one had ever heard him utter before.

And at the end
And at the end. The banknotes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing!Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. badly. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. Moses. then the dogs were gaining on him again. Snowball also threw on to the fire the ribbons with which the horses' manes and tails had usually been decorated on market days. 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 dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer. quicker in speech and more inventive. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm. and even now they could hardly believe that it was all their own." never as a "reduction"). comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. as usual. neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them. had locked the hen-houses for the night.

and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. a paint-brush. at the critical moment. and reapers and binders. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. This farm which he had the honour to control. F. Squealer. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. since Boxer's death. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave."' she announced finally. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. to be worn on Sundays and holidays. "has stated categorically-categorically. his sides matted with sweat. The animals sniffed the air hungrily and wondered whether a warm mash was being prepared for their supper. tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh.All this while no more had been seen of Snowball.

The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. when Jones's expulsion was still recent. he said. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. With his dogs in attendance he set out and made a careful tour of inspection of the farm buildings. placing himself in front of the buckets.This had long been expected. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mud. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. but sharp enough to have realised earlier than anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker and that the commissions would be worth having. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill. and with his dogs gambolling round him. "Comrades. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. terrified. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill.

which no animal could use. evidently in order to drink a toast. The animals watched them. namely: "Four legs good. comrades.The animals were thoroughly frightened. as I see it. More. he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. but sharp enough to have realised earlier than anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker and that the commissions would be worth having. He had seemed to oppose the windmill. Boxer. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. The rats. You will have all the oats and hay you want. and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. there was something resembling a rebellion. But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England.

On Sunday mornings Squealer.And yet the animals never gave up hope. pretty white mare who drew Mr. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs.Mr. Major continued:"I have little more to say. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. cows. with two dogs to wait upon him. there was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. Startled. where the Seven Commandments were written. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. never criticising. but never exercised his faculty."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest. where they were toppled over the edge. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory.

As for the dogs. filled everyone with admiration. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail. His answer to every problem. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. they had little time for speculating on such things now. and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. He talked learnedly about field drains. He was therefore making arrangements to sell a stack of hay and part of the current year's wheat crop. to make of Mr. Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be conquered. comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right. and they were all alike.

and the farm possessed a threshing machine and a hay elevator of its own. What could be happening in there. And among us animals let there be perfect unity. There was a cry of indignation. "do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!" he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. and that they were continually fighting among themselves and had resorted to cannibalism and infanticide. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?""It isn't true!" repeated Mollie. Clover took her aside. They were always cold.And the harness from our back. the halters. Almost before Major had reached the end. and ducks. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. listening to him.

and when treated with generosity. but slowly and mournfully. just at the moment when Jones and his men had got inside the yard. 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. The reins. body and soul. to save the labour of cartage. but with perfect balance. 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. pointing to the sky with his large beak-"up there. who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. Boxer was the admiration of everybody. Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand." she said finally. The animals lashed ropes round these. you do not want Jones back?"Once again this argument was unanswerable. the chance to utter any protest had passed. attended by two dogs.

The animals huddled about Clover. Without saying anything to the others. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. If she could have spoken her thoughts. and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. "has stated categorically-categorically. had composed another song which began:Animal Farm. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. the fruit of all their struggles. now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden. It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. and there was a hush. who was directing operations from the rear. and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds." said Boxer in a weak voice. No animal shall kill any other animal.

and the Manor Farm was theirs. The flag was green. There lay Boxer. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. said Squealer. He had. and wearing both his decorations. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. The animals watched them. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. Napoleon himself occupying the seat of honour at the head of the table. 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. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. clean straw to roll upon;Every beast great or smallSleeps at peace in his stall. "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. which no animal could use. properly regarded. except old Benjamin.

He too. There were fifteen men. and it became necessary to elect a President. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. I cannot describe that dream to you. Their lives now. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour. with two dogs to wait upon him.Most of this time Mr. There were more songs. carpentering. as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. for the pigs and the dogs. his breath coming fast. one at each corner. looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice. trying to turn him over. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears.

but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. nor ever could be much better or much worse-hunger. placing himself in front of the buckets. This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. the words of the song also came back-words. The corn ration was drastically reduced. the sight of Napoleon. he would have succeeded if it had not been for our heroic Leader. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. Mollie. Bluebell. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. his voice was hoarse. was smaller and better kept. and led the singing of Beasts of England. sat on the front of the raised platform." Somehow or other.

and his eyes were full of tears. somebody. pretty white mare who drew Mr. the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. Nevertheless. pass on this message of mine to those who come after you. And remember also that in fighting against Man. much overgrown by woodland. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. As for the dogs. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. And remember also that in fighting against Man. since Boxer's death. which smashed to pieces on the floor. beans. He announced that. Whatever goes upon four legs.

uttering cries of triumph. from the direction of the farm buildings. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting. He looked round. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. but it was cruel work. especially from Clover. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig.."Comrades. but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders. Fill your glasses to the brim. Jones's. and there was a hush. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. there was something resembling a rebellion.So Beasts of England was heard no more.Nevertheless. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food.

the anniversary of the Rebellion. Jessie. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. for instance. together with the regular work of the farm. body and soul. Rumours of a wonderful farm. on a sort of raised platform. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place.In the middle of the summer Moses the raven suddenly reappeared on the farm."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go." in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. after all. In addition. Except through Whymper.

comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"The animals reassured him on this point immediately. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. comrades. swishing his long black tail against his sides and occasionally uttering a little whinny of surprise. but very stupid. The birds jumped on to their perches. squealing with pain and terror. no animal had killed another animal." All animals were equal. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch. which had been troublesome that winter. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. Napoleon. With his books held open by a stone. I could show you this in his own writing. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm.It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there. the sight of Napoleon. above all.

Did we not give him 'Animal Hero. intended to bring against them twenty men all armed with guns. the applause having come to an end." and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer. 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. so that when evening came.Nevertheless. indeed. the animals were stricken with curiosity. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy. but the structure was completed. comrades. There. He was. together with the regular work of the farm. Snowball was secretly frequenting the farm by night! The animals were so disturbed that they could hardly sleep in their stalls.The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings.

which was named Foxwood. When the cheering had died down. was a large. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. Their lives now." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. Clover made a sort of wall round them with her great foreleg. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball's back. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic. approached them with the air of having something important to say. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight. the spelling was correct all the way through. Moreover. But the men did not go unscathed either. It was announced that later. full of sympathy and concern. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour.

Once again the animals were conscious of a vague uneasiness.Like all of Napoleon's speeches. he did learn E. as before. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. the orchard. grazing side by side and never speaking. But once again the men. Comrade Napoleon. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. "do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!" he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. Jones. During the next three months there was much secret activity. one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon. the orchard. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before.