Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health,but Boxer paid no attention. His twelfth birthday was approaching. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension.
克拉弗和本杰明又一次警告他要注意健康,但鲍克瑟置之不理。他的十二岁生日快到了。他不在乎发生什么事,只要在他领取养老金之前能攒足大量的石头。
Late one evening in the summer,a sudden rumour ran around the farm that something had happened to Boxer. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. And sure enough,the rumour was true. 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!”
夏天的一个傍晚,一个突然的谣言传遍庄园,说鲍克瑟出事了。他一个人出去把一车石头拖到风车里去了。果然,谣言是真的。几分钟后两只鸽子急速飞进来,带来消息:“鲍克瑟摔倒了!他侧身躺着,起不来了!”
About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. There lay Boxer,between the shafts of the cart,his neck stretched【v. (柔软或弹性物)伸展;拉紧;(使)过分延长;(资金、资源)足够;大量要求;(使)最大限度利用(才能);夸大;延续】 out,unable even to raise his head. His eyes were glazed,his sides matted with sweat. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. Clover dropped to her knees at his side.
庄园里大约有一半的动物冲到有风车的小丘上。鲍克瑟躺在那里,在车辕之间,他的脖子伸长着,甚至不能抬起头来。他的眼睛呆滞,身体两侧布满汗珠。一股细细的血从他嘴里流了出来。克拉弗跪在他身边。
“Boxer!”she cried,“how are you!”
“拳击手!”她喊道:“你好吗?”
“It is my lung,”said Boxer in a weak voice. “It does not matter. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. I had only another month to go in any case. To tell you the truth,I had been looking forward to my retirement. And perhaps,as Benjiamin is growing old too, othey will let him retire at the same time and be a companion to me.”
“是我的肺,”鲍克瑟用微弱的声音说。“没关系。我认为没有我你也能完成风车。那里积聚了相当多的石头。反正我只剩一个月的时间了。说实话,我一直盼望着退休。也许,本杰明也老了,他们会让他同时退休,做我的伴侣。”