The author studies to learn the language. The Houyhnhnm, his master, assists in teaching him. The language described. Several Houyhnhnms of quality come out of curiosity to see the author. He gives his master a short account of his voyage. 认真学习它们的语言；作者得到“慧骃”主人的帮助和教导；关于这种语言的说明；几位 “慧骃”贵族出于好奇前来看望作者；他向主人简单报告自己的航海经过。
My principal endeavour was to learn the language, which my master (for so I shall henceforth call him), and his children, and every servant of his house, were desirous to teach me; for they looked upon it as a prodigy, that a brute animal should discover such marks of a rational creature. I pointed to every thing, and inquired the name of it, which I wrote down in my journal-book when I was alone, and corrected my bad accent by desiring those of the family to pronounce it often. In this employment, a sorrel nag, one of the under-servants, was very ready to assist me. 我那时主要的想法就是努力学习它们的语言。我的主人（我以后就一直这么叫他）和他的子女们以及家中的仆人们都很愿意教导我。一头畜生竟能处处表现的有理性，它们认为这实在是一种奇迹。每样东西我都用手指着问它们叫什么名称，我一个人的时候就把这些名称记到日记本里，请家里的马多发几遍音帮我纠正过来。有一匹当仆人的栗色小马随时都愿意为我做这个。
In speaking, they pronounced through the nose and throat, and their language approaches nearest to the High-Dutch, or German, of any I know in Europe; but is much more graceful and significant. The emperor made almost the same observation, when he said "that if he were to speak to his horse, it should be in High-Dutch." 他们说话主要是用鼻音和喉音，就我所知道的欧洲语言来说，他们的语言和高地荷兰语或者德语相似，不过要文雅得多，含义也更加丰富。查里五世就曾说过类似的话：如果他要是和马说话一定用高地荷兰语。我的主人异常好奇，而且很有耐心，空闲的时候就多花上几个小时来教我。
The curiosity and impatience of my master were so great, that he spent many hours of his leisure to instruct me.He was convinced (as he afterwards told me) that I must be a Yahoo; but my teachableness, civility, and cleanliness, astonished him; which were qualities altogether opposite to those animals. He was most perplexed about my clothes, reasoning sometimes with himself, whether they were a part of my body, for I never pulled them off till the family were asleep, and got them on before they waked in the morning. My master was eager to learn "whence I came; how I acquired those appearances of reason, which I discovered in all my actions; and to know my story from my own mouth, which he hoped he should soon do by the great proficiency I made in learning and pronouncing their words and sentences." To help my memory, I formed all I learned into the English alphabet, and wrote the words down, with the translations. This last, after some time, I ventured to do in my master's presence. It cost me much trouble to explain to him what I was doing; for the inhabitants have not the least idea of books or literature. 他坚信（这是它后来告诉我的）我是一只“雅虎”，可是我受教、有礼貌、干净，这与“雅虎”完全相反，令他大为惊奇。他对我的衣服最感困惑，有时想这些东西是否是我身体的一部分，因为我从来都是在它们全家都睡了才脱衣服休息，早晨它们还没有醒我就又穿上了。我的主人急切地想知道我是从哪儿来；我那理性的举止行为又是怎样产生的；我学他们的语言，单词和句子现在都能说得很熟练了，他希望我不久就能亲口把我的经历告诉他。为了帮助记忆，我把所学的都用英语字母记了下来，把单词翻译写下来。过了一些时候，即使当着主人的面我也敢这样做了。不过我费了不少口舌向它解释我那是在干什么，因为这些居民根本就不知道书或者文学是什么。
In about ten weeks time, I was able to understand most of his questions; and in three months, could give him some tolerable answers. He was extremely curious to know "from what part of the country I came, and how I was taught to imitate a rational creature; because the Yahoos (whom he saw I exactly resembled in my head, hands, and face, that were only visible), with some appearance of cunning, and the strongest disposition to mischief, were observed to be the most unteachable of all brutes." I answered, "that I came over the sea, from a far place, with many others of my own kind, in a great hollow vessel made of the bodies of trees; that my companions forced me to land on this coast, and then left me to shift for myself." It was with some difficulty, and by the help of many signs, that I brought him to understand me. He replied, "that I must needs be mistaken, or that I said the thing which was not;" for they have no word in their language to express lying or falsehood. "He knew it was impossible that there could be a country beyond the sea, or that a parcel of brutes could move a wooden vessel whither they pleased upon water. He was sure no Houyhnhnm alive could make such a vessel, nor would trust Yahoos to manage it." 