Chapter 4 第四章-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《动物农场Animal Farm》

ChapterIV By the late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with^{①} the animals on neighbouring farms, tel them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of Beasts of England Most of this time Mr. Jones had spent sitting in the taproom{② of the Red Lion at Willingdon, complaining to anyone who would listen of the monstrous injustice he had suffered in being turned out of his property by a pack of good for-nothing animals. The other farmers sympathised in principle, but they did not at first give him much help. At heart, each of them was secretly wondering whether he could not somehow turn Jones's misfortune to his own advantage It was lucky that the owners of the two farms which adjoined{③Animal Farm were on permanently bad terms. One of them, which was named Foxwood, was a large, neglected, old-fashioned farm, much overgrown by woodland, with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. Its owner. Mr Pilkington, was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. The other farm, which was called Pinchfield, was smaller and better kept. Its owner was a Mr. Frederick, a tough shrewd④ man, perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains. These two disliked each other so much that it was difficult for .050· 第四章 夏末,动物农场上发生的事情传遍了大半个郡。雪 球和拿破仑每天都派出几批鸽子,盼咐他们混入附近农 ①mingle with和...混合 场的动物中间,告诉他们反抗运动的事情,教他们唱 ② taproom ['taeprum]n. 酒吧 《英格兰的牲畜》。 这期间,琼斯先生大部分时间都消磨在威灵登的 “红狮”酒吧里。他遭受到了不公正的对待,竟然被一 群无用的动物赶出了自己的家园。只要有人愿意听,他 就会不停地向人家倾诉这件荒唐透顶的事情。其他农场 主原则上对他表达同情,但是,他们一开始并没有对他 提供多少帮助。内心里,他们中的每一位都在暗暗地盘 ③ 算着,自已能否在一定程度上把琼斯的不幸遭遇转变成 adjoino'dsoinlv 与..... 眦连 自身的利益。幸运的是,同动物农场接壤的两座农场的 主人素来交恶。其中的一座名为狐狸林。该农场规模很 大,疏于管理,风格老旧,树木丛生,一片荒芜,牧场 荒废了,树篱没有修剪,一派萧疏的景象。农场主皮尔 金顿先生是位性情随和的乡绅,根据季节的变化,大部 分时间用于钓鱼或者狩猎。另一座农场名叫窄地。规模 更小,管理得更加理想。农场主弗里德里克先生是个蛮 ④ shrewd[frrdla. 精明的 横而又精明的人,总是官司不断,因算计苛刻而出名 两位农场主相互厌恶,所以,二人很难达成一致的看法 即便是为了保护他们自身的利益。 ·051· ChapterTv them to come to any agreement, even in defence of their own interests Nevertheless, they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm, and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn^{①} the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight they said. They put it about that the animals on the Manor Farm (they insisted on calling it the Manor Farm: they would not tolerate the name "Animal Farm") were perpetually fighting among themselves and were also rapidly starving tc death. When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness^{② that now flourished on Animal Farm. It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism{③}, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature, Frederick and Pilkington said However, these stories were never fully believed. Rumours of a wonderfu farm, where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed thei own affairs, continued to circulate in yague and distorted forms, and throughou that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. Bulls which had always been tractable④} suddenly turned savage^{}, sheep broke down hedges and devoured{} the clover, cows kicked the pail^{}over. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. Above all. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. It had spread with astonishing speed. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. They could not understand they said, how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible⑧ rubbish. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging^{} on the spot. And yet the song was irrepressible{}. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges, the pigeons cooed it in the elms^{}, it got into the din^{} of the smithie^{} and the tune of the church bells. And when the human beings listened to it, they secretly 第四章 尽管如此,动物农场爆发的反抗运动还是完完全 全令他们两个人诚惶诚恐。他们忧心忡忡,急于防止 他们农场上的动物得知太多关于这方面的消息。说到 ① scorn[skoxn]v轻蔑,鄙 动物自已管理一座农场,刚开始时,他们假装嘲笑和 视 蔑视这种想法。整个事件过上十天半个月也就过去了, 他们这样说。他们逢人就说,庄园农场上的动物们(他 们坚持称之为庄园农场,因为无法忍受动物农场这个 名称)相互之间不断地打架斗殴,而且很快就会饿死 了。过了一段时间,很显然,那些动物并没有饿死 这时候,弗里德里克和皮尔金顿改变了自己的说话腔 调,开始说动物农场弥漫着一股可怕的邪气。他们已 ② ) wickedness I'wikidnisl n 邪恶 经把话放出去了,说那儿的动物之间盛行相互残食, ③ cannibalism ['kenibolizam]n. 同类相 用烧红的马蹄铁相互折磨,而且还实行配偶共有。这 食 就是违背自然法则的结果,弗里德里克和皮尔金顿这 么说。 不过,关于他们说的这些事情,谁也没有完全相 信过。动物们纷纷传言,说在一座奇妙的农场上,人类 被驱逐出去了,动物们自己管理自己的事务。这种传言 还在持续扩散,或含糊不清,或走了样儿。那一年,一 tractable I'trektablla. 温 顺的 股反抗的浪潮席卷了整个地区。素来温顺的公牛们突然 savage ['saevids]a. 未驯化 变得野性十足;绵羊冲破了树篱,狂吃首藉;奶牛踢翻 的 devour [di'vaua]v吞食 了奶桶:参与狞猎的马匹拒绝越过围栏,把骑在背上的 pail [peilln. 桶 人用到了围栏的另一侧。最重要的是,《英格兰的牲畜》 的旋律甚至歌词传遍了四面八方。传播的速度令人惊诧 不已。人类听见这首歌时,尽管假装认为歌曲荒诞可笑 但内心里其实窝着难以抑制的怒火。他们说,他们无法 ⑧ ocontemptible 理解,怎么连动物都会堕落到唱响如此卑鄙的垃圾歌曲。 lkan'temptablla. 可鄙的 flogging [flogin]n. 鞭打 因此,凡是被速着唱这支歌的动物,都会当场挨鞭子抽。 irrepressible L.iri'presabl]a 压抑不住的 但即便如此,歌曲的传唱还是势不可当。黑鸟在树篱间 elm[elm]n.榆(树) din[din]n. 吵闹声 鸣唱,鸽子在榆树上咕咕。歌声与铁匠铺的打铁声和教 smithy ['smioi]n.铁匠铺 堂里的钟声融为一体了。当人类听见歌声时,他们不禁 暗暗颤抖,从中听出了对他们自已未来命运的预言 .053· ChapterTv trembled. hearing in it a prophecy{ of their future doom Early in October, when the corn was cut and stacked② and some of it was already threshed, a flight of pigeons came whirling through the air and alighted{③ in the yard of Animal Farm in the wildest excitement. Jones and all his men with half a dozen others from Foxwood and Pinchfield. had entered the five- barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. They were al carrying sticks, except Jones, who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands Obviously they were going to attempt the recapture of the farm. This had long been expected, and all preparations had been made. Snowball who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse, was in charge of the defensive operations. He gave his orders quickly, and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. All the pigeons, to the number of thirty-five, flew to and fro over the men's heads and muted④ upon them from mid-air: and while the men were dealing with this, the geese, who had been hiding behind the hedge, rushed out and pecked{} viciously at the calves} of their legs. However, this was only a light skirmishing^{} manoeuvre{, intended to create a little disorder, and the men easily drove the geese off with their sticks. Snowball now launched his second line of attack. Muriel. Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward and prodded{} and butted the men from every side. while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs. But once agair the men, with their sticks and their hobnailed{ boots, were too strong for them: and suddenly, at a squeal{} from Snowball, which was the signal for retreat, all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard The men gave a shout of triumph. They saw, as they imagined, their enemies in flight. and they rushed after them in disorder. This was just what Snowball had intended. As soon as they were well inside the yard, the three horses, the three cows, and the rest of the pigs, who had been lying in ambush{} ·054· 第四章 ① prophecy I'profisi]n. 