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〃My father and mother were honest； though poor〃
〃Skip all that！〃 cried the Bellman in haste。
〃If it once becomes dark； there's no chance of a Snark
We have hardly a minute to waste！〃
〃I skip forty years；〃 said the Baker； in tears；
〃And proceed without further remark
To the day when you took me aboard of your ship
To help you in hunting the Snark。
〃A dear uncle of mine （after whom I was named）
Remarked； when I bade him farewell〃
〃Oh； skip your dear uncle！〃 the Bellman exclaimed；
As he angrily tingled his bell。
〃He remarked to me then；〃 said that mildest of men；
〃 'If your Snark be a Snark； that is right：
Fetch it home by all meansyou may serve it with greens；
And it's handy for striking a light。
〃 'You may seek it with thimblesand seek it with care；
You may hunt it with forks and hope；
You may threaten its life with a railway…share；
You may charm it with smiles and soap' 〃
（〃That's exactly the method；〃 the Bellman bold
In a hasty parenthesis cried；
〃That's exactly the way I have always been told
That the capture of Snarks should be tried！〃）
〃 'But oh； beamish nephew； beware of the day；
If your Snark be a Boojum！ For then
You will softly and suddenly vanish away；
And never be met with again！'
〃It is this； it is this that oppresses my soul；
When I think of my uncle's last words：
And my heart is like nothing so much as a bowl
Brimming over with quivering curds！
〃It is this； it is this〃 〃We have had that before！〃
The Bellman indignantly said。
And the Baker replied 〃Let me say it once more。
It is this； it is this that I dread！
〃I engage with the Snarkevery night after dark
In a dreamy delirious fight：
I serve it with greens in those shadowy scenes；
And I use it for striking a light：
〃But if ever I meet with a Boojum； that day；
In a moment （of this I am sure）；
I shall softly and suddenly vanish away
And the notion I cannot endure！〃
Fit the fourth
THE HUNTING
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 murderor want of sense
（We are all of us weak at times）：
But the slightest approach to a false pretense
Was never among my crimes！
〃I said it in HebrewI 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 expectsI 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 check （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！〃
Fit the Fifth
THE BEAVER'S LESSON
They sought it with thimbles； they sought it with care；
They pursued it with forks and hope；
They threatened its life with a railway…share；
They charmed it with smiles and soap。
Then the Butcher contrived an ingenious plan
For making a separate sally；
And fixed on a spot unfrequented by man；
A dismal and desolate valley。
But the very same plan to the Beaver occurred：
It had chosen the very same place：
Yet neither betrayed； by a sign or a word；
The disgust that appeared in his face。
Each thought he was thinking of nothing but 〃Snark〃
And the glorious work of the day；
And each tried to pretend that he did not remark
That the other was going that way。