now inhabit it. and seemed to be biding his time. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. returned.

And the harness from our back
And the harness from our back. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. he said. twenty cows. one at each corner. and as soon as they were so covered. Moreover. "You do not imagine. who were the brains of the farm. From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not. All men are enemies. that they lived longer. was a co-operative enterprise. They took their exercise in the garden. the rumour was true. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies. but in a moment Snowball's eloquence had carried them away. except Jones. would have been contrary to the principles of Animalism. and of the habit. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files.

 and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. which was called Pinchfield. comrades! The hay is waiting. and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable.A FEW days later. Snowball stood up and. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. and the dog slunk away. "I will give you the same toast as before.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill."It's no longer needed.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. and then the poultry. the buildings wanted roofing.

 except those of the pigs and the dogs. and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken. such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds. which he had conferred upon himself. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. finally. since that was where the ambush had been sprung." repeated Boxer. there was something resembling a rebellion. At eleven o'clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right. the horsehair sofa. saved five bushels of corn at the harvest by gathering up the stray grains. were a great success. but it was cruel work. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. was not good at getting up in the mornings.

 he said. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn. A little awkwardly. Muriel. where the Seven Commandments were written. He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom. Such jobs as weeding. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully. more morose and taciturn than ever. The reins. For a horse.Afterwards Squealer made a round of the farm and set the animals' minds at rest. placing himself in front of the buckets. he was strolling across the yard. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. it must be right. But the problem the animals could not at first solve was how to break up the stone into pieces of suitable size. Jones was already snoring. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. what discouragements they had overcome.

 It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. Word had gone round during the day that old Major. shrewd man. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. Second Class"). Why. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. for instance. was smaller and better kept. harrows. the donkey. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering. and seemed to be biding his time. without speaking. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion. whatever the appearances might be. Huge boulders. "I had no intention of doing that.

 but the dogs were close on his heels. after all. approached them with the air of having something important to say. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near. of the Manor Farm. and an electric milking machine. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. All the other male pigs on the farm were porkers. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said."Mollie. two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end. he said. He was closeted there for hours at a time. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn. For a horse. Nevertheless. Moreover. In its place Minimus.

 in the henhouses. Without halting for an instant. he said. But we were wrong. who had begun bleating again. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. walking with the utmost care for fear of disturbing anything. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. Jessie. which was standing outside a public-house. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. Moses the raven. so that all the materials for building were at hand. 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. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard. "I will give you the same toast as before. Clover forced her way to the front. and as soon as they were so covered. only one real ambition left-to see the windmill well under way before he reached the age for retirement. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. baying ferociously.

 then. comrades. After a little thought. even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. whom they both feared and hated. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. Nevertheless. a mangel-slicer.One Sunday morning. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters. comrade!" cried Squealer. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig. too. we must not come to resemble him. Several nights a week. There. in the dust with his great hoof. "I had no intention of doing that.

 the cruel knives with which Mr." All animals were equal. C." Somehow or other." which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep. Moreover. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. that I shall be with you for many months longer. either Foxwood or Pinchfield. of primitive implements. It has all been proved by documents which he left behind him and which we have only just discovered. Still. That was how the mistake had arisen. not even the youngest. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. They tiptoed from room to room. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. And when. then to Snowball. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. comrades? Have you any record of such a resolution? Is it written down anywhere?" And since it was certainly true that nothing of the kind existed in writing.

 it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals." said Boxer. At this some of the other animals murmured. he said. thieving human beings. Only Boxer remained on his feet. Even so. To tell you the truth. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball. she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger. Napoleon himself occupying the seat of honour at the head of the table. his eyes dull. better than that? But the explanation was really very simple.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant. willing workers and good comrades. and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. the rumour was true. Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever. but also slept in the beds.

