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Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion.
老本杰明，就是那头驴，起义后似乎变化不大。
He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either.
他还是和在琼斯时期一样，慢条斯理地干活，从不开小差，也从不支援承担额外工作。
About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion.
对于起义和起义的结果，他从不表态。
When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey."
谁要问他是否为琼斯的离去而感到高兴，他就只说一句：“驴都长寿，你们谁都没有见过死驴呢。”
And the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.
面对他那神秘的回答，其他动物只好就此罢休。
On Sundays there was no work.
星期天没有活。
Breakfast was an hour later than usual, and after breakfast there was a ceremony which was observed every week without fail.
早餐比平时晚一个小时，早餐之后，有一项每周都要举行的仪式，从不例外。
First came the hoisting of the flag.
先是升旗。
Snowball had found in the harness-room an old green tablecloth of Mrs. Jones's and had painted on it a hoof and a horn in white.
这面旗是斯诺鲍以前在农具室里找到的一块琼斯夫人的绿色旧台布，上面用白漆画了一个蹄子和犄角。
This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday morning.
它每星期天早晨在庄主院花园的旗杆上升起。
The flag was green, Snowball explained, to represent the green fields of England,
斯诺鲍解释说，旗是绿色的，象征绿色的英格兰大地，
while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown.
而蹄子和犄角象征着未来的动物共和国，这个共和国将在人类最终被铲除时诞生。
After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting.
升旗之后，所有动物列队进入大谷仓，参加一个名为“大会议”的全体会议。
Here the work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated.
在这里将规划出有关下一周的工作，提出和讨论各项决议。
It was always the pigs who put forward the resolutions.
总是猪在提出各项议题。
The other animals understood how to vote, but could never think of any resolutions of their own.
别的动物知道怎样表决，但从未能自己提出任何议题。
Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates.
而斯诺鲍和拿破仑则分别是讨论中最活跃的中心。
But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement.
但显而易见，他们两个一直合不来。
Whatever suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it.
无论其中一个建议什么，另一个就准会反其道而行之。
Even when it was resolved--a thing no one could object to in itself--
甚至对已经通过的议题，比如把果园后面的小牧场留给年老体衰的动物，
to set aside the small paddock behind the orchard as a home of rest for animals who were past work.
这一个实际上谁都不反对的议题，他们也是同样如此。
There was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal.
为各类动物确定退休年龄，他们也要激烈争论一番。
The Meeting always ended with the singing of 'Beasts of England', and the afternoon was given up to recreation.
大会议总是随着“英格兰兽”的歌声结束，下午留作娱乐时间。
