手機版
Chester was my window on the mysterious bond between canines and humans.
譯者點評：puluotaigelashuo，renleishengguodongwu，quanshidaode。rushi，daodejiuchenglehengliangrenyudongwudeyibachizi。qishi，renyudongwuzhijiandeguanxibujinjinnengfanyingrendedaodeguan，yefanyingdongwudedaodeguan。rengouzhijianyurenmaozhijiansuofanyingdejiushiliangzhongbutongdedongwudedaodeguan：忠誠與奸詐。這決定了人對動物的不同態度：zhongchengbodelechongai，jianzhazaodaoleshuyuan。jieguoyedaozhilegoumaozhijiandepinpinzhanshi。ershishishang，renyuren，renyudongwu，dongwuyudongwu，weibibunenghemuxiangchu：關鍵在於理解和愛。
?The way I see it dogs had this big meeting. Oh maybe 20,000 years ago. A huge meeting—an international convention with delegates from everywhere. And that’s when they decided that humans were the up and coming species and dogs were going to throw their lot in with them. The decision was obviously not unanimous. The wolves and dingoes walked out in protest.
Cats had an even more negative reaction. When they heard the news they called their own meeting—in Paris of course—to denounce canine subservience to the human hyperpower.Their manifesto—La Condition Féline—can still be found in provincial bookstores.?
Cats, it must be said, have not done badly. Using guile and seduction they managed to get humans to feed them thus preserving their superciliousness without going hungry. A neat trick. Dogs being guileless signed and delivered. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
I must admit that I’ve been slow to warm to dogs.I grew up in a non-pet friendly home. Dogs do not figure prominently in Jewish immigrant households. My father was not very high on pets. He wasn’t hostile. He just saw them as superfluous an encumbrance. When the Cossacks are chasing you around Europe you need to travel light.This by the way is why Europe produced far more Jewish violinists than pianists. Try packing a piano.?
My parents did allow a hint of zoological indulgence. I had a pet turtle. My brother had a parakeet. Both came to unfortunate ends. My turtle fell behind a radiator and was not discovered until too late. And the parakeet God bless him flew out a window once never to be seen again. After such displays of stewardship we dared not ask for a dog.
My introduction to the wonder of dogs came from my wife Robyn. She’s Australian. And Australia as lovingly recounted in Bill Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country has the craziest wildest deadliest meanest animals on the planet. In a place where every spider and squid can take you down faster than a sucker punched boxer you cherish niceness in the animal kingdom. And they don’t come nicer than dogs.
Robyn started us off slowly. She got us a Border collie Hugo when our son was about 6. She knew that would appeal to me because the Border collie is the smartest species on the planet. Hugo could 1 play outfield in our backyard baseball games 2 do flawless front door sentry duty and 3 play psychic weatherman announcing with a wail every coming thunderstorm.
When our son Daniel turned 10 he wanted a dog of his own. I was against it using arguments borrowed from seminars on nuclear nonproliferation. It was hopeless. One giant “Please Dad” and I caved completely. Robyn went out to Winchester Virginia found a litter of black Labs and brought home Chester.
Chester is what psychiatrists mean when they talk about unconditional love. Unbridled is more like it. Come into our house?and he was so happy to see you he would knock you over.Deliverymen learned to leave things at the front door.?
In some respects—Ph.D. potential for example—I don’t make any great claims for Chester. When I would arrive home I fully expected to find Hugo reading the newspaper. Not Chester. Chester would try to make his way through a narrow sliding door find himself stuck halfway and then look at me with total and quite genuine puzzlement.I don’t think he ever got to understand that the rear part of him was actually attached to the front.
But it was Chester who dispensed affection as unreflectively as he breathed who got me thinking about this long ago pact between humans and dogs. Cat lovers and the pet averse will just roll their eyes at such dogophilia.I can’t help it. Chester was always at your foot or your hand waiting to be petted and stroked played with and talked to. His beautiful blocky head his wonderful overgrown puppy’s body his baritone bark filled every corner of house and heart.
Then last month at the tender age of 8 he died quite suddenly. The long slobbering slothful decline we had been looking forward to was not to be. When told the news a young friend who was a regular victim of Chester’s lunging lovebombs said mournfully“He was the sweetest creature I ever saw. He’s the only dog I ever saw kiss a cat.”
