Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the 'Farmer and Stockbreeder' which he had found in the farmhouse, and was full of plans for innovations and improvements.
斯诺鲍曾在庄主院里找到一些过期的《农场主和畜牧业者》杂志,并对此作过深入的研究,装了满脑子的革新和发明设想。
He talked learnedly about field drains, silage, and basic slag,
他谈起什么农田排水、什么饲料保鲜、什么碱性炉渣,学究气十足。
and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields, at a different spot every day, to save the labor of cartage.
他还设计出一个复杂的系统,可以把动物每天在不同地方拉的粪便直接通到地里,以节省运送的劳力。
Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball's would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time.
拿破仑自己无所贡献,却拐弯抹角地说斯诺鲍的这些东西最终将会是一场空,看起来他是在走着瞧了。
But of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill.
但是在他们所有的争吵中,最为激烈的莫过于关于风车一事的争辩。
In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm.
在狭长的大牧场上,离庄园里的窝棚不远的地方,有一座小山包,那是庄园里的制高点。
After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power.
斯诺鲍在勘察过那地方之后,宣布说那里是建造风车最合适的地方,这风车可用来带动发电机,从而可为庄园提供电力。
This would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangel-slicer, and an electric milking machine.
也就可以使窝棚里用上电灯并在冬天取暖,还可以带动圆锯、铡草机、切片机和电动挤奶机。
The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery).
动物们以前还从未听说过任何这类事情(因为这是一座老式的庄园,只有一台非常原始的机器)。
And they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines
当斯诺鲍绘声绘色地描述着那些奇妙的机器的情景时,
which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation.
说那些机器可以在他们悠闲地在地里吃草时,在他们修养心性而读书或聊天时为他们干活,动物们都听呆了。