The hunting of the Snark

" I have heard people try to give it the sound of the "o" in

"worry. Such is Human Perversity.

This also seems a fitting occasion to notice the other hard works 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 the rarest of gifts, a perfectly balanced mind, you will

say "frumious."

Supposing that, when Pistol uttered the well-known words -

"Under which king, Bezonian? Speak or die!"

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!"

Fit the First THE LANDING

"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,

As he landed his crew with care;

Supporting each man on the top of the tide

By a finger entwined in his hair.

"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:

That alone should encourage the crew.

Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:

What i tell you three times is true."

The crew was complete: it included a Boots -

A maker of Bonnets and Hoods -

A Barrister, brought to arrange their disputes -

And a Broker, to value their goods.

A Billiard-maker, whose skill was immense,

Might perhaps have won more than his share -

But a Banker, engaged at enormous expense,

Had the whole of their cash in his care.

There was also a Beaver, that paced on the deck,

Or would sit making lace in the bow:

And had often (the Bellman said) saved them from wreck,

Though none of the sailors knew how.

There was one who was famed for the number of things

He forgot when he entered the ship:

His umbrella, his watch, all his jewels and rings,

And the clothes he had bought for the trip.