🔊 A few days later, when the terror caused by the executions had died down, some of the animals remembered-or thought they remembered-that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs, it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment, and when Benjamin, as usual, said that he refused to meddle in such matters, she fetched Muriel. Muriel read the Commandment for her. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." Somehow or other, the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball.

几天后,处决带来的恐怖气氛逐渐平息,一些动物记起--或者说自以为记起--第六戒律明文规定‘动物不得杀害任何其他动物’。尽管谁也不愿当着猪狗们的面提起此事,但大家总觉得,发生过的杀戮似乎与这条戒律相悖。苜蓿请本杰明把第六戒律念给她听,可本杰明照例推说懒得管这等闲事,她便去找穆丽尔。穆丽尔为她念了戒律。上面写的是:‘动物不得无端杀害任何其他动物。’不知怎的,末尾那两个字竟从大伙儿的记忆中溜走了。但此刻他们明白了,戒律并未受到触犯；因为处死那些与雪球勾结的叛徒,显然是有充分理由的。

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decreed /dɪˈkriːd/

v. (past tense). 颁布法令；命令；判决➕

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meddle /ˈmedl/

v. 干涉,管闲事➕

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violated /ˈvaɪəleɪtɪd/

v. (past participle). 违反,违背；亵渎；侵犯➕

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traitors /ˈtreɪtəz/

n. 叛徒,背叛者➕

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leagued /liːɡd/

v. (past participle). 结成联盟,联合➕

🔊 Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year. To rebuild the windmill, with walls twice as thick as before, and to finish it by the appointed date, together with the regular work of the farm, was a tremendous labour. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food.

这整整一年里,动物们比前一年干得还要辛苦。要重建风车,墙体的厚度必须加倍,还得在指定日期前完工；再加上庄园的日常劳作,工作量着实大得吓人。动物们时常觉得,他们干活的时间比琼斯时代更长,吃的却不见得比那时好。每逢礼拜天早晨,尖嗓子便会用蹄子按着一长条纸,向他们宣读各类食品的产量数字,证明这个增长了百分之二百,那个增长了百分之三百或百分之五百,不一而足。动物们没有理由不相信他,特别是他们已经记不清造反前的生活状况了。尽管如此,有些日子他们还是觉得,宁可少些数字,多些口粮。

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tremendous /trəˈmendəs/

adj. 巨大的,极大的；极好的➕

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disbelieve /ˌdɪsbɪˈliːv/

v. 不相信,怀疑➕

🔊 All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. When he did appear, he was attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke. Even in the farmhouse, it was said, Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. He took his meals alone, with two dogs to wait upon him, and always ate from the Crown Derby dinner service which had been in the glass cupboard in the drawing-room. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday, as well as on the other two anniversaries.

如今所有的命令都通过尖嗓子或别的某头猪来发布。拿破仑本人公开露面的次数,半个月也难得有一次。他若真个现身,不仅前呼后拥跟着那群狗,还有一只黑色小公鸡在他前面开道,扮演类似吹号手的角色,在拿破仑开口前先“喔喔喔”地高叫一声。据说,即便在农舍里,拿破仑也独居一室,不与别的动物同住。他独自用餐,由两条狗伺候着,而且总是使用客厅玻璃橱柜里那套皇冠德比餐具。还宣布说,今后每年逢拿破仑的生日,以及另外两个周年纪念日,都要鸣枪庆贺。

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fortnight /ˈfɔːtnaɪt/

n. 两星期,十四天➕

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retinue /ˈretɪnjuː/

n. （重要人物的）随行人员,扈从➕

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trumpeter /ˈtrʌmpɪtə(r)/

n. 号手；小号吹奏者；宣布者➕

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cock-a-doodle-doo /ˌkɒk ə ˌduːdl ˈduː/

n. 公鸡的啼叫声（拟声词）➕

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inhabited /ɪnˈhæbɪtɪd/

v. (past tense). 居住于,栖居于；占据➕

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anniversaries /ˌænɪˈvɜːsəriz/

n. 周年纪念日（复数）➕

🔊 Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as "Napoleon." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and the pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings' Friend, and the like. In his speeches, Squealer would talk with the tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon's wisdom, the goodness of his heart, and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere, even and especially the unhappy animals who still lived in ignorance and slavery on other farms. It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. You would often hear one hen remark to another, "Under the guidance of our Leader, Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows, enjoying a drink at the pool, would exclaim, "Thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon, how excellent this water tastes!" The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled "Comrade Napoleon", which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:

如今大伙儿再也不能单称‘拿破仑’了。提到他时,必须用正式的称谓‘我们的领袖拿破仑同志’,猪们还喜欢给他杜撰各种头衔,诸如‘全体动物之父’、‘人类克星’、‘羊圈守护神’、‘鸭崽之友’等等。尖嗓子在演讲中,每每说到拿破仑的智慧、他的仁慈心肠,以及他对普天下动物的深挚热爱,尤其是对那些仍在外庄过着愚昧奴役生活的不幸动物的关爱,便会热泪滚滚而下。将每一项成就、每一桩好运都归功于拿破仑,已成惯例。你会常常听见一只母鸡对同伴说:‘在我们领袖拿破仑同志的指引下,我六天内下了五个蛋。’或者两头正在池塘边饮水的母牛会感叹:‘多亏拿破仑同志的领导,这水尝起来多么甘美！’庄园里的普遍情绪,在一首题为‘拿破仑同志’的诗中得到了充分表达,这是小不点的创作,全诗如下:

