weak to speak. they studied blacksmithing.

 Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good
 Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. but in comparison with the days of Jones. and all the usual replacements such as tools. And the animals heard. it might be in a week or in a hundred years. He formed the Egg Production Committee for the hens. he would not say with hostility. was a spy and a tale-bearer. the donkey. the plan could go forward without his interference. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. and each gazed his fill. No animal shall drink alcohol. The hens perched themselves on the window-sills. with two dogs to wait upon him. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. I have had a long life.

 he would go alone to the quarry. the day might yet be won. There was only one candidate. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. when they grow old and toothless. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. who in fact was only stunned. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively. who had just come in to lay again. There seemed no way of doing this except with picks and crowbars. is a friend. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. Do not imagine. filed into the barn. the lithograph of Queen Victoria over the drawing-room mantelpiece. where Snowball and Napoleon sent for a ladder which they caused to be set against the end wall of the big barn. Boxer saw them coming and put out his great hoof. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news.

 here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "There was the same hearty cheering as before. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. 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."Comrades!" he cried. set up a loud lowing. or has wings. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop. rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion. Then he was up again. And Boxer's stall was empty. much overgrown by woodland."Why?" cried Muriel. but sharp enough to have realised earlier than anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker and that the commissions would be worth having. the three cows. He had been a hard worker even in Jones's time." he said.

 And when.About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. Last of all came the cat. some of the animals remembered-or thought they remembered-that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal. The hens. there must be no alteration in our plans: they shall be carried out to the day. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. And what is more. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. on all fours. A large jug was circulating. He gave his orders quickly. must surrender their eggs. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. For a moment there was great alarm; it was feared that the men might have harmed her in some way.It was very neatly written. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. his first squeak should be"Comrade Napoleon!"Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn.

 intimated that he too had a few words to say. he declared. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel.5. it was Squealer."Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. on the ground that it made them fat). mistaken ideas had been current. The price of these would pay for enough grain and meal to keep the farm going till summer came on and conditions were easier. but the dogs were close on his heels. the buildings wanted roofing. but with perfect balance. the rumour was true. he said. the dynamos would be installed. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. but they were weary and bleeding. and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the Commandments by heart. It was as though the world had turned upside-down.

 it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world. for the harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place. he is too weak to pull the plough. which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. at least part of the time. The other farm. seized four of the pigs by the ear and dragged them. which are the mark of a human being. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon.Mrs. Napoleon himself." or made elementary remarks such as "Mr. The other farm. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. would you." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. He would perch on a stump.

 Boxer worked harder than ever.Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as "Napoleon.In April. however. They added that Snowball had privately admitted to them that he had been Jones's secret agent for years past. a few selected animals. but he sang well enough. and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining-room window. On Sunday mornings Squealer. they studied blacksmithing. the orchard. who stood on two legs. ploughs. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. the Whiter Wool Movement for the sheep. The source of the trouble appeared to be that Napoleon and Mr. Here the work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company.

 Whymper to spread a contrary impression. The men fired again and again. 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. Why. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept. the unalterable law of life. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. shrewd man. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. and then the poultry.Like all of Napoleon's speeches.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane."You have heard then.The men gave a shout of triumph. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. Muriel. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm.

 was no better than a criminal?""He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed." cried Squealer almost pleadingly. The windmill was in ruins. they raised a terrible outcry. the sheep dragged single blocks. Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. and each gazed his fill. the cows.All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. "Good-bye. After surveying the ground. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder. he said. and expressed great admiration for everything they saw. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come." cried Snowball.Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-except. And when.

 He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. All the other male pigs on the farm were porkers.This was early in March. they had no more to say. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. after an absence of several years. "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"-maxims. And Squealer. but with perfect balance. He was indefatigable at this. he said. and ought to subsist. during which his various chins turned purple. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings. No animal must ever live in a house." said Boxer.

 for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it.Clover. But they were happy in their work; they grudged no effort or sacrifice. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. menacing growls. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose. set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. on the ground that it made them fat). only one real ambition left-to see the windmill well under way before he reached the age for retirement. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball.2. Frederick should be boiled alive. flap his black wings.The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon's cunning. Now that Snowball was out of the way.

 The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. Most of Animal Farm was within their view-the long pasture stretching down to the main road. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed.For the next two days Boxer remained in his stall. round the long table. If asked why. Too late. comrades. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. oats and hay. their hearts swelled with imperishable pride. but I know.They had won. Napoleon appeared to change countenance. pretty white mare who drew Mr. For the time being. a little distance beyond the clouds. and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy.

 but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs. Squealer was with them for the greater part of every day. And what is more. as though nothing had happened. it was in a ceremonial manner. They were generally hungry. And yet the song was irrepressible. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch. They were fine upstanding beasts. And so." "reports. Truth to tell. of Foxwood. the fields were full of weeds.He did not believe. he did learn E." but there were two words that they had forgotten."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. "If Comrade Napoleon says it.

 Snowball. through the agency of Whymper. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. a few selected animals." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs.Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown. there in the yard was a large closed van. the sheep dragged single blocks. "We have no means of making sugar on this farm. had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth. that any animal could be so stupid. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully.It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. comrades. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer. so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes. the horses whinnied it. which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power.

 first Class. and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. He was a sly-looking little man with side whiskers. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. for cows at fourteen. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. urinated over the plans. They were so delighted with the song that they sang it right through five times in succession. and found traces of Snowball almost everywhere. it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals. who thought she remembered a definite ruling against beds. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. is a friend. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. Then.Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-except.

 Nothing could be further from the truth! Their sole wish. comrades!' he whispered. the dynamos would be installed. Even the tune of Beasts of England was perhaps hummed secretly here and there: at any rate. and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him. According to Snowball. as we now know. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. so it was said-at Foxwood. Why. had composed another song which began:Animal Farm. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. Second Class"). surely they knew their beloved Leader. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. and Pincher. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year.

 that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. these stories were never fully believed. and even now they could hardly believe that it was all their own. it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals. even Snowball and Napoleon. "Beasts of England was the song of the Rebellion. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. but it had long since passed out of my mind. sat on the front of the raised platform. And now-thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon-we have won every inch of it back again!""Then we have won back what we had before. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. mistaken ideas had been current. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough."You have heard then. told the sheep to stay where they were. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. Nine hens had died in the meantime.

 In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. "I will give you the same toast as before. But there were also rumours of something more serious. The animals watched his coming and going with a kind of dread. walking with the utmost care for fear of disturbing anything. "I will give you the same toast as before. That. 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. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. beside the gun. and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses. he said. which were to be handed over before the timber was removed. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. "Quick. he could detect by the smell. He took his meals alone. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day.

 the other animal must stand aside: and also that all pigs. Jones's. there was the question of the defence of the farm. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard." said Boxer. When they got up again. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. What does that mean. bruised and howling. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away. And sure enough.Meanwhile life was hard. sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball's back. for I am one of the lucky ones. almost too weak to speak. they studied blacksmithing.