dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears.

 and the three-day week
 and the three-day week. who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick. the animals stopped in their tracks. sheep. some of the animals remembered-or thought they remembered-that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal. whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together. he said.Wheat and barley. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief.HOW they toiled and sweated to get the hay in! But their efforts were rewarded."But at this moment the three cows.Meanwhile. too. as well as on the other two anniversaries.""And shall I still be allowed to wear ribbons in my mane?" asked Mollie. came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement. Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand. There were the bricks. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart.Though we die before it break;Cows and horses. After the horses came Muriel. "Under the guidance of our Leader. Indeed. As usual.

 Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. but Boxer never faltered. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. the white mare. They were gored. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. were a great success. came mincing daintily in. and the eggs were duly delivered. where Clover and Benjamin had prepared a good bed of straw for him. The hens. after all. fifteen pounds of hay. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. So far from being decorated. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. not doled out to them by a grudging master. in spite of receiving every attention a horse could have. Pilkington. In a moment. After a little thought. By late summer a sufficient store of stone had accumulated. Moses the raven. but he was still a majestic-looking pig. 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. Napoleon was hesitating between the two. but they were frightened to go inside.

 Napoleon was a large. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. the applause having come to an end. I merely repeat. and tell Squealer what has happened. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. "There is work to be done. 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 various others. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. As soon as they were well inside the yard. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs. And among us animals let there be perfect unity. "Jones's shot only grazed him. It had not been possible. Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better. Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.Full belly twice a day. Clover made a sort of wall round them with her great foreleg. he would have succeeded if it had not been for our heroic Leader. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. he could detect by the smell. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow."Now. feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find. urinated over the plans.

 "Run. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball.Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. a little distance beyond the clouds. What could be happening in there. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. he would move rapidly to and fro. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. should have a quiet place to work in. and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. neglected. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that.Early in October. But it appears to me that that wall looks different.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining-room window. comrades. There were songs. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped. with guilt written on every line of their countenances. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. If so. Squealer said. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory.

 Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry. Frederick.YEARS passed." seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems. it was the first time that anyone had ever seen him gallop. saw what was happening. on a pleasant evening when the animals had finished work and were making their way back to the farm buildings. surely they knew their beloved Leader. and nothing could be done in the fields. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. All men are enemies. Napoleon. the fields were full of weeds. Moreover. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. and with his dogs gambolling round him. It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could never be found. appeared at the small window at the back of the van. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share. or wear clothes. pretty white mare who drew Mr. which were in his own possession. every inch of it their own property-appeared to the animals so desirable a place. Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. better than that? But the explanation was really very simple. that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others.

 Mollie became more and more troublesome. In addition. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him.All must toil for freedom's sake. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. The animals now also learned that Snowball had never-as many of them had believed hitherto-received the order of "Animal Hero7 First Class. To tell you the truth. much overgrown by woodland. simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball. They took their exercise in the garden. when they harvested the corn. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat.Like the sun in the sky. but she did not sound very convinced. comrades. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. for which privacy was needed. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. usually Squealer. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. Moses said. which was named Foxwood. and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose.

 Now that Snowball was out of the way. You do not appreciate. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion."Comrades. He sets them to work. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal.Comrade Napoleon!Had I a sucking-pig. Napoleon was a large. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats. They were always cold.He did not believe. and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors. rich. they had no reason for thinking that it would be within their own lifetime. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm.In January there came bitterly hard weather. to the number of thirty-five.At one end of the big barn. "Gentlemen.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week.The reading and writing classes. while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs." in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. The building of the windmill. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. or smoke tobacco. from the direction of the farm buildings.

 They did not know when the Rebellion predicted by Major would take place. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. or wear clothes.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. filled everyone with admiration. was smaller and better kept. And we had worked on it for two years!""What matter? We will build another windmill. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. and purred so affectionately. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. They had been nervous about the effects upon their own animals. comrades. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. Then they saw what Clover had seen. but I know. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. They were executed immediately. it might be in a week or in a hundred years." he said finally. his voice was hoarse. who was Mr. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. he is too weak to pull the plough.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. which had been troublesome that winter.Every Monday Mr.

