As winter drew on, Mollie became more and more troublesome. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept, and she complained of mysterious pains, although her appetite was excellent. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. But there were also rumours of something more serious. One day, as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard, flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay, Clover took her aside.
冬天快要到了,莫麗變得越來越討厭。她每天早上干活總要遲到,而且總為自己開脫說她睡過頭了,她還常常訴說一些不可思議的病痛,不過,她的食欲卻很旺盛。她會找出種種借口逃避干活而跑到飲水池邊,呆呆地站在那兒,凝視著她在水中的倒影。但還有一些傳聞,說起來比這更嚴(yán)重一些。有一天,當(dāng)莫麗邊晃悠著她的長尾巴邊嚼著一根草根,樂悠悠的閑逛到院子里時,克拉弗把她拉到一旁。
"Mollie," she said, "I have something very serious to say to you. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. One of Mr. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. And--I was a long way away, but I am almost certain I saw this--he was talking to you and you were allowing him to stroke your nose. What does that mean, Mollie?"
“莫麗”,她說,“我有件非常要緊的事要對你說,今天早晨,我看見你在查看那段隔開動物莊園和??怂刮榈虑f園的樹籬時,有一個皮爾金頓先生的伙計正站在樹籬的另一邊。盡管我離得很遠(yuǎn),但我敢肯定我看見他在對你說話,你還讓他摸你的鼻子。這是怎么回事,莫麗?”
"He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie, beginning to prance about and paw the ground.
“他沒摸!我沒讓!這不是真的!”莫麗大聲嚷著,抬起前蹄子搔著地。
"Mollie! Look me in the face. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?"
“莫麗!看著我,你能向我發(fā)誓,那人不是在摸你的鼻子。”
"It isn't true!" repeated Mollie, but she could not look Clover in the face, and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field.
“這不是真的!”莫麗重復(fù)道,但卻不敢正視克拉弗。然后,她朝著田野飛奔而去,逃之夭夭。
A thought struck Clover. Without saying anything to the others, she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours.
克拉弗心中閃過一個念頭。誰也沒有打招呼,她就跑到莫麗的廄棚里,用蹄子翻開一堆草。草下竟藏著一堆方糖和幾條不同顏色的飾帶。
Three days later Mollie disappeared. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts, then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon. She was between the shafts of a smart dogcart painted red and black, which was standing outside a public-house. A fat red-faced man in check breeches and gaiters, who looked like a publican, was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. She appeared to be enjoying herself, so the pigeons said. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again.
三天后,莫麗不見了,好幾個星期下落不明。后來鴿子報告說他們曾在威靈頓那邊見到過她,當(dāng)時,她正被駕在一輛單駕馬車上,那輛車很時髦,漆得有紅有黑,停在一個客棧外面。有個紅臉膛的胖子,身穿方格子馬褲和高筒靴,象是客棧老板,邊撫摸著她的鼻子邊給她喂糖。她的毛發(fā)修剪一新,額毛上還佩戴著一條鮮紅的飾帶。所以鴿子說,她顯得自鳴得意。從此以后,動物們再也不提她了。
In January there came bitterly hard weather. The earth was like iron, and nothing could be done in the fields. Many meetings were held in the big barn, and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. It had come to be accepted that the pigs, who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals, should decide all questions of farm policy, though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley, the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats, and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages, the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. Each had his own following, and there were some violent debates. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. He was especially successful with the sheep. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good, two legs bad" both in and out of season, and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good, two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the 'Farmer and Stockbreeder' which he had found in the farmhouse, and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. He talked learnedly about field drains, silage, and basic slag, and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields, at a different spot every day, to save the labour of cartage. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball's would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time. But of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill.
一月份,天氣極其惡劣。田地好象鐵板一樣,什么活都干不成。倒是在大谷倉里召開了很多會議,豬忙于籌劃下一季度的工作。他們明顯比其它動物聰明,也就自然而然地該對莊園里所有的大政方針做出決定,盡管他們的決策還得通過大多數(shù)表決同意后才有效。本來,要是斯諾鮑和拿破侖相互之間不鬧別扭,整個程序會進(jìn)行得很順利??墒窃诿恳粋€論點上,他們倆一有可能便要抬杠。如果其中一個建議用更大面積播種大麥,另一個則肯定要求用更大面積播種燕麥;如果一個說某某地方最適宜種卷心菜,另一個就會聲稱那里非種薯類不可,不然就是廢地一塊。他們倆都有自己的追隨者,相互之間還有一些激烈的爭辯。在大會議上,斯諾鮑能言善辯,令絕大多數(shù)動物心誠口服。而拿破侖更擅長在會議上休息時為爭取到支持游說拉票。在羊那兒,他尤其成功。后來,不管適時不適時,羊都在咩咩地叫著“四條腿好,兩條腿壞”,并經(jīng)常借此來搗亂大會議。而且,大家注意到了,越是斯諾鮑的講演講到關(guān)鍵處,他們就越有可能插進(jìn)“四條腿好,兩條腿壞”的咩咩聲。斯諾鮑曾在莊主院里找到一些過期的《農(nóng)場主和畜牧業(yè)者》雜志,并對此作過深入的研究,裝了滿腦子的革新和發(fā)明設(shè)想。他談起什么農(nóng)田排水、什么飼料保鮮、什么堿性爐渣,學(xué)究氣十足。他還設(shè)計出一個復(fù)雜的系統(tǒng),可以把動物每天在不同地方拉的糞便直接通到地里,以節(jié)省運送的勞力。拿破侖自己無所貢獻(xiàn),卻拐彎抹角地說斯諾鮑的這些東西最終將會是一場空,看起來他是在走著瞧了。但是在他們所有的爭吵中,最為激烈的莫過于關(guān)于風(fēng)車一事的爭辯。
In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangel-slicer, and an electric milking machine. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery), and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation.
