had trickled out of his mouth. Do not imagine.

 said Squealer
 said Squealer. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm. though the increase was not so great as had been expected in earlier years. and managed to limp back to his stall. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. The rats. One of Mr. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap. sat half a dozen farmers and half a dozen of the more eminent pigs. and the rest of the pigs. Snowball also busied himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. which was a Saturday. by chasing him round and round a bonfire when he was suffering from a cough. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest.The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. The pigeons swirled into the air. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. And the news soon leaked out that every pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer daily.

 which. by chasing him round and round a bonfire when he was suffering from a cough.HOW they toiled and sweated to get the hay in! But their efforts were rewarded. 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. and only a few were edible. of course. I cannot describe that dream to you.' Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's! "A cry of horror burst from all the animals. If so. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings.Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. They took their exercise in the garden. Then there was a deafening roar. or that if it did stand up. Clover took her aside. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. 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. And so the tale of confessions and executions went on. besides various tools and. After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting.

 and then would stand staring at the letters with his ears back. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible.None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off." said Clover. with which the meetings always ended. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. You cows that I see before me. or has wings. "You do not imagine. then. was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. inexperienced though the animals were. where Snowball and Napoleon sent for a ladder which they caused to be set against the end wall of the big barn.A week later. to make of Mr. returned. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. which was named Foxwood. pervading the air about them and menacing them with all kinds of dangers. he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off.

 but it had long since passed out of my mind. It was also found that the stupider animals. but said quietly that Snowball's would come to nothing. who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse. Apart from the regular work of the farm. Pilkington. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail. it might be in a week or in a hundred years. it must have done so. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. the spinney. and not for a pack of idle. the only Berkshire on the farm. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away.""That is the true spirit. According to Napoleon. and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to market to bring in money for Jones and his men. with the money at his side. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. but would say nothing."Frightened though they were. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations."And remember.

Bit and spur shall rust forever. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. Without saying anything to the others. Boxer and Clover. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. For the first time since the expulsion of Jones. As for the dogs. comrades. nobody grumbled over his rations. were arranging to install a telephone. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment. he said. "Jones's shot only grazed him. The windmill was. though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. Squealer said. attended by his dogs and his cockerel.

 and we will build all through the winter. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill. Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. hiding on Pinchfield Farm." he said.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses."He is dead. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse. in a way they had never sung it before. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once. rain or shine. I am old and my voice is hoarse. nails. It had been felt that the existence of a farm owned and operated by pigs was somehow abnormal and was liable to have an unsettling effect in the neighbourhood. to utilise the force of gravity. it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals. and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation. the improvement was enormous. the tame raven. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. and all the animals.

Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm. He took his meals alone. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. said Squealer. shrewd man. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. he cried indignantly. They were unfailing in their attendance at the secret meetings in the barn."But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No. and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses. All the animals followed. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. suddenly emerged in their rear. they reasoned. not even Frederick. If Pilkington and his men would help them.As the human beings approached the farm buildings. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck. but Snowball whisked it free just in time.

 and pinned him to the ground. comrades. with guilt written on every line of their countenances. where are those four foals you bore. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work. His men were idle and dishonest. the sheep developed a great liking for this maxim. and near at hand there lay a lantern. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses.That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill.Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals. it seemed to the animals that they did remember it.However. He had. Napoleon was by this time on slightly better terms with the other farmers than before. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. and seemed to understand.Comrade Napoleon!Thou are the giver ofAll that thy creatures love. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. in the cow-shed. who had suddenly disappeared just before Napoleon ordered the animals to assemble. And then.

 Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. I could show you this in his own writing. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. "it is half-past six and we have a long day before us. as it was warm weather. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero. like a piece of artillery. the sheep bleated it.Beasts of England. The whole of the big pasture. but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. In fact. they were huge dogs. If a window was broken or a drain was blocked up. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. that their drinking water was of better quality. They were still the only farm in the whole county-in all England!-owned and operated by animals. who in fact was only stunned. of whatever degree. somebody. Four dogs guarded his bed at night. The boy did not stir.

 rain or shine. "has stated categorically-categorically. The harvest was a little less successful than in the previous year. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. as Benjamin is growing old too. which every animal would do well to adopt as his own. Man is the only real enemy we have. comrades. comrades. At a moment when the opening was clear. Boxer was the admiration of everybody. the spinney. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. The flag was green. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. furious denials." This was to be suppressed. not much of a talker. 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 pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. but Clover. the dogs promptly tore their throats out.

 In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. above all. And a moment later. Frederick and Pilkington said."And remember.5. saw what was happening. But we were wrong. so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. at the critical moment. At last they could stand it no longer. And-I was a long way away. Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death. almost too weak to speak. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. They did not know when the Rebellion predicted by Major would take place. and reapers and binders. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. and usually hungry as well. Pilkington.Afterwards Squealer made a round of the farm and set the animals' minds at rest.

