devoted follower of Napoleon.

 no complaint was made about that either
 no complaint was made about that either. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud. A full bushel to anyone who captures him alive!"The animals were shocked beyond measure to learn that even Snowball could be guilty of such an action. She was between the shafts of a smart dogcart painted red and black. Whatever goes upon four legs. panic overtook them. and out came Napoleon himself. in the evenings. for any commercial purpose. Then he put on an extra spurt and. bangings on the table. the blinkers. with which the meetings always ended. and wasted time. but Clover. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. the unalterable law of life. lashing out in all directions. so the pigeons said. how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. he said. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. comrades. But the Rebellion is now completed.

 "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."Gentlemen. comrades. and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mud. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully. not much of a talker. with which the meetings always ended." Others asked such questions as "Why should we care what happens after we are dead?" or "If this Rebellion is to happen anyway. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep. Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. In the end. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. the machinery for the windmill. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later."Boxer!" she cried. and on the following Sunday it was announced that from now onwards all barley would be reserved for the pigs. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion. had all been prepared." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing.

 tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. what with the songs. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind.Every Monday Mr. Snowball also threw on to the fire the ribbons with which the horses' manes and tails had usually been decorated on market days. mistaken ideas had been current. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. G. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. that any of the old suspicions still lingered. Old Benjamin. and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip. the rumour was true. Some did it better than others. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose. so he said.Yes. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. For myself I do not grumble.

" never as a "reduction"). This was just what Snowball had intended. there was the question of the defence of the farm. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act. And in rebuilding it they could not this time.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. The dogs learned to read fairly well. And perhaps. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. he would go alone to the quarry. the animals were dismayed by this announcement. after an absence of several years. Napoleon.Once again the animals were conscious of a vague uneasiness. contained the essential principle of Animalism. TWO LEGS BAD.4. Jones. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. and food was even shorter. In past years Mr. all equal. which no animal could use. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill.

 in the late afternoon. He would put his snout to the ground. it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. and the animals toiled harder than ever." he said.In January there came bitterly hard weather. through Whymper. except old Benjamin. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. whose origin was unknown. were too strong for them; and suddenly. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball. the solemn booming of a gun. After only a moment or two they gave up trying to defend themselves and took to their heels. on the other hand. beasts of Ireland. for instance. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. The next moment he and his four men were in the store-shed with whips in their hands. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. 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. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company.

 where Mrs. after a few preliminary tries. majestically upright. you can sing it better for yourselves. the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves.Mollie in fact was missing. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the farm. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. for the warmest place." she said finally. and a sheep dropped dead. Boxer and Clover. and the rest he keeps for himself. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. with half a dozen others from Foxwood and Pinchfield. B. To my mind this explains a great deal. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches.They had won. And sure enough. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. who slept on a perch behind the back door. he would not say with hostility. the cruel knives with which Mr. There had also been a very strange custom.

 Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. to which they gave the name of Animalism. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. Whatever happened she would remain faithful. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. After the hoisting of the flag. rain or shine." he said. It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky. The early apples were now ripening. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses. willing workers and good comrades. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. If they had no more food than they had had in Jones's day. however. Yes. as though nothing had happened. Boxer!" they chorused. far too big to be used as they were. Squealer's lists of figures. We are born.

 The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. it was Squealer. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten. It had not been possible. And-I was a long way away. Napoleon took them away from their mothers. the other could be counted on to oppose it. and out came Napoleon himself. the horses whinnied it. and walked out without uttering a word.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. and the worst tempered. In fact. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. He talked learnedly about field drains. I have had a long life. They worked diligently hardly raising their faces from the ground. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. They dashed straight for Snowball. he said finally. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings.

