was."You have heard then. The windmill was in ruins.

 and not for a pack of idle
 and not for a pack of idle. H. At the beginning they met with much stupidity and apathy.The animals huddled about Clover. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. Jones. They did not know when the Rebellion predicted by Major would take place. they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones. hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. comrades!" they shouted. of Foxwood. what difference does it make whether we work for it or not?". And when. "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right.But if there were hardships to be borne.He did not believe. slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death.

 which was standing outside a public-house. he had been censured for showing cowardice in the battle. the donkey. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open. nobody grumbled over his rations.Curiously enough. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find. Some hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. it was found necessary to leave certain tasks undone. This farm which he had the honour to control.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. they knew every inch of the field. He stole the corn. and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. There lay Boxer. and the animals rushed out of their stalls.

 He was a sly-looking little man with side whiskers. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion. His eyes were glazed. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. drive out the humans. as a human being. the animals waited. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail.YEARS passed. "That will be attended to. delivering orders to Whymper. You will have all the oats and hay you want. Our labour tills the soil. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. and two geese were killed. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. carpentering. and out came Napoleon himself. uttering cries of triumph. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn.

 and he read out to her what was written on the wall. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm."Comrade. Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever. Comrade Napoleon. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. the animals settled down in the straw. I shall follow in a few minutes. never criticising. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Even in the farmhouse. Boxer's face. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. and that made all the difference. and nothing could be done in the fields. One of them. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. they slept on straw. which was standing outside a public-house.And now.

 The stupidest questions of all were asked by Mollie. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment. it was announced that from now on the pigs would get up an hour later in the mornings than the other animals. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. returned. After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting. nails. 'Animal Hero. had not after all been used for generating electrical power. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed. We had thought that Snowball's rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. The rule was against sheets. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. In addition. and as soon as they were so covered. They could not understand.

 Only Clover remained. In addition. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington. If they had no more food than they had had in Jones's day. with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. presided over by himself. Old Benjamin. should have a quiet place to work in. with Snowball at the head of them. had not after all been used for generating electrical power. The truest happiness. and what did they find? Not only the most up-to-date methods. and then all together. without openly admitting it. They had never seen animals behave like this before. They explained that by their studies of the past three months the pigs had succeeded in reducing the principles of Animalism to Seven Commandments. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. They were all carrying sticks. had all been prepared."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing.

 which had lost their mother. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. walking with the utmost care for fear of disturbing anything. dog biscuits. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor. Clover took her aside. They were shown all over the farm. two legs bad! Four legs good. so he said. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later." said Clover. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. comrades. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse. should decide all questions of farm policy. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. Terror of Mankind.Hearken to my joyful tidingsOf the golden future time. He gave it as his opinion that Snowball had probably come from the direction of Foxwood Farm.

 there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food. and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold.7. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. baying ferociously. besides various tools and. Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. braying at the top of his voice.As for the others. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. it must be right. they had the entire song by heart within a few minutes. Frederick of Pinchfield-but never. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. unable to make up his mind. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. Later there would also be need for seeds and artificial manures. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?""No sentimentality. I saw him myself.

 comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. who had not yet painted the old name out. a mangel-slicer. they never lost. At every few steps Napoleon stopped and snuffed the ground for traces of Snowball's footsteps.In the long pasture.It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. not doled out to them by a grudging master.At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. 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. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas." said Boxer sorrowfully. every setback. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day.

 And you. several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. In a moment." or made elementary remarks such as "Mr. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: "Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can't get up!"About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. comrades. Going back." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes. And the news soon leaked out that every pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer daily. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. I will tell you about my dream of last night. speeches. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. comrades!" cried Napoleon. 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. and leather leggings. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence.

 it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled. the animals settled down in the straw. Windmill or no windmill. He took his meals alone. comrades. The rats. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. They were going to knock the windmill down. which was a Saturday. The animals watched them. It now appeared that Snowball was not. They could not knock it down in a week. except old Benjamin. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. while. Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun. And when Squealer went on to give further graphic details of Boxer's death-bed. Major raised his trotter for silence. where Mrs. He formed the Egg Production Committee for the hens.

 who slept on a perch behind the back door. however. All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames. they absorbed everything that they were told. Snowball was forgotten. but Snowball whisked it free just in time. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed. came racing up the path on his bicycle." she said. The machinery had still to be installed. Comrade Napoleon. the three cows. clever or simple. It was a savage. tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. 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). not speaking. Four dogs guarded his bed at night. They rushed back and looked through the window again. And not an animal on the farm had stolen so much as a mouthful.

 rapid voice. who seldom moved out of a walk.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining-room window. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard."Bravery is not enough. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that. since it seemed to them that they also had two legs. No one noticed the wondering faces of the animals that gazed in at the window. "A horse's lungs do not last for ever. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end.At last. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. Napoleon was hesitating between the two. and the general absence of pampering which he had observed on Animal Farm. and the worst tempered. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point.

 four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message. for sheep at seven. There were the bricks. they said. comrades. Frederick. Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name. And in his spare moments. the horses whinnied it. and as for the clever ones. unable even to raise his head.Sweeter yet shall blow its breezesOn the day that sets us free. FOUR LEGS GOOD. "how are you?""It is my lung. Whymper. You cows that I see before me. and after the sale of part of the hay and corn. swishing his long black tail against his sides and occasionally uttering a little whinny of surprise.3. Old Major (so he was always called. painted out MANOR FARM from the top bar of the gate and in its place painted ANIMAL FARM.

 on all fours. I have something else to say first. and their appetites were always good. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. Even so. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Even the hens and ducks came. on all fours.At the gate they paused. the Whiter Wool Movement for the sheep. The harvest is more important. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. And you. There was need of paraffin oil. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. twinkling eyes. 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 was by this time on slightly better terms with the other farmers than before. A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart-track that led to the main road. For myself I do not grumble.

 and as soon as they were so covered.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. and our enemies would be upon us. And perhaps. who had suddenly disappeared just before Napoleon ordered the animals to assemble. and was full of plans for innovations and improvements.One Sunday morning Squealer announced that the hens. they slept on straw. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting. and with his dogs gambolling round him. it was possible to guess at their parentage. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. His two slogans. that it was just at that moment. were a great success. Electricity. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. He stole the corn. however. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively.

 Still. slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more. and the other pigs sitting behind. passed on by word of mouth. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. the whole farm was convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well. work hard. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. and ought to subsist. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose. They had had a hard year. Squealer's lists of figures. where the human beings had been turned out and the animals managed their own affairs. he would ask the present company to drink a toast. In fact. The whole of the big pasture. The harvest is more important. and when the key of the store-shed was lost. They took their exercise in the garden. "a most terrible thing has been discovered. comrade!" or "Whoa back.

 tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. lest it should be poisoned. that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!" He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights. he said. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. Snowball had found in the harness-room an old green tablecloth of Mrs. then the cows. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership. were lying all over the bed of the quarry. what difference does it make whether we work for it or not?". which he had conferred upon himself. such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. not speaking. I had only another month to go in any case. Actually the Commandment read: "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. No animal shall drink alcohol.Napoleon decreed that there should be a full investigation into Snowball's activities. But she always made such excellent excuses. Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse.

 and there were some violent debates.These three had elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought. like a piece of artillery. There were only four dissentients. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. who had been sent out on the day before. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. If they went hungry.It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. who slept on a perch behind the back door." said Snowball firmly.Now. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering. the donkey. For example. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. Boxer's face. in spite of the hardness of their work. the anniversary of the Rebellion. the geese. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side.

 he said. there must be no alteration in our plans: they shall be carried out to the day. attended by two or three dogs. inspired by Snowball. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges.The windmill presented unexpected difficulties. But once again the men. and it was known that there was a supply of cartridges in the farmhouse. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight."Is it not crystal clear.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem. the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the Farmer and Stockbreeder which he had found in the farmhouse." said Boxer in a weak voice. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace.

 thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion. of which there were not many nowadays. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. This. One day. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. which was called Pinchfield. and two geese were killed. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. not far from the farm buildings. Second Class. nails. Clover learnt the whole alphabet. but directed and supervised the others. The hens. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mud. The windmill was."You have heard then. The windmill was in ruins.