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<poem> [Cover:
THE
HUNTING
OF THE
SNARK]
 
 
 
 
AN EASTER GREETING
to
EVERY CHILD WHO LOVES
“+'''Alice+'''.”
 
 
* * * * *
 
+'''The Hunting of the Snark.+'''
 
* * * * *
Line 28 ⟶ 20:
 
 
+'''an Agony,'''
'''in Eight Fits.+'''
 
 
Line 35 ⟶ 27:
LEWIS CARROLL
 
Author of “Alice’s“[[Alice in Wonderland|Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland]],”
and “Through the Looking-Glass.”
 
 
_WITH''WITH NINE ILLUSTRATIONS_ILLUSTRATIONS''
by
HENRY HOLIDAY
 
 
+'''London+''':
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1876.
 
[_The''The Right of Translation and Reproduction is Reserved._'']
 
 
Line 60 ⟶ 52:
 
 
+'''Inscribed to a dear Child:'''
'''in memory of golden summer hours'''
'''and whispers of a summer sea.+'''
 
 
Line 89 ⟶ 81:
 
PREFACE.
</poem>▼
 
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. 18)
 
<poem>
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. 18)
 
“Then the bowsprit got mixed with the rudder sometimes.”
</poem>
 
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.
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<ref>This office was usually undertaken by the Boots, who found in it a refuge from the Baker’s constant complaints about the insufficient blacking of his three pair of boots.</ref> 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.
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 [[Jabberwocky|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 office was usually undertaken by the Boots, who found
in it a refuge from the Baker’s constant complaints about the
insufficient blacking of his three pair of boots.]
 
This also seems a fitting occasion to notice the other hard words 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.
As this poem is to some extent connected with [[Jabberwocky|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.
 
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 that rarest of gifts, a perfectly balanced mind, you will say “frumious.”
This also seems a fitting occasion to notice the other hard words 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 that rarest of gifts, a perfectly
balanced mind, you will say “frumious.”
 
Supposing that, when Pistol uttered the well-known words--
 
<poem>
“Under which king, Bezonian? Speak or die!”
</poem>
 
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!”
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!”
 
 
 
 
+Contents.+
▲</poem>
 
__TOC__
 
== FIT I.--THE LANDING. ==
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 1.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
<poem>
+'''Fit the First.+'''
 
_THE''THE LANDING._''
 
 
Line 193 ⟶ 145:
Though none of the sailors knew how.
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 2.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
There was one who was famed for the number of things
Line 255 ⟶ 207:
Could atone for that dismal surprise!
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 3.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
It strongly advised that the Butcher should be
Line 285 ⟶ 237:
== FIT II.--THE BELLMAN’S SPEECH. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Second.+'''
 
_THE''THE BELLMAN’S SPEECH._''
 
 
Line 310 ⟶ 262:
A perfect and absolute blank!”
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 4.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration: OCEAN-CHART.
Latitude NORTH Equator
South Pole Equinox EAST Zenith Longitude
Nadir North Pole WEST Meridian Torrid Zone
_Scale of Miles._]
 
This was charming, no doubt: but they shortly found out
Line 333 ⟶ 281:
But the principal failing occurred in the sailing,
And the Bellman, perplexed and distressed,
Said he _had_''had'' hoped, at least, when the wind blew due East,
That the ship would _not_''not'' travel due West!
 
But the danger was past--they had landed at last,
Line 404 ⟶ 352:
== FIT III.--THE BAKER’S TALE. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Third.+'''
 
_THE''THE BAKER’S TALE._''
 
 
Line 459 ⟶ 407:
And never be met with again!’
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 5.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
“It is this, it is this that oppresses my soul,
Line 484 ⟶ 432:
== FIT IV.--THE HUNTING. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Fourth.+'''
 
_THE''THE HUNTING._''
 
 
Line 539 ⟶ 487:
To rig yourselves out for the fight.”
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 6.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
Then the Banker endorsed a blank cheque (which he crossed),
Line 584 ⟶ 532:
== FIT V.--THE BEAVER’S LESSON. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Fifth.+'''
 
_THE''THE BEAVER’S LESSON._''
 
 
Line 654 ⟶ 602:
The best there is time to procure.”
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 7.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
The Beaver brought paper, portfolio, pens,
Line 739 ⟶ 687:
== FIT VI.--THE BARRISTER’S DREAM. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Sixth.+'''
 
_THE''THE BARRISTER’S DREAM._''
 
 
Line 754 ⟶ 702:
That his fancy had dwelt on so long.
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 8.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
He dreamed that he stood in a shadowy Court,
Line 817 ⟶ 765:
 
“Transportation for life” was the sentence it gave,
“And _then_''then'' to be fined forty pound.”
The Jury all cheered, though the Judge said he feared
That the phrase was not legally sound.
Line 839 ⟶ 787:
== FIT VII.--THE BANKER’S FATE. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Seventh.+'''
 
_THE''THE BANKER’S FATE._''
 
 
Line 884 ⟶ 832:
What his tongue could no longer express.
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 9.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
Down he sank in a chair--ran his hands through his hair--
Line 899 ⟶ 847:
== FIT VIII.--THE VANISHING. ==
<poem>
+'''Fit the Eighth.+'''
 
_THE''THE VANISHING._''
 
 
Line 939 ⟶ 887:
It was only a breeze that went by.
 
[[File:Lewis Carroll - Henry Holiday - Hunting of the Snark - Plate 10.jpg|thumb|250px|left]]{{break}}
[Illustration]
 
They hunted till darkness came on, but they found
Line 949 ⟶ 897:
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away--
For the Snark _was_''was'' a Boojum, you see.
 
 
THE END.</poem>
 
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