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formal style /ˈfɔːml staɪl/

n. 正式的风格/方式➕

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Protector /prəˈtektə(r)/

n. 保护者,保卫者➕

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ignorance /ˈɪɡnərəns/

n. 无知,愚昧；不知情➕

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stroke /strəʊk/

n. （幸运或突发事件的）一次,一回➕

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composed /kəmˈpəʊzd/

v. (past participle). 创作（乐曲、诗歌等）；组成；使平静➕

🔊 Friend of the fatherless! Fountain of happiness! Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh, how my soul is on Fire when I gaze at thy Calm and commanding eye, Like the sun in the sky, Comrade Napoleon! Thou art the giver of All that thy creatures love, Full belly twice a day, clean straw to roll upon; Every beast great or small Sleeps at peace in his stall, Thou watchest over all, Comrade Napoleon! Had I a sucking-pig, Ere he had grown as big Even as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin, He should have learned to be Faithful and true to thee, Yes, his first squeak should be "Comrade Napoleon!"

孤儿之友！幸福源泉！
泔水桶的主宰！
啊,当我凝视您那
安详而威严的眸子,
我的心便如火燃烧,
宛如仰望天上的太阳,
拿破仑同志！

您赐予众生
一切所爱之物,
一日两餐饱腹,
身下有洁净的稻草；
所有大小牲畜
都在厩舍里安然入睡,
有您守护一切,
拿破仑同志！

我若有一头乳猪,
不等它长得
有细颈瓶或擀面杖那么大,
它就该学会
对您忠诚不渝,
是的,它第一声啼叫
定是‘拿破仑同志！’

🔊

fatherless /ˈfɑːðələs/

adj. 没有父亲的,丧父的➕

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swill-bucket /ˈswɪl bʌkɪt/

n. 泔水桶,残羹桶➕

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giver /ˈɡɪvə(r)/

n. 给予者,赠予者➕

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sucking-pig /ˈsʌkɪŋ pɪɡ/

n. 乳猪,未断奶的小猪➕

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pint /paɪnt/

n. 品脱（液量单位,约0.568升；在美制中约0.473升）➕

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rolling-pin /ˈrəʊlɪŋ pɪn/

n. 擀面杖➕

🔊 Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn, at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon, in profile, executed by Squealer in white paint.

拿破仑对这首诗很满意,并让人把它刻在大谷仓的墙上,与七戒遥遥相对。诗的上方,是尖嗓子用白漆绘制的拿破仑侧身肖像。

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surmounted /səˈmaʊntɪd/

v. (past participle). 置于...顶上；克服,战胜➕

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profile /ˈprəʊfaɪl/

n. 侧面像；轮廓；简介➕

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executed /ˈeksɪkjuːtɪd/

v. (past participle). 执行,实行；处决；制作（艺术品）➕

🔊 Meanwhile, through the agency of Whymper, Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. The pile of timber was still unsold. Of the two, Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it, but he would not offer a reasonable price. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill, the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that, inspired by Snowball, they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. They were executed immediately, and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. Four dogs guarded his bed at night, one at each corner, and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it, lest it should be poisoned.

与此同时,通过温佩尔的中介,拿破仑正与弗雷德里克和皮尔金顿进行着复杂的谈判。那堆木材仍未售出。两人中,弗雷德里克更急于弄到手,却不愿出合理的价钱。与此同时,又有新的谣言流传,说弗雷德里克和他的人马正密谋袭击动物农场, 并摧毁那架风车--它的兴建已激起他满腔妒火。据说雪球仍潜伏在狭地农场。仲夏时节,动物们惊骇地听说,有三只母鸡站出来坦白,她们受了雪球的煽动,参与了一个谋杀拿破仑的阴谋。她们立刻被处决了,同时为拿破仑的安全采取了新的防范措施:四条狗夜里守卫他的床铺,四角各一；另有一头名叫红眼的小猪,负责在他进食前品尝所有食物,以防下毒。

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agency /ˈeɪdʒənsi/

n. 代理机构；中介；作用➕

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complicated /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/

adj. 复杂的,难懂的➕

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skulking /skʌlkɪŋ/

v. (present participle). 躲藏,潜伏；鬼鬼祟祟地走➕

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precautions /prɪˈkɔːʃnz/

n. 预防措施（复数）➕

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lest /lest/

conj. 唯恐,以免➕

🔊 At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington, though they were only conducted through Whymper, were now almost friendly. The animals distrusted Pilkington, as a human being, but greatly preferred him to Frederick, whom they both feared and hated. As the summer wore on, and the windmill neared completion, the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger. Frederick, it was said, intended to bring against them twenty men all armed with guns, and he had already bribed the magistrates and police, so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. Moreover, terrible stories were leaking out from Pinchfield about the cruelties that Frederick practised upon his animals. He had flogged an old horse to death, he starved his cows, he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace, he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. The animals' blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things being done to their comrades, and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm, drive out the humans, and set the animals free. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy.