大约过了十个星期，我能听懂它提的大部分问题；而三个月后，我就能够勉强地回答了。他很想知道我来自这个国家的哪个部分，是怎样学会模仿理性动物这种本领的，因为“雅虎”（仅从露在外面的头、手和面孔来看，他认为我完全像一只“雅虎”）看似有几分机灵，而且最爱捣鬼，据说是一切兽类中最难驯养的畜生。我回答说，我从一个很远的地方漂洋过海到了这里，和许多同类坐着用树干做成的中空的一个巨大容器，我的同伴强迫我在这里的海岸登陆，抛下我不管，让我自谋生计。我费了相当的口舌，又借助于不少手势，才使他明白了我的意思。他回答说肯定是我弄错了，要不就是我说的事并非事情本来的那个样子，因为他们的语言中没有任何表示说谎或者虚假的词儿。他知道海那边根本不可能还有什么别的国家，一群畜生也不可能随心所欲地在水面上移动一个木头容器。他相信在世上现存的“慧骃”中没有一个能做出这样的容器，也不相信“雅虎”能够做这样的事。
The word "Houyhnhnm," in their tongue, signifies a horse, and, in its etymology, the perfection of nature. I told my master, "that I was at a loss for expression, but would improve as fast as I could; and hoped, in a short time, I should be able to tell him wonders." He was pleased to direct his own mare, his colt, and foal, and the servants of the family, to take all opportunities of instructing me; and every day, for two or three hours, he was at the same pains himself. Several horses and mares of quality in the neighbourhood came often to our house, upon the report spread of "a wonderful Yahoo, that could speak like a Houyhnhnm, and seemed, in his words and actions, to discover some glimmerings of reason." These delighted to converse with me: they put many questions, and received such answers as I was able to return. By all these advantages I made so great a progress, that, in five months from my arrival I understood whatever was spoken, and could express myself tolerably well. “慧骃”这个词在他们的语言中是“马”的意思，就词源而言，是指“大自然中尽善尽美者”。我对主人说不知道该怎样表达自己的意思，不过我会尽快提高。他非常高兴，就指示自己的母马、小马以及家中的仆人利用所有的机会来教我，而他自己每天也要花上两三个钟头。住在附近的几位公、母马贵族听说我们家有一头奇异的“雅虎”不但，能像“慧骃”一样说话，而且从言谈举止看起来似乎还有几分理性，因此他们就常到我们家来访问。这些马贵族喜欢跟我谈话：向我提出了许多问题，我则尽我所能给予回答。这些有利条件使我的语言有很大进步，到这个国家五个月后，我就什么都能听懂了，也能把自己的意思表达得很清楚。
The Houyhnhnms, who came to visit my master out of a design of seeing and talking with me, could hardly believe me to be a right Yahoo, because my body had a different covering from others of my kind. They were astonished to observe me without the usual hair or skin, except on my head, face, and hands; but I discovered that secret to my master upon an accident which happened about a fortnight before. 为了想看看我并且想同我交谈来拜访主人的“慧骃”，都不大相信我真的是一只“雅虎”，因为我的身体表面盖着一层和“雅虎”不同的东西。他们看我身上除了头、脸、手之外，没有那通常的毛发和皮肤都觉得很惊讶，但是大约两个星期前发生的一桩意外事件却使我向主人透露了我的秘密。
I have already told the reader, that every night, when the family were gone to bed, it was my custom to strip, and cover myself with my clothes. It happened, one morning early, that my master sent for me by the sorrel nag, who was his valet. When he came I was fast asleep, my clothes fallen off on one side, and my shirt above my waist. I awaked at the noise he made, and observed him to deliver his message in some disorder; after which he went to my master, and in a great fright gave him a very confused account of what he had seen. This I presently discovered, for, going as soon as I was dressed to pay my attendance upon his honour, he asked me "the meaning of what his servant had reported, that I was not the same thing when I slept, as I appeared to be at other times; that his valet assured him, some part of me was white, some yellow, at least not so white, and some brown." 我曾告诉过读者，每天晚上等全家都入睡之后，我才脱下衣服并把衣服盖在身上休息。有一天大清早，我的主人派男仆栗色小马来喊我过去。他进来时我睡得正熟，衣服掉到一边去了，衬衫也扯到胸部以上。他把我吵醒了，我见他把主人吩咐的话说得有点颠三倒四，接着他返回到主人那里，惊慌失措地把看到的情况乱说了一通。这我马上就知道了，因为我穿好衣服去拜见主人时，他就问我仆人所报告的情况到底是怎么回事，为什么我睡觉时和别的时候不一样。男仆告诉它，我身上有的地方是白色的，有的地方是黄色的，至少不是那么白，还有的地方则是棕色的。
