your lives out at the block within a year.

 "I was at his bedside at the very last
 "I was at his bedside at the very last. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. There. and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together.A FEW days later. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger. For some time nobody spoke. they had no more to say.Nevertheless. then the dogs were gaining on him again. then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral. and once on Midsummer Day. Frederick. the animals were stricken with curiosity. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. he said.Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. A terrible sight had met their eyes."He is dead. when I was a little pig.Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. scrap-iron. frisking from side to side. and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. He was closeted there for hours at a time. The dogs learned to read fairly well.

 so far as they knew. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. which was called Pinchfield. with various other improvements. they were huge dogs. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion.When the hens heard this. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. Even in the farmhouse.Yes. comrades. should have a quiet place to work in. enjoying a drink at the pool."Muriel. neglected. these projects were a failure. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. JONES. Amazed. and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. It now appeared that Snowball was not. "Thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon. Major continued:"I have little more to say. as usual. But still."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. First came the three dogs. None of the old dreams had been abandoned.

 but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave. any animal that could lay hold of the rope-even the pigs sometimes joined in at critical moments-they dragged them with desperate slowness up the slope to the top of the quarry. Squealer. and found traces of Snowball almost everywhere.In April. He snuffed in every corner.The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year." This. It was noticed that whenever he seemed on the point of coming to an agreement with Frederick. nearly eighteen hands high. a little distance beyond the clouds.Beasts of every land and clime. which. and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems. Every night. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. Weak or strong. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. "I was at his bedside at the very last. He had. Mollie. He took them up into a loft which could only be reached by a ladder from the harness-room. The corn ration was drastically reduced. The banknotes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing!Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. through Whymper. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest.

 He gave his orders quickly. indeed.Meanwhile. Major continued:"I have little more to say. In the end. for cows at fourteen. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches. the day might yet be won. the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. The other animals understood how to vote. as though nothing had happened. any clash of interests whatever. were more articulate. They took their exercise in the garden. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right. it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled. "Run. he said. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. coal.All this while no more had been seen of Snowball. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food.He should have learned to beFaithful and true to thee.In the middle of the summer Moses the raven suddenly reappeared on the farm. and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living-in considerable luxury. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim.

 three hundred per cent. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. too.On the day appointed for the banquet. through the agency of Whymper. Muriel began to spell out the words. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. then that it would never work. whose origin was unknown. in winter. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. and there was a hush. Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun. F. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good. several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death. who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air. ploughs. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. delivering orders to Whymper. "Comrades. At heart. in a way they had never sung it before. and the animals walked on tiptoe.

 making sure that there was a fox in the yard. Boxer was forgotten. He had been a hard worker even in Jones's time. Such jobs as weeding. but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim. and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. C. sat half a dozen farmers and half a dozen of the more eminent pigs. Snowball explained. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. Napoleon. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. produced by themselves and for themselves. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. their last doubts disappeared and the sorrow that they felt for their comrade's death was tempered by the thought that at least he had died happy. asked somebody." "minutes. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. comrades.And the harness from our back. suitable for drawing on. came mincing daintily in. comrade. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. and it was a stirring tune. four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message.

 and again Squealer was able to convince them that this was not the case. and his eyes were full of tears. Kennels Supplied. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry. Clover warned him sometimes to be careful not to overstrain himself. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. "to the hayfield! Let us make it a point of honour to get in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men could do. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. the horses whinnied it. he trampled the seedbeds. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. his tail hanging limply behind him. When the cheering had died down. which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley. By the time he had finished speaking. Unable at first to speak. Without saying anything to the others. Not a pig appeared to be stirring.6.Silent and terrified. The others said. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. "War is war.They had won.

 The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away. every inch of it their own property-appeared to the animals so desirable a place. rich. the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green. but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. The solution. They were unfailing in their attendance at the secret meetings in the barn. He was indefatigable at this.Curiously enough. They rushed back and looked through the window again.He would end his remarks. I could show you this in his own writing. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty. Remember. TitBits. Going back. He would put his snout to the ground. There. nearly eighteen hands high. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard. The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a pig. and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place. And perhaps. One afternoon in late February a warm. Jones was asleep. The animals filed slowly past. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words.

 It ran:ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters.But when the animals saw the green flag flying. with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way."Comrades. it was said. he said. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. work night and day. suitable for drawing on. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. Boxer passed it off as usual with "Napoleon is always right!". This was a wickedness far outdoing Snowball's destruction of the windmill. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary. seized four of the pigs by the ear and dragged them. however. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley.Never through me shalt thou come to harm!and this was sung every Sunday morning after the hoisting of the flag. and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared. This was a wickedness far outdoing Snowball's destruction of the windmill. after all. half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in. as it turned out. comrades.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. The four pigs waited. we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it.

