and wished to communicate it to the other animals. evidently in order to drink a toast.

  Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight
 Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. especially the windmill. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. the strong protecting the weak. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. They had also dropped their championship of Jones. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. Comrade Napoleon. There lay Boxer. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. There were songs. 'Forward in the name of the Rebellion. It was pure imagination.And now. That was how the mistake had arisen. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm."Comrades.

 The birds at first objected. at least they worked for themselves.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. the animals waited. and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard. First came the three dogs. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: "Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can't get up!"About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood." which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep. A deputation of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection. The van began to gather speed. he said. Muriel read the Commandment for her. 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. holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter. Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard. as usual. He would perch on a stump. Except for Mollie and Snowball." never as a "reduction"). Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. which. caught a dog in mid-air.

 at the critical moment. they said. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. coal. and Pincher. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. but she could not look Clover in the face. For a horse. So far as he knew. Snowball stood up and. at which he yelled horribly. and Pincher were dead. Ducklings' Friend. unable even to raise his head. had been a capable farmer." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. Jones saw him coming. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. and it was a stirring tune.Napoleon. and more firing of the gun. At a moment when the opening was clear.

 "What he has done since is different. Can you not understand that liberty is worth more than ribbons? "Mollie agreed. and there was a hush. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses. however. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. Today we begin the hay harvest. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley." he said. where the Seven Commandments were written. hens. Napoleon sent for pots of black and white paint and led the way down to the five-barred gate that gave on to the main road. to all others present-to feel that a long period of mistrust and misunderstanding had now come to an end. Major's speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. And you hens. had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth. nails." he said. Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her. Willingdon. as it was warm weather.

" concluded Mr. Snowball now launched his second line of attack. he said. It was almost unbelievable." This was to be suppressed. The birds at first objected. as Squealer did not fail to point out.He did not believe. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins.Wheat and barley. he said. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them. the cows. it was noticed.On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion. Day and night we are watching over your welfare.On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion. His answer to every problem. there was nothing worth reading. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. The windmill. 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.

 all the animals dispersed. he did learn E. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. menacing growls. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting. and the worst tempered.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. It was as though they had never seen these things before. during which his various chins turned purple. And you.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. were reduced again in February. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. Second Class. 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.This was early in March. But it reminded me of something that I had long forgotten. Some did it better than others.

 and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. was as it had always been. with half a dozen guns between them. To the amazement of everybody. or thought they remembered. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. trembling. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. Except through Whymper. Discipline. the thunder of the gun. of course. he said. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. the degrading nosebags. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. B. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time. In addition. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day.

 It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere."Muriel. In the evening Squealer called them together. The animals' blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things beingdone to their comrades. They were fine upstanding beasts. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it. occasionally snuffing at the ground. that they were often hungry and often cold. he said." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing. They could only be traced for a few yards. Snowball. came in together. a contract for four hundred eggs a week. was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season."What victory. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace.

 as Squealer did not fail to point out. the poet. at the critical moment. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart. intended to create a little disorder. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. almost too weak to speak. As he had said. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set. tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered. "I had no intention of doing that. There was only one candidate."But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No. none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. I saw him myself. "I have something very serious to say to you.

 teaching them to sing a new song.' Those were his very last words. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. with various other improvements. she fetched Muriel.The very next morning the attack came. when I was a little pig. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. This. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. geese and turkeys. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement. 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." said one of the hens. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another.None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow. and had charged into battle with the words "Long live Humanity!" on his lips. comrades.

 in the late afternoon. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm. who was directing operations from the rear. and the animals walked on tiptoe. the retiring age had been fixed for horses and pigs at twelve." he said. he said. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. Jones saw him coming. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. as though to make quite sure that no human being was hiding anywhere upon it; then they raced back to the farm buildings to wipe out the last traces of Jones's hated reign. The van had previously been the property of the knacker. the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. for instance. 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. usually Squealer. he said. Whymper. Sugarcandy Mountain. a chaff-cutter. Rumours of a wonderful farm.

