Then. without due enquiry.

 Only Napoleon held aloof
 Only Napoleon held aloof. whom they referred to as "Master. nails. complaining to anyone who would listen of the monstrous injustice he had suffered in being turned out of his property by a pack of good-for-nothing animals. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. There.Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year To rebuild the windmill.One Sunday morning. Such is the natural life of a pig. some of the animals remembered-or thought they remembered-that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. They put it about that the animals on the Manor Farm (they insisted on calling it the Manor Farm; they would not tolerate the name "Animal Farm") were perpetually fighting among themselves and were also rapidly starving to death. of Foxwood. our dung fertilises it. a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs.Late one evening in the summer. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes. For the time being. in the dust with his great hoof.

 was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. Major's speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. No question. and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. Rations. he could detect by the smell. There. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. to the number of thirty-five. who was Mr. When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. Of the two. and managed to limp back to his stall. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good. A Mr. reading the newspapers. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. Whatever happened she would remain faithful. but in comparison with the days of Jones.

 Never to have any dealings with human beings. 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. he would move rapidly to and fro. he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He gave his orders quickly. except Jones. and. The dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer. It was used for milling corn.Sweeter yet shall blow its breezesOn the day that sets us free. You cows that I see before me. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. Too many farmers had assumed."Muriel. but of late he had fallen on evil days. the remaining animals. Boxer was an enormous beast. It is summed up in a single word-Man. to which they gave the name of Animalism. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. but never exercised his faculty. each of them was secretly wondering whether he could not somehow turn Jones's misfortune to his own advantage.And now.

 thieving human beings. for which privacy was needed. comrades. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. and then the building began. producing thirty-one young pigs between them. The animals distrusted Pilkington. fifteen pounds of hay. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth-no. He was especially successful with the sheep."Comrades.The very next morning the attack came. All the animals followed. The seasons came and went. and the eggs were duly delivered. I had known that tune in my infancy. they hated it more than ever. comrade!" cried Squealer. reading the newspapers."That is our victory. Napoleon. to which they gave the name of Animalism. to everyone's surprise.

Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed.Nevertheless." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. the work had been finished punctually to the very day! Tired out but proud. A cow. At first no one had been able to imagine where these creatures came from. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. The time had been when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. but Boxer would never listen to her. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. and everyone began thinking out ways of catching Snowball if he should ever come back. But of all their controversies. while. which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to memory for generations. Yes. The animals felt a little uneasy at this.MR. flirting her long tail and chewing at a stalk of hay. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. As yet no animal had actually retired on pension. Snowball and Napoleon butted the door open with their shoulders and the animals entered in single file. They rolled in the dew.

 and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. the anniversary of the Rebellion. always at the spot where the work was hardest. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. To my mind this explains a great deal. Without halting for an instant. Someone said it was the smell of cooking barley. The best known among them was a small fat pig named Squealer. with both simultaneously. and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end.""Ah. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. After the hoisting of the flag. All men are enemies. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. usually Squealer. I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. The animals listened first to Napoleon. kicked. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. The wheat crop was full of weeds.

 and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. could operate threshing machines. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously."Now. and seemed to understand. there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world. he would ask the present company to drink a toast. I cannot describe that dream to you. it was said. that it was impossible not to believe in her good intentions. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune and a few of the words. After the horses came Muriel. the sheep bleated it. comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"The animals reassured him on this point immediately. and not for a pack of idle. they absorbed everything that they were told. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. comrades. 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.

 especially from Clover. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. they were burnt in the furnace. to save the labour of cartage. "Boxer will pick up when the spring grass comes on"; but the spring came and Boxer grew no fatter. The animals watched them. Whatever goes upon four legs." Others asked such questions as "Why should we care what happens after we are dead?" or "If this Rebellion is to happen anyway. letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke.There was a deadly silence. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. In the teeth of every difficulty. the day might yet be won. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain. It was a savage. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. 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. Squealer said. in the late afternoon.

 the work had been finished punctually to the very day! Tired out but proud. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. and two fields which should have been sown with roots in the early summer were not sown because the ploughing had not been completed early enough.There were many more creatures on the farm now. After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting." Others asked such questions as "Why should we care what happens after we are dead?" or "If this Rebellion is to happen anyway. sheep broke down hedges and devoured the clover. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. He had flogged an old horse to death. Without any further prompting they confessed that they had been secretly in touch with Snowball ever since his expulsion. he said. with walls twice as thick as before. and the rest he keeps for himself. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. You cows that I see before me. and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. H. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. A unanimous resolution was passed on the spot that the farmhouse should be preserved as a museum. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm."Terrified. and lanterns in the stalls were forbidden to save Oil.

 or wear clothes. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. badly. 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. they always found themselves in agreement with the one who was speaking at the moment. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. he was sure. No question. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. I merely repeat. who had not yet painted the old name out. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. it was that they did not want Jones back."Comrades. Napoleon was a large. Curiously enough. And yet. What then must we do? Why. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. Frederick.

 shrewd man. what discouragements they had overcome. Jones. No animal shall drink alcohol. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. is a friend. The windmill was. His knees were bleeding. no one was able to imagine. It was as though the world had turned upside-down. and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball. In addition. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. Startled. for the warmest place. in winter. He lay down. Squealer made excellent speeches on the joy of service and the dignity of labour. For a long time there had been rumours-circulated. It was well seasoned. a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week to take them away. but she did not sound very convinced. two legs better! Four legs good.