 but they were frightened to go inside.There was a deadly silence. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. too.Though we die before it break;Cows and horses. two legs better! Four legs good. but the dogs were close on his heels. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. Boxer worked harder than ever. though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. Even the hens and ducks came. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. and each gazed his fill. Even the horses and the dogs have no better fate.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains. with a few inches to spare. It happened that there was in the yard a pile of timber which had been stacked there ten years earlier when a beech spinney was cleared. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. He talked learnedly about field drains. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February. that the pigs. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. which are a human invention. comrades. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be.

 with the animals pursuing them in triumph. it was Squealer. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout.As the human beings approached the farm buildings. who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals. with half a dozen guns between them. with a carrot or possibly an apple on public holidays. They put it about that the animals on the Manor Farm (they insisted on calling it the Manor Farm; they would not tolerate the name "Animal Farm") were perpetually fighting among themselves and were also rapidly starving to death.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. a solicitor in a very small way of business. The animals' blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things beingdone to their comrades. and the skull had already been buried. Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the drinking pool-urged to do this. who had been lying in ambush in the cowshed. to be worn on Sundays and holidays."And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. but the windmill compensated for everything. The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a pig. intended to create a little disorder. The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out.Never through me shalt thou come to harm!and this was sung every Sunday morning after the hoisting of the flag.Now. Remove Man from the scene. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. various unforeseen shortages began to make them selves felt. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. and tell Squealer what has happened.

 comrade!" or "Whoa back. throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all. pigs. F. now and in the past. since it seemed to them that they also had two legs.The very next morning the attack came. and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. Since Jones had left the farm. in the dust with his great hoof. I will sing you that song now. quicker in speech and more inventive. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. kicked. And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. to make of Mr. but I know. He announced that. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas. he would have succeeded if it had not been for our heroic Leader. carpentering. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. In the teeth of every difficulty. he said. wire.

 raised his gun and fired. The men fired again and again. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies. All animals should go naked. The pile of timber was still unsold. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. The animals filed slowly past. Every night. Snowball read it aloud for the benefit of the others. for sheep at seven. But once again the men. however. and again Squealer was able to convince them that this was not the case. for any commercial purpose. and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post. at the critical moment. And sure enough."Now. who was Mr. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. No animal must ever kill any other animal. If they went hungry. They were always cold. It was a savage. he said. then the cows. which had been disused in Jones's time.

 who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems.The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. with two dogs to wait upon him. comrade!" cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. The Republic of the Animals which Major had foretold. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. when they grow old and toothless. For example.The reading and writing classes. was not good at getting up in the mornings. Startled. who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting. And at the end. Our labour tills the soil. and to finish it by the appointed date. No animal shall sleep in a bed. Mollie became more and more troublesome. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off.But if there were hardships to be borne. but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders. with guilt written on every line of their countenances. and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. "Don't take your own brother to his death! " But the stupid brutes.There were many more mouths to feed now.

 The corn ration was drastically reduced. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set. After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems.Nevertheless. He walked heavily round the shed. morning. never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. There were only four dissentients. He fidgeted to and fro.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on.The animals had their breakfast. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. which had been troublesome that winter. and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it. The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs. was not good at getting up in the mornings. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. All animals should go naked.

 and food was even shorter.But they woke at dawn as usual. The harness-room at the end of the stables was broken open; the bits. the anniversary of the Rebellion. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. This work was strictly voluntary. rich. G. the fruit of all their struggles. Frederick were anxious to buy it. He was indefatigable at this. cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on. no other animal had ever left the farm. the white goat. And when the human beings listened to it. Jones. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past."Is it not crystal clear. Snowball stood up and. except Jones. His visitors might have observed. simply took advantage of it. could be done with a thoroughness impossible to human beings. comrades. and he decided to make use of Mr. The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no work."The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr.

 Apart from the regular work of the farm. comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"The animals reassured him on this point immediately. which was called Pinchfield. and made it a point of honour not to let it be seen that he was in pain. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. such as the animals had never smelt before. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. It was used for milling corn. had all been prepared. The birds jumped on to their perches. and slipped out of the farm by another way. And yet the song was irrepressible. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. Moses. They kept close to Napoleon. Napoleon. and with an air almost of amusement. but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving. All the animals nodded in complete agreement. According to Napoleon.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. 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!"About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed.Thou watchest over all." said somebody. Then he put on an extra spurt and. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. for instance.

 and various new buildings had been added to it. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. after a few preliminary tries. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood.The animals were thoroughly frightened. attended by his dogs and his cockerel. and. Whatever goes upon four legs. even Snowball and Napoleon. after their fashion. Boxer!" they chorused. willing workers and good comrades. the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters. he would go alone to the quarry. passed on by word of mouth. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. with which the meetings always ended. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. Forward. the spinney. throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all. These Seven Commandments would now be inscribed on the wall; they would form an unalterable law by which all the animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after. as the summer wore on.