I had hitherto concealed the secret of my dress, in order to distinguish myself, as much as possible, from that cursed race of Yahoos; but now I found it in vain to do so any longer. Besides, I considered that my clothes and shoes would soon wear out, which already were in a declining condition, and must be supplied by some contrivance from the hides of Yahoos, or other brutes; whereby the whole secret would be known. I therefore told my master, "that in the country whence I came, those of my kind always covered their bodies with the hairs of certain animals prepared by art, as well for decency as to avoid the inclemencies of air, both hot and cold; of which, as to my own person, I would give him immediate conviction, if he pleased to command me; only desiring his excuse, if I did not expose those parts that nature taught us to conceal." He said, "my discourse was all very strange, but especially the last part; for he could not understand, why nature should teach us to conceal what nature had given; that neither himself nor family were ashamed of any parts of their bodies; but, however, I might do as I pleased." Whereupon I first unbuttoned my coat, and pulled it off. I did the same with my waistcoat. I drew off my shoes, stockings, and breeches. I let my shirt down to my waist, and drew up the bottom; fastening it like a girdle about my middle, to hide my nakedness. 为了尽量显示我与那该死的“雅虎”不是一个族类，我至今一直严守着穿着衣服的秘密，但现在实在没有办法保密了。另外，考虑到我的衣服和鞋子已越来越糟，很快就要穿破，我得想什么办法用“雅虎”或者别的兽皮另做一套换上，那样一来，整个秘密就要被他们知道了。于是我告诉主人，在我们国家，我的同类为了体面，也为了防御炎热和寒冷的恶劣气候，总是用一种加工过的某种动物的毛皮来遮蔽身体。要是他愿意看的话，我马上就可以让他看。不过要请他原谅，我身上有些部分不能暴露，因为大自然教我们要把那些地方遮盖起来。他说我讲的话都非常奇怪，特别是最后那一句；因为他不明白，既然大自然赐给我们的东西，为什么又要教我们把它们藏起来？他说不论自己还是家人对我们自己身体的任何部分都不感到羞耻；不过，我愿意怎么样就怎么样。他这么一说，我就先解开扣子脱下上衣来。接着我又把背心脱掉。我把鞋、袜和裤子都扯了下来。我把衬衣放下来盖到腰部，再拉起下摆拦腰像腰带那样打一个结，来遮住我的赤裸。
My master observed the whole performance with great signs of curiosity and admiration. He took up all my clothes in his pastern, one piece after another, and examined them diligently; he then stroked my body very gently, and looked round me several times; after which, he said, it was plain I must be a perfect Yahoo; but that I differed very much from the rest of my species in the softness, whiteness, and smoothness of my skin; my want of hair in several parts of my body; the shape and shortness of my claws behind and before; and my affectation of walking continually on my two hinder feet. He desired to see no more; and gave me leave to put on my clothes again, for I was shuddering with cold. 我的主人十分惊奇地看完了我的整个脱衣表演。他用蹄骸把我的衣服一件件拿起来仔细观察，随后又轻轻抚摸我的身体，把我前前后后看了好几遍以后才开口说道，我分明是一只真正的“雅虎”；不过我和其他同类相比还是有很大的不同，我的皮肤柔软、洁白、光滑，身上有些地方没有毛；我的前后爪都短，形状也不同，而且还总爱用两只后脚走路。他不想再看下去就准许我把衣服重新穿上，因为我已经冻得发抖了。
I expressed my uneasiness at his giving me so often the appellation of Yahoo, an odious animal, for which I had so utter a hatred and contempt. I begged he would forbear applying that word to me, and make the same order in his family and among his friends whom he suffered to see me. I requested likewise, "that the secret of my having a false covering to my body, might be known to none but himself, at least as long as my present clothing should last; for as to what the sorrel nag, his valet, had observed, his honour might command him to conceal it." 他总是管我叫“雅虎”，我只好向他表示自己感到很不安；对这种可恶的动物，我有的只是彻底的痛恨和鄙夷。我求主人不要再用这个词儿叫我了，也请他吩咐家人和得到他允许前来看我的朋友都不要如此叫。我还请求他为我保密，只要我现在的这身衣服还可以穿，就别让别人知道我有这一身伪装了；至于他的贴身仆人栗色小马所看到的也要命令他隐瞒下来。
