Late one evening(occurring at a time that is far into the evening [leɪt wən ˈivnɪŋ]), in the summer(during the season of summer [ɪn ðə ˈsəmər]), a sudden rumour(an unexpected piece of information or story that may or may not be true [ə ˈsədən ˈrumər]) ran round(spread quickly through [ræn raʊnd]) the farm(the agricultural land and buildings [ðə fɑrm]) that something had happened(indicating that an event, often negative, has occurred [ðət ˈsəmθɪŋ hæd ˈhæpənd]) to Boxer(referring to a specific character named Boxer [tɪ ˈbɑksər]). He had gone out(he departed or left a place [hi hæd gɔn aʊt]) alone(without any companions [əˈloʊn]) to drag(to pull something heavy along with effort [tɪ dræg]) a load of stone(a quantity of rocks or stones [ə loʊd əv stoʊn]) down to(towards a lower place or position [daʊn tɪ]) the windmill(a structure that uses wind power to grind grain or perform other work [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]). And sure enough(as expected; confirming a previous suspicion or expectation [ənd ʃʊr ɪˈnəf]), the rumour was true(the unconfirmed information turned out to be accurate [ðə ˈrumər wɑz tru]). A few minutes later(after a short period of time [ə fju ˈmɪnəts ˈleɪtər]) two pigeons(two birds of a specific type [tu ˈpɪʤənz]) came racing in(arrived quickly and excitedly [keɪm ˈreɪsɪŋ ɪn]) with the news(carrying information [wɪθ ðə nuz]):
‘Boxer has fallen(Boxer has collapsed or dropped to the ground [ˈbɑksər həz ˈfɑlən])! He is lying(He is in a horizontal position [hi ɪz laɪɪŋ]) on his side(with one side of his body touching the ground [ɔn hɪz saɪd]) and can't get up(and is unable to stand [ənd kænt gɪt əp)])!’
About half(approximately fifty percent [əˈbaʊt hæf]) the animals(the creatures living on the farm [ðə ˈænəməlz]) on the farm(located at the agricultural land and buildings [ɔn ðə fɑrm]) rushed out(moved quickly and eagerly [rəʃt aʊt]) to the knoll(towards a small hill or mound [tɪ ðə noʊl]) where the windmill stood(the location where the windmill was situated [wɛr ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl stʊd]). There lay Boxer(Boxer was lying there [ðɛr leɪ ˈbɑksər]), between the shafts(in the space between the two poles [bɪtˈwin ðə ʃæfts]) of the cart(belonging to the vehicle used for carrying loads [əv ðə kɑrt]), his neck stretched out(his neck extended to its full length [hɪz nɛk strɛʧt aʊt]), unable even(not capable [əˈneɪbəl ˈivɪn]) to raise his head(to lift his head upwards [tɪ reɪz hɪz hɛd]). His eyes were glazed(his eyes appeared dull and without focus [hɪz aɪz wər gleɪzd]), his sides matted(the hair or fur on his sides was tangled and stuck together [hɪz saɪdz matted]) with sweat(covered in perspiration [wɪθ swɛt]). A thin stream(a small flow [ə θɪn strim]) of blood(the red liquid that circulates in the body [əv bləd]) had trickled out(had flowed slowly in a thin stream [hæd ˈtrɪkəld aʊt]) of his mouth(from his mouth [əv hɪz maʊθ]). Clover dropped(Clover lowered herself [ˈkloʊvər drɑpt]) to her knees(to a kneeling position [tɪ hər niz]) at his side(next to him [æt hɪz saɪd]).
‘Boxer( Addressing Boxer directly, showing concern [‘‘boxer])!’ she( refers to a female character, likely Clover [ʃi]) cried( exclaimed loudly, indicating distress or urgency [kraɪd]), ‘how are you( a question inquiring about Boxer's well-being [haʊ ər ju])?’
