There was a deadly silence. Amazed, terrified, huddling together, the animals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard. 🔊 It was as though the world had turned upside−down. Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when, in spite of everything−in spite of their terror of the dogs, and of the habit, developed through long years, of never complaining, never criticising, no matter what happened−they might have uttered some word of protest. 🔊 But just at that moment, as though at a signal, all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of−

"Four legs good, two legs better! 🔊 Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better!"

It went on for five minutes without stopping. 🔊 And by the time the sheep had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. 🔊

Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. He looked round. It was Clover. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. 🔊 Without saying anything, she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written. 🔊 For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tarred wall with its white lettering. 🔊

"My sight is failing," she said finally. "Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. 🔊 But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be, Benjamin?" 🔊

For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. 🔊 There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran:

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL

BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

🔊