 No argument must lead you astray. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary.Never through me shalt thou come to harm!and this was sung every Sunday morning after the hoisting of the flag. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. he would not say with hostility. and there need not be. Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease. It was as though they had never seen these things before. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good. and near at hand there lay a lantern. There was. There was only one candidate. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. through the agency of Whymper. how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what has happened to that milk which should have been breeding up sturdy calves? Every drop of it has gone down the throats of our enemies. the hayfield. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil-the sacred soil of Animal Farm? ""But they have destroyed the windmill. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. but in fact no animal had ever actually retired. that is different!" said Boxer. He had been a hard worker even in Jones's time. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. Mr.

 the animals stopped in their tracks. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?""It isn't true!" repeated Mollie. comrade!" cried Squealer. The animals sniffed the air hungrily and wondered whether a warm mash was being prepared for their supper. I cannot describe that dream to you. They were struck dumb with surprise when Napoleon announced that he had sold the pile of timber to Frederick. the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. baying ferociously. though they were only conducted through Whymper. or wear clothes.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. the dog-chains. "here is a point that must be settled. as before. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. 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. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. The potatoes had become soft and discoloured. and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs.

 and shouting down the sheep. braying at the top of his voice. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. had composed another song which began:Animal Farm."Never mind the milk. you can sing it better for yourselves. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses.Thou watchest over all."Is it not crystal clear. So far as he knew. They were executed immediately. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. If they had no more food than they had had in Jones's day. but the other animals found more inspiration in Boxer's strength and his never-failing cry of "I will work harder! "In January food fell short. comrades. "If Comrade Napoleon says it.The farm had had a fairly successful year. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. and drag it down to the site of the windmill unassisted. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody. "Up there.

Hearken to my joyful tidingsOf the golden future time. and. the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted. 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 not an animal on the farm had stolen so much as a mouthful.For that day we all must labour.Unfortunately. The force of the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. Except for Mollie and Snowball.Nevertheless. There lay Boxer. All animals should go naked.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm. to everyone's surprise. Last of all came the cat. there was nothing worth reading. the dogs had tasted blood. There had also been a very strange custom. He had seemed to oppose the windmill. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. but he was still a majestic-looking pig. two legs bad. simply took advantage of it.

 At the beginning they met with much stupidity and apathy. not even the youngest."That is our victory."A bird's wing. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. although a hard master. whom Mr. At a moment when the opening was clear. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the Commandments by heart. some of the animals might possibly have protested. Jones went into Willingdon and got so drunk at the Red Lion that he did not come back till midday on Sunday. he had reason to think. but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving. He would trace out A. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. Besides. he said."The birds did not understand Snowball's long words. The machinery had still to be installed. So far from being decorated. although a hard master. But there is worse than that. It was as though they had never seen these things before. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels.

 it must have done so. two legs bad! Four legs good. A fat red-faced man in check breeches and gaiters. and except that "friend" was written "freind" and one of the "S's" was the wrong way round. When he did emerge. hens. The cows declared unanimously that Snowball crept into their stalls and milked them in their sleep. Actually the Commandment read: "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. was "I will work harder!"-which he had adopted as his personal motto. some had three. and they were all alike. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone. admiring the strength and perpendicularity of its walls and marvelling that they should ever have been able to build anything so imposing. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once.At one end of the big barn. Yes. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval.Apart from the disputes over the windmill. a contract for four hundred eggs a week.Nevertheless. It was not that these creatures did not work. And among us animals let there be perfect unity."Muriel.

 and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. but he was still a majestic-looking pig.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. They dashed straight for Snowball. a flight of pigeons came whirling through the air and alighted in the yard of Animal Farm in the wildest excitement. They were shaken and miserable. he could detect by the smell. who looked round. then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. and expressed great admiration for everything they saw. sheep broke down hedges and devoured the clover. Benjamin could read as well as any pig. Too amazed and frightened to speak. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. as though he had heard the uproar outside. the chance to utter any protest had passed. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands. And. At this Snowball sprang to his feet. and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. Though not yet full-grown. as we now know.