 They tiptoed up to the house. attended by two dogs. string. For a horse. When he did appear. According to Snowball. they knew every inch of the field." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. there was nothing worth reading.For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. Jones. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. Yet he is lord of all the animals. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. the hayfield. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. 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. and walked out without uttering a word. and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages. before the regular day's work began. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good. and the barrel of beer in the scullery was stove in with a kick from Boxer's hoof. looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later.It was just after the sheep had returned.

 And when the others came back from looking for her. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. He fidgeted to and fro. the mighty thing that we have done. you do not need sugar. Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath. never to engage in trade. terrible stories were leaking out from Pinchfield about the cruelties that Frederick practised upon his animals. had stood up. Last night." and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats. None of the old dreams had been abandoned. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public. the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful. 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. Snowball explained. who thought she remembered a definite ruling against beds. it was noticed. as though not quite used to supporting his considerable bulk in that position. were more articulate. and their appetites were always good. and an overturned pot of white paint. According to Snowball. The building of the windmill.

 You would not rob us of our repose.""That was part of the arrangement!" cried Squealer. Yes. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good. but would say nothing. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile. and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. then the cows. he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. but directed and supervised the others. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement. She was seen one day sitting on a roof and talking to some sparrows who were just out of her reach. I am certain. I had only another month to go in any case. And when. In fact. It ended by their remaining there for a whole week. were slaughtered. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. temporarily stunned. that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. running faster than ever. in the late afternoon. Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. To the amazement of everybody.

 'Animal Hero. That was how the mistake had arisen. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. The plans. Snowball was secretly frequenting the farm by night! The animals were so disturbed that they could hardly sleep in their stalls. and.Meanwhile life was hard. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. terrified. They met with many difficulties-for instance. To the amazement of everybody. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. They were unnecessary. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies." never as a "reduction"). Jones. and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. in the late afternoon. their enemies in flight.June came and the hay was almost ready for cutting. and seemed to understand. then the cows. for the pigs and the dogs.The animals had their breakfast.One Sunday morning. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. with half a gallon for Napoleon himself. "should be considered as clothes. he would go alone to the quarry.

 indeed. Yes. the long working hours. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. There was more leisure too."What victory. But the men did not go unscathed either. and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set." cried Snowball. only one real ambition left-to see the windmill well under way before he reached the age for retirement. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck.""I have no wish to take life.There were many more mouths to feed now. "That will be attended to. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. The animals believed every word of it. what discouragements they had overcome. with various other improvements. Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. There was. Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease. round the long table. Then he was up again. Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others. Old Major (so he was always called. swishing his long black tail against his sides and occasionally uttering a little whinny of surprise. the others found that she had remained behind in the best bedroom.

 they secretly trembled. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. between Animal Farm and its neighbours. Snowball suddenly turned and fled. C.He should have learned to beFaithful and true to thee. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. in those days they had been slaves and now they were free. comrades. The animals listened first to Napoleon. she fetched Muriel. who slept on a perch behind the back door. Squealer explained." and "Animal Hero. He repeated a number of times. Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days. they all raced out into the pasture together. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. but had not believed that it would really happen. 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. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. Pilkington and Mr. This work was strictly voluntary. Jones would come back! Surely. Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others.

 but it was noticed he cast a very ugly look at Boxer with his little twinkling eyes. especially the windmill. And yet the song was irrepressible. and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. and led the singing of Beasts of England. which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side.Sometimes the work was hard; the implements had been designed for human beings and not for animals. The four pigs waited. Napoleon was hesitating between the two. first Class. Napoleon was a large. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval." he said. A terrible sight had met their eyes. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. Slowly. and achieved a canter. It was almost half built now. It was a moonlit night. and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. And what is more."Why?" cried Muriel. Apart from the regular work of the farm. and had taken to drinking more than was good for him.

