broken off for the moment. Then Napoleon stood up to reply.

 The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood
 The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. At the last moment Mollie. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. Squealer said. the applause having come to an end. the animals broke off work and raced back to the farm buildings. under the superintendence of the pigs. approached them with the air of having something important to say. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No. a few selected animals. Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides. I am old and my voice is hoarse. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. would exclaim. the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. You do not appreciate.Every Monday Mr. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. and an electric milking machine. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon.

 gallop rapidly round the yard. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. how many eggs have you laid in this last year. and purred so affectionately. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault. with Squealer and another pig named Minimus. and yet there is not one of us that owns more than his bare skin. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another."To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer. and his great sides matted with sweat. the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around. the improvement was enormous. without bothering to feed the animals. Squealer's lists of figures. 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. seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen. They were fine upstanding beasts. I had only another month to go in any case. Napoleon. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill.

Meanwhile life was hard. Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard. For the time being. reduced in December. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. came mincing daintily in. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. And by the time the sheep had quieted down. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. Jones was already snoring. almost before they knew what was happening. In the evening Squealer called them together. even Snowball and Napoleon. morning. without bothering to feed the animals.The animals had their breakfast. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level.

 had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. 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. Moreover. they said. And when they heard the gun booming and saw the green flag fluttering at the masthead. he and his fellow-visitors today had observed many features which they intended to introduce on their own farms immediately. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse."Is it not crystal clear. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood. he starved his cows. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. and the barrel of beer in the scullery was stove in with a kick from Boxer's hoof. comrade-that Snowball was Jones's agent from the very beginning-yes. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. from the direction of the farm buildings. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. Do you not remember how. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. and sleep between blankets.

 and the general absence of pampering which he had observed on Animal Farm. and all the animals. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. the solemn booming of a gun. however.The reading and writing classes. namely: "Four legs good. while. The pigs' ears were bleeding. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. With one accord. at the critical moment. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. with both simultaneously. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. there was more for everyone to eat. the animals were still unfed. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. "it is half-past six and we have a long day before us. except Clover. it was to find that the stable-lad.

 "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?"That gave the animals pause. was not good at getting up in the mornings. the other could be counted on to oppose it. were all flung down the well.He would end his remarks. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. had shared such sentiments-but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded. comrades. It now appeared that Snowball had not. I had been looking forward to my retirement. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems. above all. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better. and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the Commandments by heart. Frederick were anxious to buy it. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. which had been troublesome that winter. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon. but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times.

 but she could not look Clover in the face. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. though she lacked the words to express them. And thereafter."What victory. usually Squealer. The early apples were now ripening. One false step. and when treated with generosity. When they had finished their confession. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap. The cows declared unanimously that Snowball crept into their stalls and milked them in their sleep. they drank from the pool.All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. No animal shall drink alcohol. there in the yard was a large closed van. said Napoleon. had been a capable farmer. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. set up a loud lowing.

They limped into the yard. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. sing Beasts of England. No animal in England is free.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. had shared such sentiments-but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded. of which there were not many nowadays.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death. They continued to behave very much as before. however. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. trampled on. here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "There was the same hearty cheering as before. Comrades. and then all together. had already recovered and made off.Nevertheless. she began to sing Beasts of England.

 he was sure. and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. and his eyes were full of tears. drawn by two horses. the animals were stricken with curiosity. Truth to tell. not even when the pigs took Mr. it must have done so. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. it was found necessary to leave certain tasks undone. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. The windmill. his face deadly pale. in spite of the hardness of their work. old-fashioned farm. holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter. and the skull had already been buried. frisking from side to side. It was Clover. Second Class.

BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. but in fact no animal had ever actually retired. "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?"That gave the animals pause. No animal shall kill any other animal. For example. "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger. horses.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously. As for the horses. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. trying to turn him over. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. who had remained on his feet. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. as usual. Many meetings were held in the big barn. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. They continued to behave very much as before. the spinney. without due enquiry.

" he said finally. laborious. and reapers and binders. returned. that they worked shorter hours. He would perch on a stump. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. It had spread with astonishing speed. "There is work to be done. The animals sniffed the air hungrily and wondered whether a warm mash was being prepared for their supper. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. sharp suspicious glances. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up. (How these were to be procured. such as the pigs and dogs. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. namely: "Four legs good. the hayfield. It was not that these creatures did not work. But just at that moment.

 Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement."What victory?" said Boxer. Even when it was resolved-a thing no one could object to in itself-to set aside the small paddock behind the orchard as a home of rest for animals who were past work. This was to be the name of the farm from now onwards. 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. it is a deep and heavy responsibility. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. and the rest he keeps for himself. the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated. "gentlemen. since it seemed to them that they also had two legs. or smoke tobacco. sheep broke down hedges and devoured the clover. As his last act upon earth. intended to create a little disorder. There were shoutings. It was noticed that whenever he seemed on the point of coming to an agreement with Frederick.It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there.And yet the animals never gave up hope. and pinned him to the ground.

There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. You cows that I see before me. He had been a hard worker even in Jones's time. squealing with pain and terror. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. too ignorant to realise what was happening. Man is the only real enemy we have. Without saying anything to the others. painted out MANOR FARM from the top bar of the gate and in its place painted ANIMAL FARM. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself. Apart from the regular work of the farm. After the hoisting of the flag. and Whymper had advised Napoleon to sell it; both Mr. and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. as the animals had previously imagined. the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected. So far as he knew.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. badly.When it was all over. he was strolling across the yard.

 he cried indignantly. then the horses. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. G. and for hens and geese at five. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches. his voice was hoarse. these projects were a failure. while Benjamin kept the flies off him. I can tell you. the Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled.They had won. the strong protecting the weak. The pigeons swirled into the air. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. Rumours of a wonderful farm. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart. No animal shall sleep in a bed. The other farmers sympathised in principle.

One Sunday morning Squealer announced that the hens. None of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter B. hardship. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. clever or simple. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. except for the pigs and dogs. usually Squealer. Jones's.A week later.Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. But there is worse than that. So were the whips. He himself dashed straight for Jones. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Unfortunate incidents had occurred. Frederick and Pilkington said. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it. Discipline.

 Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. if you were able to read it. the donkey.He would end his remarks. No animal must ever live in a house. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to memory for generations. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. and with every appearance of being seriously ill.7.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. after their fashion. His two slogans. Kennels Supplied. There was also "Animal Hero. The animals knew that this was not the case. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days.""We must get help at once. were all flung down the well. as usual.

" in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. Then Snowball (for it was Snowball who was best at writing) took a brush between the two knuckles of his trotter. so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it. but would say nothing. which was called Pinchfield. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats. But still. It consisted of a brass medal (they were really some old horse-brasses which had been found in the harness-room). of Foxwood. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. "here is a point that must be settled. It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. and tell Squealer what has happened. and suddenly remembering the glorious thing that had happened. some of the animals might possibly have protested."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. suitable for drawing on. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. except for the pigs and dogs.

 approached them with the air of having something important to say. His two slogans. and then all together. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. Last of all came the cat. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. and seemed to understand. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. well knowing that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. D. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. which was a Saturday. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. producing thirty-one young pigs between them.

 he said. bruised and howling. comrades! The hay is waiting. But Boxer would not listen. which are the mark of a human being. and the Manor Farm was theirs. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. nails.By the evening. in the dust with his great hoof.The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. or wear clothes. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. there was more for everyone to eat. suddenly emerged in their rear."What victory?" said Boxer. This was just what Snowball had intended. it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. however. which are the mark of a human being. all the animals dispersed.

 Benjamin. Napoleon ended his speech with his usual cry of "Long live Animal Farm!" and after the singing of Beasts of England the animals were dismissed. he had reason to think. these projects were a failure. which had been troublesome that winter. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. Whatever goes upon four legs. The wild creatures. the tame raven.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. to be worn on Sundays and holidays. but the windmill compensated for everything. When it was put to them in this light. of primitive implements. Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death. he said. nobody grumbled over his rations. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. The wounds on Snowball's back.

 FOUR LEGS GOOD. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. Above all. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. Mr. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. 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. Someone said it was the smell of cooking barley. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the Farmer and Stockbreeder which he had found in the farmhouse. a tough. certainly.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. even for an instant. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. certainly. Comrade Napoleon.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. Then Napoleon stood up to reply.