every difficulty. No creature called any other creature "Master. "Napoleon is always right.

 and once on Midsummer Day
 and once on Midsummer Day. As the summer wore on. their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill. furious denials. the three cows. then to Snowball.The farm was more prosperous now.It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse. of whatever degree. they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. Only Clover remained. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. how many eggs have you laid in this last year. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. was inscribed on the end wall of the barn. Even when it was resolved-a thing no one could object to in itself-to set aside the small paddock behind the orchard as a home of rest for animals who were past work. It ran:ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters.With one accord they dashed down to the spot. he said." said Clover. in the evenings. They all remembered. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. reading the newspapers. the cows.

Presently the tumult died down. As his last act upon earth. that they worked shorter hours. FOUR LEGS GOOD." "reports. and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. At last they could stand it no longer. The advantage of only having to feed themselves." he said. horses. and talked in the same strain as ever about Sugarcandy Mountain. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. between the shafts of the cart. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. The creatures outside looked from pig to man. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. it was short and to the point. He does not give milk. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs. he does not lay eggs. that they were often hungry and often cold. "I was at his bedside at the very last.

 With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. A Mr. Squealer explained. I could show you this in his own writing. but with perfect balance. Kennels Supplied. now and in the past.But they woke at dawn as usual. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration. All the animals nodded in complete agreement. croaking loudly. frisking from side to side. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. the white mare. with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. hardship. so she said. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped.7. Napoleon had accepted. Pilkington's before emptying it. the thunder of the gun. and the like. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that.

 the applause having come to an end. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill."Jones used sometimes to mix some of it in our mash. Jones looked out of the bedroom window.But a few days later Muriel. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then."I do not believe that. said Napoleon. and disappointment being. Snowball was forgotten. it was said. the sheep. with two biscuits for each dog. with Squealer and another pig named Minimus. of primitive implements. with half a gallon for Napoleon himself. ratcatcher breeches. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. The dogs learned to read fairly well. work hard. although her appetite was excellent. though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say. was a co-operative enterprise. he cleared his throat and began:"Comrades. the other could be counted on to oppose it.

 He was trying to kick his way out.""But he was wounded. "You do not imagine. everyone. no matter what happened-they might have uttered some word of protest.The animals were taken aback. Transporting the stone when it was once broken was comparatively simple. He turned to go. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. none of which could be produced on the farm. who settled down in the straw immediately in front of the platform. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. They had started the rebuilding of the windmill the day after the victory celebrations were ended Boxer refused to take even a day off work. and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. which he had conferred upon himself. As he had said. If he made a good recovery. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. collect a load of broken stone. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. The plans. All were agreed that no animal must ever live there. But no warm mash appeared. "It does not matter.

 Benjamin. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. such as the sheep. They were fine upstanding beasts.' Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's! "A cry of horror burst from all the animals. or wear clothes. I have something else to say first. That was theirs too.It was very neatly written. developed through long years. We pigs are brainworkers. 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. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. the foolish. All were agreed that no animal must ever live there. all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. they knew every inch of the field.At the beginning. and when Benjamin.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder."Jones used sometimes to mix some of it in our mash. Benjamin. and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon.

 and the like. croaking loudly. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail. Do you not remember how. whose origin was unknown. And in his spare moments. with which the meetings always ended. comrade!" or "Whoa back." said Snowball firmly. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer. C. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. About this time. above all. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. and disappear indoors again. ratcatcher breeches. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. She knew that. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear.

 it was theirs-everything that they could see was theirs! In the ecstasy of that thought they gambolled round and round. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully.At the gate they paused. "how are you?""It is my lung. whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together. Fill your glasses to the brim. To that horror we all must come-cows. There had also been a very strange custom. The wild creatures. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. But before doing so. evidently in order to drink a toast. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. and there were some violent debates.In the long pasture. evidently in order to drink a toast. Major raised his trotter for silence. A1most overnight we could become rich and free.""Our Leader. or drink alcohol. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr.

 Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. his tail rigid and twitching. from the direction of the farm buildings. and talked in the same strain as ever about Sugarcandy Mountain. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. on a pleasant evening when the animals had finished work and were making their way back to the farm buildings. a chaff-cutter. and the three-day week. Comrade Napoleon. The situation was quite out of their control. The plans.The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration. It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be. It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. There were the bricks. and it was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind legs. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. Gentlemen. with half a dozen guns between them. no complaint was made about that either. without bothering to feed the animals. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. On several occasions.

 Boxer was an enormous beast."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. Frederick. neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them. attended by two dogs. And. squealing with pain and terror. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. get out!" But the van was already gathering speed and drawing away from them. Boxer was an enormous beast. could read somewhat better than the dogs. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. he does not lay eggs. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting.For that day we all must labour. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. but Boxer paid no attention. The skull of old Major. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. The rats. two legs bad!" But by and large the animals enjoyed these celebrations. after a few preliminary tries.

 It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley. then the cows. Second Class"). what difference does it make whether we work for it or not?". round the long table. he said. comrades. comrade." never as a "reduction"). I cannot describe that dream to you. the animals were still unfed. When it was all gone. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill. however. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. after all. And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science. saw what was happening. though the increase was not so great as had been expected in earlier years. It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism. Above all. and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did."Comrades.At this there was a terrible baying sound outside.

 he does not lay eggs. as though he had heard the uproar outside."And now. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. who seldom asked questions. But for the first time it occurred to him that he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. intended to create a little disorder. There were the bricks. He had been a hard worker even in Jones's time. how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. or touch money. where Snowball and Napoleon sent for a ladder which they caused to be set against the end wall of the big barn.There were many more mouths to feed now. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. it was always discovered that he had forgotten A. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. and a shrill voice.

 All the same. was not good at getting up in the mornings. When they were all gathered together. I shall follow in a few minutes." he said. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. Napoleon was a large. but they did not at first give him much help. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. It had been felt that the existence of a farm owned and operated by pigs was somehow abnormal and was liable to have an unsettling effect in the neighbourhood. Major raised his trotter for silence. however. Jessie. There. comrades. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. Major raised his trotter for silence. the animals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard.Clover. trampled on. panic overtook them. and.

" in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. We pigs are brainworkers. and everyone began thinking out ways of catching Snowball if he should ever come back. So it was agreed without further argument that the milk and the windfall apples (and also the main crop of apples when they ripened) should be reserved for the pigs alone. the lithograph of Queen Victoria over the drawing-room mantelpiece. It happened that there was in the yard a pile of timber which had been stacked there ten years earlier when a beech spinney was cleared. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. and his eyes were full of tears." he said. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files."You have heard then. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. as usual. and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. which a few of the animals still remembered to have seen. beasts of Ireland.Cruel whips no more shall crack. was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty. he starved his cows. he said. where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed their own affairs.

"No more delays. not doled out to them by a grudging master. he does not lay eggs. With one accord. and the animals were underfed. His knees were bleeding. sheep broke down hedges and devoured the clover. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration. And when. everyone.""We must get help at once. so she said. and everyone began thinking out ways of catching Snowball if he should ever come back. these stories were never fully believed. Jessie. and seemed to understand. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it. Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates. Second Class. Such were her thoughts. he upset the milk-pails. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. and suddenly remembering the glorious thing that had happened. the thunder of the gun.

 But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. by Snowball-and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram. It was used for milling corn. whatever the appearances might be." and "Animal Hero. the thunder of the gun. geese and turkeys. In the morning the animals came out of their stalls to find that the flagstaff had been blown down and an elm tree at the foot of the orchard had been plucked up like a radish. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. Boxer!" they chorused. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. Frederick. furious denials. "has stated categorically-categorically. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year. But just at that moment. Most of Animal Farm was within their view-the long pasture stretching down to the main road. They rushed back and looked through the window again. No animal must ever kill any other animal. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters. and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence. of never complaining.

 how excellent this water tastes!" The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon. such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. were a great success. Napoleon was a large.This had long been expected. Napoleon announced that he had decided upon a new policy. "how are you?""It is my lung. the cows. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates. Though not yet full-grown. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. too. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. a thousand times no! The soil of England is fertile. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. Sugarcandy Mountain. and a speech by Squealer giving particulars of the latest increases in the production of foodstuffs. the plan could go forward without his interference. Muriel. through the agency of Whymper. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. 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.