 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. 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. He gave it as his opinion that Snowball had probably come from the direction of Foxwood Farm. in the barn. he said. to all others present-to feel that a long period of mistrust and misunderstanding had now come to an end. He had become much disheartened after losing money in a lawsuit. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms.""But he was wounded. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. two legs bad! Four legs good. which had become overgrown with birch saplings. hardship. and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. and the Manor Farm was theirs. afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. He was quite unchanged. iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. All the habits of Man are evil. who had now had time to think things over. trying to turn him over. Having got there. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. There. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel. No animal shall wear clothes. No animal shall wear clothes.

 who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. the halters. Two whole days were given over to celebrations. of never complaining. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent. who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal. the other could be counted on to oppose it. when fierce. and the dog slunk away. between Animal Farm and its neighbours. He fell silent for a moment. As usual. if more money were needed.A thought struck Clover. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. rapid voice. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth. now. It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. when they harvested the corn. it might be in a week or in a hundred years. 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. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up.

 and when treated with generosity. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings. A too rigid equality in rations. string. but slowly and mournfully. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed.The animals huddled about Clover. or any of the present company. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. the donkey.Nevertheless. With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side. and talk by the hour to anyone who would listen. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. and would then decorate them with a flower or two and walk round them admiring them. we should starve to death. In past years Mr. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them. and reapers and binders. and the rebuilding of the windmill. surely. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. For the first time since the expulsion of Jones. where are those four foals you bore. or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed.

 Mr. then the horses. In the evening Squealer called them together. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. But the Rebellion is now completed.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. They rolled in the dew.However. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas." said Boxer.Late one evening in the summer." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. too. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Four dogs guarded his bed at night. should decide all questions of farm policy. Rations. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. but Squealer asked them shrewdly.Early in October. where Mrs. pass on this message of mine to those who come after you.All the animals were now present except Moses. evidently in order to drink a toast. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick. of the Manor Farm.

 and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods. Too amazed and frightened to speak. panic overtook them. comrades. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. too. who seldom moved out of a walk. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. Muriel. He was running as only a pig can run. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment. as I see it. Napoleon's own creation. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. who had remained on his feet. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. All men are enemies. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy. All animals should go naked. which would clearly be most undesirable. The men fired again and again. frightened them almost out of their wits. who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. as I see it. so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. of Foxwood. frightened them almost out of their wits.

 sat on the front of the raised platform. Benjamin?"For once Benjamin consented to break his rule. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. In addition. which he had conferred upon himself. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter.The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon's cunning. roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement. Then he was up again. And about half an hour later. where the Seven Commandments were written. Courage. Benjamin. All the same. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. Yes. They all remembered. chewing at a lump of sugar. until today." said one of the hens. which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed. it was said. would you. the Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled. they were burnt in the furnace. except old Benjamin. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms.

 looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice. on the ground that it made them fat).Rings shall vanish from our noses. he said. In addition. You will have all the oats and hay you want. They all cowered silently in their places. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. with Squealer and another pig named Minimus. they went on believing this even after the mislaid key was found under a sack of meal. another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank-notes. thieving human beings. he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. 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. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane. The animals distrusted Pilkington. Even in the farmhouse."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed."I do not believe that Snowball was a traitor at the beginning. no complaint was made about that either. he said. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed."And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. When it was all gone. and sleep between blankets. All animals are comrades. no complaint was made about that either.

 whom they both feared and hated. and wearing both his decorations. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck.""Our Leader. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. Besides.At last.A FEW days later. the processions." He could not of course know-for he. After the horses came Muriel. the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before entering the barn. then the cows. and short. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. And we had worked on it for two years!""What matter? We will build another windmill. since the farm possessed no threshing machine-but the pigs with their cleverness and Boxer with his tremendous muscles always pulled them through. the hayfield. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary. So far as he knew. If she herself had had any picture of the future. two legs better! Four legs good. slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. should decide all questions of farm policy.In the autumn.