在狹長的大牧場上,離莊園里的窩棚不遠(yuǎn)的地方,有一座小山包,那是莊園里的制高點。斯諾鮑在勘察過那地方之后,宣布說那里是建造風(fēng)車最合適的地方。這風(fēng)車可用來帶動發(fā)電機,從而可為莊園提供電力。也就可以使窩棚里用上電燈并在冬天取暖,還可以帶動圓鋸、鍘草機、切片機和電動擠奶機。動物們以前還從未聽說過任何這類事情(因為這是一座老式的莊園,只有一臺非常原始的機器)。當(dāng)斯諾鮑繪聲繪色地描述著那些奇妙的機器的情景時,說那些機器可以在他們悠閑地在地里吃草時,在他們修養(yǎng)心性而讀書或聊天時為他們干活,動物們都聽呆了。
Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr. Jones--'One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House', 'Every Man His Own Bricklayer', and 'Electricity for Beginners'. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor, suitable for drawing on. He was closeted there for hours at a time. With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels, covering more than half the floor, which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. Even the hens and ducks came, and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. Only Napoleon held aloof. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. One day, however, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out without uttering a word.
不出幾個星期,斯諾鮑為風(fēng)車作的設(shè)計方案就全部擬訂好了。機械方面的詳細(xì)資料大多取自于《對居室要做的1000件益事》、《自己做自己的瓦工》和《電學(xué)入門》三本書,這三本書原來也是瓊斯先生的。斯諾鮑把一間小棚作為他的工作室,那間小棚曾是孵卵棚,里面鋪著光滑的木制地板,地板上適宜于畫圖。他在那里閉門不出,一干就是幾個小時。他把打開的書用石塊壓著,蹄子的兩趾間夾著一截粉筆,麻利地來回走動,一邊發(fā)出帶點興奮的哼哧聲,一邊畫著一道接一道的線條。漸漸地,設(shè)計圖深入到有大量曲柄和齒輪的復(fù)雜部分,圖面覆蓋了大半個地板,這在其他動物看來簡直太深奧了,但印象卻非常深刻。他們每天至少要來一次,看看斯諾鮑作圖。就連雞和鴨子也來,而且為了不踩踏粉筆線還格外小心謹(jǐn)慎。惟獨拿破侖回避著。一開始,他就聲言反對風(fēng)車。然而有一天,出乎意料,他也來檢查設(shè)計圖了。他沉悶不語地在棚子里繞來繞去,仔細(xì)查看設(shè)計圖上的每一處細(xì)節(jié),偶爾還沖著它們從鼻子里哼哼一兩聲,然后乜斜著眼睛,站在一旁往圖上打量一陣子,突然,他抬起腿來,對著圖撒了一泡尿,接了一聲不吭,揚長而去。
The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls, then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. (How these were to be procured, Snowball did not say.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. And thereafter, he declared, so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. Napoleon, on the other hand, argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production, and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on--that is, badly.
整個莊園在風(fēng)車一事上截然地分裂開了。斯諾鮑毫不否認(rèn)修建它是一項繁重的事業(yè),需要采石并筑成墻,還得制造葉片,另外還需要發(fā)電機和電纜(至于這些如何兌現(xiàn),斯諾鮑當(dāng)時沒說)。但他堅持認(rèn)為這項工程可在一年內(nèi)完成。而且還宣稱,建成之后將會因此節(jié)省大量的勞力,以至于動物們每周只需要干三天活。另一方面,拿破侖卻爭辯說,當(dāng)前最急需的是增加食料生產(chǎn),而如果他們在風(fēng)車上浪費時間,他們?nèi)紩I死的。在“擁護斯諾鮑和每周三日工作制”和“擁護拿破侖和食料滿槽制”的不同口號下,動物們形成了兩派,本杰明是唯一一個兩邊都不沾的動物。他既不相信什么食料會更充足,也不相信什么風(fēng)車會節(jié)省勞力。他說,有沒有風(fēng)車無所謂,生活會繼續(xù)下去的,一如既往,也就是說總有不足之處。
Apart from the disputes over the windmill, there was the question of the defence of the farm. It was fully realised that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. Jones. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. As usual, Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. According to Napoleon, what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of them. According to Snowball, they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered, the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. The animals listened first to Napoleon, then to Snowball, and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed, they always found themselves in agreement with the one who was speaking at the moment.
除了風(fēng)車爭執(zhí)之外,還有一個關(guān)于莊園的防御問題。盡管人在牛棚大戰(zhàn)中被擊潰了,但他們?yōu)閵Z回莊園并使瓊斯先生復(fù)辟,會發(fā)動一次更兇狠的進(jìn)犯,這是千真萬確的事。進(jìn)一步說,因為他們受到挫敗的消息已經(jīng)傳遍了整個國家,使得附近莊園的動物比以前更難駕馭了,他們也就更有理由這樣干了??墒撬怪Z鮑和拿破侖又照例發(fā)生了分歧。根據(jù)拿破侖的意見,動物們的當(dāng)務(wù)之急是設(shè)法武裝起來,并自我訓(xùn)練使用武器。而按斯諾鮑的說法,他們應(yīng)該放出越來越多的鴿子,到其他莊園的動物中煽動造反。一個說如不自衛(wèi)就無異于坐以待斃;另一個則說如果造反四起,他們就斷無自衛(wèi)的必要。動物們先聽了拿破侖的,又聽了斯諾鮑的,竟不能確定誰是誰非。實際上,他們總是發(fā)現(xiàn),講話的是誰,他們就會同意誰的。
At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. When the animals had assembled in the big barn, Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it, and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds, and seemed almost indifferent as to the effect he produced. At this Snowball sprang to his feet, and shouting down the sheep, who had begun bleating again, broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies, but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. Electricity, he said, could operate threshing machines, ploughs, harrows, rollers, and reapers and binders, besides supplying every stall with its own electric light, hot and cold water, and an electric heater. By the time he had finished speaking, there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and, casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before.
