評論
打印
For the time being, certainly, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations
當然，暫時有必要調整一下供應量
(Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment," never as a "reduction"), but in comparison with the days of Jones, the improvement was enormous.
（斯奎拉總說這是"調整"，從不認為是"減少"）。但與瓊斯時代相比，進步是巨大的。
Reading out the figures in a shrill, rapid voice, he proved to them in detail that they had more oats, more hay, more turnips than they had had in Jones's day, that they worked shorter hours,
為了向大家詳細說明這一點，斯奎拉用他那尖細的嗓音一口氣念了一大串數字。這些數字反映出，和瓊斯時代相比，他們現在有了更多的燕麥、干草、蘿卜，工作的時間更短，
that their drinking water was of better quality, that they lived longer, that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy, and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas.
飲用的水質更好，壽命延長了，年輕一代的存活率提高了，窩棚里有了更多的草墊，而且跳蚤少多了。
The animals believed every word of it.
動物們對他所說的每句話無不信以為真。
Truth to tell, Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories.
說實話，在他們的記憶中，瓊斯及他所代表的一切幾乎已經完全淡忘了。
They knew that life nowadays was harsh and bare, that they were often hungry and often cold, and that they were usually working when they were not asleep.
他們知道，近來的生活窘困而艱難，常常是饑寒交迫，醒著的時候就是干活。
But doubtless it had been worse in the old days.
但毫無疑問，過去更糟糕。
They were glad to believe so.
他們情愿相信這些。
Besides, in those days they had been slaves and now they were to have the privilege of wearing green ribbons on their tails on Sundays.
而且，之前他們都是奴隸，但現在他們都有了星期天在尾巴上戴飾帶的特權。