All this my master very graciously consented to; and thus the secret was kept till my clothes began to wear out, which I was forced to supply by several contrivances that shall hereafter be mentioned.In the meantime, he desired "I would go on with my utmost diligence to learn their language, because he was more astonished at my capacity for speech and reason, than at the figure of my body, whether it were covered or not;" adding, "that he waited with some impatience to hear the wonders which I promised to tell him." 主人对我的一切要求都诚恳地答应了，因此这个秘密就一直守到我的衣服再也穿不下去的时候，我不得不想些办法来添置衣服，这件事我以后会有交待。与此同时，他还要我继续努力学习他们的语言。和我身体的样子、是否穿着衣服相比，他对我说话和推理的能力更感到惊奇；他又说我曾答应过给他讲一些稀奇古怪的事，他都有点等不及了。
Thenceforward he doubled the pains he had been at to instruct me: he brought me into all company, and made them treat me with civility; "because," as he told them, privately, "this would put me into good humour, and make me more diverting." 从这时候起，他加倍努力来教我：带我会见所有的客人，要求客人们以礼待我，因为他私下里对客人说那样会使我更滑稽、更有趣。
Every day, when I waited on him, beside the trouble he was at in teaching, he would ask me several questions concerning myself, which I answered as well as I could, and by these means he had already received some general ideas, though very imperfect. It would be tedious to relate the several steps by which I advanced to a more regular conversation; but the first account I gave of myself in any order and length was to this purpose: 每天我在侍候他的时候，他除了教导我以外，还要问几个与我有关的问题，我尽可能回答他。他用这种方法已经大致了解了一些情况，尽管还很不全面。至于我怎么一步步提高到能同他做更加正规的交谈，说起来就未免冗长乏味了，不过我第一次比较详细而有层次地叙述我身世的谈话，内容大概是这样的：
"That I came from a very far country, as I already had attempted to tell him, with about fifty more of my own species; that we travelled upon the seas in a great hollow vessel made of wood, and larger than his honour's house. I described the ship to him in the best terms I could, and explained, by the help of my handkerchief displayed, how it was driven forward by the wind. That upon a quarrel among us, I was set on shore on this coast, where I walked forward, without knowing whither, till he delivered me from the persecution of those execrable Yahoos." He asked me, "who made the ship, and how it was possible that the Houyhnhnms of my country would leave it to the management of brutes?" My answer was, "that I durst proceed no further in my relation, unless he would give me his word and honour that he would not be offended, and then I would tell him the wonders I had so often promised." He agreed; and I went on by assuring him, that the ship was made by creatures like myself; who, in all the countries I had travelled, as well as in my own, were the only governing rational animals; and that upon my arrival hither, I was as much astonished to see the Houyhnhnms act like rational beings, as he, or his friends, could be, in finding some marks of reason in a creature he was pleased to call a Yahoo; to which I owned my resemblance in every part, but could not account for their degenerate and brutal nature. I said farther, "that if good fortune ever restored me to my native country, to relate my travels hither, as I resolved to do, everybody would believe, that I said the thing that was not, that I invented the story out of my own head; and (with all possible respect to himself, his family, and friends, and under his promise of not being offended) our countrymen would hardly think it probable that a Houyhnhnm should be the presiding creature of a nation, and a Yahoo the brute." 我早已设法告诉他，我跟大约五十多个同类从一个十分遥远的国家来到这里；我们乘坐一只比他的房子还要大的木制的中空容器在海上航行。我用自己能找到的最好的词把我们的船描述给他听，又借助手帕，向它解释风怎样把船吹向前去。一次，我们发生争吵后，我就被遗弃到这里的海岸上。我往前走着，不知道身在何处，直到他把我从那些可恶的“雅虎”的迫害中救出来。他问我船是谁造的，还问我们国里的“慧骃”怎么能把船交给一群畜生去管理？我回答说自己不敢再往下说了，除非他保证听后不生气，那样我才能把以前答应要跟他说的奇事告诉他，他答应了。我就继续对他说，告诉他船就是由像我这样的人造的；在我旅行过的所有国家里，包括我的祖国，人类是唯一的统治者，唯一有理性的动物。我到这里以后，看到“慧骃”的一举一动像是有理性的动物感到非常吃惊，这就仿佛他或者他的朋友在一只他愿意叫做“雅虎”的动物身上发现有几分理性时也感到吃惊一样。我承认自己身上各处都像“雅虎”，可我无法明白他们的本性竟这般堕落、凶残的原因。我又说要是自己运气好能重返祖国，对人说起在这里旅行的情景，大家都要认为我说的是乌有之事，是我凭空捏造出来的。我虽然对他自己、他家人、他朋友都非常尊敬，同时他也曾答应不生我的气，但我还是要说，我们的同胞一定不会相信“慧骃”竟是这个国家的统治者，而“雅虎”却是畜生。