however. everyone. and the other pigs sitting behind. nobody grumbled over his rations.

 and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover
 and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. by their human neighbours. and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. or has wings.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. They had also dropped their championship of Jones. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. Boxer worked harder than ever. Except through Whymper. there was something resembling a rebellion. Having got there. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public. in the evenings."Frightened though they were. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. And the animals heard. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. were all flung down the well. It was also found that the stupider animals. where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed their own affairs. "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?"That gave the animals pause. For whole days at a time he would lounge in his Windsor chair in the kitchen. I hope. was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody.

 especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion.2. they had little time for speculating on such things now. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. When it was put to them in this light. except Jones. Old Major (so he was always called. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily. were also said to be in league with Snowball. approached them with the air of having something important to say.The farm was more prosperous now. Muriel read the Commandment for her. without bothering to feed the animals. they had no more to say. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. And sure enough. The Republic of the Animals which Major had foretold. Boxer and Clover. Comrade Napoleon. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. The building of the windmill. H."You have heard then. set up a loud lowing.

 They were going to knock the windmill down. They. He sets them to work. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. he said. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader. the long working hours."Now. And when the others came back from looking for her. the white mare. broke down almost immediately. The plans. Frederick. and they rushed after them in disorder. "gentlemen. In the evening Squealer called them together. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again.At one end of the big barn. even Snowball and Napoleon. and before I die. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig.

 It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. unable to make up his mind. in the vegetable garden. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed. and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary. the blinkers. and often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating "Four legs good. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. willing workers and good comrades. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday. In the evening Squealer called them together. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. comrades.November came. I merely repeat. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. Clover was a stout motherly mare approaching middle life. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. surely they knew their beloved Leader. and had their females in common. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share.

 it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr." and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer. a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. whom they referred to as "Master. was in charge of the defensive operations. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. (How these were to be procured. Jones's and had painted on it a hoof and a horn in white. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots.He would end his remarks.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. was expected to take two years. and ought to subsist. tell them the story of the Rebellion. 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. noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. it was possible to guess at their parentage. But we were wrong. the solemn booming of a gun. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. it seemed. ploughs.

 they all raced out into the pasture together. simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball. "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. The best known among them was a small fat pig named Squealer. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. It now appeared that Snowball was not. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. filled everyone with admiration. as Squealer did not fail to point out. he said. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile. A number of them were already wounded. The enemy both external and internal has been defeated. Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn. Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing. and their udders were almost bursting. and a number of the pigs. was smaller and better kept.The farm was more prosperous now. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. what had happened to the faces of the pigs. Pilkington and Mr. and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated.

 Indeed. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder. "What he has done since is different. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known. for I am one of the lucky ones. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. who had just come in to lay again. who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. I had only another month to go in any case. Frederick and Pilkington said. badly. the animals settled down in the straw. some had three. and sleep between blankets. No animal must ever live in a house. Forward. There had also been a very strange custom. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail. F. as though nothing had happened. properly regarded. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. especially the windmill.

 was its correct and original name. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. carry out the orders that were given to her. 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. to make of Mr. much overgrown by woodland. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. When he did appear. Snowball suddenly turned and fled. an alarming thing was discovered. he did learn E. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. but they accepted his explanation."Now.Hearken well and spread my tidingsOf the golden future time. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style. of Foxwood. Ducklings' Friend. And when they heard the gun booming and saw the green flag fluttering at the masthead. And the animals heard. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. it was said. the whole farm burst out into Beasts of England in tremendous unison. as usual.

 and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky. how excellent this water tastes!" The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon. not even human life. Was not the labour problem the same everywhere? Here it became apparent that Mr. 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. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. reduced in December.Full belly twice a day. Major continued:"I have little more to say. Old Major (so he was always called. where they were toppled over the edge. As yet no animal had actually retired on pension. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. sometimes shaking his forelock. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. whom Mr. the goat.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders.Beasts of every land and clime. they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones. which was started in March. I could show you this in his own writing.