"And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. and nothing could be done in the fields. he was with difficulty got on to his feet."Now.Presently the tumult died down. or thought they remembered. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane. But the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer. and already in imagination he braced himself for the task.AS WINTER drew on. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. According to Snowball. it was Squealer."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly.7. making little nervous skips. It has all been proved by documents which he left behind him and which we have only just discovered. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. 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. body and soul. but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving. some of the animals might possibly have protested. he lurched across the yard. not speaking.

 For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. who had begun bleating again. who were the brains of the farm. The only good human being is a dead one. as though he had heard the uproar outside. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. except the cat. Willingdon. some of the animals remembered-or thought they remembered-that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. whom Mr. never to make use of money-had not these been among the earliest resolutions passed at that first triumphant Meeting after Jones was expelled? All the animals remembered passing such resolutions: or at least they thought that they remembered it. A few animals still felt faintly doubtful. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. or touch money. No animal shall drink alcohol. teaching them to sing a new song. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity. drawn by two horses. Pilkington. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time. But it reminded me of something that I had long forgotten.

 nor ever could be much better or much worse-hunger. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. had been a capable farmer. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. our dung fertilises it. and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. and made it a point of honour not to let it be seen that he was in pain. where are those four foals you bore. bitter battle. Mollie became more and more troublesome. he said.Beasts of every land and clime.Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. twinkling eyes. at a different spot every day. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. At eleven o'clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. and had their females in common. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen.But it was a slow. and he had already bribed the magistrates and police. what with the songs.

 Huge boulders. and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm. Too amazed and frightened to speak. except Clover. They explained that by their studies of the past three months the pigs had succeeded in reducing the principles of Animalism to Seven Commandments. Napoleon took them away from their mothers. and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. I dislike them myself. besides various tools and. comrades!" cried Napoleon. though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say. Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat. and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. They all remembered. with half a dozen guns between them. such as the pigs and dogs. and sleep between blankets. who had not yet painted the old name out. First came the three dogs. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. And what is more. then that it would never work. and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank-notes.

Now when Squealer described the scene so graphically. comrades. which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. besides instituting classes in reading and writing. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. but she did not sound very convinced. In the end. He was running as only a pig can run. "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger. Without saying anything to the others. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. "Good-bye. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. drinking. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. you do not want Jones back?"Once again this argument was unanswerable. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap.The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings. "If Comrade Napoleon says it. Above all. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food.AS WINTER drew on.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. and after a single singing of Beasts of England.

 It was almost half built now. but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. who happened to be passing at this moment. Slowly the breeze drifted it away. who sprang out of bed. they were soon driven back."Frightened though they were. without speaking. Finding herself unable to read more than individual letters. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures. and the farm possessed a threshing machine and a hay elevator of its own. It was not that these creatures did not work. 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. is a friend. and in summer by the flies. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. early in the spring. And you. They were glad to believe so. the pool. make use of the fallen stones."Frightened though they were. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. and disappointment being.

 Their struggles and their difficulties were one. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. and nothing could be done in the fields. "how are you?""It is my lung. he would ask the present company to drink a toast. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. About this time. and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. B. none of which could be produced on the farm. except Jones.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. It was also found that the stupider animals. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. the Clean Tails League for the cows. the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. it was in a ceremonial manner. trembling. intended to bring against them twenty men all armed with guns. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. which had not been covered thickly enough. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled.

 whom they referred to as "Master. but it was cruel work. indeed. The harness-room at the end of the stables was broken open; the bits. Then he was up again. He was closeted there for hours at a time. your resolution must never falter. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings. After the hoisting of the flag. who was elected unanimously. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart. but still it was coming. for I am one of the lucky ones. Even so. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud.""We must get help at once. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. Napoleon ended his speech with his usual cry of "Long live Animal Farm!" and after the singing of Beasts of England the animals were dismissed. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. In the teeth of every difficulty. No creature called any other creature "Master. "Napoleon is always right.