It was lucky that the owners of the two farms which adjoined Animal Farm were on permanently【adv. 永久地，长期不变地】 bad terms【n. 地位，关系；[法] 条款；术语；措辞；价钱（term的复数形式）】. One of them， which was named Foxwood，was a large，neglected【adj. 被忽视的；无人照管的】，old-fashioned farm，much overgrown by woodland， with all its pastures【牧草】 worn out and its hedges【n. [建] 树篱；模糊限制语（hedge的复数）；障碍】 in a disgraceful condition. Its owner，Mr. Pilkington，was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season.
The other farm， which was called Pinchfield，was smaller and better kept. Its owner was a Mr. Frederick， a tough【adj. 艰苦的，困难的；坚强的，不屈不挠的；坚韧的，牢固的；强壮的，结实的】，shrewd【adj. 精明的；狡猾的；机灵的】 man， perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains. These two disliked each other so much that it was difficult for them to come to any agreement，even in defense of their own interests.
Nevertheless， they were both thoroughly【adv. 彻底地，完全地】 frightened by the Rebellion on Animal Farm，and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it. AI first，they pretended to laugh to scorn【n. 轻蔑；嘲笑；藐视的对象】 the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. Their whole thing would be over in a fortnight【n. 两星期】， they said. They put it about that the animals on the Manor Farm（they insisted on calling it the Manor Farm；they would not tolerate【vt. 忍受；默许；宽恕】 the name“Animal Farm”）were perpetually【adv. 永恒地，持久地】 fighting among themselves and were also rapidly starving to death.
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