歌词
Lesson 41
第41课
Training elephants
训练大象
At what point does the training of a captive wild elephant begin?
捕获的野生大象的训练从什么时候开始？
Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle.
训象有两种主要的方法，我们分别称之为强硬法和温柔法。
The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him.
强硬法就是驱使大象去干活，把它打到顺从为止。
Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training,
且不说道义问题，这本身就是一种愚蠢的训练方法，
for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer.
因为这种方法会使动物反感，在以后的某个时期可能会变成伤害人的动物。
The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages,
温柔法要求在最初阶段保持较大的耐心，
but produce a cheerful good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.
但这种方法可以训练出性情愉快、脾气温顺、能忠实为人服务多年的大象。
The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job.
训象中最为重要的事情是指派一名专门的训象员，全面负责这项工作。
Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection.
大象和狗一样，喜欢有一个专一的主人，而且会对主人产生相当深厚的私人感情。
There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death
甚至有这样的故事：
when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.
训练了一半的小象，由于不可避免的情况与他们的主人分离后，竟拒绝吃食，消瘦致死。
Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt,
这种极端的事例虽然不可全信，
but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.
但强调了一项基本原则，象和训象员之间的关系是训象成功与否的关键。
The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between 15 and 20 years,
捕捉15至20岁之间年龄的大象进行训练最为经济，
for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away.
因为这个年龄的象差不多已经能够干重活，可以很快挣回饲养它的开支。
But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages.
但这个年龄的象不易驯服，因此开始阶段需要一位强有力的老手。
The captive elephant, still roped to a tree,
补来的拴在树上的大象，
plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear.
每当有人走近它时，就会向前猛冲并发出尖叫，甚至一连几天都由于愤怒和恐惧而拒绝进食。
Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence,
有时，把一头已经驯服的象拴在旁边能给野象以信心，
and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food.
在大多数情况下，刚捕来的象会慢慢静下来，接着开始吃食。
The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment,
下一步就是把象带到训练场所，
a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.
这是一件棘手的事情，需要在它的两侧拴上两头驯服的大象帮忙才能完成。
When several elephants are being trained at one time,
几只大象同时训练时，
it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.
通常是把新到的安置在两头训练得很好的大象的象厩中间。
It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water
然后给它以充足的食物和水，一定不要惊扰它，
so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions.
以便让它能适应新居的气氛，并且看到自己的同伴身上没有发生让自己担惊受怕的事。
When it is eating normally, its own training begins.
当它进食正常了，训练就开始了。
The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point.
训练员手持一根有锋利的金属尖头的长棒，站在象前。
Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side,
两位助手骑在驯服的象的背上，从两侧控制新捕的象，
while others rub their hands over his skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant.
其他人唱着单调的歌曲用手抚摸象的皮肤。
This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant,
据说这是为了使象产生愉悦的感觉，
and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets,
为了加强这种效果，人们还按照象的年龄性别，给以亲切的外号，
such as 'ho! my son', or 'ho! my father', or 'my mother', according to the age and *** of the captive.
如“呵!我的孩子”、“呵！我的爸爸”、“呵！我的妈妈”。
The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions.
然而大象不会立刻被这些讨好的话感动，而往往是用鼻子朝各个方向猛烈地甩动。
These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick,
训练员要用有锋利金属尖的长棒控制象的这种举动，
and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.
象鼻子最后疼得卷了起来，以后它就很少用鼻子去进攻了。
专辑信息