大约与此同时,又传出消息说拿破仑已安排将那堆木材卖给皮尔金顿先生；他还打算与狐林农场就某些产品交换达成定期协议。拿破仑与皮尔金顿的关系,虽说仅通过温佩尔往来,如今却几乎称得上友好了。动物们不信任皮尔金顿,因为他毕竟是个人类,但与弗雷德里克相比,他们还是更喜欢皮尔金顿,而对弗雷德里克,他们是既怕又恨。随着夏日渐渐消逝,风车即将竣工,关于一场背信弃义袭击迫在眉睫的谣言也愈传愈盛。据说,弗雷德里克打算率领二十名全副武装的人马前来进犯,而且早已买通了地方法官和警察,只要他一旦弄到动物农场的地契,他们就不会过问。更可怕的是,关于弗雷德里克如何虐待自家动物的骇人故事,正从狭地农场泄露出来。他曾将一匹老马鞭挞致死,他饿着他的奶牛,他把一条狗扔进炉子活活烧死,他晚上寻开心,让公鸡绑着刀片碎片互斗。动物们听到这些施加于他们同类身上的暴行,个个义愤填膺,热血沸腾,有时他们大声疾呼,要求允许他们全体出动去攻打狭地农场,驱逐人类,解放那里的动物。但尖嗓子劝告他们要避免鲁莽行动,相信拿破仑同志的策略。

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impending /ɪmˈpendɪŋ/

adj. 即将发生的,迫近的➕

🔊

treacherous /ˈtretʃərəs/

adj. 背叛的,不忠的；危险的,不可靠的➕

🔊

bribed /braɪbd/

v. (past tense/participle). 贿赂,收买➕

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magistrates /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/

n. 地方法官；治安官（复数）➕

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flogged /flɒɡd/

v. (past tense). 鞭打,抽打➕

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furnace /ˈfɜːnɪs/

n. 熔炉,火炉；极热的地方➕

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spurs /spɜːz/

n. 马刺；刺激物；山嘴（复数）➕

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clamoured /ˈklæməd/

v. (past tense). 大声要求,喧嚷➕

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rash /ræʃ/

adj. 鲁莽的,轻率的➕

🔊 Nevertheless, feeling against Frederick continued to run high. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity, he said, to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood, and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. The wheat crop was full of weeds, and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. The animals now also learned that Snowball had never-as many of them had believed hitherto-received the order of "Animal Hero, First Class." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. So far from being decorated, he had been censured for showing cowardice in the battle. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment, but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault.

尽管如此,对弗雷德里克的憎恶情绪仍然高涨。一个礼拜天早晨,拿破仑出现在谷仓,解释说,他从未在任何时候考虑过将那堆木材卖给弗雷德里克；他说,与那等恶棍打交道,有损他的尊严。那些仍被派出去传播造反消息的鸽子,被禁止在任何狐林农场的地界落脚,还被命令放弃原先‘消灭人类’的口号,改用‘消灭弗雷德里克’。夏末时分,雪球的又一桩阴谋被揭露了。麦田里杂草丛生,结果发现,雪球在某次夜访时,将杂草种子混进了谷种里。一只参与此阴谋的公鹅向尖嗓子坦白了自己的罪行,随即吞食颠茄浆果自杀了。动物们现在也得知,雪球从未--尽管他们中许多人一直如此相信--获得过‘一级动物英雄’的勋章。这不过是在牛棚战役后不久,由雪球本人散布的一个传说。他不但没受过嘉奖,反而因在战斗中表现怯懦而受到谴责。有些动物再次听到这话时,不免感到几分困惑,但尖嗓子很快便让他们相信,是他们的记忆出了差错。

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contemplated /ˈkɒntəmpleɪtɪd/

v. (past tense). 深思,仔细考虑；打算➕

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scoundrels /ˈskaʊndrəlz/

n. 恶棍,无赖（复数）➕

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machinations /ˌmækɪˈneɪʃnz/

n. 阴谋,诡计（复数）➕

🔊

nocturnal /nɒkˈtɜːnl/

adj. 夜间的,夜间活动的➕

🔊

privy /ˈprɪvi/

adj. 知情的,了解内情的（to）➕

🔊

deadly nightshade /ˌdedli ˈnaɪtʃeɪd/

n. 颠茄（一种有毒植物）➕

🔊

censured /ˈsenʃəd/

v. (past participle). 严厉批评,谴责➕

🔊

bewilderment /bɪˈwɪldəmənt/

n. 困惑,迷惘➕

🔊 In the autumn, by a tremendous, exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. The machinery had still to be installed, and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it, but the structure was completed. In the teeth of every difficulty, in spite of inexperience, of primitive implements, of bad luck and of Snowball's treachery, the work had been finished punctually to the very day! Tired out but proud, the animals walked round and round their masterpiece, which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. Moreover, the walls were twice as thick as before. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured, what discouragements they had overcome, and the enormous difference that would be made in their lives when the sails were turning and the dynamos running-when they thought of all this, their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill, uttering cries of triumph. Napoleon himself, attended by his dogs and his cockerel, came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement, and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill.

秋天,经过一番极其劳累艰苦的努力--因为差不多同时还要收割庄稼--风车终于建成了。机器设备尚待安装,温佩尔正在洽谈采购事宜,但主体结构总算完工了。尽管困难重重,经验不足,工具简陋,运气不佳,外加雪球的背叛,工程还是准时在预定之日竣工了！动物们虽已筋疲力尽,却满怀自豪,一遍又一遍地绕着他们的杰作走,在他们眼中,它甚至比第一次建成时还要美丽。而且,墙的厚度是以前的两倍。这一次,除非用炸药,否则休想将它摧毁！当他们想到自己是如何劳作,克服了多少挫折,想到风车转动、发电机运转后他们的生活将发生何等巨大的变化--想到这一切,疲惫便一扫而空,他们绕着风车雀跃欢呼,发出胜利的呐喊。拿破仑亲自在狗群和公鸡的簇拥下,前来视察竣工的工程；他亲自向动物们的成就表示祝贺,并宣布风车将命名为拿破仑磨坊。

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exhausting /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ/

adj. 令人精疲力竭的➕

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primitive /ˈprɪmətɪv/

adj. 原始的,简陋的；最初的➕

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implements /ˈɪmplɪments/

n. 工具,器具（复数）➕

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treachery /ˈtretʃəri/

n. 背叛,背信弃义➕

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punctually /ˈpʌŋktʃuəli/

adv. 准时地,守时地➕

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forsook /fəˈsʊk/

v. (past tense of forsake). 遗弃,抛弃；摒弃➕

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gambolled /ˈɡæmbld/

v. (past tense). 欢蹦乱跳,嬉戏➕

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dynamos /ˈdaɪnəməʊz/

n. 发电机；精力充沛的人（dynamo的复数）➕

🔊 Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. They were struck dumb with surprise when Napoleon announced that he had sold the pile of timber to Frederick. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington, Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick.

