None of(not any of; not one of [nən əv]) the other animals(referring to animals besides the ones already mentioned or being focused on [ðə ˈəðər ˈænəməlz]) on the farm(located at the farm [ɔn ðə fɑrm]) could get(were able to achieve [kʊd gɪt]) further than(beyond; to a greater extent than [ˈfərðər ðən]) the letter A(the first letter of the alphabet [ðə ˈlɛtər ə]). It was also found(Additionally, it was discovered [ɪt wɑz ˈɔlsoʊ faʊnd]) that the stupider animals(referring to animals with lower intelligence [ðət ðə ˈstupɪdər ˈænəməlz]), such as(for example; like [səʧ ɛz]) the sheep, hens, and ducks(specific examples of animals considered less intelligent [ðə ʃip hɛnz ənd dəks]), were unable to(did not have the ability to [wər əˈneɪbəl tɪ]) learn(memorize; commit to memory [lərn]) the Seven Commandments(a set of rules or principles [ðə ˈsɛvən kəˈmændmənts]) by heart(from memory; without looking at a written text [baɪ hɑrt]). After much thought(after a considerable amount of consideration [ˈæftər məʧ θɔt]) Snowball declared(Snowball announced or stated formally [sˈnoʊˌbɔl dɪˈklɛrd]) that the Seven Commandments(referring back to the set of rules [ðət ðə ˈsɛvən kəˈmændmənts]) could in effect be reduced(could essentially be simplified [kʊd ɪn ˈifɛkt bi rɪˈdust]) to a single maxim(to one concise statement or principle [tɪ ə ˈsɪŋgəl ˈmæksəm]), namely(that is to say; specifically [ˈneɪmli]): ‘Four legs good, two legs bad(a simplified principle or motto [‘‘four lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bæd]).’ This, he said(He stated this [ðɪs hi sɛd]), contained(included; held within it [kənˈteɪnd]) the essential principle(the most important idea [ðə ɛˈsɛnʃəl ˈprɪnsəpəl]) of Animalism(the philosophy or belief system of the animals [əv animalism]). Whoever had thoroughly grasped it(Anyone who had completely understood it [huˈɛvər hæd ˈθəroʊli græspt ɪt]) would be safe(would be protected [wʊd bi seɪf]) from human influences(from the effects or control of humans [frəm ˈjumən ˈɪnˌfluənsɪz]). The birds at first objected(Initially, the birds raised concerns or protested [ðə bərdz æt fərst əˈbʤɛktəd]), since it seemed to them(because it appeared to them [sɪns ɪt simd tɪ ðɛm]) that they also had two legs(that they, like humans, possessed two legs [ðət ðeɪ ˈɔlsoʊ hæd tu lɛgz]), but Snowball proved to them(but Snowball demonstrated or showed them [bət sˈnoʊˌbɔl pruvd tɪ ðɛm]) that this was not so(that their perception was incorrect [ðət ðɪs wɑz nɑt soʊ]).
‘A bird’s wing, comrades(Addressing the animals as 'comrades' and referring to a bird's wing [‘‘a bərdz wɪŋ ˈkɑmˌrædz]),’ he said(Indicates who is speaking [hi sɛd]), ‘is an organ of propulsion(describes the wing's function as a means of movement [‘‘is ən ˈɔrgən əv prəˈpəlʃən]) and not of manipulation(contrasts propulsion with the ability to handle objects [ənd nɑt əv məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən]). It should therefore be regarded as a leg(suggests a reclassification of the wing [ɪt ʃʊd ˈðɛrˌfɔr bi rɪˈgɑrdɪd ɛz ə lɛg]). The distinguishing mark of man(identifies a characteristic feature of humans [ðə dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃɪŋ mɑrk əv mæn]) is the hand(specifies the hand as the distinguishing feature [ɪz ðə hænd]), the instrument with which he does all his mischief(portrays the hand as a tool for causing trouble [ðə ˈɪnstrəmənt wɪθ wɪʧ hi dɪz ɔl hɪz ˈmɪsʧəf]).’
