动物农场Animal Farm 第5章(8)

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　　动物们仍要在星期天早晨集合，向庄园的旗帜致敬，唱“英格兰兽”，

　　and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates.

　　并接受下一周的工作任务；但再也不搞什么辩论了。

　　In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them, the animals were dismayed by this announcement.

　　本来，斯诺鲍被逐已经对他们刺激不小了，但动物们更为这个通告感到惊愕。

　　Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments.

　　有几个动物想要抗议，却可惜没有找到合适的辩词。

　　Even Boxer² was vaguely³ troubled. He set his ears back, shook his forelock several times, and tried hard to marshal his thoughts.

　　甚至鲍克瑟也感到茫然不解，他支起耳朵，抖动几下额毛，费力地想理出个头绪，

　　But in the end he could not think of anything to say.

　　结果最后没想出任何可说的话。

　　Some of the pigs themselves, however, were more articulate.

　　然而，有些猪倒十分清醒。

　　Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill⁴ squeals⁵ of disapproval⁶, and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once.

　　四只在前排的小肉猪不以为然地尖声叫着，当即都跳起来准备发言。

　　But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls⁷, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again.

　　但突然间，围坐在拿破仑身旁的那群狗发出一阵阴森恐怖的咆哮，于是，他们便沉默不语，重新坐了下去。

　　Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating⁸ of "Four legs good, two legs bad!"

　　接着，羊又声音响亮地咩咩叫起“四条腿好，两条腿坏！”

　　which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion.

　　一直持续了一刻钟，从而，所有讨论一下的希望也付诸东流了。

　　Afterwards Squealer⁹ was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.

　　后来，斯奎拉受命在庄园里兜了一圈，就这个新的安排向动物作一解释。

　　"Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labor¹⁰ upon himself.

　　“同志们”，他说，“我希望每一位在这儿的动物，会对拿破仑同志为承担这些额外的劳动所作的牺牲而感激的。

　　Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure!

　　同志们，不要以为当领导是一种享受！

　　On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility.

　　恰恰相反，它是一项艰深而繁重的职责。

　　No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal.

　　没有谁能比拿破仑同志更坚信所有动物一律平等。

　　He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves.

　　他也确实很想让大家自己为自己作主。

　　But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?

　　可是，万一你们失策了，那么同志们，我们会怎样呢？

　　Suppose you had decided¹¹ to follow Snowball, with his moonshine of windmills--Snowball, who, as we now know, was no better than a criminal?"

　　要是你们决定按斯诺鲍的风车梦想跟从了他会怎样呢？斯诺鲍这家伙，就我们现在所知，不比一个坏蛋强多少。”

　　"He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed," said somebody.

　　“他在牛棚大战中作战很勇敢”，有个动物说了一句。

　　"Bravery is not enough," said Squealer. "Loyalty¹² and obedience¹³ are more important.

　　“勇敢是不够的”，斯奎拉说，“忠诚和服从更为重要。

　　And as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated.

　　就牛棚大战而言，我相信我们最终会有一天发现斯诺鲍的作用被吹得太大了。

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