两天后,动物们被召集到谷仓参加一次特别会议。当拿破仑宣布他已将那堆木材卖给弗雷德里克时,大伙儿都惊得哑口无言。明天,弗雷德里克的马车就会来把木材运走。在他与皮尔金顿表面友好的整个时期,拿破仑其实一直在暗中和弗雷德里克秘密交易。

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announced /əˈnaʊnst/

v. 宣布➕

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timber /ˈtɪmbər/

n. 木材➕

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wagons /ˈwæɡənz/

n. 货车➕

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Throughout /θruːˈaʊt/

prep. 在整个期间➕

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period /ˈpɪəriəd/

n. 时期➕

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seeming /ˈsiːmɪŋ/

adj. 表面上的➕

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agreement /əˈɡriːmənt/

n. 协议➕

🔊 All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington." At the same time Napoleon assured the animals that the stories of an impending attack on Animal Farm were completely untrue, and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. It now appeared that Snowball was not, after all, hiding on Pinchfield Farm, and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living-in considerable luxury, so it was said-at Foxwood, and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past.

与狐林农场的一切关系都断绝了；侮辱性的口信已送交皮尔金顿。鸽子们接到命令,避开狭地农场,并把口号从‘消灭弗雷德里克’改为‘消灭皮尔金顿’。同时,拿破仑向动物们保证,关于即将袭击动物农场的传闻纯属子虚乌有,关于弗雷德里克虐待自家动物的种种描述也过于夸大其词。所有这些谣言很可能都源于雪球及其党羽。现在看来,雪球毕竟并未藏身于狭地农场,事实上他这辈子从未到过那儿:据说,他正生活在狐林农场,日子相当阔绰,而且多年来一直是皮尔金顿的食客。

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exaggerated /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪtɪd/

v. (past participle). 夸张,夸大➕

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pensioner /ˈpenʃənə(r)/

n. 领养老金者,退休人员➕

🔊 The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon's cunning. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. But the superior quality of Napoleon's mind, said Squealer, was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody, not even Frederick. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque, which, it seemed, was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. But Napoleon was too clever for him. He had demanded payment in real five-pound notes, which were to be handed over before the timber was removed. Already Frederick had paid up; and the sum he had paid was just enough to buy the machinery for the windmill.

猪们对拿破仑的狡猾佩服得五体投地。他佯装与皮尔金顿友好,迫使弗雷德里克将价格抬高了十二英镑。但尖嗓子说,拿破仑头脑的卓越之处,体现在他谁也不信任,连弗雷德里克也不信。弗雷德里克曾想用一张叫作‘支票’的东西来支付木材款,那似乎是一张写有付款承诺的纸片。但拿破仑比他更精明。他要求用真正的五英镑纸币付款,而且必须在木材运走前交清。弗雷德里克已经付清了货款；他所支付的金额,刚好够买风车的机器设备。

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ecstasies /ˈekstəsiz/

n. 狂喜,极度兴奋（复数）➕

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cunning /ˈkʌnɪŋ/

adj. 狡猾的,狡诈的➕

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superior /suːˈpɪəriə(r)/

adj. 更好的,更优的；上级的➕

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cheque /tʃek/

n. 支票➕

🔊 Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. When it was all gone, another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank-notes. Smiling beatifically, and wearing both his decorations, Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform, with the money at his side, neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. The animals filed slowly past, and each gazed his fill. And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes, and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath.

与此同时,木材正被飞速运走。等木材全部运光后,谷仓里又举行了一次特别会议,让动物们参观弗雷德里克的钞票。拿破仑容光焕发地微笑着,佩戴着两枚勋章,安卧在讲台的稻草铺上,钞票就放在他身旁,整整齐齐地摞在从农舍厨房拿来的一只瓷盘里。动物们排着队慢慢走过,个个都看个够。拳击手伸出鼻子想去嗅嗅钞票,那些轻飘飘的白纸片在他的鼻息下微微掀动,沙沙作响。

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beatifically /ˌbiːəˈtɪfɪkli/

adv. 快乐安详地,慈祥地➕

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reposed /rɪˈpəʊzd/

v. (past tense). 躺,休息；安放➕

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filed /faɪld/

v. (past tense). 排成纵队行进；归档➕

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flimsy /ˈflɪmzi/

adj. 轻而薄的；不结实的；不足信的➕

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rustled /ˈrʌsld/

v. (past tense). 发出沙沙声➕

🔊 Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. Whymper, his face deadly pale, came racing up the path on his bicycle, flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. The bank-notes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing!

三天后,庄园里发生了一阵可怕的骚动。温佩尔脸色惨白,骑着自行车沿小路飞奔而来,在院子里把车一扔,便径直冲进了农舍。紧接着,从拿破仑的房间里传来一声憋闷的怒吼。出事的消息像野火一样传遍了农场。那些钞票是假的！弗雷德里克白白弄走了木材！

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hullabaloo /ˌhʌləbəˈluː/

n. 喧闹,吵闹；骚动➕

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forgeries /ˈfɔːdʒəriz/

n. 伪造物,赝品（复数）➕

🔊 Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington.

