驯服大象
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Training Elephants
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第1段
Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle. The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him. Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer. The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.
主要有两种方法驯服大象，分别是“吃硬的”和“吃软的”。前者即让大象干活，打到顺从为止。抛开动物伦理不谈，也算得上是一种蠢方法。因为这样驯服出来的动物，充满仇恨，很可能在未来某个阶段成为 “人类杀手”。而后者在初始阶段更需耐心，但能驯服出情绪愉悦、脾气温顺的大象，提供多年的忠实服务。
第2段
The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection. There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer. Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt, but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.
驯象中第一项关键就是为大象指派一位能对其全面负责的驯象员。大象和狗一样，喜欢有个主人，而且可以培养出相当程度的私人感情。甚至听过这样的故事，说的是有些小象，在驯服到一半的情况下，驯象员不得不离开之后，小象竟然会茶饭不思，消瘦至死。这类极端故事，虽可能不宜全信，但至少其确实强调了一项普遍准则 ——象和驯象员之间的关系是驯象成功的关键所在。
第3段
The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years, for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away. But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages. The captive elephant, still roped to a tree, plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear. Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence, and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food. The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment, a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.
捕捉15至20岁之间年龄的大象来驯服最为经济。这个年龄的大象差不多已能干重活，可以立即开始挣饲养费。但这个年龄的大象不易驯服，因此，在开始阶段，需要派上强硬手段。被捕来拴在树上的大象，每当有人走近它时，就会向前猛冲并发出尖叫，以及可能一连几天都由于愤怒和恐惧而拒绝进食。有时，把一头已驯服的大象拴在旁边能给野象以信心。在大多数情况下，刚捕来的野象会慢慢安静下来，开始进食。 下一步就是把大象带到驯服场所，这是一件棘手的事，需要在它两侧拴上两头驯好的大象帮忙才能完成。
第4段
When several elephants are being trained at one time, it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced. It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions. When it is eating normally, its own training begins. The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point. Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side, while others rub their hands over his
同时驯服几头大象，通常把新捕来的大象安置在两头训练已颇有进展的大象的象厩之间。接下来提供充足的食物和水，而完全不要惊扰大象，以便让它能适应新家的氛围，并且看到，让自己担心受怕的事情并没有发生在同伴身上。正常进食后，就可以开始它的驯服了。驯象员手持一根带有锋利金属尖头的长棍，站在大象面前。 两位助手骑在已驯服的大象的背上，从两侧控制新捕的象，
第5段
skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant. This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, such as "ho! My son", or "ho! my father", or "my mother", according to the age and sex of the captive. The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions. These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick, and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.
其他人哼着单调而慰藉的曲调，用手抚摸大象的皮肤。据说这是为了使大象产生愉快的感觉。为了加强这种效果，人们还按大象的年龄和性别，给以亲切的外号，如 “嗬！我的孩子”、 “嗬！我的爸爸”或 “我的妈妈”。然而，大象不会立刻被这些好话感动，而往往将鼻子朝四面八方猛甩。这些举动都由驯象员拿着带锋利金属尖头的长棍所控制，最终，象鼻疼得卷了起来，往后，大象就几乎不用鼻子进攻了。
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译文与解析据吴应时整理资料及本站首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第178—183页，2022年2月第2版。