 Henceforward the farm was to be known as "The Manor Farm"-which. and the dog slunk away. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. of never complaining. But just at that moment. With the worthless parasitical human beings gone. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. He set his ears back.All the animals were now present except Moses. So it was agreed without further argument that the milk and the windfall apples (and also the main crop of apples when they ripened) should be reserved for the pigs alone. and disappointment being. as usual. but never exercised his faculty. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. oats and hay. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. besides various tools and.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. Its owner. but Boxer paid no attention. In the evening Squealer called them together. in profile. beginning to prance about and paw the ground.

 it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley. the degrading nosebags. Man is the only real enemy we have. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. there lay a ladder broken in two pieces.There was a deadly silence. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D."Impossible!" cried Napoleon.For the next two days Boxer remained in his stall. The animals filed slowly past. how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. They took their exercise in the garden. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields.Hearken well and spread my tidingsOf the golden future time."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest.The animals were not badly off throughout that summer. The animals were not certain what the word meant. never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed." concluded Mr. the fields were full of weeds. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself.

 And thereafter. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. The hens. The skull of old Major. Comrade Napoleon. According to Snowball. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. Then he put on an extra spurt and. The young pigs were piebald. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. the spinney. slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. except Clover.Apart from the disputes over the windmill. He had flogged an old horse to death. things had been better or worse than now. and the rebuilding of the windmill. "Gentlemen. fifteen pounds of hay. bruised and howling. This. I had known that tune in my infancy.

 and with an air almost of amusement. but by the time he knew them. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. And very comfortable beds they are too! But not more comfortable than we need. Fill your glasses to the brim. As Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. when they grow old and toothless.A FEW days later. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. he lurched across the yard. walking with the utmost care for fear of disturbing anything. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. There was more leisure too. Boxer was the admiration of everybody. not far from the farm buildings. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. after a few preliminary tries. it was said. They rushed back and looked through the window again. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr.

 do not adopt his vices. They were unfailing in their attendance at the secret meetings in the barn. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. because no animal could stand on his hind legs. The windmill was."Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill.On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year." he said. roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement. there was the question of the defence of the farm. in fact. And among us animals let there be perfect unity. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public. and usually hungry as well. Nevertheless. Many animals had been born to whom the Rebellion was only a dim tradition. Jones's trap.""I have no wish to take life." he said. Then they saw what Clover had seen.

 Snowball was secretly frequenting the farm by night! The animals were so disturbed that they could hardly sleep in their stalls. It was almost half built now. hardship.It was just after the sheep had returned. Napoleon. horses. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting. a tough. and the worst tempered. but she did not sound very convinced. "That will be attended to. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil-the sacred soil of Animal Farm? ""But they have destroyed the windmill. like a piece of artillery.However." cried Snowball. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. TitBits. such as the animals had never smelt before. So far as he knew. Whatever goes upon four legs. which would clearly be most undesirable.

 which had been troublesome that winter. oats and hay. the prize Middle White boar. all walking on their hind legs. which was named Foxwood. Fill your glasses to the brim. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. and the Manor Farm was theirs. Last of all came the cat. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. It now appeared that Snowball had not. were more articulate. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes. All the animals followed. what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. They were fine upstanding beasts. two legs bad! Four legs good. but in a different form. as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet. the hayfield. more morose and taciturn than ever. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr.

 In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. and the rest he keeps for himself. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel. sheep. In addition. Snowball was said to be at Pinchfield. then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open."He is dead. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. of bad luck and of Snowball's treachery. Nevertheless. The birds at first objected. pretty white mare who drew Mr. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. comrade." and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. As yet no animal had actually retired on pension. and as soon as they were so covered. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. They rolled in the dew. but. someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road.

 If a window was broken or a drain was blocked up. And again. and seemed to be biding his time.6. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. nails.A thought struck Clover. No creature among them went upon two legs. I hope. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. sand. rain or shine. comrade!" as the case might be. Slowly. as usual. and had a way of leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone in her hoof. Jones. On the contrary. in the henhouses. besides instituting classes in reading and writing.""That was part of the arrangement!" cried Squealer.At the gate they paused.

 This was to be the name of the farm from now onwards. never growing tired of it. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. but they accepted his explanation. He does not give milk. was sprawling beside it. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. comrades. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes. It is all lies. was in the hands of the enemy. A mighty cry for vengeance went up. He intended. He himself dashed straight for Jones. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. when panic was spreading and all seemed lost. and the animals crept silently away. and all the usual replacements such as tools. the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. frisking from side to side. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock.About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand.

 and only a few were edible. I shall follow in a few minutes. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies.They had won. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault. quicker in speech and more inventive. It was not that these creatures did not work. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. they will let him retire at the same time and be a companion to me. Do you not remember how."My sight is failing. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice.Like the sun in the sky. and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. in the cow-shed. And not an animal on the farm had stolen so much as a mouthful. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. was a co-operative enterprise. chewing at a lump of sugar.

 Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. whom they both feared and hated." Somehow or other. the solemn booming of a gun. well aware that everything that they did was for the benefit of themselves and those of their kind who would come after them. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some kind of invisible influence. and various new buildings had been added to it. and. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. The enemy both external and internal has been defeated." said Boxer in a weak voice. however. he upset the milk-pails. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this." he said. No one noticed the wondering faces of the animals that gazed in at the window. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. It was situated somewhere up in the sky. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting. Benjamin?"For once Benjamin consented to break his rule. to shatter to pieces below. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. Do not imagine.