The Hunting Of The Snark Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCD EFEF GBGB HBHB IJIJ K LMND O PLKDQBB RDISBTABUBSBVEBW SBXBBBSWBY ZA2WWWSW B2W B IBBC2 W ED2E2EAC2BE B E BF2BF2 WBWB WWWW WF2WF2 EG2EG2 WH2WH2 BD2BD2 WC2WC2 BEC2E BWWW YEYE F2BF2B BBBB EWEW BEBE B2BB2B EWEW DH2DH2 BFBF I2BI2B J2E2J2E2 BBBB D2 B D2 WWWW DBDB WWBW WEBE BFAF K2BBB WBWB EBBB BWBW L2B2L2B2 BD2BD2 WWWW WEWE WG2WG2 M2WEW BN2BN2 DWDW BABA WBWB BO2BO2 C2WC2W E2 B E2 WWWW EFEF C2B2EB2 P2BEB WEH2E BFBF M2BWB F2Q2F2 BBBB WM2W R2WR2W IBIB EBWB WI2WI2 E S2 E G2IG2I T2M2UM2 G2BBB WWWW U2EU2E WBWB M2BM2B F2Q2F2Q2 BWBW BBBB BWF2W BV2BV2 BBWB BWBW NW2NW2 BJ2BJ2 BBBB BX2BX2 A Y2 A F2Q2F2Q2 UDUD BWBW EWEW Z2J2Z2J2 EA3E2A3 BBBB BWBW BWBW F2BF2B WBWB AWWW EI2EI2 WWWW BBB3B BBBB WBWB C3BC3B XWD3W WWAW BABA IBIE3 F3WF3W BG3BG3 WBWB WWWW BAWA C2B2C2B2 WJ2WJ2 C2 H3 C2 F2Q2F2Q2 C3EC3E BEEE I3BI3B BABA BBBB J3BWB A3BA3 BBBB WWWW IBIB BFBF BWBW BBBB K2BBB BWBW BBBB BA3FK3 B L3 B F2Q2F2Q2 BEBE F2EF2E EM2EM2 WBBB BFBF WXBM3 BWBW F2WBW BBBB E N3 E F2Q2F2Q2 E2BE2B BEBE BEBE C2I3C2O3 WBWB F2EF2E BEBE BBBB B

Dedication	A
	-
Inscribed to a dear Child	B
in memory of golden summer hours	C
and whispers of a summer sea	D
	-
Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task	E
Eager she wields her spade yet loves as well	F
Rest on a friendly knee intent to ask	E
The tale he loves to tell	F
	-
Rude spirits of the seething outer strife	G
Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright	B
Deem if you list such hours a waste of life	G
Empty of all delight	B
	-
Chat on sweet Maid and rescue from annoy	H
Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguiled	B
Ah happy he who owns that tenderest joy	H
The heart love of a child	B
	-
Away fond thoughts and vex my soul no more	I
Work claims my wakeful nights my busy days	J
Albeit bright memories of that sunlit shore	I
Yet haunt my dreaming gaze	J
	-
	-
PREFACE	K
	-
	-
If and the thing is wildly possible the charge of	L
writing nonsense were ever brought against the author of this brief	M
but instructive poem it would be based I feel convinced on the line	N
in p	D
	-
Then the bowsprit got mixed with the rudder sometimes	O
	-
In view of this painful possibility I will not as I might appeal	P
indignantly to my other writings as a proof that I am incapable of	L
such a deed I will not as I might point to the strong moral purpose	K
of this poem itself to the arithmetical principles so cautiously	D
inculcated in it or to its noble teachings in Natural History I	Q
will take the more prosaic course of simply explaining how it	B
happened	B
	-
The Bellman who was almost morbidly sensitive about appearances	R
used to have the bowsprit unshipped once or twice a week to be	D
revarnished and it more than once happened when the time came for	I
replacing it that no one on board could remember which end of the	S
ship it belonged to They knew it was not of the slightest use to	B
appeal to the Bellman about it he would only refer to his Naval	T
Code and read out in pathetic tones Admiralty Instructions which none	A
of them had ever been able to understand so it generally ended	B
in its being fastened on anyhow across the rudder The helmsman	U
used to stand by with tears in his eyes he knew it was all wrong but	B
alas Rule of the Code No one shall speak to the Man at the	S
Helm had been completed by the Bellman himself with the words and	B
the Man at the Helm shall speak to no one So remonstrance was	V
impossible and no steering could be done till the next varnishing	E
day During these bewildering intervals the ship usually sailed	B
backwards	W
	-
As this poem is to some extent connected with the lay of the	S
Jabberwock let me take this opportunity of answering a question that	B
has often been asked me how to pronounce slithy toves The i in	X
slithy is long as in writhe and toves is pronounced so as to	B