拿破仑立即召集动物们,用可怕的声音宣布了对弗雷德里克的死刑判决。他说,一旦抓住弗雷德里克,就把他活活煮死。同时他警告大家,经过这次背信弃义的行为后,要作好最坏的打算。弗雷德里克和他的人马随时可能发动他们蓄谋已久的袭击。所有的路口都布置了岗哨。此外,还派了四只鸽子去狐林农场,带去和解的信息,希望能与皮尔金顿重建友好关系。

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pronounced /prəˈnaʊnst/

v. 宣布,宣告➕

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conciliatory /kənˈsɪliətəri/

adj. 安抚的,和解的➕

🔊 The very next morning the attack came. The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate. Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. There were fifteen men, with half a dozen guns between them, and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets, and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them, they were soon driven back. A number of them were already wounded. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. The whole of the big pasture, including the windmill, was in the hands of the enemy. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. He paced up and down without a word, his tail rigid and twitching. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won. But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right."

就在第二天早晨,袭击来临了。动物们正在吃早饭,瞭望哨飞奔来报,说弗雷德里克和他的随从已经穿过了五栅门。动物们勇敢地冲出去迎战,但这一次,他们没能像牛棚战役那样轻易取胜。对方有十五个人,带着六七支枪,一进入五十码的射程便开了火。动物们无法面对那可怕的爆炸声和刺人的弹丸,尽管拿破仑和拳击手竭力稳住阵脚,他们还是很快就被击退了。不少动物已经受伤。他们躲进农场的建筑物里,从缝隙和节孔中小心翼翼地向外窥探。整个大牧场,包括风车,都已落入敌手。一时间,连拿破仑似乎也茫然无措了。他一声不吭地来回踱步,尾巴僵直,微微抽搐。大家怀着期盼的目光望向狐林农场的方向。要是皮尔金顿和他的人马来帮忙,这一天或许还能赢回来。但就在这时,前一天派出去的四只鸽子回来了,其中一只带来皮尔金顿写的一张纸条。上面用铅笔潦草地写着:“活该。”

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sallied forth /ˈsæli fɔːrθ/

v. 出击,突然冲出➕

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stinging /ˈstɪŋɪŋ/

adj. 刺痛的,尖刻的➕

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pellets /ˈpelɪts/

n. 小球,弹丸➕

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rally /ˈræli/

v. 集结,重整➕

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chinks /tʃɪŋks/

n. 裂缝,缝隙➕

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knot-holes /ˈnɒt həʊlz/

n. 树节孔➕

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at a loss /æt ə ˈlɒs/

phr. 不知所措,困惑➕

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rigid /ˈrɪdʒɪd/

adj. 僵硬的,严格的➕

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twitching /ˈtwɪtʃɪŋ/

v. 抽搐,抽动➕

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Wistful /ˈwɪstfl/

adj. 渴望的,惆怅的➕

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pencilled /ˈpensld/

v. 用铅笔写或画➕

🔊 Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. The animals watched them, and a murmur of dismay went round. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. They were going to knock the windmill down.

与此同时,弗雷德里克和他的人马已在风车附近停了下来。动物们注视着他们,发出一片沮丧的低语声。有两个人拿出一根撬棍和一把大锤。他们打算把风车砸倒。

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dismay /dɪsˈmeɪ/

n. 沮丧,惊愕➕

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crowbar /ˈkrəʊbɑː(r)/

n. 撬棍➕

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sledge hammer /ˈsledʒ ˌhæmər/

n. 大锤➕

🔊 "Impossible!" cried Napoleon. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. They could not knock it down in a week. Courage, comrades!"

“不可能！”拿破仑叫道。“我们把墙砌得那么厚,他们砸不倒的。他们一星期也砸不倒。鼓起勇气来,同志们！”

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Impossible /ɪmˈpɒsəbl/

adj. 不可能的➕

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Courage /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/

n. 勇气➕

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comrades /ˈkɒmreɪdz/

n. 同志➕

🔊 But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. Slowly, and with an air almost of amusement, Benjamin nodded his long muzzle.

但本杰明正专注地观察着那些人的一举一动。那两个拿着大锤和撬棍的人正在风车底部附近钻孔。本杰明缓缓地点点他那长长的口鼻,脸上几乎带着一种饶有兴味的神情。

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intently /ɪnˈtentli/

adv. 专注地,专心地➕

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drilling /ˈdrɪlɪŋ/

v. 钻孔➕

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muzzle /ˈmʌzl/

n. （动物的）口鼻部➕

🔊 "I thought so," he said. "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole."

“我料到了,”他说。“你们没看见他们在干什么吗？再过一会儿,他们就要往那个洞里填炸药了。”

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blasting powder /ˈblɑːstɪŋ ˈpaʊdə(r)/

n. 炸药,爆破火药➕

🔊 Terrified, the animals waited. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. Then there was a deafening roar. The pigeons swirled into the air, and all the animals, except Napoleon, flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. When they got up again, a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been. Slowly the breeze drifted it away. The windmill had ceased to exist!

