Animal Farm Chapter 1

At one end of the big barn, on a sort of raised platform, Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam.

When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively, he cleared his throat and began: "Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night.

With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.

The words ran: Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings Of the golden future time.

The words ran: Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings Of the golden future time.

Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard, grazing side by side and never speaking.

At the last moment Mollie, the foolish, pretty white mare who drew Mr. Jones's trap, came mincing daintily in, chewing at a lump of sugar.

The hens perched themselves on the window-sills, the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters, the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud.

The words ran: Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings Of the golden future time.

She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane, hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with.

With the ring of light from his lantern dancing from side to side, he lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed, where Mrs. Jones was already snoring.

That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion!

Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short.

He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut.

The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings, which had lost their mother, filed into the barn, cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on.

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing.

He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark--for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.

Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others.

I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways.

He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut.

I had known that tune in my infancy, but it had long since passed out of my mind.

In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields, what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?

He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout, but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut.

"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span.

A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance, and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence, but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work.

In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields, what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?

Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard, grazing side by side and never speaking.

We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, 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.

"And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter.

The soil of England is fertile, its climate is good, it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it.

And above all, pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious.

"Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings?

And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

Soon or late the day is coming, Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown, And the fruitful fields of England Shall be trod by beasts alone.

Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!

And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not come to resemble him.

We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, 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.

No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old.

Rings shall vanish from our noses, And the harness from our back, Bit and spur shall rust forever, Cruel whips no more shall crack.

Many years ago, when I was a little pig, my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words.

He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom, and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness.

We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, 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.

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades.

They were so delighted with the song that they sang it right through five times in succession, and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted.

And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle.

I do not think, comrades, that I shall be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired.

Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices.

While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him.

Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard, grazing side by side and never speaking.

This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep--and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining.

"And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter.

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades.

Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it?