The Bellman looked uffish, and wrinkled his brow.
     "If only you'd spoken before!
It's excessively awkward to mention it now,
     With the Snark, so to speak,at the door!

"We should all of us grieve, as you well may believe,
     If you never were met with again--
But surely, my man, when the voyage began,
     You might have suggested itthen?

"It's excessively awkward to mention it now--
     As I think I've already remarked."
And the man they called "Hi!" replied, with a sigh,
     "I informed you the day we embarked.

"You may charge me with murder--or want of sense--
     (We are all of us weak at times):
But the slightest approach to a false pretense
     Was never among my crimes!

"I said it in Hebrew--I said it in Dutch--
     I said it in German and Greek:
But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much)
     That English is what you speak!"

"'Tis a pitiful tale," said the Bellman, whose face
     Had grown longer at every word:
"But, now that you've stated the whole of your case,
     More debate would be simplyabsurd.

"The rest of my speech" (he explained to his men)
     "You shall hear when I've leisureto speak it.
But the Snark is at hand, let me tell you again!
     'Tis your glorious duty to seekit!

"To seek it with thimbles, to seek it with care;
     To pursue it with forks andhope;
To threaten its life with a railway-share;
     To charm it with smiles andsoap!

"For the Snark's a peculiar creature, that won't
     Be caught in a commonplace way.
Do all that you know, and try all that you don't:
     Not a chance must be wastedto-day!

"For England expects--I forbear to proceed:
     'Tis a maxim tremendous, buttrite:
And you'd best be unpacking the things that you need
     To rig yourselves out for thefight."

Then the Banker endorsed a blank check (which he crossed),
     And changed his loose silverfor notes.
The Baker with care combed his whiskers and hair,
     And shook the dust out of hiscoats.

The Boots and the Broker were sharpening a spade--
     Each working the grindstonein turn:
But the Beaver went on making lace, and displayed
     No interest in the concern:

Though the Barrister tried to appeal to its pride,
     And vainly proceeded to cite
A number of cases, in which making laces
     Had been proved an infringementof right.

The maker of Bonnets ferociously planned
     A novel arrangement of bows:
While the Billiard-marker with quivering hand
     Was chalking the tip of hisnose.

But the Butcher turned nervous, and dressed himself fine,
     With yellow kid gloves and aruff--
Said he felt it exactly like going to dine,
     Which the Bellman declared wasall "stuff."

"Introduce me, now there's a good fellow," he said,
     "If we happen to meet it together!"
And the Bellman, sagaciously nodding his head,
     Said "That must depend on theweather."

The Beaver went simply galumphing about,
     At seeing the Butcher so shy:
And even the Baker, though stupid and stout,
     Made an effort to wink withone eye.

"Be a man!" said the Bellman in wrath, as he heard
     The Butcher beginning to sob.
"Should we meet with a Jubjub, that desperate bird,
     We shall need all our strengthfor the job!"
 

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