动物们惊恐地等待着。现在不可能冒险冲出建筑物的遮蔽了。过了几分钟,只见那些人四散奔逃。接着是一声震耳欲聋的巨响。鸽子们惊飞上天,所有的动物,除了拿破仑,全都趴倒在地,捂住了脸。等他们再爬起来时,只见原先风车矗立的地方,悬着一大团黑烟。微风慢慢将它吹散。风车已经荡然无存了！

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deafening /ˈdefnɪŋ/

adj. 震耳欲聋的➕

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swirled /swɜːld/

v. 旋转,打旋➕

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breeze /briːz/

n. 微风➕

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ceased /siːst/

v. 停止,终止➕

🔊 At this sight the animals' courage returned to them. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile, contemptible act. A mighty cry for vengeance went up, and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. It was a savage, bitter battle. The men fired again and again, and, when the animals got to close quarters, lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. A cow, three sheep, and two geese were killed, and nearly everyone was wounded. Even Napoleon, who was directing operations from the rear, had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. But the men did not go unscathed either. Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard, whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge, suddenly appeared on the men's flank, baying ferociously, panic overtook them. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good, and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field, and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge.

见此情景,动物们的勇气又回来了。片刻前的恐惧和绝望,此刻全被对这卑鄙无耻行径的满腔怒火淹没了。他们发出复仇的怒吼,不等进一步命令,便一齐冲了出去,直扑敌人。这一次,他们不再理会那冰雹般扫来的无情弹丸。这是一场野蛮而惨烈的战斗。人类一次次开火,等动物们冲近身时,他们又挥舞棍棒,猛踢沉重的靴子。一头奶牛、三只绵羊和两只鹅被打死了,几乎个个都挂了彩。就连在后头指挥作战的拿破仑,尾巴尖也被一颗弹丸削去了一块。但人类也并非安然无恙。三个人被拳击手的蹄子踢破了头；另一个被牛角捅穿了肚子；还有一个的裤子几乎被杰西和蓝铃撕掉。而当拿破仑那九条贴身护卫犬--他先前命令他们借着树篱的掩护迂回包抄--突然出现在敌人的侧翼,凶猛地吠叫时,恐慌攫住了他们。他们眼看有被包围的危险。弗雷德里克向手下大喊快撤,转眼间,这帮胆怯的敌人便没命地逃跑了。动物们一直把他们追到田野的尽头,在他们强行穿过荆棘树篱时,又给了他们最后几下踢打。

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contemptible /kənˈtemptəbl/

adj. 可鄙的,卑劣的➕

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vengeance /ˈvendʒəns/

n. 复仇,报仇➕

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heed /hiːd/

v. 注意,留心➕

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savage /ˈsævɪdʒ/

adj. 野蛮的,凶猛的➕

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unscathed /ʌnˈskeɪðd/

adj. 未受伤的,未受损的➕

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gored /ɡɔːrd/

v. （用角）顶伤,刺伤➕

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detour /ˈdiːtʊə(r)/

n. 绕行,迂回路➕

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ferociously /fəˈrəʊʃəsli/

adv. 凶猛地,猛烈地➕

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flank /flæŋk/

n. 侧翼,侧面➕

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for dear life /fɔː dɪə ˈlaɪf/

phr. 拼命地,为保全性命➕

🔊 They had won, but they were weary and bleeding. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. Yes, it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. And in rebuilding it they could not this time, as before, make use of the fallen stones. This time the stones had vanished too. The force of the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. It was as though the windmill had never been.

他们胜利了,但个个疲惫不堪,流着鲜血。他们开始一瘸一拐地慢慢返回农场。看到死去的伙伴们直挺挺地躺在草地上,有些动物不禁流下了眼泪。他们在原先矗立着风车的地方,悲伤地默默伫立了片刻。是的,风车没了；他们劳动的最后一点痕迹几乎全没了！连地基也部分被毁。而重建时,他们再也不能像从前那样利用倒塌的石块了。这一次,连石块也不见了。爆炸的威力把它们抛到了几百码开外。仿佛那座风车从来不曾存在过。

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weary /ˈwɪəri/

adj. 疲倦的,厌倦的➕

🔊

limp /lɪmp/

v. 跛行,一瘸一拐地走➕

🔊 As they approached the farm Squealer, who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting, came skipping towards them, whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. And the animals heard, from the direction of the farm buildings, the solemn booming of a gun.

当他们走近农场时,尖嗓子蹦蹦跳跳地朝他们跑来,他摇着尾巴,满脸得意。谁也不知他在战斗期间为何不见踪影。接着,动物们听见从农舍方向传来一声庄严的炮响。

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unaccountably /ˌʌnəˈkaʊntəbli/

adv. 莫名其妙地,无法解释地➕

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whisking /ˈwɪskɪŋ/

v. 快速摆动,拂➕

🔊

booming /ˈbuːmɪŋ/

adj. 轰鸣的,深沉的（声音）➕

🔊 "What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer.

“那炮为什么开火？”拳击手问。

🔊 "To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer.

“庆祝我们的胜利呀！”尖嗓子叫道。

🔊 "What victory?" said Boxer. His knees were bleeding, he had lost a shoe and split his hoof, and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg.

“什么胜利？”拳击手说。他的膝盖在流血,掉了一只蹄铁,蹄子也裂了,后腿上还嵌着十几颗弹丸。

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lodged /lɒdʒd/

v. 嵌入,卡住➕

🔊 "What victory, comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil-the sacred soil of Animal Farm?"

“什么胜利,同志？我们不是把敌人从我们的土地上--动物农场的神圣土地上--赶跑了吗？”

🔊 "But they have destroyed the windmill. And we had worked on it for two years!"

“可他们把风车毁了。我们为它干了整整两年！”

🔊 "What matter? We will build another windmill. We will build six windmills if we feel like it. You do not appreciate, comrade, the mighty thing that we have done. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. And now-thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon-we have won every inch of it back again!"

