這個優(yōu)越性太顯著了,它足以使許多不足之處顯得不足為道。
And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labor.
另外,動物們干活的方式,在許多情況下,不但效率高而且省力。
Such jobs as weeding, for instance, could be done with a thoroughness impossible to human beings.
比如鋤草這類活,動物們可以干得完美無缺,而對人來說,這一點(diǎn)遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)做不到。
And again, since no animal now stole, it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arableland, which saved a lot of labor on the upkeep of hedges and gates.
再說,如今的動物們都不偷不摸了,也就不必用籬笆把牧場和田地隔開,因此便省去了大量的維護(hù)樹籬和柵欄的勞力。
Nevertheless, as the summer wore on, various unforeseen shortages began to make them selves felt.
話雖如此,過了夏季,各種各樣意料不到的缺欠就暴露出來了。
There was need of paraffin oil, nails, string, dog biscuits, and iron for the horses' shoes, none of which could be produced on the farm.
莊園里需要煤油、釘子、線繩、狗食餅干以及馬蹄上釘?shù)蔫F掌等等,但莊園里又不出產(chǎn)這些東西。
Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures, besides various tools and, finally, the machinery for the windmill.
后來,又需要種子和人造化肥,還有各類工具以及風(fēng)車用的機(jī)裓。
How these were to be procured, no one was able to imagine.
可是,如何搞到這些東西,動物們就都想像不出了。
One Sunday morning, when the animals assembled to receive their orders, Napoleon announced that he had decided upon a new policy.
一個星期天早晨,當(dāng)動物們集合起來接受任務(wù)時,拿破侖宣布,他已經(jīng)決定了一項新政策。
From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighboring farms:
說是往后動物莊園將要同鄰近的莊園做些交易,
not, of course, for any commercial purpose, but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary.
這當(dāng)然不是為了任何商業(yè)目的,而是僅僅為了獲得某些急需的物資。
The needs of the windmill must override everything else, he said.
他說,為風(fēng)車所需要的東西一定要不惜一切代價。
He was therefore making arrangements to sell a stack of hay and part of the current year's wheat crop.
因此,他正在準(zhǔn)備出賣一堆干草和和當(dāng)年的部分小麥?zhǔn)粘伞?/p>
And later on, if more money were needed, it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs, for which there was always a market in Willingdon.
再往后如果需要更多的錢的話,就得靠賣雞蛋來補(bǔ)充了,因為雞蛋在威靈頓總是有銷路的。
The hens, said Napoleon, should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill.
拿破侖還說,雞應(yīng)該高興地看到,這一犧牲就是他們對建造風(fēng)車的特殊貢獻(xiàn)。