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In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been.
他的一言一行沒有任何跡象表明他的干勁不如過去。
It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be, and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken.
只是外貌上有點小小的變化：他的皮毛沒有以前那么光亮，粗壯的腰部似乎也有點萎縮。
The others said, "Boxer will pick up when the spring grass comes on".
別的動物說："等春草長上來時，鮑克瑟就會慢慢恢復過來"。
But the spring came and Boxer grew no fatter.
但是，春天來了，鮑克瑟卻并沒有長胖。
Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry, when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder,
有時，當他在通往礦頂的坡上，用盡全身氣力頂著那些巨型圓石頭的重荷的時候，
it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue.
撐持他的力量仿佛唯有不懈的意志了。
At such times his lips were seen to form the words, "I will work harder"; he had no voice left.
這種時候，他總是一聲不吭，但猛地看上去，似乎還隱約見到他口中念念有詞"我要更加努力工作"。
Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health, but Boxer paid no attention.
克拉弗和本杰明又一次警告他，要當心身體，但鮑克瑟不予理會。
His twelfth birthday was approaching.
他的十二歲生日臨近了。
He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension.
但他沒有放在心上，而一心一意想的只是在領取養老津貼之前把石頭攢夠。
Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer.
夏天的一個傍晚，快到天黑的時候，有個突如其來的消息傳遍整個莊園，說鮑克瑟出了什么事。
He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill.
在這之前，他曾獨自外出，往風車那里拉了一車石頭。
And sure enough, the rumour was true.
果然，消息是真的。
A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news; "Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can't get up!"
幾分鐘后兩只鴿子急速飛過來，帶來消息說："鮑克瑟倒下去了！他現在正側著身體躺在那里，站不起來了！"
About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood.
莊園里大約有一半動物沖了出去，趕到建風車的小山包上。
There lay Boxer, between the shafts of the cart, his neck stretched out, unable even to raise his head.
鮑克瑟就躺在那里，他在車轅中間伸著脖子，連頭也抬不起來。
His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat.
他的眼睛眨巴著，兩肋的毛被汗水粘得一團一團的。
A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth.
嘴里流出一股稀稀的鮮血。
Clover dropped to her knees at his side.
克拉弗跪倒在他的身邊。
"Boxer!" she cried, "how are you?"
"鮑克瑟！"她呼喊道，"你怎么啦？"
"It is my lung," said Boxer in a weak voice.
"我的肺，"鮑克瑟用微弱的聲音說。
"It does not matter.
"沒關系的。
I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me.
我想沒有我你們也能建成風車。
There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated.
備用的石頭已經積攢夠了。
I had only another month to go in any case.
我充其量只有一個月時間了。
To tell you the truth, I had been looking forward to my retirement.
不瞞你說，我一直盼望著退休。
And perhaps, as Benjamin is growing old too, they will let him retire at the same time and be a companion to me."
眼看本杰明年老了，說不定他們會讓他同時退休，和我作個伴。"
"We must get help at once," said Clover. "Run, somebody, and tell Squealer what has happened."
"我們會得到幫助的，"克拉弗叫到，"快，誰跑去告訴斯奎拉出事啦。"