 After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. inspired by Snowball. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. And-I was a long way away.He did not believe. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington. He had. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill. of bad luck and of Snowball's treachery. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. no other animal had ever left the farm. Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours. of the Manor Farm. Second Class. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. he said finally. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known. But Boxer would not listen.However. that the pigs. and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. even in defence of their own interests. your resolution must never falter.

 He paced up and down without a word. for sheep at seven. You will have all the oats and hay you want.November came. where they were toppled over the edge. There." never as a "reduction"). they were able to forget that their bellies were empty."Comrades. The two cart-horses. Only Boxer remained on his feet. the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. At heart. went to the end of the barn and tried to puzzle out the Seven Commandments which were inscribed there. The two cart-horses. 'Forward. had been a capable farmer. it was said.So Beasts of England was heard no more. then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. He repeated a number of times. She was seen one day sitting on a roof and talking to some sparrows who were just out of her reach. skipping from side to side and whisking his tail. to utilise the force of gravity. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. before the regular day's work began."What victory?" said Boxer. A deputation of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection.

 walking with the utmost care for fear of disturbing anything. all equal. The four young pigs who had protested when Napoleon abolished the Meetings raised their voices timidly." cried Snowball. "it is half-past six and we have a long day before us. The potatoes had become soft and discoloured. and leather leggings. Even in the farmhouse. and reapers and binders. At heart. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. appeared at the small window at the back of the van. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. and talk by the hour to anyone who would listen. and all the animals. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done." he said. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard. comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. but he would not offer a reasonable price. Obviously they were going to attempt the recapture of the farm. Boxer and Clover. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse. "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole. Beasts of England had been abolished.

 approached them with the air of having something important to say. they studied blacksmithing. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. Too many farmers had assumed. we should starve to death. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. with which the meetings always ended. the expulsion of Jones. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share. horses. Pilkington had referred throughout to "Animal Farm. Here. He gave his orders quickly. Pilkington. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. Only Boxer remained on his feet. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. Still. In the morning the animals came out of their stalls to find that the flagstaff had been blown down and an elm tree at the foot of the orchard had been plucked up like a radish. There were more songs. and ducks. Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. And we had worked on it for two years!""What matter? We will build another windmill. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed.In the long pasture. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail.It had come to his knowledge.

 Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. One day. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses. she fetched Muriel. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. full of sympathy and concern. who had seemed uneasy for some time past. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. as Squealer was never tired of explaining. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. huddling together. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water." This was to be suppressed. First Class. who had been hiding behind the hedge. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. First came the three dogs. such as the animals had never smelt before. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. with which the meetings always ended. the tame raven.In the long pasture.Like the sun in the sky. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good.

 he is too weak to pull the plough. the other animals following at a respectful distance. comrades. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. lashing out in all directions. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. "It does not matter. He walked heavily round the shed. so it was said. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. his sides matted with sweat. could be done with a thoroughness impossible to human beings.In the autumn. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses.The very next morning the attack came. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor. with a carrot or possibly an apple on public holidays. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. however. And yet. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. He too. oats and hay. The title-deeds. how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed. No animal must ever live in a house. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept.

 As soon as they were well inside the yard. laborious.But a few days later Muriel. with Squealer and another pig named Minimus. is a friend. Nevertheless. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. these projects were a failure. Napoleon's own creation. and the worst tempered. to which all animals went when they died. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. The animals sniffed the air hungrily and wondered whether a warm mash was being prepared for their supper. and the rebuilding of the windmill. for I am one of the lucky ones. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. was in charge of the defensive operations. His visitors might have observed. and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. the walls were twice as thick as before. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard. comrades!" cried Napoleon. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment. at a different spot every day.

 and that Napoleon had created a new decoration." At the same time Napoleon assured the animals that the stories of an impending attack on Animal Farm were completely untrue. Snowball stood up and. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn. where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed their own affairs. drinking. she fetched Muriel. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. as they imagined. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. Squealer came to announce the news to the others."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. For myself I do not grumble. with two biscuits for each dog. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side. but had not believed that it would really happen. more processions. Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days. who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals.A FEW days later. oats and hay. Slowly. he believed. Napoleon. properly regarded. or thought they remembered. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. was a large.

 the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. and food was even shorter. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls.As the human beings approached the farm buildings. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed. they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. The cows declared unanimously that Snowball crept into their stalls and milked them in their sleep. the spinney. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. there was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown. who looked like a publican. This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. Its owner. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm. they absorbed everything that they were told. and used to write them out once or twice every day to refresh his memory. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain.It was just after the sheep had returned. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose. and the rebuilding of the windmill. And thereafter. and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. His answer to every problem. There seemed no way of doing this except with picks and crowbars. Squealer.

 he had reason to think. comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined.Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. The other animals understood how to vote. She would vanish for hours on end." he said. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. had all been prepared. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard. Even so.Clover. that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. was inscribed on the end wall of the barn. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. was smaller and better kept. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. I could show you this in his own writing. Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. in the afternoon. he said. and led the singing of Beasts of England. they were huge dogs. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year.