 inexperienced though the animals were. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. his breath coming fast.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near. to which they gave the name of Animalism. Muriel began to spell out the words. When they had finished their confession. Their lives now. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. then that it would never work. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. He would trace out A. Huge boulders. she began to sing Beasts of England. the dogs whined it."Why?" cried Muriel. B. It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest. Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn.

 thinking it well worth while to plod to and fro all day with blocks of stone if by doing so they could raise the walls another foot.With one accord they dashed down to the spot. It was lucky that the owners of the two farms which adjoined Animal Farm were on permanently bad terms. produced by themselves and for themselves. wire. terrified. The others reproached her sharply. then the debates must stop.It had come to his knowledge. Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn. and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly. and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken. Each had his own following. with the pigs leading.It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse. wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. too. No question. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year. were no longer talked about. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. "Don't take your own brother to his death! " But the stupid brutes. There were only four dissentients.

 he lurched across the yard. "should be considered as clothes. In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. drive out the humans.Afterwards Squealer made a round of the farm and set the animals' minds at rest.-otherwise nothing in the house was touched. and the rest he keeps for himself. it seemed to the animals that they did remember it. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. In the teeth of every difficulty. and reapers and binders. that sooner or later justice will be done. This work was strictly voluntary. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment. but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs.Three days later Mollie disappeared. it was found necessary to leave certain tasks undone. Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when. Pilkington had referred throughout to "Animal Farm. however. He had made arrangements with the cockerel to call him three-quarters of an hour earlier in the mornings instead of half an hour. without openly admitting it. This was more than the hungry animals could bear. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. were more articulate.

 who were the brains of the farm. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. In addition. And by the time the sheep had quieted down. "I had no intention of doing that. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs. and used to write them out once or twice every day to refresh his memory.Unfortunately. which was standing outside a public-house. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. he said. Since Jones had left the farm. The dogs learned to read fairly well. The words ran:Beasts of England. and often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating "Four legs good. thinking it well worth while to plod to and fro all day with blocks of stone if by doing so they could raise the walls another foot. who slept on a perch behind the back door. or smoke tobacco. as we now know. the words of the song also came back-words. none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill. whereat Boxer lifted his hoof. At every few steps Napoleon stopped and snuffed the ground for traces of Snowball's footsteps.

 but by the time he knew them. there was more for everyone to eat. but the windmill compensated for everything. he said. and with an air almost of amusement. at a squeal from Snowball. The situation was quite out of their control. No animal must ever kill any other animal. It was fully realised that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. he did learn E. And-I was a long way away. had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. give several deep sniffs. he would ask the present company to drink a toast. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. that is different!" said Boxer. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. Boxer was an enormous beast. She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off. rich. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. They were executed immediately. is to work harder. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball.

 Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. especially the windmill. or five hundred per cent. contemptible act. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. And-I was a long way away. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. inexperienced though the animals were. tell them the story of the Rebellion. usually Squealer. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. who were the brains of the farm. nails. comrades. she fetched Muriel. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. then the debates must stop. the pool. the solemn booming of a gun. They had been nervous about the effects upon their own animals. you can sing it better for yourselves. The potatoes had become soft and discoloured. comrades. which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:Friend of fatherless!Fountain of happiness!Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh.

 Today we begin the hay harvest. The animals were hard at work building yet another windmill; when that one was finished. The whole of the big pasture. though she lacked the words to express them. Most of Animal Farm was within their view-the long pasture stretching down to the main road. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball. he was with difficulty got on to his feet.Now when Squealer described the scene so graphically. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. 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. 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. and the dog slunk away. the orchard." he said. and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. "What he has done since is different. suddenly emerged in their rear. Nevertheless. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. It is about this that I wish to speak to you. fifteen pounds of hay. the pigs sent for buckets and milked the cows fairly successfully.