预言 十月初,谷物收割完毕,堆成了块,其中的一部分 ② stack [stek]v 把....块起 已经脱粒了。这时候,一群鸽子在空中盘旋着,飞落到 ③ alight [a'lait]v 落在 了动物农场的院落里,情绪激动,无法抑制。琼斯和他 的雇员,还有来自狐狸林和窄地两座农场的另外五六个 人,进入了那扇五道门大门,顺着通向农场的马车道前 行。他们全都拿着棍棒,只有琼斯例外,他的手上拿着 猎枪冲在前头。很显然,他们这是想要收复农场 动物们早就料到会有这么一着,而且严阵以待。雪 球仔细阅读了一本讲述尤利乌斯·凯撒历次战役的书 籍,书是他在农场主住宅里发现的,他负责防御工作。 他很快下达了命令,几分钟之后,每一只动物都各就各 位了。 当人类接近农场的窝棚区时,雪球发动了首次进 攻。鸽子总数达到三十五只,他们在那些人的头顶飞来 飞去,从半空中往他们身上排泄粪便。人们在招架着这 一行动的当儿,藏匿在树篱中的鹅群冲了出来,恶狠狠 ④ muteImu:tlv(鸟)排泄 地朝着他们的腿肚子上啄去。不过,这只是一场小规模 peck [pek]v 嘎 的前奏战,目的是打乱对方的阵脚。那些人挥舞着棍棒 calf kafln. 小腿 轻而易举便把鹅群赶跑了。雪球现在发动了第二线的进 skirmishing I'skaxmifin]n 小冲突 攻。雪球领着穆里尔、本杰明,还有全部绵羊向前冲 ⑧ manoeuvre [ma'nurval n 策略 从四面八方朝敌人又是戳又是顶的。期间,本杰明转过 身,用自己的小蹄子对着敌人猛踢。但是,人类有棍棒 prod[prodlv(用手指、 和钉了铁钉的靴子,动物再次招架不住了。突然间,随 棍棒等)刺 hobnailed ['hobneild]a. 钉 着雪球发出的一声尖叫一一这是撤退的信号,所有动物 有平头钉的 squeal [skwi:l]n. 长声尖 全部转身,从门口逃进了院子。 叫 那些人发出了胜利的欢呼声。他们以为动物这是败 逃了,于是一窝蜂地追击他们。这正中雪球的下怀。 群人刚刚完全进入到了院子里,那三匹马,三头奶牛 还有其余那些猪--他们事先一直埋伏在牛棚里--突 lay in ambush埋伏 1 凯撒(JuliusCaesar,公元前100~44)是罗马统帅、政治家,与庞培 克拉苏结成“前三头同盟”,后击败庞培,成为罗马独裁者,被共和 派贵族杀害,订定儒略历,著有《高卢战记》等。 .055· ChapterTv in the cowshed^{①}, suddenly emerged in their rear, cutting them off. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. He himself dashed straight for Jones. Jones saw him coming, raised his gun and fired. The pellets scored bloody streaks② along Snowball's back, and a sheep dropped dead. Without halting for an instant Snowball flung his fifteen stone③ against Jones's legs. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands. But the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer, rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with his great iron- shod hoofs like a stallion^{④. His yery first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull} and stretched him lifeless in the mud. At the sight, several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. Panic overtook them, and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. They were gored^{}, kicked, bitten, trampled on. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on{} them after his own fashion. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck, at which he yelled horribly. At a moment when the opening was clear, the mer were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt^{} for the main road And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious^{} retreat by the same way as they had come, with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way All the men were gone except one. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud, trying to turn him over. The boy did not stir "He is dead." said Boxer sorrowfully. "I had no intention of doing that. forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. Who will believe that I did not do this or purpose?" "No sentimentality, comrade!" cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. "War is war. The only good human being is a dead one." "I have no wish to take life, not even human life."repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears "Where is Mollie?" exclaimed somebody .056· 第四章 ① cowshed ['kau.fed]n. 牛棚 然出现在了他们身后,阻断了他们的退路。雪球此时发 出了进攻的信号。他自已径直地冲向琼斯。琼斯看见他 ② streak [stri:k]n. 条纹 过来,举起枪开火了。子弹擦过雪球的背部,划出了几 道血痕,一只绵羊却中弹身亡了。雪球没有片刻停顿, 立刻把自已二百多磅的体重朝着琼斯的两条腿撞过去。 ③ stone[staun]n.