The author's veracity. His design in publishing this work. His censure of those travellers who swerve from the truth. The author clears himself from any sinister 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 justified. 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. 作者记事真实可靠；他出版本书的计划；他对那些歪曲事实的旅行家的谴责；作者表明自己写作并无任何险恶目的；作者回应一个反对声音；开拓殖民地的方法；作者对祖国赞美；他认为国王有权占领他描述的那几个国家；征服那些国家的难处；作者向读者最后告别；谈到他将来的生活方式；提出忠告；结束这部游记。
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 ornament 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. 敬爱的读者，我已经把我十六年零七个多月来旅行的历史老老实实地讲给你们听了，其中我没有很热忠于粉饰事实。我也许可以像别的人那样，说一些荒诞不经的故事来使你们大吃一惊，可是我还是愿意用最简朴的方式和文体叙述一些平凡的事实，因为我主要的目的是向你们报道而不是给你们消遣。
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. 像我们这种去过一些遥远的国度，而这些国家都是英国人或者欧洲其他国家的人很少旅行过的国家，要来写点什么海上、陆上的奇异动物那是很容易的。但是，一个旅行家的主要目的应当是使人变得更为聪明、善良，举出一些异乡的事例，无论是好是坏，来改善他们的思想。
I could heartily wish a law was enacted, that every traveller, before he were permitted to publish his voyages, should be obliged to make oath before the Lord High Chancellor, 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 perused 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 fabulous 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 impudently 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 maxim never to be swerved from, that I would strictly 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 a humble hearer. 我衷心希望能制定一项法律，即：允许任何一位旅行家出版自己的游记之前，必须向大法官宣誓，保证他想要发表的东西全部完全属实，这样世人就不会像平常那样受到欺骗了。有些作家为了使自己的作品博得大众欢心，强加一些弥天大谎来欺骗缺乏警惕性的读者。我年轻的时候也曾经以极大的兴趣仔细阅读过几本游记，但自从我走遍地球上的大部分地区，并且能够根据自己的观察反驳很多不符合事实的叙述以后，我对这一部分读物就非常厌恶了，同时对人类那么轻易地就相信了这些东西也感到有些生气。所以，既然了解我的人都认为我辛辛苦苦努力写出来的这本书可能还能被国内接受，我就坚决要求自己永远不背离一条座右铭：我将严格遵守事实。事实上，任何引诱都不能使我违背这一信条，因为我牢牢记住了我那高贵的主人和其他优秀的“慧骃”的教诲和榜样；我曾经有幸在那么长的时间里做一个聆听者。
Nec si miserum Fortuna Sinonem Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba finget. “虽然厄运使西农落难，却不能强使他诳语欺人。”
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 vogue, and stand in my place, making the world forget that ever I was an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification, 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 virtues I have mentioned in the glorious Houyhnhnms, without being ashamed of his own vices, 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 corrupted are the Brobdingnagians; whose wise maxims in morality and government it would be our happiness to observe. But I forbear descanting further, and rather leave the judicious reader to his own remarks and application. 我非常清楚，写这类作品既不需要天才也不需要学问，或者其他天赋，只需要记忆力好、记录精确。我也知道，游记作家也同编字典的人一样，将来一定是默默无闻，后来者无论在分量和篇幅上都会超过他们。那些读了我这部作品的旅行家如果日后去我描述过的那些国家旅游，就会发现我的文章中的缺陷（如果有错误的话），还会添加不少他们自己的新发现，这样就会把我挤出流行作家的圈子，自己取而代之，使世人忘记我曾经也是个作家。如果我著书是为了求名，那的确会使我感到莫大羞辱；然而我著书的唯一目的是为了大众的利益，所以不管怎样我也绝不可能感到失望。因为既然自认为是统治本国的理性动物，谁读到我提到的那些光荣的“慧骃”的各种美德，不会为自己的罪恶而感到羞耻呢？关于由“雅虎”统治的那些遥远的国家，我一点也不想多说了；在那些国家当中，布罗卜丁奈格人腐败的程度最轻，所以他们在道德和统治方面的英明准则应该是我们所乐于遵从的。可是我不想再继续说下去了，怎么评价怎么做，都留给贤明的读者自己吧。
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 negotiations? I have carefully avoided every fault with which common writers of travels are often too justly charged. Besides, I meddle not the least with any party, but write without passion, prejudice, or ill-will against any man, or number of men, whatsoever. I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct mankind; over whom I may, without breach of modesty, pretend to some superiority, from the advantages I received by conversing so long among the most accomplished 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 perfectly blameless; against whom the tribes of Answerers, Considerers, Observers, Reflectors, Detectors, Remarkers, will never be able to find matter for exercising their talents. 我非常高兴自己的这部作品不会受到什么责难。一个作家，他只叙述发生在那么遥远的国度里的一些平凡的事实，我们既没有半点兴趣同这些国家做生意，又不想同它们谈判，对于这样的一个作家，还有什么能反对的呢？我特别小心，避免犯一般游记作家所出现的那些毛病，因为这些毛病他们常常受到指责也是罪有应得。另外，我不插手干涉任何政党的事，不动怒，不带偏见，对任何人或者任何团体的人都没有敌意。我写作的目的是最高尚的：只想给人类传递见闻，教育人类。我不谦虚地说，自己的想法要高过一般人，因为我曾那么长时间同最有德行的 “慧骃”在一起交谈，我自有优势。我写作既不为名也不图利。我从来都不肯用一个词让人感觉到像是责难，即使对那些认为自己最爱受指责的人，我也尽可能不去得罪他们。因此，我希望我能公正地认为自己是个毫无瑕疵的作家，任何抗辩家、思想家、观察家、沉思家、挑毛病专家、评论家将永远不能找茬来施展他们的才能。
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 prudent 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 prudence, unanimity, 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, battering the warriors' faces into mummy by terrible yerks from their hinder hoofs; 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 disposition, to send a sufficient number of their inhabitants for civilizing Europe, by teaching us the first principles of honour, justice, truth, temperance, public spirit, fortitude, chastity, friendship, benevolence, and fidelity. 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. 我承认，有人曾悄悄地对我说，作为一个英国的臣民，我有义务回来后就向国务大臣递交一份报告，因为一个英国臣民发现的任何土地都是属于国王的。但是，我怀疑如果我们要去征服我说到的那些国家，是不是会像费迪南多·科尔特斯征服赤身裸体的美洲人那么轻松。我认为，征服小人国的人所得的好处几乎都抵不上派遣一支海陆军队的消耗；企图征服大人国不够慎重，也不够安全；而英国军队的头顶上浮着那么一座飞岛，他们会不会感到很轻松。“慧骃”看来倒真的对战争没有什么准备，他们对战争这门科学，尤其是对大规模的武器完全不在行。尽管如此，假如我是国务大臣，我是决不会主张去侵犯他们的。他们审慎、团结、无畏、爱国，足可弥补他们在军事方面所有的缺陷。你想想看，两万“慧骃”冲进一支欧洲的军队，冲乱队伍，掀翻车辆，用后蹄将士兵的脸踢得稀烂，因为它们完全担当得起奥古斯都的性格：来来去去，到处安全。但是，我不建议去征服那样一个高尚的民族，我倒希望他们能够或者愿意派遣足够数量的“慧骃”居民来欧洲教化我们，教我们学习关于荣誉、正义、真理、节制、公德、刚毅、贞洁、友谊、仁慈和忠诚等基本原则。在我们的大部分语言中还保留着这全部美德的名词；在古今作家的作品中也经常见到这些名词；我自己虽然读书不多，这些名词倒还能说得出来。
But I had another reason, which made me less forward to enlarge his majesty's dominions by my discoveries. To say the truth, I had conceived a few scruples 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 plunder; 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 plank, 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 dominion 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 license given to all acts of inhumanity and lust, the earth reeking with the blood of its inhabitants: and this execrable crew of butchers, employed in so pious an expedition, is a modern colony, sent to convert and civilize an idolatrous and barbarous people! 此外，虽然我发现了新国家，但是还有一个理由让我对国王陛下扩张领土这件事不那么热心。说老实话，我很怀疑派君主去那些地方统治是否合法。例如说吧，一群海盗被风暴刮到了一个不知名的地方，最后一名水手爬上主桅发现了陆地，他们就登陆抢夺。看到一个于人无害的民族，他们受到了优待；他们给这个国家起了一个新国名；他们为国王把这个国家给正式侵略了下来；他们立上一块烂木板或者一块石头当纪念碑；他们杀害二三十个当地人，再掳走几个做样品；回国请求国王的赦免。一片新的领土就这样开辟了，并且以神圣的名义获得。国王立刻派船前往那地方，把那里的人赶尽杀绝。为了搜刮当地人的黄金，他们的君主受尽磨难。一切惨无人道、贪欲放荡的行为被许可，遍地染满浸透当地居民的鲜血！
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 advancement of religion and learning; their choice of devout and able pastors 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 corruption; and, to crown all, by sending the most vigilant and virtuous governors, who have no other views than the happiness of the people over whom they preside, and the honour of the king their master. 但是我承认，这一段描述跟英国民族毫无关系。英国人在开辟殖民地方面所表现出的智慧、关心和正义可以做全世界的楷模。他们对宗教和学术的进步做出了巨大贡献；他们选择虔诚、能干的教士来传布基督教义；他们谨慎地从本王国挑选出生活正派、谈吐清楚的人移居各地；他们严格考虑之后，派出最能干、最廉洁的官员到所有的殖民地管理行政、严守正义；而且，尤为重要的是，他们派出去的总督都是些最警醒、最有德行的人，全心全意只考虑到人民的幸福和他们国王主子的荣誉。
