THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK
                       an Agony in Eight Fits
                                by
                           Lewis Carroll

 
PREFACE

If--and the thing is wildly possible--the charge of writing nonsense
were ever brought against 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 of this painful possibility, I will not (as I might) appeal
indignantly to my other writings as a proof that I am incapable of
such a deed: I will not (as I might) point to the strong moral
purpose of this poem itself, to the arithmetical principles so
cautiously inculcated in it, or to its noble teachings in Natural
History--I will take the more prosaic course of simply explaining how
it happened.

     The Bellman, who was almost morbidly sensitive about
appearances, used to have the bowsprit unshipped once or twice a week
to be revarnished, and it more than once happened, when the time came
for replacing it, that no one on board could remember which end of
the ship it belonged to.  They knew it was not of the slightest use
to appeal to the Bellman about it-- he would only refer to his Naval
Code, and read out in pathetic tones Admiralty Instructions which
none of them had ever been able to understand-- so it generally ended
in its being fastened on, anyhow, across the rudder.  The helmsman
used to 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 been completed by the Bellman himself with the words "and
the Man at the Helm shall speak to no one."  So remonstrance was
impossible, and no steering could be done till the next varnishing
day.  During these bewildering intervals the ship usually sailed
backwards.

     As this poem is to some extent connected with the lay of the
Jabberwock, let me take this opportunity of answering a question that
has often been asked me, how to pronounce "slithy toves."  The "i" in
"slithy" is long, as in "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 seems a fitting occasion to notice the other hard
works in that poem.  Humpty-Dumpty's theory, of two meanings packed
into one word like a portmanteau, seems to me the right explanation
for all.

     For instance, take the two words "fuming" and "furious."  Make
up your mind that you 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 little towards "fuming," you will say
"fuming-furious;" if they turn, by even a hair's breadth, towards
"furious," you will say "furious-fuming;" but if 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 Shallow had felt certain that it was either William or
Richard, but had not been able to settle which, so that he could not
possibly say either name before the other, can it be doubted that,
rather than die, he would have gasped out "Rilchiam!"

 

                Fit the First

                 THE LANDING

 
"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
     As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
     By a finger entwined in his hair.

"Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it twice:
     That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark!  I have said it thrice:
     What I tell you three times is true."

The crew was complete: it included a Boots--
     A maker of Bonnets and Hoods--
A Barrister, brought to arrange their disputes--
     And a Broker, to value their goods.

A Billiard-maker, whose skill was immense,
     Might perhaps have won more than his share--
But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,
     Had the whole of their cash in his care.

There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck,
     Or would sit making lace in the bow:
And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck,
     Though none of the sailors knew how.