If-and thething is wildly possible-the charge of writing nonsense were ever broughtagainst the author of this brief but instructive poem, it would be based,I feel convinced, on the line (in p.4)

         "Then the bowsprit got mixed with the rudder sometimes."

        In view ofthis painful possibility, I will not (as I might) appeal indignantly tomy other writings as a proof that I am incapable of such a deed: I willnot (as I might) point to the strong moral purpose of this poem itself,to the arithmetical principles so cautiously inculcated in it, or to itsnoble teachings in Natural History--I will take the more prosaic courseof simply explaining how it happened.

        The Bellman,who was almost morbidly sensitive about appearances, used to have the bowspritunshipped once or twice a week to be revarnished, and it more than oncehappened, when the time came for replacing it, that no one on board couldremember which end of the ship it belonged to. They knew it was not ofthe slightest use to appeal to the Bellman about it-- he would only referto his Naval Code, and read out in pathetic tones Admiralty Instructionswhich none of them had ever been able to understand-- so it generally endedin its being fastened on, anyhow, across the rudder. The helmsman usedto stand by with tears in his eyes; he knew it was all wrong, but alas! Rule 42 of the Code, "No one shall speak to the Man at the Helm," had beencompleted by the Bellman himself with the words "and the Man at the Helmshall speak to no one."  So remonstrance was impossible, and no steeringcould be done till the next varnishing day.  During these bewilderingintervals the ship usually sailed backwards.

        As this poemis to some extent connected with the lay of the Jabberwock, let me takethis opportunity of answering a question that has often been asked me,how to pronounce "slithy toves."  The "i" in "slithy" is long, asin "writhe"; and "toves" is pronounced so as to rhyme with "groves." Again, the first "o" in "borogoves" is pronounced like the "o" in "borrow." I have heard people try to give it the sound of the "o" in "worry. Such is Human Perversity.

        This also seemsa fitting occasion to notice the other hard works in that poem.  Humpty-Dumpty'stheory, of two meanings packed into one word like a portmanteau, seemsto me the right explanation for all.

        For instance,take the two words "fuming" and "furious."  Make up your mind thatyou will say both words, but leave it unsettled which you will say first. Now open your mouth and speak.  If your thoughts incline ever so littletowards "fuming," you will say "fuming-furious;" if they turn, by evena hair's breadth, towards "furious," you will say "furious-fuming;" butif you have the rarest of gifts, a perfectly balanced mind, you will say"frumious."

        Supposing that,when Pistol uttered the well-known words--

         "Under which king, Bezonian?  Speak or die!"

        Justice Shallowhad felt certain that it was either William or Richard, but had not beenable to settle which, so that he could not possibly say either name beforethe other, can it be doubted that, rather than die, he would have gaspedout "Rilchiam!"