the hunting of the snark-第4章
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〃In one moment I've seen what has hitherto been
Enveloped in absolute mystery；
And without extra charge I will give you at large
A Lesson in Natural History。〃
In his genial way he proceeded to say
（Forgetting all laws of propriety；
And that giving instruction； without introduction；
Would have caused quite a thrill in Society）；
〃As to temper the Jubjub's a desperate bird；
Since it lives in perpetual passion：
Its taste in costume is entirely absurd
It is ages ahead of the fashion：
〃But it knows any friend it has met once before：
It never will look at a bride：
And in charity…meetings it stands at the door；
And collectsthough it does not subscribe。
〃 Its flavor when cooked is more exquisite far
Than mutton； or oysters； or eggs：
（Some think it keeps best in an ivory jar；
And some； in mahogany kegs：）
〃You boil it in sawdust： you salt it in glue：
You condense it with locusts and tape：
Still keeping one principal object in view
To preserve its symmetrical shape。〃
The Butcher would gladly have talked till next day；
But he felt that the lesson must end；
And he wept with delight in attempting to say
He considered the Beaver his friend。
While the Beaver confessed； with affectionate looks
More eloquent even than tears；
It had learned in ten minutes far more than all books
Would have taught it in seventy years。
They returned hand…in…hand； and the Bellman； unmanned
（For a moment） with noble emotion；
Said 〃This amply repays all the wearisome days
We have spent on the billowy ocean！〃
Such friends； as the Beaver and Butcher became；
Have seldom if ever been known；
In winter or summer； 'twas always the same
You could never meet either alone。
And when quarrels aroseas one frequently finds
Quarrels will； spite of every endeavor
The song of the Jubjub recurred to their minds；
And cemented their friendship for ever！
Fit the Sixth
THE BARRISTER'S DREAM
They sought it with thimbles； they sought it with care；
They pursued it with forks and hope；
They threatened its life with a railway…share；
They charmed it with smiles and soap。
But the Barrister； weary of proving in vain
That the Beaver's lace…making was wrong；
Fell asleep； and in dreams saw the creature quite plain
That his fancy had dwelt on so long。
He dreamed that he stood in a shadowy Court；
Where the Snark； with a glass in its eye；
Dressed in gown； bands； and wig； was defending a pig
On the charge of deserting its sty。
The Witnesses proved； without error or flaw；
That the sty was deserted when found：
And the Judge kept explaining the state of the law
In a soft under…current of sound。
The indictment had never been clearly expressed；
And it seemed that the Snark had begun；
And had spoken three hours； before any one guessed
What the pig was supposed to have done。
The Jury had each formed a different view
（Long before the indictment was read）；
And they all spoke at once； so that none of them knew
One word that the others had said。
〃You must know …〃 said the Judge： but the Snark exclaimed 〃Fudge！〃
That statute is obsolete quite！
Let me tell you； my friends； the whole question depends
On an ancient manorial right。
〃In the matter of Treason the pig would appear
To have aided； but scarcely abetted：
While the charge of Insolvency fails； it is clear；
If you grant the plea 'never indebted。'
〃The fact of Desertion I will not dispute；
But its guilt； as I trust； is removed
（So far as related to the costs of this suit）
By the Alibi which has been proved。
〃My poor client's fate now depends on you votes。〃
Here the speaker sat down in his place；
And directed the Judge to refer to his notes
And briefly to sum up the case。
But the Judge said he never had summed up before；
So the Snark undertook it instead；
And summed it so well that it came to far more
Than the Witnesses ever had said！
When the verdict was called for； the Jury declined；
As the word was so puzzling to spell；
But they ventured to hope that the Snark wouldn't mind
Undertaking that duty as well。
So the Snark found the verdict； although； as it owned；
It was spent with the toils of the day：
When it said the word 〃GUILTY！〃 the Jury all groaned；
And some of them fainted away。
Then the Snark pronounced sentence； the Judge being quite
Too nervous to utter a word：
When it rose to its feet； there was silence like night；
And the fall of a pin might be heard。
〃Transportation for life〃 was the sentence it gave；
〃And *then* to be fined forty pound。〃
The Jury all cheered； though the Judge said he feared
That the phrase was not legally sound。
But their wild exultation was suddenly checked
When the jailer informed them； with tears；
Such a sentence would have not the slightest effect；
As the pig had been dead for some years。
The Judge left the Court； looking deeply disgusted：
But the Snark； though a little aghast；
As the lawyer to whom the defense was entrusted；
Went bellowing on to the last。
Thus the Barrister dreamed； while the bellowing seemed
To grow every moment more clear：
Till he woke to the knell of a furious bell；
Which the Bellman rang close at his ear。
Fit the Seventh
THE BANKER'S FATE
They sought it with thimbles； they sought it with care；
They pursued it with forks and hope；
They threatened its life with a railway…share；
They charmed it with smiles and soap。
And the Banker； inspired with a courage so new
It was matter for general remark；
Rushed madly ahead and was lost to their view
In his zeal to discover the Snark
But while he was seeking with thimbles and care；
A Bandersnatch swiftly drew nigh
And grabbed at the Banker； who shrieked in despair；
For he knew it was useless to fly。
He offered large discounthe offered a check
（Drawn 〃to bearer〃） for seven…pounds…ten：
But the Bandersnatch merely extended its neck
And grabbed at the Banker again。
Without rest or pausewhile those frumious jaws
Went savagely snapping around…
He skipped and he hopped； and he floundered and flopped；
Till fainting he fell to the ground。
The Bandersnatch fled as the others appeared
Led on by that fear…stricken yell：
And the Bellman remarked 〃It is just as I feared！〃
And solemnly tolled on his bell。
He was black in the face； and they scarcely could trace
The least likeness to what he had been：
While so great was his fright that his waistcoat turned white…
A wonderful thing to be seen！
To the horror of all who were present that day。
He uprose in full evening dress；
And with senseless grimaces endeavored to say
What his tongue could no longer express。