終于熬到了這一天,斯諾鮑的設(shè)計圖完成了。在緊接著的星期天大會議上,是否開工建造風(fēng)車的議題將要付諸表決,當(dāng)動物們在大谷倉里集合完畢,斯諾鮑站了起來,盡管不時被羊的咩咩聲打斷,他還是提出了他熱衷于建造風(fēng)車的緣由。接著,拿破侖站起來反駁,他非常隱諱地說風(fēng)車是瞎折騰,勸告大家不要支持它,就又猛地坐了下去。他斤斤講了不到半分鐘,似乎顯得有點說不說都一個樣。這時,斯諾鮑跳了起來,喝住了又要咩咩亂叫的羊,慷慨陳詞,呼吁大家對風(fēng)車給予支持。在這之前,動物們因各有所好,基本上是平均地分成兩派,但在頃刻之間,斯諾鮑的雄辯口才就說得他們服服貼貼。他用熱烈的語言,描述著當(dāng)動物們擺脫了沉重的勞動時動物莊園的景象。他的設(shè)想此時早已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出了鍘草機和切蘿卜機。他說,電能帶動脫粒機、犁、耙、碾子、收割機和捆扎機,除此之外,還能給每一個窩棚里提供電燈、熱水或涼水,以及電爐等等。他講演完后,表決會何去何從已經(jīng)很明顯了。就在這個關(guān)頭,拿破侖站起來,怪模怪樣地瞥了斯諾鮑一眼,把了一聲尖細(xì)的口哨,這樣的口哨聲以前沒有一個動物聽到他打過。
At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. Too amazed and frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his heels. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Then he was up again, running faster than ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail, but Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more.
這時,從外面?zhèn)鱽硪魂噧春莸耐敉艚新?,緊接著,九條強壯的狗,戴著鑲有青銅飾釘?shù)捻椚ΓM(jìn)大倉谷里來,徑直撲向斯諾鮑。就在斯諾鮑要被咬上的最后一刻,他才跳起來,一下跑到門外,于是狗就在后面追。動物們都嚇呆了,個個張口結(jié)舌。他們擠到門外注視著這場追逐。斯諾鮑飛奔著穿過通向大路的牧場,他使出渾身解數(shù)拼命地跑著。而狗已經(jīng)接近他的后蹄子。突然間,他滑倒了,眼看著就要被他們逮住??伤种匦缕饋恚艿酶炝?。狗又一次趕上去,其中一條狗幾乎就要咬住斯諾鮑的尾巴了,幸而斯諾鮑及時甩開了尾巴。接著他又一個沖刺,和狗不過一步之差,從樹籬中的一個缺口竄了出去,再也看不到了。
Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones.
動物們驚愕地爬回大谷倉。不一會兒,那些狗又汪汪地叫著跑回來。剛開始時,動物們都想不出這些家伙是從哪兒來的,但問題很快就弄明白了:他們正是早先被拿破侖從他們的母親身邊帶走的那些狗崽子,被拿破侖偷偷地養(yǎng)著。他們盡管還沒有完全長大,但個頭都不小,看上去兇得象狼。大家都注意到,他們始終緊挨著拿破侖,對他擺著尾巴。那姿勢,竟和別的狗過去對瓊斯先生的做法一模一樣。
Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag, sing 'Beasts of England', and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates.
這時,拿破侖在狗的尾隨下,登上那個當(dāng)年麥哲發(fā)表演講的凸臺,并宣布,從今以后,星期天早晨的大會議就此告終。他說,那些會議毫無必要,又浪費時間。此后一切有關(guān)莊園工作的議題,將有一個由豬組成的特別委員會定奪,這個委員會由他親自統(tǒng)管。他們將在私下碰頭,然后把有關(guān)決策傳達(dá)給其他動物。動物們?nèi)砸谛瞧谔煸绯考?,向莊園的旗幟致敬,唱“英格蘭獸”,并接受下一周的工作任務(wù)。但再也不搞什么辯論了。
In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them, the animals were dismayed by this announcement. Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. He set his ears back, shook his forelock several times, and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. Some of the pigs themselves, however, were more articulate. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval, and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion.
本來,斯諾鮑被逐已經(jīng)對他們刺激不小了,但他們更為這個通告感到驚愕。有幾個動物想要抗議,卻可惜沒有找到合適的辯詞。甚至鮑克瑟也感到茫然不解,他支起耳朵,抖動幾下額毛,費力地想理出個頭緒,結(jié)果沒想出任何可說的話。然而,有些豬倒十分清醒,四只在前排的小肉豬不以為然地尖聲叫著,當(dāng)即都跳起來準(zhǔn)備發(fā)言。但突然間,圍坐在拿破侖身旁的那群狗發(fā)出一陣陰森恐怖的咆哮,于是,他們便沉默不語,重新坐了下去。接著,羊又聲音響亮地咩咩叫起“四條腿好,兩條腿壞!”一直持續(xù)了一刻鐘,從而,所有討論一下的希望也付諸東流了。
Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.
"Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball, with his moonshine of windmills -- Snowball, who, as we now know, was no better than a criminal?"
