After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters.

从此以后，似乎不再有什么可稀奇的了：第二天所有的猪在庄园监督干活时蹄子上都捏着一根鞭子，算不得稀奇。

It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set, were arranging to install a telephone,

猪给他们自己买一台无线电收音机，并正在准备安装一部电话，算不得稀奇；

and had taken out subscriptions to 'John Bull', 'Tit-Bits', and the 'Daily Mirror'.

得知他们已经订阅了《约翰?牛报》、《珍闻报》及《每日镜报》，算不得稀奇。

It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth.

看到拿破仑在庄主院花园里散步时，嘴里含着一根烟斗，也算不得稀奇。

No, not even when the pigs took Mr. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on,

是的，不必再大惊小怪了，哪怕猪把琼斯先生的衣服从衣柜里拿出来穿在身上也没有什么，

Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat, rat catcher breeches, and leather leggings,

如今，拿破仑已经亲自穿上了一件黑外套和一条特制的马裤，还绑上了皮绑腿，

while his favorite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Jones had been used to wearing on Sundays.

同时，他心爱的母猪则穿上一件波纹绸裙子，那裙子是琼斯夫人过去常在星期天穿的。

A week later, in the afternoon, a number of dog-carts drove up to the farm.

一周后的一天下午，一位两轮单驾马车驶进庄园。

A deputation of neighboring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection.

一个由邻近庄园主组成的代表团，已接受邀请来此进行考查观光。

They were shown all over the farm, and expressed great admiration for everything they saw, especially the windmill.

他们参观了整个庄园，并对他们看到的每件事都赞不绝口，尤其是对风车。

The animals were weeding the turnip field.

那时，动物们正在萝卜地里除草。

They worked diligently hardly raising their faces from the ground,

他们干得细心认真，很少扬起脸，

and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors.

搞不清他们是对猪更害怕呢，还是对来参观的人更害怕。

That evening loud laughter and bursts of singing came from the farmhouse.

那天晚上，从庄主院里传来一阵阵哄笑声和歌声。

And suddenly, at the sound of the mingled voices, the animals were stricken with curiosity.

动物们突然被这混杂的声音吸引住了，他们非常好奇。

What could be happening in there, now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality?

既然这是动物和人第一次在平等关系下济济一堂，那么在那里会发生什么事呢？

With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden.

于是他们便不约而同地，尽量不出一点声音地往庄主院的花园里爬去。

At the gate they paused, half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in.

到了门口，他们又停住了，大概是因为害怕而不敢再往前走，但克拉弗带头进去了。

They tiptoed up to the house, and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining-room window.

他们踮着蹄子，走到房子跟前，那些个头很高的动物就从餐厅的窗户上往里面看。