介绍:
[12] I was witness to events of a less peaceful character. One day when I went out to my wood-pile, or rather my pile of stumps, I observed two large ants, the one red, the other much larger, nearly half an inch long, and black, fiercely contending with one another. Having once got hold they never let go, but struggled and wrestled and rolled on the chips incessantly. Looking farther[ˈfɑːðə], I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants, that it was not a duellum, but a bellum[b'eləm], a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black. The legions of these Myrmidons[ˈmɜːmɪdəns] covered all the hills and vales in my wood-yard, and the ground was already strewn with the dead and dying, both red and black. It was the only battle which I have ever witnessed, the only battle-field I ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine[ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn] 血腥的war; the red republicans on the one hand, and the black imperialists on the other. On every side they were engaged in deadly combat[ˈkɒmbæt], yet without any noise that I could hear, and human soldiers never fought so resolutely. I watched a couple that were fast locked in each other's embraces, in a little sunny valley amid the chips, now at noonday prepared to fight till the sun went down, or life went out. The smaller red champion had fastened himself like a vice to his adversary's front, and through all the tumblings on that field never for an instant ceased to gnaw[nɔː] at one of his feelers near the root, having already caused the other to go by the board; while the stronger black one/ dashed him from side to side, and, as I saw on looking nearer, had already divested[daɪ'vest] him of several of his members. They fought with more pertinacity[ˌpɜːtɪˈnæsɪtɪ] than bulldogs. Neither manifested the least disposition to retreat. It was evident that their battle-cry was "Conquer or die." In the meanwhile there came along a single red ant on the hillside of this valley, evidently full of excitement, who either['aɪðə(r)] had despatched his foe, or had not yet taken part in the battle; probably the latter, for he had lost none of his limbs[lɪms]; whose mother had charged him to return with his shield[ʃiːld] or upon it. Or perchance he was some Achilles[əˈkɪliːz], who had nourished his wrath apart, and had now come to avenge or rescue his Patroclus. He saw this unequal combat from afar - for the blacks were nearly twice the size of the red - he drew near with rapid pace[peɪs] till be stood on his guard within half an inch of the combatants[ˈkɒmbətnts]; then, watching his opportunity, he sprang upon the black warrior, and commenced his operations near the root of his right fore leg, leaving the foe to select among his own members; and so there were three united for life, as if a new kind of attraction had been invented which put all other locks and cements to shame.
我还目睹了一些不太平和的事件。一天我去光顾我的林木堆，还不如说是树桩垛[duò]，我观察了两只大蚂蚁，一只是红色的，另一只更大的多，几乎有半英寸长，是黑色的，它们凶暴地在互相打斗。一旦抱紧了就不松手，就只是挣扎、摔跤和在木片上不停地滚来滚去。往更远点望去，我惊奇地发现木片上布满了这些斗士，这不是一场角jué斗，是一场战斗。发生在两个蚁族之间的一场战争。总是红蚂蚁在对抗着黑蚂蚁，而且经常是两只对一只。这些密耳弥冬人的军团覆盖了我林场的所有山包和山谷，而且地面已散落着死尸和濒死的蚂蚁，红的黑的都有。这是我有生目睹的仅有一场战斗，也是大战方酣hān我唯一步入的一个战场；两败俱伤的战争；红色的***兵一方，黑色的帝国士兵站在另一方。不管是哪一方都投入致死的搏斗，而且悄无声息，人类的士兵从未打得这样决绝。我观察到一对儿把彼此抱得牢牢，在一个阳光明媚的小山谷那些木片里，现在是正午，准备打到太阳西下，或生命的尽头。那红色的胜方已像一只老虎钳子牢牢钳住对手的面门，通过在那田野所有的缠斗，一刻都不停止去从根部咬他的一根触须，已经把对方逼过了那木板，而更强壮的一只黑色的正身体对着对方身体猛撞，而我，就近一些看，发现红蚂蚁已经失去了几个战友。他们打得比牛头犬更凶狠。双方都没有一点撤退的迹象。很明显他们的战斗口号是“胜利或死亡。” 这时，那里独独来了一只红蚂蚁，出现在这条山谷的山脊。很显然高度兴奋，不是刚吃下了他的仇敌，就是还没投入这战场；可能属于后者因为他还四肢完好；他的母亲命令他还回他的盔甲或领走它。或者偶尔他是某个阿克琉斯，远远地在培养自己的愤怒，现在来复仇或拯救他的帕特里奥克洛斯。他远远看到这非同寻常的战斗——因为黑蚂蚁几乎是红蚂蚁个头的两个——他急急地赶来直到和斗士们仅半英寸警觉地站着；然后，瞅准机会，他一跃而上了黑斗士，一口咬住了那斗士的右前腿根儿，留下仇敌去选自己对付的对手；于是这里就有三个联手来求生，似乎发明出一种新的形式让所有其他的紧抱和胶着蒙羞。这次我不会感到惊讶，发现他们有他们令人肃然起敬的军乐班子在某个著名的木片，在一刻不停地高奏他们的国歌，去鼓舞迟缓和喝彩濒死的勇士。
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