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Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion.
老本杰明，就是那頭驢，起義后似乎變化不大。
He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either.
他還是和在瓊斯時期一樣，慢條斯理地干活，從不開小差，也從不支援承擔額外工作。
About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion.
對于起義和起義的結果，他從不表態。
When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey."
誰要問他是否為瓊斯的離去而感到高興，他就只說一句：“驢都長壽，你們誰都沒有見過死驢呢。”
And the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.
面對他那神秘的回答，其他動物只好就此罷休。
On Sundays there was no work.
星期天沒有活。
Breakfast was an hour later than usual, and after breakfast there was a ceremony which was observed every week without fail.
早餐比平時晚一個小時，早餐之后，有一項每周都要舉行的儀式，從不例外。
First came the hoisting of the flag.
先是升旗。
Snowball had found in the harness-room an old green tablecloth of Mrs. Jones's and had painted on it a hoof and a horn in white.
這面旗是斯諾鮑以前在農具室里找到的一塊瓊斯夫人的綠色舊臺布，上面用白漆畫了一個蹄子和犄角。
This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday morning.
它每星期天早晨在莊主院花園的旗桿上升起。
The flag was green, Snowball explained, to represent the green fields of England,
斯諾鮑解釋說，旗是綠色的，象征綠色的英格蘭大地，
while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown.
而蹄子和犄角象征著未來的動物共和國，這個共和國將在人類最終被鏟除時誕生。
After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting.
升旗之后，所有動物列隊進入大谷倉，參加一個名為“大會議”的全體會議。
Here the work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated.
在這里將規劃出有關下一周的工作，提出和討論各項決議。
It was always the pigs who put forward the resolutions.
總是豬在提出各項議題。
The other animals understood how to vote, but could never think of any resolutions of their own.
別的動物知道怎樣表決，但從未能自己提出任何議題。
Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates.
而斯諾鮑和拿破侖則分別是討論中最活躍的中心。
But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement.
但顯而易見，他們兩個一直合不來。
Whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it.
無論其中一個建議什么，另一個就準會反其道而行之。
Even when it was resolved--a thing no one could object to in itself--
甚至對已經通過的議題，比如把果園后面的小牧場留給年老體衰的動物，
to set aside the small paddock behind the orchard as a home of rest for animals who were past work.
這一個實際上誰都不反對的議題，他們也是同樣如此。
There was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal.
為各類動物確定退休年齡，他們也要激烈爭論一番。
The Meeting always ended with the singing of 'Beasts of England', and the afternoon was given up to recreation.
大會議總是隨著“英格蘭獸”的歌聲結束，下午留作娛樂時間。