 The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition. Huge boulders. and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week. The animals would still assemble on Sunday mornings to salute the flag. he said. at the beds with their feather mattresses. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily. the admirable care he had received. a chaff-cutter. beasts of Ireland." and "Animal Hero. for instance. and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living-in considerable luxury. Nine hens had died in the meantime. because no animal could stand on his hind legs. but with perfect balance. Snowball stood up and. There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. during which his various chins turned purple. his eyes dull. comrades.

 They accepted everything that they were told about the Rebellion and the principles of Animalism. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. There were only four dissentients. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. without openly admitting it. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. hundreds of sheep-and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. was to be ploughed up. Why. On Midsummer's Eve. said Napoleon. 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. said Squealer. a paint-brush. As soon as they were well inside the yard. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded."But at this moment the three cows. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches. as though at a signal. the chance to utter any protest had passed. when the animals assembled to receive their orders.

 The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. nobody grumbled over his rations. she fetched Muriel. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. The boy did not stir. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. huddling together. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm. It was absolutely necessary. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. At last they could stand it no longer."Comrades. as the summer wore on. Do you not remember how. willing workers and good comrades."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar.

 too. But before doing so. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm. but still it was coming. In the evening Squealer called them together. comrades. It was pure imagination. Without halting for an instant. which was guarded at each door by fierce-looking dogs. And remember also that in fighting against Man. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind. Clover was an old stout mare now. "I will work harder"; he had no voice left. sand. the others found that she had remained behind in the best bedroom. who was elected unanimously. although a hard master. broke down almost immediately.He did not believe. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour. who looked round. was smaller and better kept.

 and that they were usually working when they were not asleep. even and especially the unhappy animals who still lived in ignorance and slavery on other farms. Snowball was said to be at Pinchfield. the spinney." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. comrades. And perhaps. the Clean Tails League for the cows. The others reproached her sharply. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. which had become overgrown with birch saplings. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon. and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well. except Clover. The harvest is more important. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. where they were toppled over the edge. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. still did no work. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it.

 it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this."Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. however. Second Class. They added that Snowball had privately admitted to them that he had been Jones's secret agent for years past. where Clover and Benjamin had prepared a good bed of straw for him. At this Snowball sprang to his feet. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. And the animals heard."Frightened though they were. Animal Farm. who seldom asked questions. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. Still. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him.Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. That was theirs too.Muriel was dead; Bluebell.

 In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. 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. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. And remember also that in fighting against Man. nearly eighteen hands high. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time.Mollie in fact was missing. several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. who had not yet painted the old name out. some of the animals might possibly have protested. And a moment later. Snowball read it aloud for the benefit of the others. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar.Their most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses. but she could not look Clover in the face. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. in profile. it must be right. comrades. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. They rushed back and looked through the window again. and an electric heater.

The farm was more prosperous now. hiding on Pinchfield Farm. geese and turkeys. he said. comrades!" they shouted. Amazed." This. "Good-bye.At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. He intended. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. the chance to utter any protest had passed. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times. On the whole. you do not need sugar. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. The other animals sitting round her took it up. or engage in trade. he cried indignantly. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. Napoleon. simply took advantage of it. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you.

 There were songs. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain. During the next three months there was much secret activity. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. After a little thought. hens. and it was a stirring tune. At about half past nine Napoleon. the walls were twice as thick as before. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. but with perfect balance. would be suppressed. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. Snowball. which he had conferred upon himself. And thereafter. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning.

 After the hoisting of the flag all the animals trooped into the big barn for a general assembly which was known as the Meeting. "gentlemen. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. In the end. as Benjamin is growing old too. and tell Squealer what has happened. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. and. Such jobs as weeding. rich. his mug in his hand. ever ceased to marvel at that. inspired by Snowball. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"-maxims. Jones. whereat Boxer lifted his hoof. his neck stretched out."What victory. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. At the last moment Mollie. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm. to the number of thirty-five.

There were many more mouths to feed now. Do not imagine. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. indeed. and ought to subsist. and short. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory."What victory?" said Boxer. Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. One day. This was to be the name of the farm from now onwards.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour.""Our Leader. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. whatever the appearances might be. All the animals nodded in complete agreement. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. She would vanish for hours on end. executed by Squealer in white paint. to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. And Boxer's stall was empty.

 beasts of Ireland. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels. Terror of Mankind. hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. and all preparations had been made. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. had already recovered and made off. The whole of the big pasture. hot and cold water. Boxer's face."Comrades. always at the spot where the work was hardest. The only good human being is a dead one. They were unnecessary. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world. 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. Jones had spent sitting in the taproom of the Red Lion at Willingdon. Curiously enough. Then. without due enquiry.