動(dòng)物農(nóng)場Animal Farm 第2章(3)

Their most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover.

他們最忠實(shí)的追隨者是那兩匹套貨車的馬，鮑克瑟和克拉弗。

These two had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves, but having once accepted the pigs as their teachers,

對他們倆來說，靠自己想通任何問題都很困難。而一旦把豬認(rèn)作他們的導(dǎo)師，

they absorbed everything that they were told, and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments.

他們便吸取了豬教給他們的一切東西，還通過一些簡單的討論把這些道理傳授給其他的動(dòng)物。

They were unfailing in their attendance at the secret meetings in the barn, and led the singing of 'Beasts of England', with which the meetings always ended.

大谷倉中的秘密會(huì)議，他們也從不缺席。每當(dāng)會(huì)議結(jié)束要唱那首“英格蘭獸”時(shí)，也由他們帶頭唱起。

Now, as it turned out, the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected.

這一陣子，就結(jié)果而言，造反之事比任何一個(gè)動(dòng)物所預(yù)期的都要來得更早也更順利。

In past years Mr. Jones, although a hard master, had been a capable farmer, but of late he had fallen on evil days.

在過去數(shù)年間，瓊斯先生盡管是個(gè)冷酷的主人，但不失為一位能干的莊園主，可是近來，他實(shí)在走背運(yùn)。

He had become much disheartened after losing money in a lawsuit, and had taken to drinking more than was good for him.

他打官司中賠了錢，也因此更沮喪沉淪，于是拼命地喝酒。

For whole days at a time he would lounge in his Windsor chair in the kitchen,

有一陣子，他整日呆在廚房里，懶洋洋地坐在他的溫莎椅上，

reading the newspapers, drinking, and occasionally feeding Moses on crusts of bread soaked in beer.

翻看著報(bào)紙，喝著酒，偶爾把干面包片在啤酒里沾一下喂給摩西。

His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the animals were underfed.

他的伙計(jì)們也無所事事，這不守職。田地里長滿了野草，窩棚頂棚也漏了，樹籬無人照管，動(dòng)物們饑腸轆轆。

June came and the hay was almost ready for cutting.

六月，眼看到了收割牧草的時(shí)節(jié)。

On Midsummer's Eve, which was a Saturday, Mr. Jones went into Willingdon and got so drunk at the Red Lion that he did not come back till midday on Sunday.

在仲夏傍晚，那一天是星期六，瓊斯先生去了威靈頓，在雷德蘭喝了個(gè)爛醉，直到第二天，也就是星期天的正午時(shí)分才趕回來。

The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting, without bothering to feed the animals.

他的伙計(jì)們一大早擠完牛奶，就跑出去打兔子了，沒有操心給動(dòng)物添加草料。

When Mr. Jones got back he immediately went to sleep on the drawing-room sofa with the News of the World over his face, so that when evening came, the animals were still unfed.

而瓊斯先生一回來，就在客廳里拿了一張《世界新聞》報(bào)蓋在臉上，在沙發(fā)上睡著了。所以一直到晚上，動(dòng)物們還沒有給喂過。

At last they could stand it no longer.

他們終于忍受不住了。

One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins.

有一頭母牛用角撞開了貯藏棚的門，于是，所有的動(dòng)物一擁而上，自顧自地從飼料箱里搶東西。