1.Then a man came and cut off my long and beautiful tail, through the flesh and through the bone, and took it away.
「through」在这里作介词,表示“穿过,贯穿”。
这句的意思是:人类割下他的尾巴,连同肉和骨头一起拿走。
2.They cut off hair on their pretty little ears to a point to make them look sharp.
「sharp」intellectually penetrating; astute. 敏锐的;智力上敏锐的
「point」尖端
3.One would be just as sensible as the other. What right do men have to completely change the appearance of God's creatures and make them suffer?
「sensible」理智的、具有良好判断力的
「sensitive」通情达理的
「sb. have right to do」某有有权去做
句子意思:应该将心比心,他们有什么权利去折磨、破坏上帝的创造物,让它们(动物)受苦?
4.Ginger was very much excited. She suddenly raised her head with flashing eyes and enlarged nostrils, saying that men were both cruel and stupid.
「flashing eyes」两眼闪闪发光
「enlarged nostrils」鼻孔张得老大
5.Things were getting rather angry, when Merrylegs held up his knowing little face and said, "It is all true, but I'll tell you a secret: I believe John does not agree on blinkers…"
「knowing」在这里作形容词,表示“会意的,心照不宣的”
6.So talking against men is such a place as this doesn't seem fair of grateful.
「talking against」在这里指“说坏话,抱怨”
- 我们这样子说人们坏话,其实对好人(我们主人)来说是不公平的。
7."…I believe the wind has blown down some apples, and we might just as well eat them before the worms do", Merrylegs suggested.
「might (just) as well」最好还是…,语气比「had better do」委婉些
8.We got up our spirits by eating some very sweet apples lying on the grass.
「get up sb's spirits」=「raise/lift sb's spirits」使某人振奋
另,「spirit」作为名词还有“烈酒”的意思,通常指威士忌或白兰地:
Spirits are more expensive than beer, but they get you drunk faster.