動物農場Animal Farm 第7章(2)
對外遮掩這一實情是非常必要的。
Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill, the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm.
風車的倒塌已經給人壯了膽，他們因而就捏造出有關動物莊園的新奇的謊言。
Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease,
這一次，外面又謠傳說他們這里所有的動物都在饑荒和瘟疫中垂死掙扎，
and that they were continually fighting among themselves and had resorted tocannibalism and infanticide.
而且說他們內部不斷自相殘殺，已經到了以同類相食和吞食幼崽度日的地步。
Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known,
拿破侖清醒地意識倒飼料短缺的真相被外界知道后的嚴重后果，
and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression.
因而決意利用溫普爾先生散布一些相反的言論。
Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits.
本來，到目前為止，對溫普爾的每周一次來訪，動物們還幾乎與他沒有什么接觸。
Now, however, a few selected animals, mostly sheep, were instructed to remark casuallyin his hearing that rations had been increased.
可是這一次，他們卻挑選了一些動物，大都是羊，要他們在溫普爾能聽得到的地方，裝作是在無意的聊天中談有關飼料糧增加的事。
In addition, Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand,
這還不夠，拿破侖又讓儲藏棚里那些幾乎已是完全空空如也的大箱子滿沙子，
which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal.
然后把剩下的飼料糧蓋在上面。
On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins.
最后找個適當的借口，把溫普爾領到儲藏棚，讓他瞥上一眼。
He was deceived, and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm.
溫普爾被蒙騙過去了，就不斷在外界報告說，動物莊園根本不缺飼料云云。
Nevertheless, towards the end of January it became obvious that it would be necessary toprocure some more grain from somewhere.
然而快到一月底的時候，問題就變得突出了，其關鍵就是，必須得從某個地方弄到些額外的糧食。
In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public, but spent all his time in thefarmhouse, which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs.
而這些天來，拿破侖輕易不露面，整天就呆在莊主院里，那兒的每道門都由氣勢洶洶的狗把守著。
When he did emerge, it was in a ceremonial manner, with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near.
一旦他要出來，也必是一本正經，而且，還有六條狗前呼后擁著，不管誰要走近，那些狗都會吼叫起來。
Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings, but issued his orders through one of the other pigs, usually Squealer.
甚至在星期天早晨，他也常常不露面，而由其他一頭豬，一般是斯奎拉來發布他的指示。
One Sunday morning Squealer announced that the hens, who had just come in to lay again, must surrender their eggs.
一個星期天早晨，斯奎拉宣布說，所有重新開始下蛋的雞，必須把雞蛋上交。
Napoleon had accepted, through Whymper, a contract for four hundred eggs a week.
因為通過溫普爾牽線，拿破侖已經承諾了一項每周支付四百只雞蛋的合同。