英石(英 制重量单位,相当于14 琼斯被撞倒在一堆粪便上,他的猎枪也从手上飞出去 确) 了。但是,最惊心动魄的一幕是拳击手,他用两条后腿 ④ stallion I'staeljonln. (成 年)公马,种马 让身子立了起来,像一匹牡马似的用钉了铁掌的大蹄子 skull[skAl]n.脑袋 朝外踢。他头一蹄子便踢在一位来自狐狸林农场的小马 信的脑袋上。小马信直挺挺地倒在泥坑里,无声无息 gore[qx:]v用角(或狼 见此情景,几个人扔下棍棒,拼命逃跑。他们被吓得不 牙)抵 take vengeance on 向.... 知所措,紧接着,所有动物追逐着他们在院里打转。动 报仇(或报复) 物一个劲儿地朝着他们用角抵,用蹄子踢,用嘴咬,用 脚踩。农场上所有动物无不以自已的方式对他们报仇雪 恨。连那只猫都从一个棚屋顶上跳到牧牛人的肩膀上 用爪子刺进他的脖子。牧牛人痛得惨叫了起来。人们趁 ⑧ bolt[boult]n. 快跑,逃跑 着门口没有动物堵住的片刻,欣喜地冲出了院落,朝着 ignominious Liqnau'minias]a. 不光彩 大路的方向逃窜。至此,人们的侵入行动还不到五分钟 的 便结束了。他们很不光彩地顺着来时的路撤退,一群趣 在他们身后发着尖锐的嘘声,紧追不舍,一路啄着他们 的腿肚子。 那些人除了一个之外全都离开了。拳击手返回到了 院落里,用蹄子抓了抓脸朝下躺在泥坑里的小马信,想 要把他翻过身来,但小伙子一动不动。 “他已经死了,”拳击手说,表情悲伤,“我并没有 要把他弄死的意思。我忘记自已装了铁掌。有谁会相信 我不是有意这样做的呢?” “用不着伤感啊,同志!”雪球大声说着,他的伤口 还在滴着血呢。“战争就是战争。只有死人才是善良的人。” “我不希望剥夺性命,即使是人类的生命。”拳击 手重申着说,两眼了满了泪水。 “莫莉在哪儿呢?”某只动物激动地大声说着。 ·057· ChapterTv Mollie in fact was missing. For a moment there was great alarm: it was feared that the men might have harmed her in some way, or even carried her off with them. In the end. however, she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger. She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off. And when the others came back from looking for her, it was to find that the stable-lad, who in fact was only stunned, had already recovered and made off. The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement, each recounting his own exploits^{①} in the battle at the top of his voice. An impromptu^{② celebration of the victory was held immediately. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times, then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral, a hawthorn{③ bush being planted on her grave. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech, emphasising the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration, "Anima Hero, First Class."which was conferred{④ there and then on Snowball and Boxer It consisted of a brass medal (they were really some old horse-brasses which had been found in the harness-room), to be worn on Sundays and holidays. There was also"Animal Hero, Second Class." which was conferred posthumously{} on the dead sheep. There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. In the end. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. Mr. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud, and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges^{} in the farmhouse. It was decidec to set the gun up at the foot of the flagstaff, like a piece of artillery^{}, and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed, and once on Midsummer Day, the anniversary of the Rebellion. .058. 第四章 莫莉确实不见了。一时间,出现了巨大的恐慌。 动物们担心,那些人可能会以某种方式伤害到她,甚 至会把她给撵走。不过,最后,大家发现她躲藏在自 己的既棚里,头埋在马橹的干草堆中。刚才枪声刚刚 响起,她便撒腿跑了。别的动物寻找她返回来时,发 现那位小马信苏醒过来了,而且已经离开,他其实只 是昏过去了。 动物们现在聚集在一块儿,情绪疯狂,激动不已。 ① exploit [ik'sploit]n. 功勋 ② impromptu Jim'promptju:] 每只动物都在用自己最大的嗓门叙述着自己在战斗中 n.无准备的 的业绩。于是,他们立刻举行了未经准备的庆功会。 旗帜升起来了,《英格兰的牲畜》唱了许多遍,然后 为那只阵亡的绵羊举行了庄严的葬礼,她的坟头上栽 ③ hawthorn ['hox:o:nln. tl 了一丛山树。雪球在墓地做了一番简短的演讲,强 楼树 调全体动物必须在需要的时候为了捍卫动物农场随时 准备献出生命。 动物们一致决定,拟设立一种军功勋章制度。“一 级动物英雄”勋章当即便授予给了雪球和拳击手。勋章 ④ confer lkon'fax]v 授予 是一枚铜牌(实际上,那是他们在挽具房找到的一些古 旧的马具铜质饰品),需要在星期天和假日佩戴。还有 posthumously “二级动物英雄”勋章追授给了那头阵亡的绵羊。 I'postjumaslilad. 于死后 关于这场战斗命名的问题,大家进行了热烈的讨 论。最后决定命名为“牛棚之战”,因为伏兵就是在那 儿向敌人发起进攻的。他们在那儿的泥坑里找到了琼斯 先生的猎枪。大家都知道,那憧住宅里还存放了子弹。 动物们决定把那管猎枪立在旗杆脚下,当作礼炮,每年 cartridge [katrida]n. 子弹 鸣放两次--一次在10月12日“牛棚之战”纪念日 一次在施洗约翰节“反抗运动”纪念日。 artilleryIr'tilariln. 大炮 ·059·