Daniel Pimentel Dec 15, 2016:

@Douglas Fiquei a pensar sobre o termo e nos movimentos realizados por um praticante de hípica e, como se trata de uma metáfora, acredito que o freio pode ser tanto a parte da rédea que fica dentro da boca do cavalo ou as próprias patas do cavalo (funcionando parecidas com âncoras), e as escoltas seriam as mãos da pessoa que seguram as rédeas. Enfim, não vejo prejuízo na tradução literal.

Mario Freitas Dec 14, 2016:

Ok... Maybe it's only a comparison indeed. In that case, it would be something like "a horse with anchors as bridles and sheets as lead ropes".

Ana Vozone Dec 14, 2016:

Sheet / Escota http://www.pouchboats.com/pics/rz96/sail_schematic_small.gif

Faz todo o sentido que sejam as "rédeas", uma de cada lado da vela.

As for the remainder of the text: I do not think they are (or anyone is) holding them back. This is a description of a ship, an inanimate beast, that is being compared to other animals: a) birds, because the ship flies, b) snakes, because the ship crawls and does not have feet, c) a horse, because it has reins/bridles on its two sides to keep the ship on the right course, d) a tail as the rudder (could be the tail of any mammal...)... and the rest depends on the wind / heaven (céus) just like men. I think it is a philosophical description, but I do not see anything that gives a sense of imprisonment or harnessing. It is simply a description of a beast that has a bit of the five "géneros de vida sensitiva" (mammals, fish, birds?).

Mario Freitas Dec 14, 2016:

I think there is certainly something holding them back, metaphorically the bridle, and something directing them somewhere, not exactly where they want to go, metaphorically the ropes. Now, what these things are exactly, only the context may tell. Perhaps it is the anchor and the "escotas" indeed. But I don't think it refers to the sheets (by sheets, do you mean the sails?). I think these are actually the guiding ropes/cables (escotas).

Douglas Bissell (asker) Dec 14, 2016:

So it means they have the bit between their teeth holding them back like an anchor and their sheets act as reins?

That would start to at least make a bit of sense :-)

Mario Freitas Dec 14, 2016:

Escoltas And yes, I think Ana is correct. This should be "escotas" not "escoltas". The ropes that pull the sails are called "escotas". Escoltas make no sense in this context.

Mario Freitas Dec 14, 2016:

Metaphores All these phrases are metaphors. Trying to translate these literally will result in an undue translation. However, I think the metaphores in PT may be used in English, since these are not idioms, yet creations of the author. Since he compared the ship with a horse, I belive Doug should do the same.
The specific stretch of the question only means these creatures do not move around at their own will, but are controlled by something or someone else.
So I suggest using "jaws" and "heads", which would be more acceptable in a inanimate thing like a ship than other "too human" parts that cannot be used for objects. The "freio" is part of the briddle, the metal part, which is forced into the horse's jaws to press its tongue and make it stop. The "rédeas" are the nilon ropes, placed around its head to guide it (make it turn).

Ana Vozone Dec 14, 2016:

Talvez faça "algum" sentido. Isto é uma descrição do que é um navio: um ser inanimado, que não tem pés mas voa, cujos travões são as âncoras. Quanto às "escoltas", poderá ser um "typo" e a palavra certa ser "escota", caso se trate de um barco à vela. Uma escota é um cabo com o qual se controla a vela.

Escota: Escota é o termo náutico empregue para designar um cabo usado para trabalhar com uma vela, como por exemplo o cabo fixo à retranca ou ao punho da escota através da qual se controla a abertura da vela em relação ao vento.

Sheet: In sailing, a sheet is a line (rope, cable or chain) used to control the movable corner(s) (clews) of a sail.

Daniel Pimentel Dec 14, 2016:

Tenho que dizer Para mim não faz sentido nem em português... os cavalos não trazem freios nas âncoras e nem rédeas nas escoltas... Na minha opinião essa passagem está muito mal escrita

Daniel Pimentel Dec 14, 2016:

Sugestion They bring their breaks on the anchors and their reins on their escorts (like horses)

Richard Purdom Dec 14, 2016:

just looks like a bunch of poetic nautical terms mixed with a bit of equinology; just guessing, 'they drag the weight of anchors and the reins on patrol like horses'

Ana Vozone Dec 14, 2016:

The tail is the rudder... They slide/crawl like snakes, because they have no feet or wheels.

Ana Vozone Dec 14, 2016:

Anchors are used as brakes (to stop boats). And ships are guided (hence the "rédea", briddle) by other boats (for instance, uma lancha dos pilotos) escorting them till they reach the harbour / mooring place.