“那有什么关系？我们可以另建一座风车。只要我们愿意,建六座都行。同志,你还不明白我们做成了多么了不起的事。敌人曾经占领了我们脚下这块土地。而现在--多亏拿破仑同志的领导--我们把它一寸不落地夺回来了！”

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appreciate /əˈpriːʃieɪt/

v. 欣赏；理解➕

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comrade /ˈkɒmreɪd/

n. 同志➕

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mighty /ˈmaɪti/

adj. 强大的；巨大的➕

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occupation /ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/

n. 占领；职业➕

🔊

leadership /ˈliːdəʃɪp/

n. 领导；领导能力➕

🔊 "Then we have won back what we had before," said Boxer.

“这么说,我们夺回了原先就有的东西,”拳击手说。

🔊 "That is our victory," said Squealer.

“这就是我们的胜利,”尖嗓子说。

🔊

victory /ˈvɪktəri/

n. 胜利➕

🔊 They limped into the yard. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations, and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. 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.

他们一瘸一拐地走进院子。拳击手腿皮下的弹丸灼痛难忍。他看到前面是从头重建风车的沉重劳动,在想象中,他已经为这项任务绷紧了肌肉。但这时他生平第一次想到,自己已经十一岁了,也许他那身壮硕的肌肉已不如从前了。

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limped /lɪmpt/

v. 跛行；蹒跚➕

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smarted /smɑːtɪd/

v. 感到剧痛；刺痛➕

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labour /ˈleɪbə(r)/

n. 劳动；工作➕

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foundations /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/

n. 基础；地基➕

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imagination /ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən/

n. 想象；想象力➕

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braced /breɪst/

v. 支撑；做好准备➕

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occurred /əˈkɜːd/

v. 发生；想到➕

🔊 But when the animals saw the green flag flying, and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-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. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse, and Napoleon himself walked at the head of the procession. Two whole days were given over to celebrations. There were songs, speeches, and more firing of the gun, and a special gift of an apple was bestowed on every animal, with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill, and that Napoleon had created a new decoration, the Order of the Green Banner, which he had conferred upon himself. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the bank-notes was forgotten.

但当动物们看到绿旗飘扬,听见再次鸣响的礼炮--总共响了七下--并聆听了拿破仑赞扬他们行为的演讲后,他们终究觉得自己的确赢得了一场伟大的胜利。阵亡的动物们被举行了庄严的葬礼。拳击手和苜蓿拉着充当灵车的马车,拿破仑亲自走在送葬队伍的最前头。整整两天时间都用于庆祝活动。有歌唱,有演讲,有更多的礼炮鸣响,还给每只动物特别分发了一只苹果,每只鸟两盎司谷粒,每条狗三块饼干。宣布说,这次战役将命名为风车战役,拿破仑还设立了一枚新的勋章--绿旗勋章,并已授予了他自己。在一片普天同庆的欢乐中,钞票那件倒霉事被忘得一干二净。

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slain /sleɪn/

v. 杀死（slay的过去分词）➕

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solemn /ˈsɒləm/

adj. 庄严的；严肃的➕

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funeral /ˈfjuːnərəl/

n. 葬礼➕

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hearse /hɜːs/

n. 灵车➕

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procession /prəˈseʃən/

n. 行列；游行➕

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celebrations /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃənz/

n. 庆祝活动➕

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bestowed /bɪˈstəʊd/

v. 授予；赐予➕

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ounces /ˈaʊnsɪz/

n. 盎司（重量单位）➕

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biscuits /ˈbɪskɪts/

n. 饼干（英式）➕

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decoration /ˌdekəˈreɪʃən/

n. 装饰；勋章➕

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conferred /kənˈfɜːd/

v. 授予；商议➕

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rejoicings /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋz/

n. 欢庆；喜悦➕

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unfortunate /ʌnˈfɔːtʃənət/

adj. 不幸的；遗憾的➕

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affair /əˈfeə(r)/

n. 事件；事务➕

🔊

bank-notes /ˈbæŋk nəʊts/

n. 钞票➕

🔊 It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse. It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. 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. 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. But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance, walking slowly and dejectedly, his eyes dull, his tail hanging limply behind him, and with every appearance of being seriously ill. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. Comrade Napoleon was dying!

几天后,猪们在农舍的地窖里发现了一箱威士忌。当初占领这所房子时没注意到。那天夜里,农舍里传来响亮的歌声,令大伙儿惊讶的是,其中竟混杂着《英格兰的生灵》的旋律。大约九点半时,大家清楚地看见拿破仑戴着琼斯先生的一顶旧圆顶礼帽,从后门出来,在院子里急速地奔跑了一圈,又消失在屋内了。但到了早晨,农舍里一片死寂。没有一头猪露面走动。将近九点钟时,尖嗓子才出现,脚步缓慢,神情沮丧,目光呆滞,尾巴无力地耷拉在身后,浑身上下都显得病得很重。他把动物们召集起来,说有件可怕的事要宣布。拿破仑同志生命垂危了！

🔊

whisky /ˈwɪski/

n. 威士忌酒➕

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cellars /ˈseləz/

n. 地窖；酒窖➕

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overlooked /ˌəʊvəˈlʊkt/

v. 忽视；俯瞰➕

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strains /streɪnz/

n. 曲调；压力➕

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bowler hat /ˈbəʊlə hæt/

n. 圆顶硬礼帽➕

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distinctly /dɪˈstɪŋktli/

adv. 明显地；清晰地➕

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emerge /iˈmɜːdʒ/

v. 出现；浮现➕

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gallop /ˈɡæləp/

v. 飞奔；疾驰➕

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dejectedly /dɪˈdʒektɪdli/

adv. 沮丧地；灰心地➕

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limply /ˈlɪmpli/

adv. 无力地；松驰地➕

🔊

impart /ɪmˈpɑːt/

v. 告知；传授➕

🔊 A cry of lamentation went up. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse, and the animals walked on tiptoe. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. At eleven o'clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. As his last act upon earth, Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death.

