美国语文第四册 第132期：大象（01）
The elephant is the largest of quadrupeds;
大象是四蹄动物当中最大的；
his height is from eight to fourteen feet, and his length, from ten to fifteen feet.
高八到十四英尺，长十到十五英尺。
His form is that of a hog; his eyes are small and lively; his ears are long, broad and pendulous.
大象的外形有点像猪；眼睛小而生动；耳朵又长又宽，向下耷拉着。
He has two large tusks, which form the ivory of commerce, and a trunk, or proboscis, at the end of the nose, which he uses to take his food with, and for attack or defense.
它有两颗大牙，因此形成了象牙贸易，大象用长鼻取得食物、攻击和防卫。
His color is a dark ash-brown.
大象的牙是深灰褐色的。
Elephants often assemble in large troops; and, as they march in search of food, the forests seem to tremble under them.
大象经常成群聚集在一起；大象觅食走过时，似乎把森林踩在脚下。
They eat the branches of trees, together with roots, herbs, leaves, grain, and fruit, but will not touch fish nor flesh.
大象吃树枝、草根、草药、树叶、谷物和水果，但从不吃鱼和肉。
In a state of nature, they are peaceable, mild, and brave; exerting their power only for their own protection or in defense of their own species.
大象爱好和平，性格温和而勇敢；敢；只有保护自己或族群时才施展自己的威力。
Elephants are found both in Asia and Africa, but they are of different species, the Asiatic elephant having five toes, and the African, three.
尽管在亚洲和非洲都有大象，但是它们的种类不同，亚洲象有五个趾头，非洲象只有三个趾头。
These animals are caught by stratagem, and, when tamed, they are the most gentle, obedient, and patient, as well as the most docile and sagacious of all quadrupeds.
捕捉大象需要施展些手段才行，可是驯服后，大象是最温和、最顺从、最有耐心的动物，也是四蹄动物中最聪明的。
They are used to carry burdens, and for traveling.
大象被用来驮重物和骑行。
Their attachment to their masters is remarkable; and they seem to live but to serve and obey them.
大象对主人感情很深，它们的生活似乎就是为主人服务。
They always kneel to receive their riders or the loads they have to carry.
它们总是跪着让主人骑上去，或者等人们把货物放到身上。
The anecdotes illustrating the character of the elephant are numerous.
很多故事都描绘了大象的性格。
An elephant which was kept for exhibition at London, was often required, as is usual in such exhibitions, to pick up with his trunk a piece of money thrown upon the floor for this purpose.
在伦敦展览的一只大象常常被要求用长鼻拾起扔在地上的钱币，就像展览中经常做的那样。
On one occasion a sixpence was thrown, which happened to roll a little out of his reach, not far from the wall.
有一次，一枚六便士的硬币被扔到地上后，碰巧滚到离墙很近的一个地方。
Being desired to pick it up, he stretched out his proboscis several times to reach it; failing in this, he stood motionless a few seconds, evidently considering how to act.
大象的长鼻伸出去几次都够不到，大象一动不动站了几分钟，显然在考虑该怎么办。