后來,斯奎拉受命在莊園里兜了一圈,就這個新的安排向動物作一解釋。
"He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed," said somebody.
“同志們”,他說,“我希望每一位在這兒的動物,會對拿破侖同志為承擔(dān)這些額外的勞動所作的犧牲而感激的。同志們,不要以為當(dāng)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)是一種享受!恰恰相反,它是一項艱深而繁重的職責(zé)。沒有誰能比拿破侖同志更堅信所有動物一律平等。他也確實很想讓大家自己為自己作主??墒?,萬一你們失策了,那么同志們,我們會怎樣呢?要是你們決定按斯諾鮑的風(fēng)車夢想跟從了他會怎樣呢?斯諾鮑這家伙,就我們現(xiàn)在所知,不比一個壞蛋強多少。”
"Bravery is not enough," said Squealer. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. 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. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?"
“他在牛棚大戰(zhàn)中作戰(zhàn)很勇敢”,有個動物說了一句。
Once again this argument was unanswerable. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop. Boxer, who had now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim, "Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder."
“勇敢是不夠的”,斯奎拉說,“忠誠和服從更為重要。就牛棚大戰(zhàn)而言,我相信我們最終會有一天發(fā)現(xiàn)斯諾鮑的作用被吹得太大了。紀(jì)律,同志們,鐵的紀(jì)律!這是我們今天的口號。一步走錯,我們的仇敵便會來顛覆我們。同志們,你們肯定不想讓瓊斯回來吧?”
By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Every Sunday morning at ten o'clock the animals assembled in the big barn to
這番論證同樣是無可辯駁的。毫無疑問,動物們害怕瓊斯回來;如果星期天早晨召集的辯論有導(dǎo)致他回來的可能,那么辯論就應(yīng)該停止。鮑克瑟細(xì)細(xì)琢磨了好一陣子,說了句“如果這是拿破侖同志說,那就一定沒錯”,以此來表達(dá)他的整個感受。并且從此以后,他又用“拿破侖同志永遠(yuǎn)正確”這句格言,作為對他個人的座右銘“我要更加努力工作”的補充。
receive their orders for the week. The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun. After the hoisting of the flag, the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before entering the barn. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. Napoleon, with Squealer and another pig named Minimus, who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems, sat on the front of the raised platform, with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them, and the other pigs sitting behind. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style, and after a single singing of 'Beasts of England', all the animals dispersed.
到了天氣變暖,春耕已經(jīng)開始的時候。那間斯諾鮑用來畫風(fēng)車設(shè)計圖的小棚還一直被封著,大家想象著那些設(shè)計圖早已從地板上擦掉了。每星期天早晨十點鐘,動物們聚集在大谷倉,接受他們下一周的工作任務(wù)。如今,老麥哲的那個風(fēng)干了肉的顱骨,也已經(jīng)從果園腳下挖了出來,駕在旗桿下的一個木墩上,位于槍的一側(cè)。升旗之后,動物們要按規(guī)定恭恭敬敬地列隊經(jīng)過那個顱骨,然后才走進(jìn)大谷倉。近來,他們還沒有像早先那樣全坐在一起過。拿破侖同斯奎拉和另一個叫梅尼繆斯的豬,共同坐在前臺。這個梅尼繆斯具有非凡的天賦,擅于譜曲作詩。九條年輕的狗圍著它們成半圓形坐著。其他豬坐在后臺。別的動物面對著他們坐在大谷倉中間。拿破侖用一種粗暴的軍人風(fēng)格,宣讀對下一周的安排,隨后只唱了一遍“英格蘭獸”,所有的動物就解散了。
On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years.
斯諾鮑被逐后的第三個星期天,拿破侖宣布要建造風(fēng)車,動物們聽到這個消息,終究有些吃驚。而拿破侖沒有為改變主意講述任何理由,只是簡單地告誡動物們,那項額外的任務(wù)將意味著非常艱苦的勞動:也許有必要縮減他們的食料。然而,設(shè)計圖已全部籌備好,并已經(jīng)進(jìn)入最后的細(xì)節(jié)部分。一個由豬組成的特別委員會為此在過去三周內(nèi)一直工作著。風(fēng)車的修建,加上其他一些各種各樣的改進(jìn),預(yù)期要兩年時間。
That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had SEEMED to oppose the windmill, simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions.
當(dāng)天晚上,斯奎拉私下對其他動物解釋說,拿破侖從來沒有真正反對過風(fēng)車。相反,正是由他最初做的建議。那個斯諾鮑畫在孵卵棚地板上的設(shè)計圖,實際上是他早先從拿破侖的筆記中剽竊的。事實上,風(fēng)車是拿破侖自己的創(chuàng)造。于是,有的動物問道,為什么他曾說它的壞話說得那么厲害?在這一點上,斯奎拉顯得非常圓滑。他說,這是拿破侖同志的老練,他裝作反對風(fēng)車,那只是一個計謀,目的在于驅(qū)除斯諾鮑這個隱患,這個壞東西。既然現(xiàn)在斯諾鮑已經(jīng)溜掉了,計劃也就能在沒有斯諾鮑妨礙的情況下順利進(jìn)行了。斯奎拉說,這就是所謂的策略,他重復(fù)了好幾遍,“策略,同志們,策略!”還一邊帶著歡快的笑聲,一邊甩動著尾巴,活蹦亂跳。動物們吃不準(zhǔn)這些話的含意,可是斯奎拉講的如此富有說服力,加上趕巧了有三條狗和他在一起,又是那樣氣勢洶洶的狂叫著,因而他們沒有進(jìn)一步再問什么,就接受了他的解釋。
As winter drew on, Mollie became more and more troublesome. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept, and she complained of mysterious pains, although her appetite was excellent. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool, where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. But there were also rumours of something more serious. One day, as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard, flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay, Clover took her aside.
