它们的语言很能表达感情。不用多大劲儿就可以用字母拼写下来，比拼写中文容易得多。
I could frequently distinguish the word "Yahoo", which was repeated by each of them several times; and although it was impossible for me to conjecture what it meant, yet while the two horses were busy in conversation, I endeavoured to practise this word upon my tongue; and as soon as they were silent, I boldly pronounced Yahoo in a loud voice, imitating at the same time, as near as I could, the neighing of a horse; at which they were both visibly surprised; and the gray repeated the same word twice, as if he meant to teach me the right accent; wherein I spoke after him as well as I could, and found myself perceivably to improve every time, though very far from any degree of perfection. Then the bay tried me with a second word, much harder to be pronounced; but reducing it to the English orthography, may be spelt thus, "Houyhnhnm". I did not succeed in this so well as in the former; but after two or three farther trials, I had better fortune; and they both appeared amazed at my capacity. 我不时地可以分辨出有一个词是“雅虎”，这个词被它们各自重复了好几次。虽然我猜不透那是什么意思，可当这两匹马忙着在那里交谈的时候，我就试着练习说这个词。它们一停止谈话，我就壮了胆子高声地叫了一声“雅虎”，同时还尽量地模仿那种马嘶叫的声音。它们听了显然都感到惊讶。而且那匹灰色马重复这个词两遍，好像打算教我正确的发音。我尽力跟着它学了几遍，虽然还远谈不上尽善尽美，但发现每一次都有明显进步。接着那栗色马又试着教我第二个词儿，可是比第一个更难发音；按照英语的拼写法，它可以拼作“Houyhnhnm”（慧骃）。我这个词的发音没有第一个词好，可试了两三次之后好多了。它们对我表现出来的才能显得很是惊讶。
After some further discourse, which I then conjectured might relate to me, the two friends took their leaves, with the same compliment of striking each other's hoof; and the gray made me signs that I should walk before him; wherein I thought it prudent to comply, till I could find a better director. When I offered to slacken my pace, he would cry hhuun hhuun; I guessed his meaning, and gave him to understand, as well as I could, "that I was weary, and not able to walk faster;" upon which he would stand awhile to let me rest. 又谈了一些话之后（我当时推想可能与我有关），两位朋友就分手了，同样互相碰碰蹄子，算是行礼。灰色马做个姿势，意思是让我在它前头走，我想我在找到更好的向导之前还是谨慎地顺从它。我一放慢脚步，它就会发出“混，混”声。我领会了他的意思，就尽量让它知道我很疲倦了，快要就走不动了。这样他就站一会儿，让我休息一会儿。