Скотный двор
Chapter 1
Andamongusanimalslettherebeperfectunity,perfectcomradeshipinthestruggle. Allmenareenemies. Allanimalsarecomrades."
Atthismomenttherewasatremendousuproar. WhileMajorwasspeakingfourlargeratshadcreptoutoftheirholesandweresittingontheirhindquarters,listeningtohim. Thedogshadsuddenlycaughtsightofthem,anditwasonlybyaswiftdashfortheirholesthattheratssavedtheirlives. Majorraisedhistrotterforsilence.
"Comrades,"hesaid,"hereisapointthatmustbesettled. Thewildcreatures,suchasratsandrabbits—aretheyourfriendsorourenemies? Letusputittothevote.Iproposethisquestiontothemeeting:Areratscomrades?"
Thevotewastakenatonce,anditwasagreedbyanoverwhelmingmajoritythatratswerecomrades. Therewereonlyfourdissentients,thethreedogsandthecat,whowasafterwardsdiscoveredtohavevotedonbothsides. Majorcontinued:
"Ihavelittlemoretosay. Imerelyrepeat,rememberalwaysyourdutyofenmitytowardsManandallhisways. Whatevergoesupontwolegsisanenemy. Whatevergoesuponfourlegs,orhaswings,isafriend. AndrememberalsothatinfightingagainstMan,wemustnotcometoresemblehim. Evenwhenyouhaveconqueredhim,donotadopthisvices. Noanimalmusteverliveinahouse,orsleepinabed,orwearclothes,ordrinkalcohol,orsmoketobacco,ortouchmoney,orengageintrade. AllthehabitsofManareevil. And,aboveall,noanimalmustevertyranniseoverhisownkind. Weakorstrong,cleverorsimple,weareallbrothers. Noanimalmusteverkillanyotheranimal. Allanimalsareequal.
