For the time being, certainly, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations

当然，暂时有必要调整一下供应量

(Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment," never as a "reduction"), but in comparison with the days of Jones, the improvement was enormous.

（斯奎拉总说这是"调整"，从不认为是"减少"）。但与琼斯时代相比，进步是巨大的。

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,

为了向大家详细说明这一点，斯奎拉用他那尖细的嗓音一口气念了一大串数字。这些数字反映出，和琼斯时代相比，他们现在有了更多的燕麦、干草、萝卜，工作的时间更短，

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.

饮用的水质更好，寿命延长了，年轻一代的存活率提高了，窝棚里有了更多的草垫，而且跳蚤少多了。

The animals believed every word of it.

动物们对他所说的每句话无不信以为真。

Truth to tell, Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories.

说实话，在他们的记忆中，琼斯及他所代表的一切几乎已经完全淡忘了。

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.

他们知道，近来的生活窘困而艰难，常常是饥寒交迫，醒着的时候就是干活。

But doubtless it had been worse in the old days.

但毫无疑问，过去更糟糕。

They were glad to believe so.

他们情愿相信这些。

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，之前他们都是奴隶，但现在他们都有了星期天在尾巴上戴饰带的特权。