动物农场Animal Farm 第4章(3)

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　　当这伙人接近庄园的窝棚时，斯诺鲍发动第一次攻击。

　　All the pigeons, to the number of thirty-five, flew to and fro over the men's heads and muted upon them from mid-air.

　　所有的鸽子，大概有三十五只左右，在这伙人头上盘旋，从半空中向他们一齐拉屎。

　　And while the men were dealing¹ with this, the geese, who had been hiding behind the hedge, rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves³ of their legs.

　　趁着他们应付鸽子的“空袭”，早已藏在树篱后的一群鹅冲了出来，使劲地啄他们的腿肚子。

　　However, this was only a light skirmishing maneuver⁴, intended to create a little disorder⁵, and the men easily drove the geese off with their sticks.

　　而这还只是些小打小闹的计策，只不过制造点小混乱罢了。这帮人用棍棒毫不费力就把鹅赶跑了。

　　Snowball now launched his second line of attack.

　　斯诺鲍接着发动第二次攻击。

　　Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward and prodded⁶ and butted⁷ the men from every side,

　　穆丽尔、本杰明和所有的羊，随着打头的斯诺鲍冲向前去，从各个方向对这伙人又戳又顶，

　　while Benjamin turned around and lashed⁸ at them with his small hoofs⁹.

　　而本杰明则回头用他的小蹄子对他们尥起蹶子来。

　　But once again the men, with their sticks and their hobnailed boots, were too strong for them.

　　可是，对动物们来说，这帮拎着棍棒、靴子上又带着钉子的人还是太厉害了。

　　And suddenly, at a squeal¹⁰ from Snowball, which was the signal for retreat, all the animals turned and fled through the gateway¹¹ into the yard.

　　突然，从斯诺鲍那里发出一声尖叫，这是退兵的信号，所有的动物转身从门口退回院子内。

　　The men gave a shout of triumph.

　　那些人发出得意的呼叫。

　　They saw, as they imagined, their enemies in flight, and they rushed after them in disorder.

　　正象他们所想象的那样，他们看到仇敌们溃不成军，于是就毫无秩序的追击着。

　　This was just what Snowball had intended.

　　这正是斯诺鲍所期望的。

　　As soon as they were well inside the yard, the three horses, the three cows, and the rest of the pigs,

　　等他们完全进入院子后，三匹马，三头牛以及其余埋伏在牛棚里的猪，

　　who had been lying in ambush¹² in the cowshed, suddenly emerged in their rear, cutting them off.

　　突然出现在他们身后，切断了他们的退路。

　　Snowball now gave the signal for the charge.

　　这时，斯诺鲍发出了进攻的信号。

　　He himself dashed straight for Jones.

　　他自己径直向琼斯冲出。

　　Jones saw him coming, raised his gun and fired.

　　琼斯看见他冲过来，举起枪就开了火。

　　The pellets scored bloody¹³ streaks¹⁴ along Snowball's back, and a sheep dropped dead.

　　弹粒擦过斯诺鲍背部，刻下了一道血痕，一只羊中弹伤亡。

　　Without halting for an instant, Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs.

　　当时迟,那时快，斯诺鲍凭他那两百多磅体重猛地扑向琼斯的腿。

　　Jones was hurled¹⁵ into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands.

　　琼斯一下子被推到粪堆上，枪也从手中甩了出去。

　　But the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer¹⁶, rearing up on his hind² legs and striking out with his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion.

　　而最为惊心动魄的情景还在鲍克瑟那儿，他就像一匹没有阉割的种马，竟靠后腿直立起来，用他那巨大的钉着铁掌的蹄子猛打一气。

　　His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull¹⁷ and stretched him lifeless in the mud.

　　他第一下就击中了一个福克斯伍德庄园的马夫的脑壳，打得他倒在泥坑里断了气。

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