"Mollie," she said, "I have something very serious to say to you. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. One of Mr. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. And--I was a long way away, but I am almost certain I saw this--he was talking to you and you were allowing him to stroke your nose. What does that mean, Mollie?"
"He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie, beginning to prance about and paw the ground.
"Mollie! Look me in the face. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?"
"It isn't true!" repeated Mollie, but she could not look Clover in the face, and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field.
A thought struck Clover. Without saying anything to the others, she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours.
Three days later Mollie disappeared. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts, then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon. She was between the shafts of a smart dogcart painted red and black, which was standing outside a public-house. A fat red-faced man in check breeches and gaiters, who looked like a publican, was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. She appeared to be enjoying herself, so the pigeons said. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again.
In January there came bitterly hard weather. The earth was like iron, and nothing could be done in the fields. Many meetings were held in the big barn, and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. It had come to be accepted that the pigs, who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals, should decide all questions of farm policy, though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley, the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats, and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages, the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. Each had his own following, and there were some violent debates. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. He was especially successful with the sheep. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good, two legs bad" both in and out of season, and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good, two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the 'Farmer and Stockbreeder' which he had found in the farmhouse, and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. He talked learnedly about field drains, silage, and basic slag, and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields, at a different spot every day, to save the labour of cartage. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball's would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time. But of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill.
In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangel-slicer, and an electric milking machine. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery), and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation.
Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr. Jones--'One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House', 'Every Man His Own Bricklayer', and 'Electricity for Beginners'. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor, suitable for drawing on. He was closeted there for hours at a time. With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels, covering more than half the floor, which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. Even the hens and ducks came, and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. Only Napoleon held aloof. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. One day, however, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He walked heavily round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice, then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out without uttering a word.
The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls, then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. (How these were to be procured, Snowball did not say.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. And thereafter, he declared, so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. Napoleon, on the other hand, argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production, and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on--that is, badly.
Apart from the disputes over the windmill, there was the question of the defence of the farm. It was fully realised that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. Jones. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. As usual, Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. According to Napoleon, what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of them. According to Snowball, they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered, the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. The animals listened first to Napoleon, then to Snowball, and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed, they always found themselves in agreement with the one who was speaking at the moment.
At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. When the animals had assembled in the big barn, Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it, and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds, and seemed almost indifferent as to the effect he produced. At this Snowball sprang to his feet, and shouting down the sheep, who had begun bleating again, broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies, but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. Electricity, he said, could operate threshing machines, ploughs, harrows, rollers, and reapers and binders, besides supplying every stall with its own electric light, hot and cold water, and an electric heater. By the time he had finished speaking, there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and, casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before.
At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. Too amazed and frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his heels. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Then he was up again, running faster than ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail, but Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more.
Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones.
Napoleon, with the dogs following him, now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and wasted time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag, sing 'Beasts of England', and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates.
In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them, the animals were dismayed by this announcement. Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. He set his ears back, shook his forelock several times, and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. Some of the pigs themselves, however, were more articulate. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval, and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion.
Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.
"Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball, with his moonshine of windmills -- Snowball, who, as we now know, was no better than a criminal?"
"He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed," said somebody.
"Bravery is not enough," said Squealer. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. 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. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?"
Once again this argument was unanswerable. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop. Boxer, who had now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim, "Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder."
By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Every Sunday morning at ten o'clock the animals assembled in the big barn to
receive their orders for the week. The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun. After the hoisting of the flag, the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before entering the barn. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. Napoleon, with Squealer and another pig named Minimus, who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems, sat on the front of the raised platform, with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them, and the other pigs sitting behind. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style, and after a single singing of 'Beasts of England', all the animals dispersed.
On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years.
That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had SEEMED to oppose the windmill, simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions.
?冬天快要到了,莫麗變得越來越討厭。她每天早上干活總要遲到,而且總為自己開脫說她睡過頭了,她還常常訴說一些不可思議的病痛,不過,她的食欲卻很旺盛。她會找出種種借口逃避干活而跑到飲水池邊,呆呆地站在那兒,凝視著她在水中的倒影。但還有一些傳聞,說起來比這更嚴(yán)重一些。有一天,當(dāng)莫麗邊晃悠著她的長尾巴邊嚼著一根草根,樂悠悠的閑逛到院子里時,克拉弗把她拉到一旁。
“莫麗”,她說,“我有件非常要緊的事要對你說,今天早晨,我看見你在查看那段隔開動物莊園和??怂刮榈虑f園的樹籬時,有一個皮爾金頓先生的伙計正站在樹籬的另一邊。盡管我離得很遠(yuǎn),但我敢肯定我看見他在對你說話,你還讓他摸你的鼻子。這是怎么回事,莫麗?”