rhyme with groves Again the first o in borogoves is pronounced	B
like the o in borrow I have heard people try to give it the sound	B
of the o in worry Such is Human Perversity This also seems a	S
fitting occasion to notice the other hard works in that poem Humpty Dumpty's	W
theory of two meanings packed into one word like a portmanteau	B
seems to me the right explanation for all	Y
	-
For instance take the two words fuming and furious Make up	Z
your mind that you will say both words but leave it unsettled which	A2
you will say first Now open your mouth and speak If your thoughts	W
incline ever so little towards fuming you will say fuming furious	W
if they turn by even a hair's breadth towards furious	W
you will say furious fuming but if you have that rarest of gifts a	S
perfectly balanced mind you will say frumious	W
	-
Supposing that when Pistol uttered the well known	B2
words	W
	-
Under which king Bezonian Speak or die	B
	-
Justice Shallow had felt certain that it was either William or	I
Richard but had not been able to settle which so that he could not	B
possibly say either name before the other can it be doubted that	B
rather than die he would have gasped out Rilchiam	C2
	-
	-
CONTENTS	W
	-
Fit the First The Landing	E
Fit the Second The Bellman's Speech	D2
Fit the Third The Baker's Tale	E2
Fit the Fourth The Hunting	E
Fit the Fifth The Beaver's Lesson	A
Fit the Sixth The Barrister's Dream	C2
Fit the Seventh The Banker's Fate	B
Fit the Eighth The Vanishing	E
	-
	-
Fit the First	B
	-
THE LANDING	E
	-
	-
Just the place for a Snark the Bellman cried	B
As he landed his crew with care	F2
Supporting each man on the top of the tide	B
By a finger entwined in his hair	F2
	-
Just the place for a Snark I have said it twice	W
That alone should encourage the crew	B
Just the place for a Snark I have said it thrice	W
What I tell you three times is true	B
	-
The crew was complete it included a Boots	W
A maker of Bonnets and Hoods	W
A Barrister brought to arrange their disputes	W
And a Broker to value their goods	W
	-
A Billiard marker whose skill was immense	W
Might perhaps have won more than his share	F2
But a Banker engaged at enormous expense	W
Had the whole of their cash in his care	F2
	-
There was also a Beaver that paced on the deck	E
Or would sit making lace in the bow	G2
And had often the Bellman said saved them from wreck	E
Though none of the sailors knew how	G2
	-
There was one who was famed for the number of things	W
He forgot when he entered the ship	H2
His umbrella his watch all his jewels and rings	W
And the clothes he had bought for the trip	H2
	-
He had forty two boxes all carefully packed	B
With his name painted clearly on each	D2
But since he omitted to mention the fact	B
They were all left behind on the beach	D2
	-
The loss of his clothes hardly mattered because	W
He had seven coats on when he came	C2
With three pair of boots but the worst of it was	W
He had wholly forgotten his name	C2
	-
He would answer to Hi or to any loud cry	B
Such as Fry me or Fritter my wig	E
To What you may call um or What was his name	C2
But especially Thing um a jig	E
	-
While for those who preferred a more forcible word	B
He had different names from these	W
His intimate friends called him Candle ends	W
And his enemies Toasted cheese	W
	-
His form in ungainly his intellect small	Y
So the Bellman would often remark	E
But his courage is perfect And that after all	Y
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark	E
	-
He would joke with hy nas returning their stare	F2
With an impudent wag of the head	B
And he once went a walk paw in paw with a bear	F2
Just to keep up its spirits he said	B
	-
He came as a Baker but owned when too late	B
And it drove the poor Bellman half mad	B
He could only bake Bridecake for which I may state	B
No materials were to be had	B
	-
The last of the crew needs especial remark	E