Some will protest that in a world with so much human suffering it is something between eccentric and obscene to mourn a dog. I think not. After all it is perfectly normal indeed deeply human to be moved when nature presents us with a vision of great beauty. Should we not be moved when it produces a vision—a creature—of the purest sweetness﹖ -
人狗之間:理解才有愛 忠誠一生伴
根據我的觀察，狗開了這次大會。噢，也許是在兩萬年以前開的。那是一次盛大聚會——有各地代表參加的一次國際會議。正是在那次會議上它們做出了決定：人是上進的物種，狗要與他們共命運。這個決定顯然未取得一致見解。狼和野狗憤然離會表示抗議。
貓的反應更消極。它們聽到這個消息後，也召開了會議——當然是在巴黎——痛斥狗屈服於人類強權的懦弱行徑。(它們的聲明——《貓的狀況》——仍然可以在外省書店裏看到。)
必(bi)須(xu)承(cheng)認(ren)，貓(mao)幹(gan)得(de)不(bu)壞(huai)。利(li)用(yong)欺(qi)騙(pian)和(he)誘(you)惑(huo)，它(ta)們(men)設(she)法(fa)讓(rang)人(ren)類(lei)喂(wei)養(yang)它(ta)們(men)，所(suo)以(yi)，既(ji)不(bu)挨(ai)餓(e)又(you)保(bao)持(chi)了(le)目(mu)中(zhong)無(wu)人(ren)的(de)派(pai)頭(tou)。一(yi)個(ge)絕(jue)招(zhao)兒(er)。老(lao)實(shi)厚(hou)道(dao)的(de)狗(gou)簽(qian)署(shu)並(bing)發(fa)表(biao)了(le)那(na)項(xiang)聲(sheng)明(ming)。於(yu)是(shi)開(kai)始(shi)了(le)人(ren)與(yu)狗(gou)的(de)一(yi)段(duan)美(mei)好(hao)友(you)誼(yi)。
我(wo)必(bi)須(xu)承(cheng)認(ren)，我(wo)並(bing)不(bu)是(shi)一(yi)下(xia)子(zi)就(jiu)對(dui)狗(gou)產(chan)生(sheng)好(hao)感(gan)的(de)。我(wo)生(sheng)長(chang)在(zai)一(yi)個(ge)不(bu)喜(xi)歡(huan)寵(chong)物(wu)的(de)家(jia)庭(ting)裏(li)。在(zai)猶(you)太(tai)移(yi)民(min)的(de)家(jia)庭(ting)裏(li)，狗(gou)不(bu)是(shi)最(zui)重(zhong)要(yao)的(de)。父(fu)親(qin)對(dui)寵(chong)物(wu)不(bu)感(gan)興(xing)趣(qu)。他(ta)不(bu)是(shi)恨(hen)寵(chong)物(wu)，隻(zhi)是(shi)認(ren)為(wei)寵(chong)物(wu)是(shi)多(duo)餘(yu)的(de)，是(shi)累(lei)贅(zhui)。當(dang)哥(ge)薩(sa)克(ke)人(ren)追(zhui)著(zhe)你(ni)滿(man)歐(ou)洲(zhou)跑(pao)的(de)時(shi)候(hou)，你(ni)需(xu)要(yao)輕(qing)裝(zhuang)上(shang)路(lu)。(順便說一句，歐洲猶太人小提琴家之所以大大多於猶太人鋼琴家，原因就在這裏。不信你就打包一架鋼琴試試。)
wofumuqueshiqianjiuguowomenyangchongwu。woyangguoyizhigui，didiyangguoyizhichangweiyingwu。lianggedejiejudouhenbuxing。wodeguidiaodaoyigesanreqidehoumian，faxianshiyijingmeijiule。ernazhiyingwu，yuanshangdibaoyouta，youyicifeichuchuangwai，jiuzaiyemeijiandaoyinger。zaibiaoxianchurucizaogaodeguanlizhihou，womenhainagantiyanggoudeshier。
是我的妻子羅賓使我開始了解到狗的神奇的。她是澳大利亞人。而澳大利亞，正如比爾·布賴森在《太陽燒焦的鄉村》中所熱情洋溢地歌頌的那樣，擁有這個星球上最狂的、最野的、最凶的、最(zui)醜(chou)的(de)動(dong)物(wu)。每(mei)一(yi)隻(zhi)蜘(zhi)蛛(zhu)，每(mei)一(yi)條(tiao)烏(wu)賊(zei)，都(dou)能(neng)比(bi)又(you)快(kuai)又(you)猛(meng)的(de)拳(quan)擊(ji)手(shou)還(hai)快(kuai)地(di)打(da)倒(dao)你(ni)，在(zai)這(zhe)樣(yang)一(yi)個(ge)地(di)方(fang)，你(ni)所(suo)珍(zhen)重(zhong)的(de)是(shi)動(dong)物(wu)王(wang)國(guo)裏(li)的(de)文(wen)雅(ya)。而(er)那(na)些(xie)動(dong)物(wu)都(dou)不(bu)如(ru)狗(gou)文(wen)雅(ya)。