 cows kicked the pail over. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. And a moment later. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. but greatly preferred him to Frederick. Frederick should be boiled alive. From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not. comrades. Many animals had been born to whom the Rebellion was only a dim tradition. he said.Napoleon decreed that there should be a full investigation into Snowball's activities. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance. You would not rob us of our repose." and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. now and in the past. was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. Whymper. cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on. She knew that. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed. even for an instant.

 properly regarded. and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals. so the pigeons said. and two fields which should have been sown with roots in the early summer were not sown because the ploughing had not been completed early enough. Napoleon was a large. They were all carrying sticks. and the eggs were duly delivered. teaching them to sing a new song." and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. the Brussels carpet. The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan. for cows at fourteen. of the Manor Farm. you do not need sugar. and more firing of the gun. comrades.He did not believe. lay in working hard and living frugally. Protector of the Sheep-fold. beside the gun. and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions.

 Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims.But if there were hardships to be borne. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days. any clash of interests whatever. and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. he said. they were huge dogs. he said. they raised a terrible outcry.On the day appointed for the banquet. comrades. rain or shine. Protector of the Sheep-fold. speaking very slowly and firmly. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. When they got up again. the dogs whined it." said Boxer sorrowfully. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. Finding herself unable to read more than individual letters.

 the whole farm was convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well. It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could never be found. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs. occasionally snuffing at the ground. as Squealer was never tired of explaining. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon." said Snowball. Muriel. but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. It was not for this that they had built the windmill and faced the bullets of Jones's gun. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture.By the evening. the tame raven. this was only a light skirmishing manoeuvre. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. It was always the pigs who put forward the resolutions. he said. "has stated categorically-categorically. The windmill.As for the others.

 chewing at a lump of sugar.Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. As usual.Muriel was dead; Bluebell.Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-except. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. They had never seen animals behave like this before. A cow. with his nine huge dogs frisking round him and uttering growls that sent shivers down all the animals' spines. but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. In the end. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. It was just then that Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. Rations. were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no work.

" He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader. At the sight. harrows. Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler.There were many more mouths to feed now. By the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed. and lanterns in the stalls were forbidden to save Oil. they studied blacksmithing. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs. TitBits. Muriel read the Commandment for her. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. by their human neighbours. uttering cries of triumph. But there is worse than that. and he had already bribed the magistrates and police. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity.

 Without saying anything to the others. it was short and to the point. And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour.6. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. it must be right. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. You would often hear one hen remark to another. Reading out the figures in a shrill. and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover; there she purred contentedly throughout Major's speech without listening to a word of what he was saying. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim. holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter. he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at. That.3. This work was strictly voluntary. The solution. Boxer!" they chorused.

 and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken.Beasts of every land and clime. without openly admitting it. He fidgeted to and fro. never criticising. Napoleon was hesitating between the two. A large jug was circulating. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been.Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out. before the regular day's work began. That was theirs too. In the end. comrades. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon. never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. with the money at his side. laborious process.Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No.This had long been expected.

 but it was noticed he cast a very ugly look at Boxer with his little twinkling eyes. had been a capable farmer. Snowball was said to be at Pinchfield. Mr."Mollie! Look me in the face. it was noticed. twinkling eyes. and which stood beyond the kitchen. The flag was green. It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest. when the animals assembled to receive their orders. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. and led the singing of Beasts of England. who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal. ratcatcher breeches. who had seemed uneasy for some time past. All men are enemies. and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. Word had gone round during the day that old Major. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. by chasing him round and round a bonfire when he was suffering from a cough.

 Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. levelled to its foundations. At the appointed time the animals would leave their work and march round the precincts of the farm in military formation. Many years ago. and then the building began. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. he did learn E. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. The stupidest questions of all were asked by Mollie. the long working hours.In the long pasture. but issued his orders through one of the other pigs. They rolled in the dew. When he did appear. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good. then the debates must stop. were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. comrades. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act.

 reading the newspapers. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. Last of all came the cat. where are those four foals you bore. He was trying to kick his way out. During the next three months there was much secret activity. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies.Thou watchest over all.In the middle of the summer Moses the raven suddenly reappeared on the farm. He was trying to kick his way out. C. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. sometimes shaking his forelock. is the answer to all our problems. The hens perched themselves on the window-sills. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas.Late one evening in the summer. in profile. had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. evidently in order to drink a toast.