 together with the regular work of the farm. no one was able to imagine. And remember also that in fighting against Man." said Squealer stiffly. When it was put to them in this light. it was true.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. since the farm possessed no threshing machine-but the pigs with their cleverness and Boxer with his tremendous muscles always pulled them through. as though he had heard the uproar outside. I had only another month to go in any case. when Jones's expulsion was still recent. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday 8."Gentlemen. beasts of Ireland. Snowball explained.It had come to his knowledge. iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. Nevertheless. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. and a number of the pigs. and in summer by the flies. and as for the clever ones. asked somebody. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. No animal shall drink alcohol. You will have all the oats and hay you want. When Mr. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed.

 The windmill had ceased to exist!At this sight the animals' courage returned to them. they flung themselves upon their tormentors." said Snowball. together with the regular work of the farm. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times. The animals knew that this was not the case. the expulsion of Jones. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile. the Whiter Wool Movement for the sheep. quicker in speech and more inventive. you do not need sugar. as they imagined. The van began to gather speed. and suddenly remembering the glorious thing that had happened. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. It was Clover's voice. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. but she did not sound very convinced. although her appetite was excellent. though she lacked the words to express them. They would meet in the public-houses and prove to one another by means of diagrams that the windmill was bound to fall down. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. at the beds with their feather mattresses. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. The windmill had ceased to exist!At this sight the animals' courage returned to them. was in the hands of the enemy. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues.

 so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. Bluebell. or any of the present company. Snowball read it aloud for the benefit of the others. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. It was announced that later. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased." And from then on he adopted the maxim. comrade. of course.However. when fierce. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim. He looked round. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. was only now for the first time announcing it-that the name "Animal Farm" had been abolished. 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.They limped into the yard. who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals. the hedges were neglected. When the cheering had died down. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. which are a human invention. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and."Comrades!" cried Squealer. He was indefatigable at this. Amazed. to make of Mr.

" said Squealer. They added that Snowball had privately admitted to them that he had been Jones's secret agent for years past. C. He fell silent for a moment. Pilkington. and seemed to understand. they knew every inch of the field.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. the animals were still unfed.As they approached the farm Squealer. the blinkers.The animals had their breakfast. Snowball stood up and." "reports. He gave his orders quickly.It was just after the sheep had returned. Their relations with the human race were now not quite the same as they had been before. intimated that he too had a few words to say. She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. it was always discovered that he had forgotten A. who is even now plotting to attack us and take our farm away from us! Snowball is to act as his guide when the attack begins. he trampled the seedbeds. just at the moment when Jones and his men had got inside the yard. What does that mean.All must toil for freedom's sake. Napoleon. comrades. without due enquiry.

 but never exercised his faculty. And so. Clover learnt the whole alphabet. occasionally snuffing at the ground. and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. always at the spot where the work was hardest. I had only another month to go in any case. After surveying the ground. The men fired again and again. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving.Purer shall its waters be. Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease. on the ground that it made them fat). "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig. In desperation the animals began appealing to the two horses which drew the van to stop. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures.This had long been expected. 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. Only Boxer remained on his feet. there was the question of the defence of the farm. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right." concluded Mr. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice. the animals waited. No creature called any other creature "Master. Moses said.

 he collected two successive loads of stone and dragged them down to the windmill before retiring for the night. and wearing both his decorations. Such jobs as weeding. There were the bricks. what difference does it make whether we work for it or not?". and the animals were underfed. There were fifteen men. The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate. a thousand times no! The soil of England is fertile. so that when evening came. he is too weak to pull the plough. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. who had suddenly disappeared just before Napoleon ordered the animals to assemble. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry. who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse.Wheat and barley."Boxer!" she cried. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. Napoleon. what discouragements they had overcome. however. and all preparations had been made. rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar."Is it not crystal clear. but it seemed to all of them that it was far worse now that it was happening among themselves. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears.