Hulliver's Travells by Johnathan Swift
В “ирландском” номере мы никак не могли обойти вниманием ирландского писателя. Джонатан Свифт и его Гулливер. Мы выбрали эпизод, связанный с нашим общим делом, - Гулливер учится языку гуигнгнмов.
PART IV.
A VOYAGE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUYHNHNMS.
CHAPTER III.
The Author studious to learn the Language, the Houyhnhnm1, his Master assists in teaching him. The Language described. Several Houyhnhnms of Quality come out of Curiosity to see the Author. His gives his Master a short Account of his Voyage.
Principal Endeavour2 was to learn the Language, which my Master (for so I shall henceforth3 call him) and his Children, and every Servant of his House, were desirous to teach me. For they looked upon it as a Prodigy4 that a brute5 Animal should discover such Marks of a rational Creature. I pointed to every Thing and enquired 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 Servants6, was ready to assist me.
In speaking, they pronounce 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 Charles V. made almost the same Observation, when he said, That if he were to speak to his Horse, it should be in High Dutch.
The Curiosity and Impatience of my Master were so great, that he spent many Hours of his Leisure to instruct7 me. He was convinced8 (as he afterwards told me) that I must be a Yahoo9, but my Teachableness, Civility, and Cleanliness, astonished him; which were Qualities altogether so opposite to those Animals, he was most perplexed10 about my Cloaths11, 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 from where I came, how I acquired those Appearances of Reason12, 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.
In about Ten Weeks time I was able to understand most of his Questions, and in three Months could give him some tolerable13 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 Cunning14, and the strongest Disposition to Mischief15, 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.
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 Fole, 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 converse16 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 spoke, and could express myself tolerably well.
The Houyhnhnms who came to visit my Master with the 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.
Комментарии:
1. Houyhnhnm – гуигнгнм, раса разумных лошадей, придуманная Свифтом
2. endeavour – старание, усилие
3. henceforth – впредь
4. prodigy – чудо, знамение
5. brute – животный (в значении “нечеловеческий”, “грубый”, “тупой”, brute animals ~ бессловесная скотина)
6. under servant – слуга “низшего ранга”, выполняющий грязную работу
7. instruct – обучать
8. convince – убеждать, was convinced – был убежден, его убедили
9. yahoo – йэху, в придуманной Свифтом стране это были человекоподобная раса, не обладающая разумом и используемая в качестве домашнего скота разумной расой лошадей. Кстати, известный поисковик Yahoo!, хоть и расшифровывается сейчас как Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle, но происходит от тех самых свифтовских йэху.
10. perplexed – озадаченный
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