一片哀哭之声响起。农舍门外铺上了稻草,动物们踮着脚尖走路。他们含着泪水互相询问,要是他们的领袖被带走了,他们该怎么办。有谣言四处流传,说雪球终究还是设法在拿破仑的食物里下了毒。十一点钟时,尖嗓子出来发布另一则通告。拿破仑同志在尘世的最后一个举动,是颁布了一条庄严的法令:饮酒者将被处以死刑。

🔊

lamentation /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/

n. 哀悼；悲痛➕

🔊

tiptoe /ˈtɪptəʊ/

n. 脚尖➕

🔊

rumour /ˈruːmə(r)/

n. 谣言；传闻➕

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contrived /kənˈtraɪvd/

v. 设法做到；策划➕

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introduce /ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs/

v. 引入；介绍➕

🔊

poison /ˈpɔɪzn/

n. 毒药；毒素➕

🔊

decree /dɪˈkriː/

n. 法令；命令➕

🔊

punished /ˈpʌnɪʃt/

v. 惩罚；处罚➕

🔊

alcohol /ˈælkəhɒl/

n. 酒精；酒➕

🔊 By the evening, however, Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better, and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. By the evening of that day Napoleon was back at work, and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard, which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work, was to be ploughed up. It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley.

然而到了傍晚,拿破仑似乎好转了些,第二天早晨尖嗓子便能够告诉大家,领袖正在康复中。当天晚上,拿破仑就恢复工作了,第二天又得知他已吩咐温佩尔在威灵顿购买一些关于酿酒和蒸馏的小册子。一星期后,拿破仑下令,果园那边那块原先打算留给退休动物作牧场的小围场,要被犁掉。对外宣称是那片草场已耗尽地方,需要重新播种；但很快就知道,拿破仑是打算在那儿种大麦。

🔊

recovery /rɪˈkʌvəri/

n. 恢复；康复➕

🔊

instructed /ɪnˈstrʌktɪd/

v. 指示；教导➕

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purchase /ˈpɜːtʃəs/

v. 购买➕

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booklets /ˈbʊkləts/

n. 小册子➕

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brewing /ˈbruːɪŋ/

n. 酿造➕

🔊

distilling /dɪˈstɪlɪŋ/

n. 蒸馏➕

🔊

paddock /ˈpædək/

n. 小围场；牧马场➕

🔊

orchard /ˈɔːtʃəd/

n. 果园➕

🔊

previously /ˈpriːviəsli/

adv. 先前；以前➕

🔊

intended /ɪnˈtendɪd/

v. 打算；计划➕

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grazing-ground /ˈɡreɪzɪŋ ɡraʊnd/

n. 牧场；放牧地➕

🔊

ploughed /plaʊd/

v. 犁地；耕地➕

🔊

pasture /ˈpɑːstʃə(r)/

n. 牧场；草地➕

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exhausted /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/

adj. 耗尽的；疲惫的➕

🔊

re-seeding /riː ˈsiːdɪŋ/

n. 重新播种➕

🔊

barley /ˈbɑːli/

n. 大麦➕

🔊 About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard, and the animals rushed out of their stalls. It was a moonlit night. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint. The dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer, and escorted him back to the farmhouse as soon as he was able to walk. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.

大约在这个时候,发生了一件怪事,几乎谁也无法理解。一天夜里十二点左右,院子里传来一声巨响,动物们纷纷冲出厩舍。那是个月夜。在大谷仓尽头的墙脚下,写着七戒的地方,横着一把断成两截的梯子。尖嗓子暂时昏了过去,瘫在梯子旁边,近旁还放着一盏提灯、一把刷子和一罐打翻的白漆。狗们立刻围成一圈护住尖嗓子,等他稍能走动,便护送他回农舍了。动物们谁也搞不清这是怎么回事,只有老本杰明点点头,一副心知肚明的神情,似乎明白原委,却什么也不说。

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incident /ˈɪnsɪdənt/

n. 事件； incident➕

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stalls /stɔːlz/

n. 畜栏；摊位➕

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moonlit /ˈmuːnlɪt/

adj. 月光的；月光照耀的➕

🔊

Commandments /kəˈmɑːndmənts/

n. 诫命；命令➕

🔊

temporarily /ˈtemprərəli/

adv. 暂时地；临时地➕

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stunned /stʌnd/

adj. 震惊的；目瞪口呆的➕

🔊

sprawling /ˈsprɔːlɪŋ/

v. 四肢伸展地躺；蔓延➕

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lantern /ˈlæntən/

n. 灯笼；提灯➕

🔊

paint-brush /ˈpeɪnt brʌʃ/

n. 画笔➕

🔊

overturned /ˌəʊvəˈtɜːnd/

adj. 打翻的；推翻的➕

🔊

escorted /ɪˈskɔːtɪd/

v. 护送；陪同➕

🔊 But a few days later Muriel, reading over the Seven Commandments to herself, noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. They had thought that the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol," but there were two words that they had forgotten. Actually the Commandment read: "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess."

但几天后,穆丽尔自己重新念了一遍七戒,注意到又有一条戒律被动物们记错了。他们原以为第五戒是‘动物不得饮酒’,却忘记了后面还有两个字。实际上,戒律写的是:‘动物不得饮酒过度。’

🔊

excess /ɪkˈses/

n. 过量；过度➕

Chapter eight (第八章)

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