Скотный двор
Chapter 1
Lastofallcamethecat,wholookedround,asusual,forthewarmestplace,andfinallysqueezedherselfinbetweenBoxerandClover;thereshepurredcontentedlythroughoutMajor’sspeechwithoutlisteningtoawordofwhathewassaying.
AlltheanimalswerenowpresentexceptMoses,thetameraven,whosleptonaperchbehindthebackdoor. WhenMajorsawthattheyhadallmadethemselvescomfortableandwerewaitingattentively,heclearedhisthroatandbegan:
"Comrades,youhaveheardalreadyaboutthestrangedreamthatIhadlastnight. ButIwillcometothedreamlater. Ihavesomethingelsetosayfirst. Idonotthink,comrades,thatIshallbewithyouformanymonthslonger,andbeforeIdie,IfeelitmydutytopassontoyousuchwisdomasIhaveacquired. Ihavehadalonglife,IhavehadmuchtimeforthoughtasIlayaloneinmystall,andIthinkImaysaythatIunderstandthenatureoflifeonthisearthaswellasanyanimalnowliving. ItisaboutthisthatIwishtospeaktoyou.
"Now,comrades,whatisthenatureofthislifeofours? Letusfaceit: ourlivesaremiserable,laborious,andshort. Weareborn,wearegivenjustsomuchfoodaswillkeepthebreathinourbodies,andthoseofuswhoarecapableofitareforcedtoworktothelastatomofourstrength;andtheveryinstantthatourusefulnesshascometoanendweareslaughteredwithhideouscruelty. NoanimalinEnglandknowsthemeaningofhappinessorleisureafterheisayearold. NoanimalinEnglandisfree. Thelifeofananimalismiseryandslavery:thatistheplaintruth.
"Butisthissimplypartoftheorderofnature? Isitbecausethislandofoursissopoorthatitcannotaffordadecentlifetothosewhodwelluponit?