羅賓帶我們慢慢地起步。兒子6歲(sui)時(shi)，她(ta)給(gei)我(wo)們(men)弄(nong)了(le)一(yi)隻(zhi)博(bo)德(de)牧(mu)羊(yang)犬(quan)，叫(jiao)雨(yu)果(guo)。她(ta)知(zhi)道(dao)我(wo)會(hui)喜(xi)歡(huan)它(ta)，因(yin)為(wei)博(bo)德(de)牧(mu)羊(yang)犬(quan)是(shi)這(zhe)個(ge)星(xing)球(qiu)上(shang)最(zui)聰(cong)明(ming)的(de)狗(gou)。第(di)一(yi)，雨(yu)果(guo)能(neng)在(zai)我(wo)們(men)打(da)後(hou)院(yuan)壘(lei)球(qiu)遊(you)戲(xi)時(shi)打(da)外(wai)場(chang)；第二，無可挑剔地在前門把守；第三，它是通靈氣象員，每當雷暴到來之前它都會長吠一聲。
當我們的兒子丹尼爾10歲時，他想自己養條狗。我不同意，借用防核擴散研討會上的論點來反對。但不奏效。隻一聲偉大的“求求你了，爸爸”，我就徹底屈服了。羅賓去了趟弗吉尼亞的溫切斯特，發現了一窩黑色的拉布拉多小狗，於是，把切斯特帶回了家。
切斯特就是精神病學家所說的那種無條件的愛。更確切地說是毫無顧忌。有誰一走進家門，它那麼高興地見到你，會把你撞倒。(送貨人都學會了把東西放在我們門口。)
在某些方麵——如博士學位什麼的——我(wo)對(dui)切(qie)斯(si)特(te)並(bing)不(bu)抱(bao)什(shen)麼(me)太(tai)大(da)的(de)奢(she)望(wang)。一(yi)到(dao)家(jia)，我(wo)總(zong)能(neng)看(kan)到(dao)雨(yu)果(guo)在(zai)讀(du)報(bao)紙(zhi)。但(dan)不(bu)是(shi)切(qie)斯(si)特(te)。切(qie)斯(si)特(te)會(hui)使(shi)勁(jin)擠(ji)進(jin)一(yi)個(ge)很(hen)窄(zhai)的(de)拉(la)門(men)，半(ban)身(shen)卡(ka)在(zai)了(le)那(na)裏(li)，然(ran)後(hou)用(yong)毫(hao)不(bu)摻(chan)假(jia)的(de)迷(mi)茫(mang)眼(yan)神(shen)看(kan)著(zhe)我(wo)。我(wo)認(ren)為(wei)它(ta)從(cong)來(lai)不(bu)明(ming)白(bai)它(ta)的(de)後(hou)半(ban)截(jie)身(shen)子(zi)實(shi)際(ji)上(shang)是(shi)和(he)前(qian)半(ban)截(jie)連(lian)在(zai)一(yi)起(qi)的(de)。
但dan正zheng是shi切qie斯si特te像xiang呼hu吸xi一yi樣yang不bu假jia思si索suo地di施shi愛ai與yu人ren，正zheng是shi它ta讓rang我wo想xiang起qi了le這zhe個ge很hen久jiu以yi前qian就jiu已yi訂ding立li了le的de人ren犬quan之zhi間jian的de契qi約yue。愛ai貓mao者zhe和he厭yan惡e寵chong物wu者zhe對dui這zhe種zhong親qin狗gou症zheng隻zhi能neng翻fan翻fan白bai眼yan而er已yi。可ke我wo沒mei有you辦ban法fa。切qie斯si特te不bu是shi在zai你ni的de腳jiao下xia，就jiu是shi在zai你ni的de手shou邊bian，等deng著zhe拍pai打da撫fu摩mo，與yu它ta玩wan耍shua或huo與yu它ta說shuo話hua。它ta那na顆ke漂piao亮liang斑ban駁bo的de腦nao袋dai，那na奇qi妙miao肥fei大da的de身shen段duan，那na男nan中zhong音yin式shi的de狗gou吠fei，遍bian及ji房fang間jian和he心xin窩wo的de各ge個ge角jiao落luo。
而上個月，在剛剛8歲這幼小的年齡，它就突然死去了。我們曾經預料的那漫長的、流著口水的、懶散的衰老過程不會再有了。經常受切斯特發自肺腑的愛彈襲擊的一個年輕朋友在聽到它的死訊時悲傷地說，“它是我見過的最可愛的動物。它是我見過的惟一一隻吻貓的狗。”
有(you)些(xie)人(ren)會(hui)反(fan)駁(bo)說(shuo)，在(zai)一(yi)個(ge)充(chong)滿(man)了(le)人(ren)類(lei)痛(tong)苦(ku)的(de)世(shi)界(jie)上(shang)，為(wei)一(yi)隻(zhi)狗(gou)悲(bei)傷(shang)，是(shi)近(jin)乎(hu)怪(guai)癖(pi)或(huo)可(ke)憎(zeng)的(de)表(biao)現(xian)。我(wo)以(yi)為(wei)不(bu)然(ran)。畢(bi)竟(jing)，深(shen)為(wei)自(zi)然(ran)界(jie)呈(cheng)現(xian)給(gei)我(wo)們(men)的(de)偉(wei)大(da)美(mei)景(jing)而(er)感(gan)動(dong)完(wan)全(quan)是(shi)正(zheng)常(chang)的(de)、具有深刻人性的事。當它向我們呈現一個最可愛的景象——一個動物時，我們不應該為之所動嗎？