Though he looked an incredible dunce	W
He had just one idea but that one being Snark	E
The good Bellman engaged him at once	W
	-
He came as a Butcher but gravely declared	B
When the ship had been sailing a week	E
He could only kill Beavers The Bellman looked scared	B
And was almost too frightened to speak	E
	-
But at length he explained in a tremulous tone	B2
There was only one Beaver on board	B
And that was a tame one he had of his own	B2
Whose death would be deeply deplored	B
	-
The Beaver who happened to hear the remark	E
Protested with tears in its eyes	W
That not even the rapture of hunting the Snark	E
Could atone for that dismal surprise	W
	-
It strongly advised that the Butcher should be	D
Conveyed in a separate ship	H2
But the Bellman declared that would never agree	D
With the plans he had made for the trip	H2
	-
Navigation was always a difficult art	B
Though with only one ship and one bell	F
And he feared he must really decline for his part	B
Undertaking another as well	F
	-
The Beaver's best course was no doubt to procure	I2
A second hand dagger proof coat	B
So the Baker advised it and next to insure	I2
Its life in some Office of note	B
	-
This the Banker suggested and offered for hire	J2
On moderate terms or for sale	E2
Two excellent Policies one Against Fire	J2
And one Against Damage From Hail	E2
	-
Yet still ever after that sorrowful day	B
Whenever the Butcher was by	B
The Beaver kept looking the opposite way	B
And appeared unaccountably shy	B
	-
	-
II THE BELLMAN'S SPEECH	D2
	-
Fit the Second	B
	-
THE BELLMAN'S SPEECH	D2
	-
	-
The Bellman himself they all praised to the skies	W
Such a carriage such ease and such grace	W
Such solemnity too One could see he was wise	W
The moment one looked in his face	W
	-
He had bought a large map representing the sea	D
Without the least vestige of land	B
And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be	D
A map they could all understand	B
	-
What's the good of Mercator's North Poles and Equators	W
Tropics Zones and Meridian Lines	W
So the Bellman would cry and the crew would reply	B
They are merely conventional signs	W
	-
Other maps are such shapes with their islands and capes	W
But we've got our brave Captain to thank	E
So the crew would protest that he's bought us the best	B
A perfect and absolute blank	E
	-
This was charming no doubt but they shortly found out	B
That the Captain they trusted so well	F
Had only one notion for crossing the ocean	A
And that was to tingle his bell	F
	-
He was thoughtful and grave but the orders he gave	K2
Were enough to bewilder a crew	B
When he cried Steer to starboard but keep her head larboard	B
What on earth was the helmsman to do	B
	-
Then the bowsprit got mixed with the rudder sometimes	W
A thing as the Bellman remarked	B
That frequently happens in tropical climes	W
When a vessel is so to speak snarked	B
	-
But the principal failing occurred in the sailing	E
And the Bellman perplexed and distressed	B
Said he had hoped at least when the wind blew due East	B
That the ship would not travel due West	B
	-
But the danger was past they had landed at last	B
With their boxes portmanteaus and bags	W
Yet at first sight the crew were not pleased with the view	B
Which consisted to chasms and crags	W
	-
The Bellman perceived that their spirits were low	L2
And repeated in musical tone	B2
Some jokes he had kept for a season of woe	L2
But the crew would do nothing but groan	B2
	-
He served out some grog with a liberal hand	B
And bade them sit down on the beach	D2
And they could not but own that their Captain looked grand	B
As he stood and delivered his speech	D2
	-
Friends Romans and countrymen lend me your ears	W
They were all of them fond of quotations	W
So they drank to his health and they gave him three cheers	W
While he served out additional rations	W
	-
We have sailed many months we have sailed many weeks	W
Four weeks to the month you may mark	E
But never as yet 'tis your Captain who speaks	W
Have we caught the least glimpse of a Snark	E
	-
We have sailed many weeks we have sailed many days	W
Seven days to the week I allow	G2
But a Snark on the which we might lovingly gaze	W
We have never beheld till now	G2
	-
Come listen my men while I tell you again	M2
The five unmistakable marks	W
By which you may know wheresoever you go	E
The warranted genuine Snarks	W
	-
Let us take them in order The first is the taste	B
Which is meagre and hollow but crisp	N2
Like a coat that is rather too tight in the waist	B
With a flavour of Will o the wisp	N2
	-
Its habit of getting up late you'll agree	D
That it carries too far when I say	W
That it frequently breakfasts at five o'clock tea	D
And dines on the following day	W
	-
The third is its slowness in taking a jest	B
Should you happen to venture on one	A
It will sigh like a thing that is deeply distressed	B
And it always looks grave at a pun	A
	-
The fourth is its fondness for bathing machines	W
Which is constantly carries about	B
And believes that they add to the beauty of scenes	W
A sentiment open to doubt	B
	-
The fifth is ambition It next will be right	B
To describe each particular batch	O2
Distinguishing those that have feathers and bite	B
From those that have whiskers and scratch	O2
	-
For although common Snarks do no manner of harm	C2
Yet I feel it my duty to say	W
Some are Boojums The Bellman broke off in alarm	C2
For the Baker had fainted away	W
	-
	-
FIT III THE BAKER'S TALE	E2
	-
Fit the Third	B
	-
THE BAKER'S TALE	E2
	-
	-
They roused him with muffins they roused him with ice	W
They roused him with mustard and cress	W
They roused him with jam and judicious advice	W
They set him conundrums to guess	W
	-
When at length he sat up and was able to speak	E
His sad story he offered to tell	F
And the Bellman cried Silence Not even a shriek	E
And excitedly tingled his bell	F
	-
There was silence supreme Not a shriek not a scream	C2
Scarcely even a howl or a groan	B2
As the man they called Ho told his story of woe	E
In an antediluvian tone	B2
	-
My father and mother were honest though poor	P2
Skip all that cried the Bellman in haste	B
If it once becomes dark there's no chance of a Snark	E
We have hardly a minute to waste	B
	-
I skip forty years said the Baker in tears	W
And proceed without further remark	E
To the day when you took me aboard of your ship	H2
To help you in hunting the Snark	E
	-
A dear uncle of mine after whom I was named	B
Remarked when I bade him farewell	F
Oh skip your dear uncle the Bellman exclaimed	B
As he angrily tingled his bell	F
	-
He remarked to me then said that mildest of men	M2
'If your Snark be a Snark that is right	B
Fetch it home by all means you may serve it with greens	W
And it's handy for striking a light	B
	-
'You may seek it with thimbles and seek it with care	F2
You may hunt it with forks and hope	Q2
You may threaten its life with a railway share	F2
You may charm it with smiles and soap '	-
	-
That's exactly the method the Bellman bold	B
In a hasty parenthesis cried	B
That's exactly the way I have always been told	B
That the capture of Snarks should be tried	B
	-
'But oh beamish nephew beware of the day	W
If your Snark be a Boojum For then	M2
You will softly and suddenly vanish away	W
And never be met with again '	-
	-
It is this it is this that oppresses my soul	R2
When I think of my uncle's last words	W
And my heart is like nothing so much as a bowl	R2
Brimming over with quivering curds	W
	-
It is this it is this We have had that before	I
The Bellman indignantly said	B
And the Baker replied Let me say it once more	I
It is this it is this that I dread	B
	-
I engage with the Snark every night after dark	E
In a dreamy delirious fight	B
I serve it with greens in those shadowy scenes	W
And I use it for striking a light	B
	-
But if ever I meet with a Boojum that day	W
In a moment of this I am sure	I2
I shall softly and suddenly vanish away	W
And the notion I cannot endure	I2
	-
	-
FIT IV THE HUNTING	E
	-
Fit the fourth	S2
	-
THE HUNTING	E
	-
	-
The Bellman looked uffish and wrinkled his brow	G2
If only you'd spoken before	I
It's excessively awkward to mention it now	G2
With the Snark so to speak at the door	I
	-
We should all of us grieve as you well may believe	T2
If you never were met with again	M2
But surely my man when the voyage began	U
You might have suggested it then	M2
	-
It's excessively awkward to mention it now	G2
As I think I've already remarked	B
And the man they called Hi replied with a sigh	B
I informed you the day we embarked	B
	-
You may charge me with murder or want of sense	W
We are all of us weak at times	W
But the slightest approach to a false pretence	W
Was never among my crimes	W
	-
I said it in Hebrew I said it in Dutch	U2
I said it in German and Greek	E
But I wholly forgot and it vexes me much	U2
That English is what you speak	E
	-
'Tis a pitiful tale said the Bellman whose face	W
Had grown longer at every word	B
But now that you've stated the whole of your case	W
More debate would be simply absurd	B
	-
The rest of my speech he explained to his men	M2
You shall hear when I've leisure to speak it	B
But the Snark is at hand let me tell you again	M2
'Tis your glorious duty to seek it	B
	-
To seek it with thimbles to seek it with care	F2
To pursue it with forks and hope	Q2
To threaten its life with a railway share	F2
To charm it with smiles and soap	Q2
	-
For the Snark's a peculiar creature that won't	B
Be caught in a commonplace way	W
Do all that you know and try all that you don't	B
Not a chance must be wasted to day	W
	-
For England expects I forbear to proceed	B
'Tis a maxim tremendous but trite	B
And you'd best be unpacking the things that you need	B
To rig yourselves out for the fight	B
	-
Then the Banker endorsed a blank check which he crossed	B
And changed his loose silver for notes	W
The Baker with care combed his whiskers and hair	F2
And shook the dust out of his coats	W
	-
The Boots and the Broker were sharpening a spade	B
Each working the grindstone in turn	V2
But the Beaver went on making lace and displayed	B
No interest in the concern	V2
	-
Though the Barrister tried to appeal to its pride	B
And vainly proceeded to cite	B
A number of cases in which making laces	W
Had been proved an infringement of right	B
	-
The maker of Bonnets ferociously planned	B
A novel arrangement of bows	W
While the Billiard marker with quivering hand	B
Was chalking the tip of his nose	W
	-
But the Butcher turned nervous and dressed himself fine	N
With yellow kid gloves and a ruff	W2
Said he felt it exactly like going to dine	N
Which the Bellman declared was all stuff	W2
	-
Introduce me now there's a good fellow he said	B
If we happen to meet it together	J2
And the Bellman sagaciously nodding his head	B
Said That must depend on the weather	J2
	-
The Beaver went simply galumphing about	B
At seeing the Butcher so shy	B
And even the Baker though stupid and stout	B
Made an effort to wink with one eye	B
	-
Be a man said the Bellman in wrath as he heard	B
The Butcher beginning to sob	X2
Should we meet with a Jubjub that desperate bird	B
We shall need all our strength for the job	X2
	-
	-
FIT V THE BEAVER'S LESSON	A
	-
Fit the Fifth	Y2
	-
THE BEAVER'S LESSON	A
	-
	-
They sought it with thimbles they sought it with care	F2
They pursued it with forks and hope	Q2
They threatened its life with a railway share	F2
They charmed it with smiles and soap	Q2
	-
Then the Butcher contrived an ingenious plan	U
For making a separate sally	D
And had fixed on a spot unfrequented by man	U
A dismal and desolate valley	D
	-
But the very same plan to the Beaver occurred	B
It had chosen the very same place	W
Yet neither betrayed by a sign or a word	B
The disgust that appeared in his face	W
	-
Each thought he was thinking of nothing but Snark	E
And the glorious work of the day	W
And each tried to pretend that he did not remark	E
That the other was going that way	W
	-
But the valley grew narrow and narrower still	Z2
And the evening got darker and colder	J2
Till merely from nervousness not from goodwill	Z2
They marched along shoulder to shoulder	J2
	-
Then a scream shrill and high rent the shuddering sky	E
And they knew that some danger was near	A3
The Beaver turned pale to the tip of its tail	E2
And even the Butcher felt queer	A3
	-
He thought of his childhood left far far behind	B
That blissful and innocent state	B
The sound so exactly recalled to his mind	B
A pencil that squeaks on a slate	B
	-
'Tis the voice of the Jubjub he suddenly cried	B
This man that they used to call Dunce	W
As the Bellman would tell you he added with pride	B
I have uttered that sentiment once	W
	-
'Tis the note of the Jubjub Keep count I entreat	B
You will find I have told it you twice	W
Tis the song of the Jubjub The proof is complete	B
If only I've stated it thrice	W
	-
The Beaver had counted with scrupulous care	F2
Attending to every word	B
But it fairly lost heart and outgrabe in despair	F2
When the third repetition occurred	B
	-
It felt that in spite of all possible pains	W
It had somehow contrived to lose count	B
And the only thing now was to rack its poor brains	W
By reckoning up the amount	B
	-
Two added to one if that could but be done	A
It said with one's fingers and thumbs	W
Recollecting with tears how in earlier years	W
It had taken no pains with its sums	W
	-
The thing can be done said the Butcher I think	E
The thing must be done I am sure	I2
The thing shall be done Bring me paper and ink	E
The best there is time to procure	I2
	-
The Beaver brought paper portfolio pens	W
And ink in unfailing supplies	W
While strange creepy creatures came out of their dens	W
And watched them with wondering eyes	W
	-
So engrossed was the Butcher he heeded them not	B
As he wrote with a pen in each hand	B
And explained all the while in a popular style	B3
Which the Beaver could well understand	B
	-
Taking Three as the subject to reason about	B
A convenient number to state	B
We add Seven and Ten and then multiply out	B
By One Thousand diminished by Eight	B
	-
The result we proceed to divide as you see	W
By Nine Hundred and Ninety and Two	B
Then subtract Seventeen and the answer must be	W
Exactly and perfectly true	B
	-
The method employed I would gladly explain	C3
While I have it so clear in my head	B
If I had but the time and you had but the brain	C3
But much yet remains to be said	B
	-
In one moment I've seen what has hitherto been	X
Enveloped in absolute mystery	W
And without extra charge I will give you at large	D3
A Lesson in Natural History	W
	-
In his genial way he proceeded to say	W
Forgetting all laws of propriety	W
And that giving instruction without introduction	A
Would have caused quite a thrill in Society	W
	-
As to temper the Jubjub's a desperate bird	B
Since it lives in perpetual passion	A
Its taste in costume is entirely absurd	B
It is ages ahead of the fashion	A
	-
But it knows any friend it has met once before	I
It never will look at a bride	B
And in charity meetings it stands at the door	I
And collects though it does not subscribe	E3
	-
Its flavour when cooked is more exquisite far	F3
Than mutton or oysters or eggs	W
Some think it keeps best in an ivory jar	F3
And some in mahogany kegs	W
	-
You boil it in sawdust you salt it in glue	B
You condense it with locusts and tape	G3
Still keeping one principal object in view	B
To preserve its symmetrical shape	G3
	-
The Butcher would gladly have talked till next day	W
But he felt that the Lesson must end	B
And he wept with delight in attempting to say	W
He considered the Beaver his friend	B
	-
While the Beaver confessed with affectionate looks	W
More eloquent even than tears	W
It had learned in ten minutes far more than all books	W
Would have taught it in seventy years	W
	-
They returned hand in hand and the Bellman unmanned	B
For a moment with noble emotion	A
Said This amply repays all the wearisome days	W
We have spent on the billowy ocean	A
	-
Such friends as the Beaver and Butcher became	C2
Have seldom if ever been known	B2
In winter or summer 'twas always the same	C2
You could never meet either alone	B2
	-
And when quarrels arose as one frequently finds	W
Quarrels will spite of every endeavour	J2
The song of the Jubjub recurred to their minds	W
And cemented their friendship for ever	J2
	-
	-
FIT VI THE BARRISTER'S DREAM	C2
	-
Fit the Sixth	H3
	-
THE BARRISTER'S DREAM	C2
	-
	-
They sought it with thimbles they sought it with care	F2
They pursued it with forks and hope	Q2
They threatened its life with a railway share	F2
They charmed it with smiles and soap	Q2
	-
But the Barrister weary of proving in vain	C3
That the Beaver's lace making was wrong	E
Fell asleep and in dreams saw the creature quite plain	C3
That his fancy had dwelt on so long	E
	-
He dreamed that he stood in a shadowy Court	B
Where the Snark with a glass in its eye	E
Dressed in gown bands and wig was defending a pig	E
On the charge of deserting its sty	E
	-
The Witnesses proved without error or flaw	I3
That the sty was deserted when found	B
And the Judge kept explaining the state of the law	I3
In a soft under current of sound	B
	-
The indictment had never been clearly expressed	B
And it seemed that the Snark had begun	A
And had spoken three hours before any one guessed	B
What the pig was supposed to have done	A
	-
The Jury had each formed a different view	B
Long before the indictment was read	B
And they all spoke at once so that none of them knew	B
One word that the others had said	B
	-
You must know said the Judge but the Snark exclaimed Fudge	J3
That statute is obsolete quite	B
Let me tell you my friends the whole question depends	W
On an ancient manorial right	B
	-
In the matter of Treason the pig would appear	A3
To have aided but scarcely abetted	B
While the charge of Insolvency fails it is clear	A3
If you grant the plea 'never indebted '	-
	-
The fact of Desertion I will not dispute	B
But its guilt as I trust is removed	B
So far as relates to the costs of this suit	B
By the Alibi which has been proved	B
	-
My poor client's fate now depends on your votes	W
Here the speaker sat down in his place	W
And directed the Judge to refer to his notes	W
And briefly to sum up the case	W
	-
But the Judge said he never had summed up before	I
So the Snark undertook it instead	B
And summed it so well that it came to far more	I
Than the Witnesses ever had said	B
	-
When the verdict was called for the Jury declined	B
As the word was so puzzling to spell	F
But they ventured to hope that the Snark wouldn't mind	B
Undertaking that duty as well	F
	-
So the Snark found the verdict although as it owned	B
It was spent with the toils of the day	W
When it said the word GUILTY the Jury all groaned	B
And some of them fainted away	W
	-
Then the Snark pronounced sentence the Judge being quite	B
Too nervous to utter a word	B
When it rose to its feet there was silence like night	B
And the fall of a pin might be heard	B
	-
Transportation for life was the sentence it gave	K2
And then to be fined forty pound	B
The Jury all cheered though the Judge said he feared	B
That the phrase was not legally sound	B
	-
But their wild exultation was suddenly checked	B
When the jailer informed them with tears	W
Such a sentence would have not the slightest effect	B
As the pig had been dead for some years	W
	-
The Judge left the Court looking deeply disgusted	B
But the Snark though a little aghast	B
As the lawyer to whom the defence was intrusted	B
Went bellowing on to the last	B
	-
Thus the Barrister dreamed while the bellowing seemed	B
To grow every moment more clear	A3
Till he woke to the knell of a furious bell	F
Which the Bellman rang close at his ear	K3
	-
	-
FIT VII THE BANKER'S FATE	B
	-
Fit the Seventh	L3
	-
THE BANKER'S FATE	B
	-
	-
They sought it with thimbles they sought it with care	F2
They pursued it with forks and hope	Q2
They threatened its life with a railway share	F2
They charmed it with smiles and soap	Q2
	-
And the Banker inspired with a courage so new	B
It was matter for general remark	E
Rushed madly ahead and was lost to their view	B
In his zeal to discover the Snark	E
	-
But while he was seeking with thimbles and care	F2
A Bandersnatch swiftly drew nigh	E
And grabbed at the Banker who shrieked in despair	F2
For he knew it was useless to fly	E
	-
He offered large discount he offered a cheque	E
Drawn to bearer for seven pounds ten	M2
But the Bandersnatch merely extended its neck	E
And grabbed at the Banker again	M2
	-
Without rest or pause while those frumious jaws	W
Went savagely snapping around	B
He skipped and he hopped and he floundered and flopped	B
Till fainting he fell to the ground	B
	-
The Bandersnatch fled as the others appeared	B
Led on by that fear stricken yell	F
And the Bellman remarked It is just as I feared	B
And solemnly tolled on his bell	F
	-
He was black in the face and they scarcely could trace	W
The least likeness to what he had been	X
While so great was his fright that his waistcoat turned white	B
A wonderful thing to be seen	M3
	-
To the horror of all who were present that day	B
He uprose in full evening dress	W
And with senseless grimaces endeavoured to say	B
What his tongue could no longer express	W
	-
Down he sank in a chair ran his hands through his hair	F2
And chanted in mimsiest tones	W
Words whose utter inanity proved his insanity	B
While he rattled a couple of bones	W
	-
Leave him here to his fate it is getting so late	B
The Bellman exclaimed in a fright	B
We have lost half the day Any further delay	B
And we sha'nt catch a Snark before night	B
	-
	-
FIT VIII THE VANISHING	E
	-
Fit the Eighth	N3
	-
THE VANISHING	E
	-
	-
They sought it with thimbles they sought it with care	F2
They pursued it with forks and hope	Q2
They threatened its life with a railway share	F2
They charmed it with smiles and soap	Q2
	-
They shuddered to think that the chase might fail	E2
And the Beaver excited at last	B
Went bounding along on the tip of its tail	E2
For the daylight was nearly past	B
	-
There is Thingumbob shouting the Bellman said	B
He is shouting like mad only hark	E
He is waving his hands he is wagging his head	B
He has certainly found a Snark	E
	-
They gazed in delight while the Butcher exclaimed	B
He was always a desperate wag	E
They beheld him their Baker their hero unnamed	B
On the top of a neighbouring crag	E
	-
Erect and sublime for one moment of time	C2
In the next that wild figure they saw	I3
As if stung by a spasm plunge into a chasm	C2
While they waited and listened in awe	O3
	-
It's a Snark was the sound that first came to their ears	W
And seemed almost too good to be true	B
Then followed a torrent of laughter and cheers	W
Then the ominous words It's a Boo	B
	-
Then silence Some fancied they heard in the air	F2
A weary and wandering sigh	E
Then sounded like jum but the others declare	F2
It was only a breeze that went by	E
	-
They hunted till darkness came on but they found	B
Not a button or feather or mark	E
By which they could tell that they stood on the ground	B
Where the Baker had met with the Snark	E
	-
In the midst of the word he was trying to say	B
In the midst of his laughter and glee	B
He had softly and suddenly vanished away	B
For the Snark was a Boojum you see	B
	-
THE END	B

Lewis Carroll

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