It went on for five minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse.
Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling (轻触) at his shoulder. He looked round. It was Clover. Her old eyes looked dimmer (暗淡的) than ever.
Without saying anything, she tugged (拖) gently at his mane (马鬃) and led him round to the end of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tarred wall with its white lettering.
"My sight is failing," she said finally. "Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be, Benjamin?"
For once Benjamin consented (同意) to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran:
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters.
It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set, were arranging to install a telephone, and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull, TitBits, and the Daily Mirror.{1}
It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe (烟斗) in his mouth−no, not even when the pigs took Mr. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes (衣柜) and put them on, Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat, rat catcher breeches, and leather leggings, while his favourite sow (母猪) appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.
A week later, in the afternoon, a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. A deputation (代表团) of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection.
They were shown all over the farm, and expressed great admiration for everything they saw, especially the windmill. The animals were weeding the turnip (萝卜) field.
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They worked diligently (勤奋地) hardly raising their faces from the ground, and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors.
That evening loud laughter and bursts of singing came from the farmhouse. And suddenly, at the sound of the mingled (混合的) voices, the animals were stricken with curiosity.
What could be happening in there, now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep (潜行) as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden.
At the gate they paused, half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in. They tiptoed up to the house, and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining−room window.
There, round the long table, sat half a dozen farmers and half a dozen of the more eminent (杰出的) pigs, Napoleon himself occupying the seat of honour at the head of the table.
The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs. The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment, evidently in order to drink a toast. A large jug (大罐) was circulating, and the mugs (大杯子) were being refilled with beer.
No one noticed the wondering faces of the animals that gazed in at the window. Mr. Pilkington, of Foxwood, had stood up, his mug in his hand.
In a moment, he said, he would ask the present company to drink a toast. But before doing so, there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say.
It was a source of great satisfaction to him, he said−and, he was sure, to all others present−to feel that a long period of mistrust and misunderstanding had now come to an end.
There had been a time−not that he, or any of the present company, had shared such sentiments (观点)−but there had been a time when the respected proprietors (业主) of Animal Farm had been regarded, he would not say with hostility, but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving, by their human neighbours.{2}
Unfortunate incidents had occurred, mistaken ideas had been current. It had been felt that the existence of a farm owned and operated by pigs was somehow abnormal and was liable to have an unsettling effect in the neighbourhood.
Too many farmers had assumed, without due enquiry, that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail. They had been nervous about the effects upon their own animals, or even upon their human employees.
But all such doubts were now dispelled (打消). Today he and his friends had visited Animal Farm and inspected every inch of it with their own eyes, and what did they find?
Not only the most up−to−date methods, but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere.
He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county.
Indeed, he and his fellow−visitors today had observed many features which they intended to introduce on their own farms immediately.
He would end his remarks, he said, by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted (维持), and ought to subsist, between Animal Farm and its neighbours.
Between pigs and human beings there was not, and there need not be, any clash of interests whatever. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. Was not the labour problem the same everywhere?
Here it became apparent that Mr. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism (妙语) on the company, but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it.
After much choking, during which his various chins turned purple, he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with," he said, "we have our lower classes!"{3}
This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations, the long working hours, and the general absence of pampering (娇惯) which he had observed on Animal Farm.
And now, he said finally, he would ask the company to rise to their feet and make certain that their glasses were full. "Gentlemen," concluded Mr. Pilkington, "gentlemen, I give you a toast: To the prosperity (繁荣) of Animal Farm!"
There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping (跺脚) of feet. Napoleon was so gratified (高兴) that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. Pilkington's before emptying it.
When the cheering had died down, Napoleon, who had remained on his feet, intimated (示意) that he too had a few words to say.
Like all of Napoleon's speeches, it was short and to the point. He too, he said, was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end.
For a long time there had been rumours−circulated, he had reason to think, by some malignant (恶意的) enemy−that there was something subversive (破坏) and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues.
They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Their sole wish, now and in the past, was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. This farm which he had the honour to control, he added, was a co−operative enterprise.
The title−deeds, which were in his own possession, were owned by the pigs jointly.
He did not believe, he said, that any of the old suspicions (怀疑) still lingered (停留), but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further.
Hitherto the animals on the farm had had a rather foolish custom of addressing one another as "Comrade." This was to be suppressed (压制).
There had also been a very strange custom, whose origin was unknown, of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. This, too, would be suppressed, and the skull had already been buried.
His visitors might have observed, too, the green flag which flew from the masthead (旗杆). If so, they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed.
It would be a plain green flag from now onwards. He had only one criticism, he said, to make of Mr. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. Mr. Pilkington had referred throughout to "Animal Farm."
He could not of course know−for he, Napoleon, was only now for the first time announcing it−that the name "Animal Farm" had been abolished. Henceforward the farm was to be known as "The Manor Farm"−which, he believed, was its correct and original name.
"Gentlemen," concluded Napoleon, "I will give you the same toast as before, but in a different form.
Fill your glasses to the brim (边缘). Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "
There was the same hearty cheering as before, and the mugs were emptied to the dregs (沉在酒、咖啡等液体中的残渣). But as the animals outside gazed at the scene, it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening.
What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted (轻快地移动) from one face to another. Some of them had five chins (下巴), some had four, some had three.
But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then, the applause having come to an end, the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted, and the animals crept silently away.
But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. They rushed back and looked through the window again.
Yes, a violent quarrel was in progress. There were shoutings, bangings (指杯子的撞击) on the table, sharp suspicious (猜疑的) glances, furious (激烈的) denials.
The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously.{4}
Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.{5}
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The End.