“他沒摸!我沒讓!這不是真的!”莫麗大聲嚷著,抬起前蹄子搔著地。
“莫麗!看著我,你能向我發(fā)誓,那人不是在摸你的鼻子。”
“這不是真的!”莫麗重復(fù)道,但卻不敢正視克拉弗。然后,她朝著田野飛奔而去,逃之夭夭。
克拉弗心中閃過一個念頭。誰也沒有打招呼,她就跑到莫麗的廄棚里,用蹄子翻開一堆草。草下竟藏著一堆方糖和幾條不同顏色的飾帶。
三天后,莫麗不見了,好幾個星期下落不明。后來鴿子報告說他們曾在威靈頓那邊見到過她,當(dāng)時,她正被駕在一輛單駕馬車上,那輛車很時髦,漆得有紅有黑,停在一個客棧外面。有個紅臉膛的胖子,身穿方格子馬褲和高筒靴,象是客棧老板,邊撫摸著她的鼻子邊給她喂糖。她的毛發(fā)修剪一新,額毛上還佩戴著一條鮮紅的飾帶。所以鴿子說,她顯得自鳴得意。從此以后,動物們再也不提她了。
一月份,天氣極其惡劣。田地好象鐵板一樣,什么活都干不成。倒是在大谷倉里召開了很多會議,豬忙于籌劃下一季度的工作。他們明顯比其它動物聰明,也就自然而然地該對莊園里所有的大政方針做出決定,盡管他們的決策還得通過大多數(shù)表決同意后才有效。本來,要是斯諾鮑和拿破侖相互之間不鬧別扭,整個程序會進(jìn)行得很順利??墒窃诿恳粋€論點上,他們倆一有可能便要抬杠。如果其中一個建議用更大面積播種大麥,另一個則肯定要求用更大面積播種燕麥;如果一個說某某地方最適宜種卷心菜,另一個就會聲稱那里非種薯類不可,不然就是廢地一塊。他們倆都有自己的追隨者,相互之間還有一些激烈的爭辯。在大會議上,斯諾鮑能言善辯,令絕大多數(shù)動物心誠口服。而拿破侖更擅長在會議上休息時為爭取到支持游說拉票。在羊那兒,他尤其成功。后來,不管適時不適時,羊都在咩咩地叫著“四條腿好,兩條腿壞”,并經(jīng)常借此來搗亂大會議。而且,大家注意到了,越是斯諾鮑的講演講到關(guān)鍵處,他們就越有可能插進(jìn)“四條腿好,兩條腿壞”的咩咩聲。斯諾鮑曾在莊主院里找到一些過期的《農(nóng)場主和畜牧業(yè)者》雜志,并對此作過深入的研究,裝了滿腦子的革新和發(fā)明設(shè)想。他談起什么農(nóng)田排水、什么飼料保鮮、什么堿性爐渣,學(xué)究氣十足。他還設(shè)計出一個復(fù)雜的系統(tǒng),可以把動物每天在不同地方拉的糞便直接通到地里,以節(jié)省運送的勞力。拿破侖自己無所貢獻(xiàn),卻拐彎抹角地說斯諾鮑的這些東西最終將會是一場空,看起來他是在走著瞧了。但是在他們所有的爭吵中,最為激烈的莫過于關(guān)于風(fēng)車一事的爭辯。
在狹長的大牧場上,離莊園里的窩棚不遠(yuǎn)的地方,有一座小山包,那是莊園里的制高點。斯諾鮑在勘察過那地方之后,宣布說那里是建造風(fēng)車最合適的地方。這風(fēng)車可用來帶動發(fā)電機,從而可為莊園提供電力。也就可以使窩棚里用上電燈并在冬天取暖,還可以帶動圓鋸、鍘草機、切片機和電動擠奶機。動物們以前還從未聽說過任何這類事情(因為這是一座老式的莊園,只有一臺非常原始的機器)。當(dāng)斯諾鮑繪聲繪色地描述著那些奇妙的機器的情景時,說那些機器可以在他們悠閑地在地里吃草時,在他們修養(yǎng)心性而讀書或聊天時為他們干活,動物們都聽呆了。
不出幾個星期,斯諾鮑為風(fēng)車作的設(shè)計方案就全部擬訂好了。機械方面的詳細(xì)資料大多取自于《對居室要做的1000件益事》、《自己做自己的瓦工》和《電學(xué)入門》三本書,這三本書原來也是瓊斯先生的。斯諾鮑把一間小棚作為他的工作室,那間小棚曾是孵卵棚,里面鋪著光滑的木制地板,地板上適宜于畫圖。他在那里閉門不出,一干就是幾個小時。他把打開的書用石塊壓著,蹄子的兩趾間夾著一截粉筆,麻利地來回走動,一邊發(fā)出帶點興奮的哼哧聲,一邊畫著一道接一道的線條。漸漸地,設(shè)計圖深入到有大量曲柄和齒輪的復(fù)雜部分,圖面覆蓋了大半個地板,這在其他動物看來簡直太深奧了,但印象卻非常深刻。他們每天至少要來一次,看看斯諾鮑作圖。就連雞和鴨子也來,而且為了不踩踏粉筆線還格外小心謹(jǐn)慎。惟獨拿破侖回避著。一開始,他就聲言反對風(fēng)車。然而有一天,出乎意料,他也來檢查設(shè)計圖了。他沉悶不語地在棚子里繞來繞去,仔細(xì)查看設(shè)計圖上的每一處細(xì)節(jié),偶爾還沖著它們從鼻子里哼哼一兩聲,然后乜斜著眼睛,站在一旁往圖上打量一陣子,突然,他抬起腿來,對著圖撒了一泡尿,接了一聲不吭,揚長而去。
