In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been.

他的一言一行没有任何迹象表明他的干劲不如过去。

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.

只是外貌上有点小小的变化：他的皮毛没有以前那么光亮，粗壮的腰部似乎也有点萎缩。

The others said, "Boxer will pick up when the spring grass comes on".

别的动物说："等春草长上来时，鲍克瑟就会慢慢恢复过来"。

But the spring came and Boxer grew no fatter.

但是，春天来了，鲍克瑟却并没有长胖。

Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry, when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder,

有时，当他在通往矿顶的坡上，用尽全身气力顶着那些巨型圆石头的重荷的时候，

it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue.

撑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.

这种时候，他总是一声不吭，但猛地看上去，似乎还隐约见到他口中念念有词"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，要当心身体，但鲍克瑟不予理会。

His twelfth birthday was approaching.

他的十二岁生日临近了。

He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension.

但他没有放在心上，而一心一意想的只是在领取养老津贴之前把石头攒够。

Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer.

夏天的一个傍晚，快到天黑的时候，有个突如其来的消息传遍整个庄园，说鲍克瑟出了什么事。

He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill.

在这之前，他曾独自外出，往风车那里拉了一车石头。

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!"

几分钟后两只鸽子急速飞过来，带来消息说："鲍克瑟倒下去了！他现在正側着身体躺在那里，站不起来了！"

About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood.

庄园里大约有一半动物冲了出去，赶到建风车的小山包上。

There lay Boxer, between the shafts of the cart, his neck stretched out, unable even to raise his head.

鲍克瑟就躺在那里，他在车辕中间伸着脖子，连头也抬不起来。

His eyes were glazed, his sides matted with sweat.

他的眼睛眨巴着，两肋的毛被汗水粘得一团一团的。

A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth.

嘴里流出一股稀稀的鲜血。

Clover dropped to her knees at his side.

克拉弗跪倒在他的身边。

"Boxer!" she cried, "how are you?"

"鲍克瑟！"她呼喊道，"你怎么啦？"

"It is my lung," said Boxer in a weak voice.

"我的肺，"鲍克瑟用微弱的声音说。

"It does not matter.

"没关系的。

I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me.

我想没有我你们也能建成风车。

There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated.

备用的石头已经积攒够了。

I had only another month to go in any case.

我充其量只有一个月时间了。

To tell you the truth, I had been looking forward to my retirement.

不瞒你说，我一直盼望着退休。

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，说不定他们会让他同时退休，和我作个伴。"

"We must get help at once," said Clover. "Run, somebody, and tell Squealer what has happened."

"我们会得到帮助的，"克拉弗叫到，"快，谁跑去告诉斯奎拉出事啦。"