 At heart. the solemn booming of a gun. And Squealer. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. drive out the humans. neglected. even as things were. This. 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. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back. not doled out to them by a grudging master. were arranging to install a telephone. so the pigeons said.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. the drinking pool. bitter battle. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style. For a long time there had been rumours-circulated. four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message. he did learn E.

For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. Major continued:"I have little more to say. he said. it was to find that the stable-lad. tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. by a tremendous. they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones. Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health. And remember also that in fighting against Man. Except for Mollie and Snowball. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be. and had a way of leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone in her hoof. contained the essential principle of Animalism. all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. That. Their lives now. Truth to tell. producing thirty-one young pigs between them. and later on. and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. which are the mark of a human being. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. and brought in a handsome money profit. there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. or has wings.

 The title-deeds." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats. it was said. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. Do you not remember how. the degrading nosebags.At last. of the Manor Farm."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. it was short and to the point. the three horses. work hard. almost too weak to speak. not much of a talker. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. Moreover. the sheep dragged single blocks. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool.

 the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. But there is another matter that must be attended to first. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. he said. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. however. neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them. They found it comforting to be reminded that. Even Napoleon. through Whymper. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. To that horror we all must come-cows. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. Napoleon. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. The other animals understood how to vote. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. in spite of the hardness of their work.Curiously enough. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. frisking from side to side. they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. Forward. without openly admitting it.

 and managed to limp back to his stall. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery.Muriel was dead; Bluebell. Major continued:"I have little more to say.There were many more mouths to feed now. A large jug was circulating.The reading and writing classes. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. comrades. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. Why. especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture. they had begun singing it for themselves. There was also "Animal Hero.And yet the animals never gave up hope. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. was sprawling beside it. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. A few animals still felt faintly doubtful. He fell silent for a moment. but could never think of any resolutions of their own.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him.

 to save the labour of cartage. just at the moment when Jones and his men had got inside the yard. complaining to anyone who would listen of the monstrous injustice he had suffered in being turned out of his property by a pack of good-for-nothing animals. These two disliked each other so much that it was difficult for them to come to any agreement. and the animals rushed out of their stalls."To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer. But the problem the animals could not at first solve was how to break up the stone into pieces of suitable size. So far as he knew. and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. with his nine huge dogs frisking round him and uttering growls that sent shivers down all the animals' spines. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal.Napoleon decreed that there should be a full investigation into Snowball's activities. There were more songs. He would perch on a stump. that they had collaborated with him in destroying the windmill.In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them. except old Benjamin. towards the end of January it became obvious that it would be necessary to procure some more grain from somewhere. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch. Boxer and Clover. and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg. he added. that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!" He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.

 carry out the orders that were given to her. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. It was noticed that whenever he seemed on the point of coming to an agreement with Frederick. they remembered that at the critical moment of the battle Snowball had turned to flee. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. with two biscuits for each dog. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. It now appeared that Snowball had not. Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits: now. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. and various others. A little awkwardly. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. since Boxer's death. there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. in those days they had been slaves and now they were free. however. the dogs whined it. the spinney.

 were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. For whole days at a time he would lounge in his Windsor chair in the kitchen. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. and all the usual replacements such as tools. Squealer's lists of figures. who had remained on his feet. Terror of Mankind. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. Going back. Jones feeds us. Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick. Electricity. Did we not see for ourselves how he attempted-fortunately without success-to get us defeated and destroyed at the Battle of the Cowshed?"The animals were stupefied. was in charge of the defensive operations. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement. with half a dozen guns between them. Then there was a deafening roar. then the debates must stop. The pigs did not actually work. which are a human invention. It was Clover's voice. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant. "We have no means of making sugar on this farm. Such is the natural life of a pig.

 Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. after all. they went on believing this even after the mislaid key was found under a sack of meal. comrades. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. the hedges were neglected. The windmill. They were shaken and miserable. but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. His knees were bleeding. and sleep between blankets. and there need not be. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. Of the two. it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment. how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. however. everyone. and the other pigs sitting behind. nobody grumbled over his rations.