acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.

 Indeed
 Indeed. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. indeed. on all fours. Pilkington and Mr. Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them. the geese. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. The animals filed slowly past. Last of all came the cat. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. There was a cry of indignation.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault. He repeated a number of times. for instance. There lay Boxer. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision.

 then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg. his voice was hoarse. later in the year. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. but they were promptly silenced by a tremendous growling from the dogs."What victory." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs. "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. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. in the evenings. he cried indignantly. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?""It isn't true!" repeated Mollie."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. Indeed. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name.

 and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted. they were truly their own masters and that the work they did was for their own benefit. 'Animal Hero. not working. each working according to his capacity. with various other improvements. When he did appear. and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose. No animal must ever live in a house.6."Terrified. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. the other animals following at a respectful distance. A mighty cry for vengeance went up." said Squealer. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. who had never quite got her figure back after her fourth foal. Such were her thoughts. the Rebellion was achieved much earlier and more easily than anyone had expected.

 raced ahead of them all. "Beasts of England was the song of the Rebellion. One of Mr. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. too. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. and his eyes were full of tears. If he made a good recovery. This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. under a lantern which hung from a beam." concluded Napoleon. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. and would also run a circular saw. the cows. he said.

 And when. The early apples were now ripening. neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them. But all such doubts were now dispelled. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels. Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform. Fill your glasses to the brim. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. The pile of timber was still unsold. and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. "here is a point that must be settled."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing.""And shall I still be allowed to wear ribbons in my mane?" asked Mollie. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. and she complained of mysterious pains. the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted.

 It was almost unbelievable. frightened them almost out of their wits. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion.Never through me shalt thou come to harm!and this was sung every Sunday morning after the hoisting of the flag. must surrender their eggs. The animals were not certain what the word meant. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats. some of the animals might possibly have protested. he upset the milk-pails. and to finish it by the appointed date. Nine hens had died in the meantime. a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. And so. and each gazed his fill. so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. The only good human being is a dead one. Obviously they were going to attempt the recapture of the farm. Word had gone round during the day that old Major.

 between the shafts of the cart. Forward. too. it was noticed. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. bangings on the table. the three cows. Boxer was forgotten. Finally Napoleon raised his trotter for silence and announced that he had already made all the arrangements.Cruel whips no more shall crack. Whymper. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. It was used for milling corn. Already Frederick had paid up; and the sum he had paid was just enough to buy the machinery for the windmill. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. make use of the fallen stones. So that.

 Moreover. for I am one of the lucky ones. All were agreed that no animal must ever live there. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval. better than that? But the explanation was really very simple. a sign in him of intense mental activity. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. and it was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind legs. 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. he said. But still. so it was said. while. against their will. Unable at first to speak. she fetched Muriel. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away.

 wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick. comrades! The hay is waiting. and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals. And suddenly. They could not knock it down in a week.Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. croaking loudly. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. until today. What could be happening in there. Mr. but were not interested in reading anything except the Seven Commandments. which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. the pool. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side.

 and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap. I could show you this in his own writing. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. that it was just at that moment. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. and leather leggings. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. the poet. now clean of flesh. perfect comradeship in the struggle."But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No. seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen. he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. Jones. first Class.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats.

 and the animals were underfed. 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. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. Jones too was dead-he had died in an inebriates' home in another part of the country. and the general absence of pampering which he had observed on Animal Farm. not even human life. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment.A week later. Moses the raven. but by the time he knew them. it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race. namely: "Four legs good. Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when.They had won. The animals lashed ropes round these. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody.""And shall I still be allowed to wear ribbons in my mane?" asked Mollie. Boxer was the admiration of everybody. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems.

 now and in the past. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. and each gazed his fill. Pilkington. and the Manor Farm was theirs. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously. the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs.

 comrades. and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. A number of them were already wounded. The animals' blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things beingdone to their comrades. Jones's trap. for the harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. The animals watched his coming and going with a kind of dread. No argument must lead you astray. I have had a long life. The wild creatures. As he had said. at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments.Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon. set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. When the cheering had died down. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path.

 This farm which he had the honour to control. old-fashioned farm. and there was a hush. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. this was only a light skirmishing manoeuvre." Somehow or other. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. the lithograph of Queen Victoria over the drawing-room mantelpiece. two legs bad!" But by and large the animals enjoyed these celebrations. came skipping towards them. here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "There was the same hearty cheering as before." This was to be suppressed. the fields were full of weeds." and "memoranda. while Benjamin kept the flies off him. said Squealer. 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. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom. For we know now-it is all written down in the secret documents that we have found-that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom.

 but Squealer spoke so persuasively. was in charge of the defensive operations.Purer shall its waters be. the spinney. they had little time for speculating on such things now.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. Jones and all his men. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known.They limped into the yard. And the behaviour of the cat was somewhat peculiar.However. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. quicker in speech and more inventive. and led them out to a piece of waste ground at the other end of the farm. They kept close to Napoleon. twenty cows. but Snowball whisked it free just in time.

With one accord they dashed down to the spot. always at the spot where the work was hardest. and led the singing of Beasts of England. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Boxer was never seen again. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. The others reproached her sharply. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. You would often hear one hen remark to another. This farm which he had the honour to control. comrades!' he whispered. pass on this message of mine to those who come after you. and shouting down the sheep. Smiling beatifically. trampled on. approached them with the air of having something important to say. but of late he had fallen on evil days.

 They were still the only farm in the whole county-in all England!-owned and operated by animals. Windmill or no windmill. while.He did not believe. body and soul. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats. The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan. 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. sometimes shaking his forelock. comrades. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. He formed the Egg Production Committee for the hens. the long working hours. were a great success. A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart-track that led to the main road. sheep. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies.

All this while no more had been seen of Snowball. raced ahead of them all. The plot was for Snowball. Several nights a week. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. In fact. suitable for drawing on.""We must get help at once. all equal. But all such doubts were now dispelled. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard.""Ah. The solution. trying to turn him over. they never lost. When the animals had assembled in the big barn. the geese. were lying all over the bed of the quarry. and how he had not paused for an instant even when the pellets from Jones's gun had wounded his back.

 it was true. that they accepted his explanation without further questions. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again." said somebody. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. not even when the pigs took Mr. I do not think. two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion. I do not think. and which stood beyond the kitchen. They found it comforting to be reminded that. and the animals walked on tiptoe. and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. and from man to pig. broke down almost immediately. he declared. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.