‘It is my lung( Boxer is explaining that the problem is with his lung [‘‘it ɪz maɪ ləŋ]),’ said( indicates who is speaking [sɛd]) Boxer( the name of the character speaking [ˈbɑksər]) in a weak voice( describes the manner in which Boxer is speaking, indicating his poor health [ɪn ə wik vɔɪs]). ‘It does not matter( Boxer is trying to downplay the seriousness of his condition [‘‘it dɪz nɑt ˈmætər]). I think( expressing an opinion or belief [aɪ θɪŋk]) you( referring to the other animals [ju]) will be able to( will have the capability to [wɪl bi ˈeɪbəl tɪ]) finish( complete [ˈfɪnɪʃ]) the windmill( a significant construction project on the farm [ðə ˈwɪndˌmɪl]) without me( indicating that he won't be able to help [wɪˈθaʊt mi]). There is( indicates the existence of something [ðɛr ɪz]) a pretty good( quite a substantial [ə ˈprɪti gʊd]) store of stone( a collection of rocks [stɔr əv stoʊn]) accumulated( gathered or collected over time [əˈkjumjəˌleɪtɪd]). I had( I possessed or had available [aɪ hæd]) only( just [ˈoʊnli]) another month( one more month [əˈnəðər mənθ]) to go( remaining [tɪ goʊ]) in any case( regardless of what happens [ɪn ˈɛni keɪs]). To tell you the truth( introducing a sincere statement [tɪ tɛl ju ðə truθ]) I had been looking forward to( I was eagerly anticipating [aɪ hæd bɪn ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔrwərd tɪ]) my retirement( the end of his working life [maɪ rɪˈtaɪərmənt]). And( conjunction used to add information [ənd]) perhaps( possibly [pərˈhæps]), as( because [ɛz]) Benjamin( name of another animal on the farm [ˈbɛnʤəmən]) is growing old( is getting older [ɪz groʊɪŋ oʊld]) too( also [tu]), they( referring to the pigs, the leaders of the farm [ðeɪ]) will let him( will allow him [wɪl lɛt ɪm]) retire( to stop working [ˌriˈtaɪər]) at the same time( simultaneously [æt ðə seɪm taɪm]) and( conjunction used to connect two ideas [ənd]) be( to become [bi]) a companion( someone who provides company [ə kəmˈpænjən]) to me( for Boxer [tɪ mi]).’
‘We must( It is imperative that we [‘‘we məst]) get help( obtain assistance [gɪt hɛlp]) at once( immediately [æt wəns]),’ said( indicates who is speaking [sɛd]) Clover( the name of the character speaking [ˈkloʊvər]). ‘Run( go quickly [‘‘run]), somebody( anyone [ˈsəmˌbɑdi]), and( conjunction used to connect two actions [ənd]) tell( inform [tɛl]) Squealer( the name of another character, a pig [squealer]) what has happened( about the event that has occurred [wət həz ˈhæpənd]).’
All the other animals(Refers to every animal except the speaker, emphasizing a collective group [ɔl ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]) immediately(Happening without any delay; instantly [ˌɪˈmiˌdiətli]) raced back(Quickly ran or hurried back [reɪst bæk]) to the farmhouse(The main house on the farm, where the farmer lives [tɪ ðə ˈfɑrmˌhaʊs]) to give Squealer the news(To inform Squealer, a pig character, about recent events [tɪ gɪv squealer ðə nuz]). Only Clover remained(Clover was the sole animal that stayed behind [ˈoʊnli ˈkloʊvər rɪˈmeɪnd]), and Benjamin(Another animal character, a donkey [ənd ˈbɛnʤəmən]), who lay down(Who reclined or rested [hu leɪ daʊn]) at Boxer's side(Next to Boxer, another animal character [æt ˈbɑksərz saɪd]), and, without speaking(Without