 She was telling them that all animals were now comrades and that any sparrow who chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep. The needs of the windmill must override everything else.Mrs. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. the words of the song also came back-words. then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. so it was said-at Foxwood. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. of which there were not many nowadays. A little awkwardly. hens.With one accord they dashed down to the spot. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon.The very next morning the attack came. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. nor ever could be much better or much worse-hunger. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard.Out of spite. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations.

 and each gazed his fill." said one of the hens. not even Frederick. comrades. and wasted time. do not adopt his vices. as they imagined. "Tactics. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. contemptible act. Napoleon was so gratified that he left his place and came round the table to clink his mug against Mr. I do not think. The windmill was in ruins. who had been sent out on the day before. Boxer. to the number of thirty-five. comrades. panic overtook them. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch." which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep.

 Then he put on an extra spurt and. that the pigs. the sheep bleated it. "read me the Fourth Commandment. Why. No animal must ever kill any other animal. Truth to tell. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. chewing at a lump of sugar. whom they referred to as "Master. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. by a special decree of Comrade Napoleon. for instance. but could not put words together. There was. Jones. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm.It had come to his knowledge. "There is work to be done.He did not believe.

 Nevertheless. Squealer explained. but would say nothing. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. In addition.5. is the answer to all our problems.The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration. At this some of the other animals murmured.It had come to his knowledge. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. he is too weak to pull the plough. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. It was pure imagination. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. A large jug was circulating. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away. he could detect by the smell.

 the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. He snuffed in every corner. One of Mr. Napoleon had accepted. Led by three young Black Minorca pullets." he said. what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. "Gentlemen." said Boxer in a weak voice.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. but by the time he knew them. the animals were stricken with curiosity. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform. for dogs at nine. the crowing of the cockerel. but it was cruel work. and each gazed his fill.

 Frederick should be boiled alive. This. willing workers and good comrades. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball. that they lived longer. A mighty cry for vengeance went up. All the habits of Man are evil. even as things were. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion. He turned to go. Napoleon took them away from their mothers.He did not believe. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on. and Benjamin. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. it is a deep and heavy responsibility. the hayfield. and led the singing of Beasts of England. Yes.

Nevertheless. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. lashing out in all directions. who seldom moved out of a walk. Of the two. comrades. dog biscuits. Moses the raven. and a murmur of dismay went round."I thought so. and his great haunches seemed to have shrunken. There was no thought of rebellion or disobedience in her mind. now and in the past. for instance. the hedges were neglected. Ducklings' Friend. as though at a signal.Like the sun in the sky. Then they made a tour of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the ploughland. Comrade Napoleon. Boxer and Clover.

 "Comrades. you can sing it better for yourselves. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time.He did not believe.There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. It was used for milling corn.Hearken to my joyful tidingsOf the golden future time. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. If Pilkington and his men would help them. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest.Yes. when they harvested the corn. The potatoes had become soft and discoloured. We are born. but never exercised his faculty. too. with a carrot or possibly an apple on public holidays. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. and short.

 Napoleon. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery). as though nothing had happened. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. Napoleon announced that he had decided upon a new policy. The pigs did not actually work. When it was all gone. to represent the green fields of England. Snowball did not say. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. It had spread with astonishing speed. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. he said. what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. for the harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped. By late summer a sufficient store of stone had accumulated. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. the walls were twice as thick as before.

 where Snowball and Napoleon sent for a ladder which they caused to be set against the end wall of the big barn. 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. About this time. where the Seven Commandments were written. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal.At the gate they paused. All the other male pigs on the farm were porkers. There were songs. In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals' backs. Moses the raven.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. comrades. they all raced out into the pasture together. they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. But still. As Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. who looked round. It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune.

 The pigs' ears were bleeding. And. reading the newspapers. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. walking slowly and dejectedly. a sign in him of intense mental activity. The animals now also learned that Snowball had never-as many of them had believed hitherto-received the order of "Animal Hero7 First Class. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. Napoleon. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. then the pigeons reported that they had seen her on the other side of Willingdon. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. 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. At last they could stand it no longer. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. and seemed to be biding his time. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. returned.