The Rabbits

When I have noticed how man acts at times, and how, in a thousand ways, he comports himself just as the lower animals do, I have often said to myself that the lord of these lower orders has no fewer faults than his subjects.

当我留意到人有时的举止，发现他在千百种方式上与低等动物的表现如出一辙时，我常常对自己说，这些低等生灵的主宰，其毛病并不比他的臣民少。

Nature has allowed every living thing a drop or two from the fount at which the spirits of all creatures imbibe.

大自然赐予每一个生灵一两滴，取自那口一切生灵灵魂都从中汲取的泉水。

I will prove what I say.

我要证明我所说的话。

If at the hour when night has scarcely passed and day hardly begun I climb into a tree, on the edge of some wood, and, like a new Jupiter from the heights of Olympus, I send a shot at some unsuspecting rabbit, then the whole colony of rabbits, who were enjoying their thyme-scented meal with open eyes and listening ears upon the heath, immediately scamper away. The report sends them all to seek refuge in their subterranean city.

假如在夜色还未完全褪去、白昼刚刚开始的时刻，我爬上林边的一棵树，像一位新的朱庇特站在奥林匹斯山顶，朝一只毫无防备的兔子开上一枪，那么整个兔子群——它们本正睁着眼睛、竖着耳朵，在荒野上享用着满是百里香气息的美餐——便会立刻四散奔逃。枪声会把它们全都吓得逃回地下的巢穴。

But their great fright is soon over; the danger quickly forgotten. Again I see the rabbits more light-hearted than ever coming close under my death-dealing hand.

可是它们巨大的惊恐很快就会过去；危险也会被迅速忘记。不久我又会看见那些兔子，比先前更加无忧无虑地凑近我这只索命的手。

Does not this give us a picture of mankind? Dispersed by some storm, men no sooner reach a haven than they are ready again to risk the same winds and the same distress. True rabbits, they run again into the death-dealing hands of fortune.

这难道不正是人类的写照吗？被某场风暴吹得四散奔逃的人们，一旦到达了避风港，便又准备再次冒险迎向同样的风浪与困厄。真正的兔子啊，他们又一次奔向命运那索命的双手。

Let us add to this example another of a more ordinary kind.

让我们在这个例子之外，再加上另一个更常见的例子。

When strange dogs pass through any spot beyond their customary route there is a grand to-do. I leave you to picture it. All the dogs of the district with one idea in their heads join forces, barking and biting, to chase the intruder beyond the bounds of their territory.

每当陌生的狗越过它们惯常的路线闯入某个地方时，便会引起一场大骚动。我且让你们自己去想象一下那场面。当地所有的狗都抱着同一个念头，齐心协力，又叫又咬，把这个闯入者赶出它们的地盘之外。

So, it may be, a similar joint-interest in property or in glory and grandeur leads such people as the governors of states, certain favoured courtiers, and people of a trade to behave exactly like these jealous dogs. All of us, as a rule, rob the chance-comer and tear him to pieces. Vain ladies and men of letters are usually so disposed. Woe betide the newly-arrived beauty or a new writer!

于是，或许正是这种在财产、荣耀与威严上的共同利益，使得诸如各国的统治者、某些受宠的朝臣、以及从事某种行当的人，表现得同这些嫉妒心重的狗如出一辙。我们所有人，通常都会去抢夺那位偶然到来的人，并把他撕成碎片。爱慕虚荣的女士和舞文弄墨之人，往往也是这样的脾性。新来的美人或是新出道的作家，真是要遭殃了！

As few as possible fighting round the cake! That's the best way!

围着蛋糕争抢的人越少越好！这才是最好的办法！

I could bring a hundred examples to bear upon this subject; but the shorter a discourse is the better. I take the masters of literature for my model in this and hold that in the best of themes something should be left unsaid for the reader to consider about. Therefore this discourse shall end.

我还能举出上百个例子来说明这个道理；但一篇论述总是越短越好。在这一点上，我以那些文学大师为楷模，我认为在最好的题材里，总应该留下一些内容不说破，让读者自己去思量。因此，这篇论述就到此为止吧。