had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip. attended by two or three dogs.

So far from being decorated
So far from being decorated. that it was just at that moment. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. The early apples were now ripening. and set the animals free. and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky. is a friend. tell them the story of the Rebellion. It was situated somewhere up in the sky. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back. menacing growls. Snowball also busied himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. but it was no use. and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold.

And among us animals let there be perfect unity. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. three of them flung themselves upon Boxer. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard. All the same. feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find. Then Napoleon stood up to reply.This was early in March. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. or five hundred per cent. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished. and with his dogs gambolling round him.

It was a pig walking on his hind legs. Snowball had found in the harness-room an old green tablecloth of Mrs. But there were also rumours of something more serious. They had also dropped their championship of Jones. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find.Yes. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. the orchard. the pool. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies. and various new buildings had been added to it. It now appeared that Snowball was not. But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. H. Curiously enough. "Snowball! He has been here! I can smell him distinctly!" and at the word "Snowball" all the dogs let out blood-curdling growls and showed their side teeth.

and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech. with half a dozen others from Foxwood and Pinchfield. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim. "Animal Hero. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it. there was more for everyone to eat. he was sure. and all the usual replacements such as tools. and we will build all through the winter. somebody. usually Squealer.The windmill presented unexpected difficulties. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. though they were only conducted through Whymper. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. through the agency of Whymper.

or sleep in a bed. which every animal would do well to adopt as his own. As the summer wore on. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. mistaken ideas had been current. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief.It had come to his knowledge. it was said. but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. Do not imagine. two legs bad! Four legs good.In the autumn.At one end of the big barn."By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. which had become overgrown with birch saplings.

She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off. not doled out to them by a grudging master. "Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity. and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill. then the dogs were gaining on him again." This was to be suppressed. On Midsummer's Eve. For a long i. and had a way of leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone in her hoof. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel. The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed. but I know. inexperienced though the animals were. the animals were still unfed. I saw him myself. I have something else to say first. but he was still a majestic-looking pig. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind.

with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. comrades!' he whispered. almost too weak to speak. And when the others came back from looking for her. Do not imagine. Jones went into Willingdon and got so drunk at the Red Lion that he did not come back till midday on Sunday. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill. And sure enough. He walked heavily round the shed. and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. "Jones's shot only grazed him. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. he said. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr."Why?" cried Muriel.

Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. You. and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. without due enquiry. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. Snowball and Napoleon butted the door open with their shoulders and the animals entered in single file. Muriel. comrade!" cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. it got into the din of the smithies and the tune of the church bells. After this they went back to the farm buildings. which was named Foxwood. and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods.He did not believe. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. too. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. But still.

bitter battle. The windmill. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. His tail had grown rigid and twitched sharply from side to side. 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. and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. a little distance beyond the clouds. His twelfth birthday was approaching. drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement. and later on. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. speeches. carpentering. Nevertheless. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time. which was named Foxwood.

Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. he might expect to live another three years. A large jug was circulating. comrade. and the fluttering of the flag. more speeches. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. Some of them had five chins. You do not appreciate.THREE nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day. the donkey. whereat Boxer lifted his hoof. then the horses. But we were wrong. I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. All animals are equal. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on. and they rushed after them in disorder.

The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement." cried Squealer almost pleadingly. he is too weak to pull the plough. in those days they had been slaves and now they were free. Jones's trap. The dogs learned to read fairly well.The animals were not badly off throughout that summer. I cannot describe that dream to you. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it. who seldom moved out of a walk. however. presided over by himself. after an absence of several years. Jessie." said Squealer. They all remembered. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1.

and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. I had only another month to go in any case.Meanwhile life was hard. and the rebuilding of the windmill. Jones. The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs. Forward. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. things had been better or worse than now. 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.""And shall I still be allowed to wear ribbons in my mane?" asked Mollie. Huge boulders.These three had elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. You do not appreciate. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. suitable for drawing on. He turned to go. It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest.

or sleep in a bed. where they were toppled over the edge. and she complained of mysterious pains. and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness. their enemies in flight. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim. They were gored. He was therefore making arrangements to sell a stack of hay and part of the current year's wheat crop. but greatly preferred him to Frederick. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. he said. they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones. returned. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. reading the newspapers. it must be right. and then reappear at meal-times. TitBits.

so it was said-at Foxwood. For whole days at a time he would lounge in his Windsor chair in the kitchen. there was the schoolhouse for the young pigs. Napoleon had accepted. the donkey. was still believed in. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered. since no animal now stole. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday. looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:Friend of fatherless!Fountain of happiness!Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh. Such is the natural life of a pig. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. It was fully realised that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr." Others asked such questions as "Why should we care what happens after we are dead?" or "If this Rebellion is to happen anyway. Frederick. Frederick.

and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manner. however. while Benjamin kept the flies off him. he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. I merely repeat. and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. any clash of interests whatever." but there were two words that they had forgotten. Yes. Transporting the stone when it was once broken was comparatively simple. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing. "to the hayfield! Let us make it a point of honour to get in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men could do. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. whom they both feared and hated." announced Squealer.

Comrade Napoleon. comrades. and as for the clever ones. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. if more money were needed. unable even to raise his head.Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse. and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy."Comrades. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery."Comrades. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some kind of invisible influence. Indeed. and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion. 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. Pilkington. but the windmill compensated for everything. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut.

the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. except for the pigs and dogs.This had long been expected. to the number of thirty-five. the fields were full of weeds. Squealer explained. and would also run a circular saw. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. Even the hens and ducks came. the donkey. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. They knew that life nowadays was harsh and bare. Surely. he said. Napoleon announced that he had decided upon a new policy."Comrades. then to Snowball. but greatly preferred him to Frederick. which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.

too. old-fashioned farm. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes. while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown." said Boxer. Then they made a tour of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the ploughland. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism. it was said.Napoleon. the improvement was enormous. gallop rapidly round the yard. 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. perfect comradeship in the struggle. I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end.

too ignorant to realise what was happening. "Don't take your own brother to his death! " But the stupid brutes. Jones." said Squealer. is a friend. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey. except for the pigs and dogs. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile. If he were gone."By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. Reading out the figures in a shrill."What victory?" said Boxer. and wearing both his decorations. On Sunday mornings Squealer."A bird's wing. it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip. attended by two or three dogs.