整個莊園在風(fēng)車一事上截然地分裂開了。斯諾鮑毫不否認(rèn)修建它是一項繁重的事業(yè),需要采石并筑成墻,還得制造葉片,另外還需要發(fā)電機和電纜(至于這些如何兌現(xiàn),斯諾鮑當(dāng)時沒說)。但他堅持認(rèn)為這項工程可在一年內(nèi)完成。而且還宣稱,建成之后將會因此節(jié)省大量的勞力,以至于動物們每周只需要干三天活。另一方面,拿破侖卻爭辯說,當(dāng)前最急需的是增加食料生產(chǎn),而如果他們在風(fēng)車上浪費時間,他們?nèi)紩I死的。在“擁護斯諾鮑和每周三日工作制”和“擁護拿破侖和食料滿槽制”的不同口號下,動物們形成了兩派,本杰明是唯一一個兩邊都不沾的動物。他既不相信什么食料會更充足,也不相信什么風(fēng)車會節(jié)省勞力。他說,有沒有風(fēng)車無所謂,生活會繼續(xù)下去的,一如既往,也就是說總有不足之處。
除了風(fēng)車爭執(zhí)之外,還有一個關(guān)于莊園的防御問題。盡管人在牛棚大戰(zhàn)中被擊潰了,但他們?yōu)閵Z回莊園并使瓊斯先生復(fù)辟,會發(fā)動一次更兇狠的進(jìn)犯,這是千真萬確的事。進(jìn)一步說,因為他們受到挫敗的消息已經(jīng)傳遍了整個國家,使得附近莊園的動物比以前更難駕馭了,他們也就更有理由這樣干了。可是斯諾鮑和拿破侖又照例發(fā)生了分歧。根據(jù)拿破侖的意見,動物們的當(dāng)務(wù)之急是設(shè)法武裝起來,并自我訓(xùn)練使用武器。而按斯諾鮑的說法,他們應(yīng)該放出越來越多的鴿子,到其他莊園的動物中煽動造反。一個說如不自衛(wèi)就無異于坐以待斃;另一個則說如果造反四起,他們就斷無自衛(wèi)的必要。動物們先聽了拿破侖的,又聽了斯諾鮑的,竟不能確定誰是誰非。實際上,他們總是發(fā)現(xiàn),講話的是誰,他們就會同意誰的。
終于熬到了這一天,斯諾鮑的設(shè)計圖完成了。在緊接著的星期天大會議上,是否開工建造風(fēng)車的議題將要付諸表決,當(dāng)動物們在大谷倉里集合完畢,斯諾鮑站了起來,盡管不時被羊的咩咩聲打斷,他還是提出了他熱衷于建造風(fēng)車的緣由。接著,拿破侖站起來反駁,他非常隱諱地說風(fēng)車是瞎折騰,勸告大家不要支持它,就又猛地坐了下去。他斤斤講了不到半分鐘,似乎顯得有點說不說都一個樣。這時,斯諾鮑跳了起來,喝住了又要咩咩亂叫的羊,慷慨陳詞,呼吁大家對風(fēng)車給予支持。在這之前,動物們因各有所好,基本上是平均地分成兩派,但在頃刻之間,斯諾鮑的雄辯口才就說得他們服服貼貼。他用熱烈的語言,描述著當(dāng)動物們擺脫了沉重的勞動時動物莊園的景象。他的設(shè)想此時早已遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出了鍘草機和切蘿卜機。他說,電能帶動脫粒機、犁、耙、碾子、收割機和捆扎機,除此之外,還能給每一個窩棚里提供電燈、熱水或涼水,以及電爐等等。他講演完后,表決會何去何從已經(jīng)很明顯了。就在這個關(guān)頭,拿破侖站起來,怪模怪樣地瞥了斯諾鮑一眼,把了一聲尖細(xì)的口哨,這樣的口哨聲以前沒有一個動物聽到他打過。
這時,從外面?zhèn)鱽硪魂噧春莸耐敉艚新?,緊接著,九條強壯的狗,戴著鑲有青銅飾釘?shù)捻椚ΓM(jìn)大倉谷里來,徑直撲向斯諾鮑。就在斯諾鮑要被咬上的最后一刻,他才跳起來,一下跑到門外,于是狗就在后面追。動物們都嚇呆了,個個張口結(jié)舌。他們擠到門外注視著這場追逐。斯諾鮑飛奔著穿過通向大路的牧場,他使出渾身解數(shù)拼命地跑著。而狗已經(jīng)接近他的后蹄子。突然間,他滑倒了,眼看著就要被他們逮住??伤种匦缕饋?,跑得更快了。狗又一次趕上去,其中一條狗幾乎就要咬住斯諾鮑的尾巴了,幸而斯諾鮑及時甩開了尾巴。接著他又一個沖刺,和狗不過一步之差,從樹籬中的一個缺口竄了出去,再也看不到了。
動物們驚愕地爬回大谷倉。不一會兒,那些狗又汪汪地叫著跑回來。剛開始時,動物們都想不出這些家伙是從哪兒來的,但問題很快就弄明白了:他們正是早先被拿破侖從他們的母親身邊帶走的那些狗崽子,被拿破侖偷偷地養(yǎng)著。他們盡管還沒有完全長大,但個頭都不小,看上去兇得象狼。大家都注意到,他們始終緊挨著拿破侖,對他擺著尾巴。那姿勢,竟和別的狗過去對瓊斯先生的做法一模一樣。
這時,拿破侖在狗的尾隨下,登上那個當(dāng)年麥哲發(fā)表演講的凸臺,并宣布,從今以后,星期天早晨的大會議就此告終。他說,那些會議毫無必要,又浪費時間。此后一切有關(guān)莊園工作的議題,將有一個由豬組成的特別委員會定奪,這個委員會由他親自統(tǒng)管。他們將在私下碰頭,然后把有關(guān)決策傳達(dá)給其他動物。動物們?nèi)砸谛瞧谔煸绯考?,向莊園的旗幟致敬,唱“英格蘭獸”,并接受下一周的工作任務(wù)。但再也不搞什么辯論了。
本來,斯諾鮑被逐已經(jīng)對他們刺激不小了,但他們更為這個通告感到驚愕。有幾個動物想要抗議,卻可惜沒有找到合適的辯詞。甚至鮑克瑟也感到茫然不解,他支起耳朵,抖動幾下額毛,費力地想理出個頭緒,結(jié)果沒想出任何可說的話。然而,有些豬倒十分清醒,四只在前排的小肉豬不以為然地尖聲叫著,當(dāng)即都跳起來準(zhǔn)備發(fā)言。但突然間,圍坐在拿破侖身旁的那群狗發(fā)出一陣陰森恐怖的咆哮,于是,他們便沉默不語,重新坐了下去。接著,羊又聲音響亮地咩咩叫起“四條腿好,兩條腿壞!”一直持續(xù)了一刻鐘,從而,所有討論一下的希望也付諸東流了。
后來,斯奎拉受命在莊園里兜了一圈,就這個新的安排向動物作一解釋。
“同志們”,他說,“我希望每一位在這兒的動物,會對拿破侖同志為承擔(dān)這些額外的勞動所作的犧牲而感激的。同志們,不要以為當(dāng)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)是一種享受!恰恰相反,它是一項艱深而繁重的職責(zé)。沒有誰能比拿破侖同志更堅信所有動物一律平等。他也確實很想讓大家自己為自己作主??墒牵f一你們失策了,那么同志們,我們會怎樣呢?要是你們決定按斯諾鮑的風(fēng)車夢想跟從了他會怎樣呢?斯諾鮑這家伙,就我們現(xiàn)在所知,不比一個壞蛋強多少。”
“他在牛棚大戰(zhàn)中作戰(zhàn)很勇敢”,有個動物說了一句。
“勇敢是不夠的”,斯奎拉說,“忠誠和服從更為重要。就牛棚大戰(zhàn)而言,我相信我們最終會有一天發(fā)現(xiàn)斯諾鮑的作用被吹得太大了。紀(jì)律,同志們,鐵的紀(jì)律!這是我們今天的口號。一步走錯,我們的仇敵便會來顛覆我們。同志們,你們肯定不想讓瓊斯回來吧?”
這番論證同樣是無可辯駁的。毫無疑問,動物們害怕瓊斯回來;如果星期天早晨召集的辯論有導(dǎo)致他回來的可能,那么辯論就應(yīng)該停止。鮑克瑟細(xì)細(xì)琢磨了好一陣子,說了句“如果這是拿破侖同志說,那就一定沒錯”,以此來表達(dá)他的整個感受。并且從此以后,他又用“拿破侖同志永遠(yuǎn)正確”這句格言,作為對他個人的座右銘“我要更加努力工作”的補充。
到了天氣變暖,春耕已經(jīng)開始的時候。那間斯諾鮑用來畫風(fēng)車設(shè)計圖的小棚還一直被封著,大家想象著那些設(shè)計圖早已從地板上擦掉了。每星期天早晨十點鐘,動物們聚集在大谷倉,接受他們下一周的工作任務(wù)。如今,老麥哲的那個風(fēng)干了肉的顱骨,也已經(jīng)從果園腳下挖了出來,駕在旗桿下的一個木墩上,位于槍的一側(cè)。升旗之后,動物們要按規(guī)定恭恭敬敬地列隊經(jīng)過那個顱骨,然后才走進(jìn)大谷倉。近來,他們還沒有像早先那樣全坐在一起過。拿破侖同斯奎拉和另一個叫梅尼繆斯的豬,共同坐在前臺。這個梅尼繆斯具有非凡的天賦,擅于譜曲作詩。九條年輕的狗圍著它們成半圓形坐著。其他豬坐在后臺。別的動物面對著他們坐在大谷倉中間。拿破侖用一種粗暴的軍人風(fēng)格,宣讀對下一周的安排,隨后只唱了一遍“英格蘭獸”,所有的動物就解散了。
斯諾鮑被逐后的第三個星期天,拿破侖宣布要建造風(fēng)車,動物們聽到這個消息,終究有些吃驚。而拿破侖沒有為改變主意講述任何理由,只是簡單地告誡動物們,那項額外的任務(wù)將意味著非常艱苦的勞動:也許有必要縮減他們的食料。然而,設(shè)計圖已全部籌備好,并已經(jīng)進(jìn)入最后的細(xì)節(jié)部分。一個由豬組成的特別委員會為此在過去三周內(nèi)一直工作著。風(fēng)車的修建,加上其他一些各種各樣的改進(jìn),預(yù)期要兩年時間。
當(dāng)天晚上,斯奎拉私下對其他動物解釋說,拿破侖從來沒有真正反對過風(fēng)車。相反,正是由他最初做的建議。那個斯諾鮑畫在孵卵棚地板上的設(shè)計圖,實際上是他早先從拿破侖的筆記中剽竊的。事實上,風(fēng)車是拿破侖自己的創(chuàng)造。于是,有的動物問道,為什么他曾說它的壞話說得那么厲害?在這一點上,斯奎拉顯得非常圓滑。他說,這是拿破侖同志的老練,他裝作反對風(fēng)車,那只是一個計謀,目的在于驅(qū)除斯諾鮑這個隱患,這個壞東西。既然現(xiàn)在斯諾鮑已經(jīng)溜掉了,計劃也就能在沒有斯諾鮑妨礙的情況下順利進(jìn)行了。斯奎拉說,這就是所謂的策略,他重復(fù)了好幾遍,“策略,同志們,策略!”還一邊帶著歡快的笑聲,一邊甩動著尾巴,活蹦亂跳。動物們吃不準(zhǔn)這些話的含意,可是斯奎拉講的如此富有說服力,加上趕巧了有三條狗和他在一起,又是那樣氣勢洶洶的狂叫著,因而他們沒有進(jìn)一步再問什么,就接受了他的解釋。