The birds did not understand Snowball’s long words(The birds were unable to comprehend Snowball's complex vocabulary. [ðə bərdz dɪd nɑt ˌəndərˈstænd sˈnoʊˌbɔlz lɔŋ wərdz]), but they accepted his explanation(However, they agreed with his reasoning. [bət ðeɪ ækˈsɛptɪd hɪz ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən]), and all the humbler animals set to work to learn the new maxim by heart(And all the more modest animals began to memorize the new principle. [ənd ɔl ðə ˈhəmbələr ˈænəməlz sɛt tɪ wərk tɪ lərn ðə nu ˈmæksəm baɪ hɑrt]). FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD(A slogan promoting the superiority of animals over humans. [fɔr lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bæd]), was inscribed on the end wall of the barn(Was written on the barn's end wall. [wɑz ˌɪnˈskraɪbd ɔn ðə ɛnd wɔl əv ðə bɑrn]), above the Seven Commandments(Positioned above the Seven Commandments. [əˈbəv ðə ˈsɛvən kəˈmændmənts]) and in bigger letters(And in larger font. [ənd ɪn ˈbɪgər ˈlɛtərz]). When they had once got it by heart(Once they had memorized it. [wɪn ðeɪ hæd wəns gɑt ɪt baɪ hɑrt]), the sheep developed a great liking for this maxim(The sheep began to enjoy this principle. [ðə ʃip dɪˈvɛləpt ə greɪt ˈlaɪkɪŋ fər ðɪs ˈmæksəm]), and often as they lay in the field(And frequently while lying in the field. [ənd ˈɔfən ɛz ðeɪ leɪ ɪn ðə fild]) they would all start bleating(They would all begin to bleat. [ðeɪ wʊd ɔl stɑrt bleating]) ‘Four legs good, two legs bad(Repeating the slogan. [‘‘four lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bæd])! Four legs good, two legs bad(Repeating the slogan. [fɔr lɛgz gʊd tu lɛgz bæd])!’ and keep it up for hours on end(And continue doing so for hours. [ənd kip ɪt əp fər aʊərz ɔn ɛnd]), never growing tired of it(Without ever getting bored of it. [ˈnɛvər groʊɪŋ taɪərd əv ɪt]).
Napoleon(Proper noun referring to a specific character, likely in a fictional context [nəˈpoʊljən]) took no interest(Did not show any attention or concern [tʊk noʊ ˈɪntəˌrɛst]) in Snowball’s committees(Referring to committees organized by a character named Snowball [ɪn sˈnoʊˌbɔlz kəˈmɪtiz]). He said(Indicates that Napoleon made a statement [hi sɛd]) that the education of the young(The process of teaching and learning for young individuals [ðət ðə ˌɛʤəˈkeɪʃən əv ðə jəŋ]) was more important(Held a higher value or significance [wɑz mɔr ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt]) than anything(More than any other thing [ðən ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]) that could be done(That could be accomplished or performed [ðət kʊd bi dən]) for those(For the individuals [fər ðoʊz]) who were already grown up(Who had already reached adulthood [hu wər ɔˈrɛdi groʊn əp]). It happened(It occurred or came to pass [ɪt ˈhæpənd]) that Jessie and Bluebell(Proper nouns, likely names of animals [ðət ˈʤɛsi ənd ˈbluˌbɛl]) had both whelped(Had both given birth to puppies [hæd boʊθ whelped]) soon after the hay harvest(Shortly after the time of gathering hay [sun ˈæftər ðə heɪ ˈhɑrvəst]), giving birth(The act of producing offspring [ˈgɪvɪŋ bərθ]) between them(Collectively by both Jessie and Bluebell [bɪtˈwin ðɛm]) to nine sturdy puppies(To nine strong and healthy young dogs [tɪ naɪn ˈstərdi ˈpəpiz]). As soon as(Immediately after [ɛz sun ɛz]) they were weaned(When the puppies were no longer dependent on their mothers' milk [ðeɪ wər wind]), Napoleon took them away(Napoleon removed the puppies [nəˈpoʊljən tʊk ðɛm əˈweɪ]) from their mothers(Away from their female parents [frəm ðɛr ˈməðərz]), saying(Stating or declaring [seɪɪŋ]) that he would make himself responsible(That he would take on the duty and accountability [ðət hi wʊd meɪk hɪmˈsɛlf riˈspɑnsəbəl]) for their education(For the process of teaching and learning of the puppies [fər ðɛr ˌɛʤəˈkeɪʃən]). He took them up(He brought them [hi tʊk ðɛm əp]) into a loft(An upper room or space, often in a barn or stable [ˈɪntu ə lɔft]) which could only be reached(That was accessible only [wɪʧ kʊd ˈoʊnli bi riʧt]) by a ladder(Using a climbing device with rungs [baɪ ə ˈlædər]) from the harness-room(From the room where harnesses are stored [frəm ðə harness-room]), and there(In that place [ənd ðɛr]) kept them(Maintained their presence [kɛpt ðɛm]) in such seclusion(In such a state of being isolated and hidden away [ɪn səʧ sɪˈkluʒən]) that the rest of the farm(That the remaining inhabitants of the farm [ðət ðə rɛst əv ðə fɑrm]) soon forgot(Quickly ceased to remember [sun fərˈgɑt]) their existence(That the puppies were alive and present [ðɛr ɪgˈzɪstəns]).