Abolition of Beasts of England

The evening of the executions, the animals, still shaken, had gathered on the knoll and sung Beasts of England three times, slowly and mournfully. As they finished, Squealer approached with two dogs and announced that by a special decree of Napoleon, Beasts of England was abolished and forbidden to be sung. The animals were taken aback; Muriel cried, "Why?" Squealer replied that the song was no longer needed: the Rebellion was now completed, the execution of the traitors that afternoon had been the final act, and both external and internal enemies had been defeated. The song had expressed their longing for a better society, but that society had now been established, so it had no further purpose.

Though frightened, some animals might have protested, but the sheep immediately began bleating "Four legs good, two legs bad," a chant that continued for several minutes, drowning out any possibility of discussion. The sheep had been trained to interrupt at crucial moments, and their noise effectively silenced the dissent.

So Beasts of England was heard no more. In its place, Minimus the poet composed a new song beginning, "Animal Farm, Animal Farm, / Never through me shalt thou come to harm!" This was sung every Sunday morning after the flag-raising. But the animals never felt the same power in the new words or tune. Years later, even after the farm had been renamed Manor Farm and the pigs had taken to walking on their hind legs, the tune of Beasts of England was still known by every animal, though no one dared sing it aloud. It survived as a secret, dangerous memory, hummed in whispers.