saying anything [ənd wɪˈθaʊt ˈspikɪŋ]), kept the flies off him(Prevented flies from landing on Boxer [kɛpt ðə flaɪz ɔf ɪm]) with his long tail(Using his tail to swat away the flies [wɪθ hɪz lɔŋ teɪl]). After about a quarter of an hour(Approximately fifteen minutes later [ˈæftər əˈbaʊt ə kˈwɔrtər əv ən aʊər]) Squealer appeared(Squealer, a pig character, showed up [squealer əˈpɪrd]), full of sympathy and concern(Expressing a lot of compassion and worry [fʊl əv ˈsɪmpəθi ənd kənˈsərn]). He said that(Introducing what Squealer stated [hi sɛd ðət]) Comrade Napoleon(Referring to Napoleon, the leader of the farm, using the term 'Comrade' to denote equality and solidarity [ˈkɑmˌræd nəˈpoʊljən]) had learned(Had found out or been informed [hæd ˈlərnɪd]) with the very deepest distress(With extreme sadness and sorrow [wɪθ ðə ˈvɛri ˈdipəst dɪˈstrɛs]) of this misfortune(About this unfortunate event [əv ðɪs mɪsˈfɔrʧən]) to one of the most loyal workers(Referring to Boxer as a very dedicated and faithful worker [tɪ wən əv ðə moʊst lɔɪəl ˈwərkərz]) on the farm(At the farm [ɔn ðə fɑrm]), and was already making arrangements(And was already planning [ənd wɑz ɔˈrɛdi ˈmeɪkɪŋ ərˈeɪnʤmənts]) to send Boxer(To have Boxer go [tɪ sɛnd ˈbɑksər]) to be treated(To receive medical care [tɪ bi ˈtritɪd]) in the hospital at Willingdon(At the hospital located in Willingdon [ɪn ðə ˈhɑˌspɪtəl æt willingdon]). The animals felt a little uneasy(The animals felt somewhat anxious or worried [ðə ˈænəməlz fɛlt ə ˈlɪtəl əˈnizi]) at this(About this situation [æt ðɪs]). Except for Mollie and Snowball(Excluding Mollie and Snowball, two other animals [ɪkˈsɛpt fər ˈmɑli ənd sˈnoʊˌbɔl]) no other animal had ever left the farm(No other animal had previously departed from the farm [noʊ ˈəðər ˈænəməl hæd ˈɛvər lɛft ðə fɑrm]), and they did not like to think(And they were uncomfortable with the idea [ənd ðeɪ dɪd nɑt laɪk tɪ θɪŋk]) of their sick comrade(Of their ill friend [əv ðɛr sɪk ˈkɑmˌræd]) in the hands of human beings(Being cared for by humans [ɪn ðə hænz əv ˈjumən biɪŋz]). However, Squealer easily convinced them(But Squealer readily persuaded them [ˌhaʊˈɛvər squealer ˈizəli kənˈvɪnst ðɛm]) that the veterinary surgeon(That the animal doctor [ðət ðə ˈvɛtrəˌnɛri ˈsərʤɪn]) in Willingdon(Located in Willingdon [ɪn willingdon]) could treat Boxer's case(Could provide medical care for Boxer [kʊd trit ˈbɑksərz keɪs]) more satisfactorily(In a better way [mɔr ˌsætɪsˈfæktrəli]) than could be done on the farm(Than what could be done at the farm [ðən kʊd bi dən ɔn ðə fɑrm]). And about half an hour later(Approximately thirty minutes later [ənd əˈbaʊt hæf ən aʊər ˈleɪtər]), when Boxer had somewhat recovered(When Boxer had slightly improved [wɪn ˈbɑksər hæd ˈsəmˈwət rɪˈkəvərd]), he was with difficulty got onto his feet(He was helped to stand up with some effort [hi wɑz wɪθ ˈdɪfɪˌkəlti gɑt ˈɔntu hɪz fit]), and managed to limp back(And succeeded in walking with a limp [ənd ˈmænɪʤd tɪ lɪmp bæk]) to his stall(To his individual enclosure in the barn [tɪ hɪz stɔl]), where Clover and Benjamin had prepared(Where Clover and Benjamin had made ready [wɛr ˈkloʊvər ənd ˈbɛnʤəmən hæd priˈpɛrd]) a good bed of straw(A comfortable bedding made of dried stalks [ə gʊd bɛd əv strɔ]) for him(For Boxer [fər ɪm]).