animals were enormously relieved to hear this.

 Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm
 Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. He was indefatigable at this. and achieved a canter. told the sheep to stay where they were. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing." said one of the hens.""That is the true spirit. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. Every night. had stood up. the solemn booming of a gun.""That is the true spirit. Moreover.And the harness from our back. "Tactics. he said. The windmill. Major continued:"I have little more to say. or wear clothes. the white mare. When the cheering had died down. to save the labour of cartage. cutting them off. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. but with a reputation for getting his own way. Napoleon snuffed deeply at them and pronounced them to be Snowball's. but he was also a clever talker. and they were all alike.

 as it was warm weather. which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass. Clover forced her way to the front. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose. that they worked shorter hours. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. mistaken ideas had been current. however. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this.All this while no more had been seen of Snowball.Early in October. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. contemptible act. had been a capable farmer. afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed?"With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out. But I will come to the dream later.At one end of the big barn. attended by two or three dogs. When it was all gone. that I shall be with you for many months longer. with the white stripe down his nose. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. properly regarded. but Clover. was no better than a criminal?""He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill.

"Is it not crystal clear. Napoleon was a large. from the direction of the farm buildings. after all. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. he might expect to live another three years. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Moses the raven. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. the short animal lives fled by. and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared. who was Mr. or smoke tobacco. At last they could stand it no longer. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. But Napoleon was too clever for him. She was telling them that all animals were now comrades and that any sparrow who chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. Some of them had five chins. but he was also a clever talker. cows. but Clover. the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around.

It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. The stupidest questions of all were asked by Mollie. He was a brilliant talker." This was to be suppressed. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges.At this there was a terrible baying sound outside. said Squealer. that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with.YEARS passed. He was closeted there for hours at a time. when panic was spreading and all seemed lost. and. the fields were full of weeds. He was closeted there for hours at a time. Last of all came the cat.-otherwise nothing in the house was touched. that they were often hungry and often cold. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. Snowball had found in the harness-room an old green tablecloth of Mrs. but it was cruel work. Having got there. So far from being decorated. Indeed. as before.

 was a large.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. Finding herself unable to read more than individual letters. and then the poultry. She neighed again. No animal shall kill any other animal. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. still did no work.All the men were gone except one. He gave his orders quickly. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. the lithograph of Queen Victoria over the drawing-room mantelpiece."What victory?" said Boxer. Sure enough. Moreover. during which his various chins turned purple. "What he has done since is different. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right. it was possible to guess at their parentage. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. I merely repeat. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Squealer made excellent speeches on the joy of service and the dignity of labour. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world.

 When it was all gone. and after the sale of part of the hay and corn. This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature. covering more than half the floor. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?"Now if there was one thing that the animals were completely certain of. Moreover. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1. it was Squealer. At this some of the other animals murmured. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment. Pilkington. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. Terror of Mankind. but issued his orders through one of the other pigs.Suddenly. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. he said. After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting. two legs bad! Four legs good. under a lantern which hung from a beam. The animals lashed ropes round these. and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. Major continued:"I have little more to say. On several occasions. such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. he would ask the present company to drink a toast.

 it might be in a week or in a hundred years. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. That was theirs too. they studied blacksmithing. And the behaviour of the cat was somewhat peculiar. cutting them off. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once.""I have no wish to take life.A week later. but in a different form. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief. Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life. and it was a stirring tune.It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy. A1most overnight we could become rich and free." but there were two words that they had forgotten. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and. sing Beasts of England. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken.""But he was wounded. Surely.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. 'Forward.

 shut his eyes. rain or shine. cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on. But still.A week later. that the pigs. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself. and with his dogs gambolling round him. For the time being. namely: "Four legs good. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. the animals were dismayed by this announcement. A deputation of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection. evidently in order to drink a toast. Forward. and the Manor Farm was theirs. hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. B. after a few preliminary tries. nearly eighteen hands high." which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep. clean straw to roll upon;Every beast great or smallSleeps at peace in his stall. Frederick and Pilkington said. Today we begin the hay harvest. But Boxer would not listen.Never through me shalt thou come to harm!and this was sung every Sunday morning after the hoisting of the flag. throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all. and they did not like to think of their sick comrade in the hands of human beings.

 Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. At the sight. and the animals were underfed.""I have no wish to take life. Boxer's face. The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a pig. 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. Yes. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. broke down almost immediately. Jones's and had painted on it a hoof and a horn in white. saying that he would make himself responsible for their education. except Clover. Too many farmers had assumed. B. "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. comrades. no matter what happened-they might have uttered some word of protest. Old Benjamin.Mrs. and the other pigs sitting behind. huddling together. And.By the autumn the animals were tired but happy. never growing tired of it. but he was still a majestic-looking pig.

 Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days. The pile of timber was still unsold. at the beds with their feather mattresses. he said. their life. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the farm. Truth to tell.YEARS passed. told the sheep to stay where they were. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it. nobody grumbled over his rations. Frederick should be boiled alive. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. he said. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. they reasoned. with two dogs to wait upon him.

 but could not put words together. that I shall be with you for many months longer. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable."Now. and then all together. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. more hay.He did not believe. as the animals had previously imagined. it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard. who had now had time to think things over. had all been prepared."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. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. so that when evening came. Without halting for an instant. were slaughtered. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes.

 In a moment the dogs came bounding back. the sheep broke into "Four legs good. and sleep between blankets. Not one of them. She would vanish for hours on end. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. They dashed straight for Snowball. their life. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. 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. with various other improvements. A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart-track that led to the main road. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. who. "Up there. it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip.

Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. And you hens. was in the hands of the enemy. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. There seemed no way of doing this except with picks and crowbars. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr. Boxer was an enormous beast." "reports. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. intimated that he too had a few words to say. and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent. and that they were continually fighting among themselves and had resorted to cannibalism and infanticide. pretty white mare who drew Mr.

 The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. more morose and taciturn than ever. The other farmers sympathised in principle. drawn by two horses. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. Its owner was a Mr.Like the sun in the sky. If he were gone. On Midsummer's Eve. there was nothing worth reading. their enemies in flight. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. though. the Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled. almost before they knew what was happening. Going back. but of late he had fallen on evil days.The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world.

 but with a reputation for getting his own way. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. It was almost half built now. By late summer a sufficient store of stone had accumulated. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. They were all slain on the spot.At the gate they paused. And in his spare moments. His knees were bleeding. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. Yet he is lord of all the animals. by Snowball-and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram. Surely. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. the horses whinnied it. They could only be traced for a few yards.

 suddenly appeared on the men's flank. To my mind this explains a great deal.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. intended to create a little disorder. beasts of Ireland. "Run. On several occasions. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses.3.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. "Boxer!" she cried. This time the stones had vanished too. the nose-rings. they drank from the pool. they drank from the pool. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously. and out came Napoleon himself. so that when evening came. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts.

 who had seemed uneasy for some time past. he trampled the seedbeds. On the whole. they studied blacksmithing. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions. speaking very slowly and firmly.It was just after the sheep had returned. Old Benjamin. Apart from the regular work of the farm. but when I have taught you the tune. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. and only a few were edible. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. At this some of the other animals murmured. were arranging to install a telephone. "those ribbons that you are so devoted to are the badge of slavery. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. it seemed.

 There were only four dissentients. which no animal could use. Squealer's lists of figures." said Boxer in a weak voice. certainly. Boxer would even come out at nights and work for an hour or two on his own by the light of the harvest moon. and disappointment being. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. "Quick. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. saying that he would make himself responsible for their education. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. Jessie. But the problem the animals could not at first solve was how to break up the stone into pieces of suitable size. trying to turn him over. who were the brains of the farm. Moses. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself.