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 abound either in gold, silver, sugar, or tobacco, I did humbly conceive, they were by no means proper objects of our zeal, our valour, or our interest. However, if those whom it more concerns think fit to be of another opinion, I am ready to depose, when I shall be lawfully 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. 但是，我描述过的那几个国家似乎都不愿意被殖民者征服或奴役或赶尽杀绝；他们那里也不盛产黄金、白银、食糖和烟草。根据我个人的愚见，他们并不是我们表现热情、发挥勇武或者捞点实惠的合适对象。然而，如果和这事更有利害关系的那些人觉得应该持有另一种意见，那么我在依法被召见的时候就准备宣誓作证：在我之前还从未有任何一个欧洲人到过那几个国家。我的意思是说，如果那两只传说中许多年前出现在“慧骃”国一座山上的“雅虎”引起争议是真的，那么当地居民的话才是可信的。
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. 至于以国王陛下的名义正式占领那些地方，我是从来都不曾想到过，而即使有过那种想法，就我当时的情形来看，为了慎重和自我保护起见，我也许还是等有更好的机会再说。
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 courteous readers, and return to enjoy my own speculations in my little garden at Redriff; to apply those excellent lessons of virtue which I learned among the Houyhnhnms; to instruct the Yahoos of my own family, as far as I shall find them docible animals; to behold my figure often in a glass, and thus, if possible, habituate myself by time to tolerate the sight of a human creature; to lament the brutality 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 degenerate. 作为一个旅行家，我可能受到的责难也许只有这一个了，而我现在已经做了答辩。在此我谨向每一位敬爱的读者最后告别，然后回到我瑞德里夫的小花园中去，静思默想；去实践我从“慧骃”那儿学来的优秀的道德课程；去教导我自己家里的那几只“雅虎”，直到把他们都培养成驯良的动物。我要经常对照镜子看看自己的形象，如果可能的话，让我自己慢慢适应能够忍受看到人类。我很惋惜我国的“慧骃”有野蛮兽性的表现，可是看在我那高贵的主人、它的家人、朋友以及全体“慧骃”的面上，我对它们一向还是很尊敬的。我国的“慧骃”形体上完全和“慧骃”国的“慧骃”一样，可是它们的智力却逐渐地退化了。
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 rue, 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 apprehensions I am yet under of his teeth or his claws. 从上星期开始，我已经允许妻子与我同桌吃饭了，我让她坐在一张长桌子离我最远的一头，也让她回答我提的几个问题（不过只让她极简单地回答）。可是“雅虎”的气味还是非常难闻，我总是用芸香、熏衣草或者烟草将鼻子捂得严严实实。虽然老年人很难改变往日的习惯，但这对于我来说并不是毫无希望。将来过了一段时间之后，我总可以受得了让邻居的“雅虎”与我相聚，而不会像现在这样害怕他用牙齿或爪子来伤我。
My reconcilement to the Yahoo kind in general might not be so difficult, if they would be content with those vices and follies only which nature has entitled them to. I am not in the least provoked at the sight of a lawyer, a pickpocket, a colonel, a fool, a lord, a gamester, a politician, a whoremonger, a physician, an evidence, a suborner, an attorney, a traitor, 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, smitten 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 vice, could tally together. The wise and virtuous Houyhnhnms, who abound in all excellences that can adorn 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 thoroughly understanding human nature, as it shows itself in other countries where that animal presides. 如果一般的“雅虎”仅仅是与生俱来的罪恶与愚蠢，我同它们和睦相处可能还不是很困难。我见到律师、扒手、上校、傻子、老爷、赌棍、政客、嫖客、医生、证人、教唆犯、讼棍、卖国贼等等一点也不生气；这都是很合乎情理的事情。但是当我看到一个身体畸形的人，身心都不健全，却还骄傲不堪，我马上就会失去全部的耐心。我怎么也弄不明白这样一种动物怎么会和这么一种罪恶搅和到一起。聪明而有德行的“慧骃”富于理性动物所能有的一切美德，而在它们的语言中，除了那些用来描述它们“雅虎”的可恶品性的名词，却没有表达别的罪恶概念的名词。它们因为对人性缺乏透彻的理解，所以在“雅虎”身上还辨认不出有这种骄傲的罪恶，可在“雅虎”这种动物统治的别的国家中，骄傲一恶是显而易见的。
But I, who had more experience, could plainly observe some rudiments of it among the wild Yahoos. 但是我更有经验，所以能够清楚地在“雅虎”身上看到一些骄傲的雏形。
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 miserable 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 entreat those who have any tincture of this absurd vice, that they will not presume to come in my sight. 但是，在理性支配下的“慧骃”却不会因自己具有许多优点而感到骄傲，就像我并不会因为自己没有少一条腿或者一条胳膊而感到骄傲一样；没有一个头脑正常的人会因为自己四肢齐全就吹嘘，尽管他如果四肢不全肯定会痛苦。我对这个问题谈得较多，为的是希望自己和英国的“雅虎”们相处时不至于感到无法忍受，所以我在这儿请求那些沾染上这种荒谬罪恶的人，不要随便走到我的面前来。