动物农场Animal Farm 第8章(10)

They limped into the yard.

他们一瘸一拐地走进大院。

The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully.

鲍克瑟腿皮下的子弹使他疼痛难忍。

He saw ahead of him the heavy labor of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations, and already in imagination he braced himself for the task.

他知道，摆在他面前的工作，将是一项从地基开始再建风车的沉重劳动，他还想像他自己已经为这项任务振作了起来。

But for the first time it occurred to him that he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been.

但是，他第一次想到，他已十一岁了。他那强壮的肌体也许是今非昔比了。

But when the animals saw the green flag flying, and heard the gun firing again--seven times it was fired in all--

但当动物们看到那面绿旗在飘扬，听到再次鸣枪--共响了七下，

and heard the speech that Napoleon made, congratulating them on their conduct, it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory.

听到拿破仑的讲话，听到他对他们的行动的祝贺，他们似乎觉得，归根到底，他们取得了巨大的胜利。

The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral.

大家为在战斗中死难的动物安排了一个隆重的葬礼。

Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse, and Napoleon himself walked at the head of the procession.

鲍克瑟和克拉弗拉着灵车，拿破仑亲自走在队列的前头。

Two whole days were given over to celebrations.

整整两天用来举行庆祝活动。

There were songs, speeches, and more firing of the gun, and a special gift of an apple wasbestowed on every animal,

有唱歌，有演讲，还少不了鸣枪，每一个牲口都得了一只作为特殊纪念物的苹果，

with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog.

每只家禽得到了二盎司谷子，每条狗有三块饼干。

It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill, and that Napoleon had created a new decoration,

有通知说，这场战斗将命名为风车战役，拿破仑还设立了一个新勋章"绿旗勋章"，

the Order of the Green Banner, which he had conferred upon himself.

并授予了他自己。

In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten.

在这一片欢天喜地之中，那个不幸的钞票事件也就被忘掉了。

It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of thefarmhouse.

庆祝活动过后几天，猪偶然在庄主院的地下室里，发现了一箱威士忌。

It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied.

这在他们刚住进这里时没注意到。

That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing, in which, to everyone's surprise, the strains of 'Beasts of England' were mixed up.

当天晚上，从庄主院那边传出一阵响亮的歌声，令动物们惊奇的是，中间还夹杂着"英格兰兽"的旋律。

At about half past nine Napoleon, wearing an old bowler hat of Mr. Jones's, was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door, gallop rapidly round the yard, and disappear indoors again.

大约在九点半左右，只见拿破仑戴着一顶琼斯先生的旧圆顶礼帽，从后门出来，在院子里飞快地跑了一圈，又闪进门不见了。

But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse.

但在第二天早晨，庄主院内却是一片沉寂。

Not a pig appeared to be stirring.

看不到一头猪走动。

It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance, walking slowly and dejectedly, his eyes dull,

快到九点钟时，斯奎拉出来了，迟缓而沮丧地走着，目光呆滞，

his tail hanging limply behind him, and with every appearance of being seriously ill.

尾巴无力地掉在身后，浑身上下病怏怏的。

He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart.

他把动物们叫到一起，说还要传达一个沉痛的消息。

Comrade Napoleon was dying!

拿破仑同志病危!