 Some did it better than others. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag. TitBits. the sheep developed a great liking for this maxim. But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream. Even in the farmhouse. throwing down the paint-brush. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. "There is work to be done. except for the pigs and dogs. their trotters being well adapted to this task. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. I cannot describe that dream to you.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. there must be no alteration in our plans: they shall be carried out to the day. Jones and all he stood for had almost faded out of their memories. flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay. There was only one candidate. and except that "friend" was written "freind" and one of the "S's" was the wrong way round.

 and short. bruised and howling. collect a load of broken stone. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. comrades. so that all the materials for building were at hand. that is different!" said Boxer. In fact. and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken. To the amazement of everybody. But there is worse than that. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. Clover. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. were slaughtered. It was a clear spring evening. I will tell you about my dream of last night. there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. But she always made such excellent excuses.

 and talked in the same strain as ever about Sugarcandy Mountain. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. all walking on their hind legs. to represent the green fields of England. indeed. a few selected animals. dog biscuits. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting. as the summer wore on. and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go. saw what was happening. but in fact no animal had ever actually retired. he declared. so the pigeons said. or smoke tobacco." she said finally. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept. but they accepted his explanation.

 which he had conferred upon himself. It was as though they had never seen these things before. a little distance beyond the clouds. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. he said. but had not believed that it would really happen. It was well seasoned. All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames. had shared such sentiments-but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded. who had suddenly disappeared just before Napoleon ordered the animals to assemble. Each had his own following. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. as it was warm weather. Too many farmers had assumed. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. These two disliked each other so much that it was difficult for them to come to any agreement. B.

 now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden. She was seen one day sitting on a roof and talking to some sparrows who were just out of her reach. the Brussels carpet. that they were often hungry and often cold. No animal must ever kill any other animal. But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream.All must toil for freedom's sake. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. It now appeared that Snowball was not. Still.The animals had their breakfast. a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse.A week later. But she always made such excellent excuses. All the animals followed. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck. Breakfast was an hour later than usual. The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no work. 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.

 one or two were even a trifle unsteady and looked as though they would have liked the support of a stick. to which all animals went when they died. D. now. After about a quarter of an hour Squealer appeared. to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. the improvement was enormous. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals. were arranging to install a telephone. He was a sly-looking little man with side whiskers. so it was said-at Foxwood. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good. 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. and reapers and binders. Snowball read it aloud for the benefit of the others. but with a reputation for getting his own way. then that it would never work.

 hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively. but greatly preferred him to Frederick. that any of the old suspicions still lingered. Fill your glasses to the brim. with the money at his side. appetising scent. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be. Napoleon snuffed deeply at them and pronounced them to be Snowball's. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. Reading out the figures in a shrill. came skipping towards them. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart. and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon. Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat.

 he said. and led them out to a piece of waste ground at the other end of the farm. "We all saw him running with blood. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. It was situated somewhere up in the sky." This was to be suppressed. Without halting for an instant.The reading and writing classes." said one of the hens. and walked out without uttering a word. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. were a great success. not even the youngest. and walked out without uttering a word.Twelve voices were shouting in anger. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington. as though nothing had happened. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good.

 then the debates must stop. to represent the green fields of England. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. There seemed no way of doing this except with picks and crowbars. Someone said it was the smell of cooking barley. if you were able to read it. here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "There was the same hearty cheering as before. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. Napoleon had accepted. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow. two legs better! Four legs good. and after breakfast there was a ceremony which was observed every week without fail. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. It was well seasoned. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. a few selected animals. he said.

 Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. Nobody stole. were now almost friendly. who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform. and led the singing of Beasts of England. Only Boxer remained on his feet. it was said. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. Boxer professed not to be sorry for what had happened. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. The animals lashed ropes round these."Frightened though they were. There. and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. She would vanish for hours on end. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. These scenes of terror and slaughter were not what they had looked forward to on that night when old Major first stirred them to rebellion.They had just finished singing it for the third time when Squealer.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this.