The World’s Wit and Humor: An Encyclopedia in 15 Volumes. 1906.
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (18321898)The Bellmans Speech
“F
(They were all of them fond of quotations;
So they drank to his health, and they gave him three cheers,
While he served out additional rations.)
Four weeks to the month you may mark—
But never as yet—’tis your Captain who speaks—
Have we caught the least glimpse of a Snark!
Seven days to the week I allow—
But a Snark, on the which we might lovingly gaze,
We have never beheld till now!
The five unmistakable marks
By which you may know, wheresoever you go,
The warranted genuine Snarks.
Which is meagre and hollow, but crisp,
Like a coat that is rather too tight in the waist,
With a flavour of Will-o’-the-wisp.
That it carries too far, when I say
That it frequently breakfasts at five-o’clock tea,
And dines on the following day.
Should you happen to venture on one,
It will sigh like a thing that is deeply distressed,
And it always looks grave at a pun.
Which it constantly carries about,
And believes that they add to the beauty of scenes—
A sentiment open to doubt.
To describe each particular batch,
Distinguishing those that have feathers, and bite,
From those that have whiskers, and scratch.
Yet I feel it my duty to say
Some are Boojums—” The Bellman broke off in alarm,
For the Baker had fainted away.