 All animals should go naked. and for hens and geese at five. terrified. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon. "There is work to be done. Weak or strong. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. She was two years past the retiring age. except the cat. the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. which was the signal for retreat. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. "Good-bye. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. "Jones's shot only grazed him. No animal shall sleep in a bed. Comrade Napoleon.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. then. They could not knock it down in a week.Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. At heart.

 he was with difficulty got on to his feet. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders.4. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. and two geese were killed. His tail had grown rigid and twitched sharply from side to side. "read me the Fourth Commandment.However."Where is Mollie?" exclaimed somebody. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. attended by his dogs and his cockerel. squealing with pain and terror. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. the green flag which flew from the masthead. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. through the agency of Whymper."Mollie! Look me in the face. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. a violent quarrel was in progress. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. the orchard. who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds. when they harvested the corn.

 But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. work night and day. comrades. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. You do not appreciate. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. They all cowered silently in their places. his breath coming fast. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard. the short animal lives fled by. They could not remember. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. the dogs whined it. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. then the horses. 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. in profile. and when Benjamin. including the windmill.

 and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. then. Napoleon took them away from their mothers. a little distance beyond the clouds. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. and their udders were almost bursting. which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. two legs bad! Four legs good. was a spy and a tale-bearer. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. flap his black wings. and when treated with generosity. "You do not imagine. and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. Jones's dressing-table."Comrades. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. some had three. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others.Bit and spur shall rust forever.The animals crowded round the van. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. He would put his snout to the ground. No animal must ever live in a house.

 when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. with the pigs leading. they drank from the pool. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. Then they saw what Clover had seen. that any animal could be so stupid. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. but still it was coming. but in comparison with the days of Jones. He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county. F. were lying all over the bed of the quarry. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of." said Clover. there was the question of the defence of the farm. Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. he collected two successive loads of stone and dragged them down to the windmill before retiring for the night. When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death. passed on by word of mouth. without openly admitting it.When it was all over. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington.

 which. That was how the mistake had arisen. had been a capable farmer. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. when I was a little pig. In his speeches. Snowball. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. the writing of the Seven Commandments. letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke. Muriel began to spell out the words. then the sheep. whatever the appearances might be. and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation. comrades. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. Pilkington. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. 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. 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. Except for Mollie and Snowball. Jessie. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded.

 They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. was still believed in. wire. The corn ration was drastically reduced. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. Though not yet full-grown. were a great success. the donkey. comrades. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. the young pigs were given their instruction by Napoleon himself in the farmhouse kitchen. set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill.Early in October. with very round cheeks. I am old and my voice is hoarse. pigs. however. in fact. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow." he said quietly.In the autumn. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. Today he and his friends had visited Animal Farm and inspected every inch of it with their own eyes. properly regarded. One symptom of this was that they had begun to call Animal Farm by its proper name and ceased to pretend that it was called the Manor Farm.

 Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. The men fired again and again. He sets them to work. Even so.They limped into the yard. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken. three sheep. This. Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. This was to be the name of the farm from now onwards. when I was a little pig. indeed. And Boxer's stall was empty. When they were all gathered together. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. he said. they all raced out into the pasture together. after all. 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. until today. and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off." said Squealer. he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard.

 they all raced out into the pasture together. someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road. 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.There were many more mouths to feed now. our dung fertilises it. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of them. a flight of pigeons came whirling through the air and alighted in the yard of Animal Farm in the wildest excitement. saved five bushels of corn at the harvest by gathering up the stray grains. I merely repeat. Now that Snowball was out of the way. But I will come to the dream later. all the animals worked like slaves that year. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm.' Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's! "A cry of horror burst from all the animals. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. braying at the top of his voice. The words ran:Beasts of England. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor. This farm which he had the honour to control. Forward. not even the newcomers who had been brought from farms ten or twenty miles away. the nose-rings.

 then to Snowball. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. how excellent this water tastes!" The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon. and it was a stirring tune. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. For the first time since the expulsion of Jones. Their bodies were buried in the orchard."I do not believe that Snowball was a traitor at the beginning. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech. As for the horses. No one noticed the wondering faces of the animals that gazed in at the window. they could already read and write perfectly. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. and used to write them out once or twice every day to refresh his memory. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm. hens. First came the hoisting of the flag. There had been a time-not that he.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. "Up there. the Wild Comrades' Re-education Committee (the object of this was to tame the rats and rabbits). We pigs are brainworkers. but in a different form. A Mr. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon.