Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden.

 all equal
 all equal. properly regarded. a chaff-cutter. and brought in a handsome money profit.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed.At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. But still. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. well knowing that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time. He sets them to work. But the superior quality of Napoleon's mind. they could already read and write perfectly. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands. down to the last detail. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. and the farm possessed a threshing machine and a hay elevator of its own. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault.A thought struck Clover. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. 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. Too late. Jessie. the horses whinnied it. but Boxer never faltered.

As they approached the farm Squealer. At any rate. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption." said Squealer. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. On the whole. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field.As soon as the light in the bedroom went out there was a stirring and a fluttering all through the farm buildings. So were the whips. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. comrades. The animals watched them. and plenty of sand and cement had been found in one of the outhouses. Whymper. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. he said. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. the cows. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. The best known among them was a small fat pig named Squealer.

 He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. which had become overgrown with birch saplings.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic."Comrades. when he inclined toward Pilkington. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. they secretly trembled. too.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. Mollie. but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. that they worked shorter hours. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. it was noticed. It had not been possible. Discipline. with the dogs following him. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible rubbish. and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives." he said. comrades.

 You would often hear one hen remark to another. He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county. The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. He looked round. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. After this they went back to the farm buildings. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. you can sing it better for yourselves. Only Clover remained.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. The animals were not certain what the word meant. 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. not even human life. but never exercised his faculty. at the beds with their feather mattresses. and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. Then they saw what Clover had seen. The seasons came and went. but they were weary and bleeding. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash.

 were more articulate. whom Mr. there it lay. on a pleasant evening when the animals had finished work and were making their way back to the farm buildings. cows."What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. She neighed again. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning."Muriel. Boxer. Never to have any dealings with human beings.Purer shall its waters be. was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody. was a spy and a tale-bearer. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. and he decided to make use of Mr.""We must get help at once. the others found that she had remained behind in the best bedroom." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. He snuffed in every corner."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice.

 But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse. So far from being decorated. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. more processions. after their fashion. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. there was something resembling a rebellion. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. wire. it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop.Every Monday Mr. Boxer was never seen again. old-fashioned farm."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. Comrade Napoleon. This.Three days later Mollie disappeared. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. as usual. and out came Napoleon himself. a solicitor living in Willingdon. He would put his snout to the ground. He had flogged an old horse to death. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon.

 the machinery for the windmill. Boxer was an enormous beast. but Clover. badly. And you. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat. Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off. The animals believed every word of it. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. the animals broke off work and raced back to the farm buildings. No creature among them went upon two legs.Though we die before it break;Cows and horses. Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better. for instance. is the answer to all our problems. Terror of Mankind. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. 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. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball.

 Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:Friend of fatherless!Fountain of happiness!Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh. Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. broke down almost immediately. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. for which privacy was needed. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. rich. And a moment later. Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits: now. not even Frederick. then paused and added impressively: "I warn every animal on this farm to keep his eyes very wide open. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. The other farmers sympathised in principle. been present during Boxer's last hours. 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. he said. They could only be traced for a few yards. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed.

 and he had already bribed the magistrates and police. All the habits of Man are evil. and no more was said about the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds. The situation was quite out of their control. His twelfth birthday was approaching. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. The hens perched themselves on the window-sills. and his eyes were full of tears. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again." said Snowball firmly. to be worn on Sundays and holidays. Jones. when Boxer had somewhat recovered.Hearken to my joyful tidingsOf the golden future time. was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. at a squeal from Snowball. making little nervous skips. ploughs." he said. probably traceable in the beginning to lies circulated by Snowball. two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. they were huge dogs. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully.

 beasts of Ireland. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. Indeed. returned. who. when the animals assembled to receive their orders. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. the whole farm burst out into Beasts of England in tremendous unison. when the animals got to close quarters. attended by his dogs and his cockerel. when panic was spreading and all seemed lost. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this. however. comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. was a co-operative enterprise.The animals huddled about Clover. Every night. and the animals were underfed. then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral. Going back. but by the time he knew them. of primitive implements.

 the other could be counted on to oppose it. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions. as a human being.5. string. and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. 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. what with the songs. Napoleon took them away from their mothers. who slept on a perch behind the back door." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday. and used to write them out once or twice every day to refresh his memory. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. comrades. Second Class. their life. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder.It was just after the sheep had returned. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. Comrade Snowball will lead the way.

 Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates.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. As his last act upon earth. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed.Wheat and barley. the pigs sent for buckets and milked the cows fairly successfully. comrades. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. in the henhouses. was no better than a criminal?""He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. 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. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. She appeared to be enjoying herself. He announced that. was able to put the whole matter in its proper perspective. much overgrown by woodland. above all. who in fact was only stunned. which was started in March. About this time. Nine hens had died in the meantime. shrewd man. He intended.

 It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. but he would not offer a reasonable price. no other animal had ever left the farm. Though not yet full-grown.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. and as fierce-looking as wolves. And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour. as usual. Jones would come back! Surely. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on.At the gate they paused. The van had previously been the property of the knacker."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest. the dogs whined it. The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out.The farm had had a fairly successful year. she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger. to utilise the force of gravity. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. His visitors might have observed. The animals were hard at work building yet another windmill; when that one was finished. they said. at which he yelled horribly. huddling together.

 squealing with pain and terror. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. And now-thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon-we have won every inch of it back again!""Then we have won back what we had before. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth-no." cried Squealer almost pleadingly. without bothering to feed the animals. If asked why. and ducks. But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. comrades. since Boxer's death. 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. Benjamin.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail. TitBits. and iron for the horses' shoes. 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."By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. This. They had never seen animals behave like this before.

 Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. No animal shall wear clothes. and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. Fix your eyes on that.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. The others said. His men were idle and dishonest. but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in. The execution of the traitors this afternoon was the final act. later in the year. and had charged into battle with the words "Long live Humanity!" on his lips. had all been prepared. and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages. She was between the shafts of a smart dogcart painted red and black. two legs bad" both in and out of season. Jones. furious denials. Moreover. and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it. though she lacked the words to express them.

 had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth. I will sing you that song now. Mr. at the sound of the mingled voices. laborious. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. then the horses. they drank from the pool. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. as Squealer was never tired of explaining. The other farm. The animals knew that this was not the case." said Boxer. One false step. whom they referred to as "Master.Their most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. The time had been when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. Snowball now launched his second line of attack. by their human neighbours. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. with very round cheeks.

 The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. They tiptoed up to the house. What could be happening in there.When the hens heard this. Even so. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. or even upon their human employees. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. and nothing could be done in the fields. The windmill was in ruins.Riches more than mind can picture. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. raced ahead of them all. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. When the cheering had died down. and accept the leadership of Napoleon. Then he put on an extra spurt and. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day.

 but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. in spite of the hardness of their work. menacing growls. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits: now. He took his meals alone. 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.Once again the animals were conscious of a vague uneasiness. was something called tactics. and Pincher. and before I die. A full bushel to anyone who captures him alive!"The animals were shocked beyond measure to learn that even Snowball could be guilty of such an action. and the three-day week. Jones had spent sitting in the taproom of the Red Lion at Willingdon. From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not. but never exercised his faculty. shrewd man. and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. First came the three dogs. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. Mollie became more and more troublesome. Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them.

 quick!" he shouted. surely. with Squealer a few rungs below him holding the paint-pot.Presently the tumult died down. through Whymper. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing. or five hundred per cent. wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. their life. I have something else to say first. Last of all came the cat. appetising scent. always at the spot where the work was hardest. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. or in the evening after work was over.""We must get help at once.Muriel was dead; Bluebell. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. full of sympathy and concern. body and soul. It had come to be accepted that the pigs.

 flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when. the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. drinking. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. he added. His men were idle and dishonest.The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. And he very nearly succeeded-I will even say. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand. The price of these would pay for enough grain and meal to keep the farm going till summer came on and conditions were easier. Then a goose came forward and confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during the last year's harvest and eaten them in the night. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes.That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors. When the cheering had died down. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. was its correct and original name.

 Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. beans. She would form these very neatly out of pieces of twig. "Snowball! He has been here! I can smell him distinctly!" and at the word "Snowball" all the dogs let out blood-curdling growls and showed their side teeth. And when the others came back from looking for her.-otherwise nothing in the house was touched. except those of the pigs and the dogs. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours. now that it was truly their own food. a sign in him of intense mental activity. the long working hours. in fact. "I have something very serious to say to you. set up a loud lowing.The windmill presented unexpected difficulties. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. whatever the appearances might be. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known. for which privacy was needed. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. were slaughtered. as usual. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some kind of invisible influence.

 his eyes dull. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. Jones. The plans. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. It is all lies. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. Jones feeds us. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. Snowball was said to be at Pinchfield. Snowball also busied himself with organising the other animals into what he called Animal Committees."You have heard then. passed on by word of mouth. with the pigs leading. he said finally. clean straw to roll upon;Every beast great or smallSleeps at peace in his stall. which had lost their mother. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. especially the windmill."And now. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that.

 had been inflicted by Napoleon's teeth. which. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. They continued to behave very much as before."Mollie. But before doing so."Is it not crystal clear. The wounds on Snowball's back.Once again the animals were conscious of a vague uneasiness. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed. and brought in a handsome money profit.As for the others." or made elementary remarks such as "Mr. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. the remaining animals. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. 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. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball. Too amazed and frightened to speak. who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. making sure that there was a fox in the yard.

 Frederick should be boiled alive. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later.They had won.At the gate they paused. was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. They had never seen animals behave like this before. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. although a hard master.Though we die before it break;Cows and horses. Benjamin. No argument must lead you astray. Nevertheless. After about a quarter of an hour Squealer appeared. C. for any commercial purpose. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so." said Boxer in a weak voice. where the Seven Commandments were written. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. A too rigid equality in rations. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden.