Fit the Fourth: The Hunting

  1. The Baker’s Tale
  2. The Hunting of the Snark
  3. The Beaver’s Lesson
    • 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 it then?
    • “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 pretence
    • 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 simply absurd.
    • “The rest of my speech” (he explained to his men)
    • “You shall hear when I’ve leisure to speak it.
    • But the Snark is at hand, let me tell you again!
    • ’Tis your glorious duty to seek it!
    • “To seek it with thimbles, to seek it with care;
    • To pursue it with forks and hope;
    • To threaten its life with a railway-share;
    • To charm it with smiles and soap!
    • “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 wasted to-day!
    • “For England expects—I forbear to proceed:
    • ’Tis a maxim tremendous, but trite:
    • And you’d best be unpacking the things that you need
    • To rig yourselves out for the fight.”
    • Then the Banker endorsed a blank cheque (which he crossed),
    • And changed his loose silver for notes.
    • The Baker with care combed his whiskers and hair,
    • And shook the dust out of his coats.
    • The Boots and the Broker were sharpening a spade—
    • Each working the grindstone in 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 infringement of right.
    • The maker of Bonnets ferociously planned
    • A novel arrangement of bows:
    • While the Billiard-marker with quivering hand
    • Was chalking the tip of his nose.
    • But the Butcher turned nervous, and dressed himself fine,
    • With yellow kid gloves and a ruff—
    • Said he felt it exactly like going to dine,
    • Which the Bellman declared was all “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 the weather.”.
    • 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 with one 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 strength for the job!”
  1. The Baker’s Tale
  2. The Hunting of the Snark
  3. The Beaver’s Lesson