Through the Looking Glass

”

“I sent a message to the fish:

I told them “This is what I wish.”

The little fishes of the sea,

They sent an answer back to me.

The little fishes” answer was

“We cannot do it, Sir, because—"“

“I'm afraid I don't quite understand,” said Alice.

“It gets easier further on,” Humpty Dumpty replied.

“I sent to them again to say

“It will be better to obey.”

The fishes answered with a grin,

“Why, what a temper you are in!”

I told them once, I told them twice:

They would not listen to advice.

I took a kettle large and new,

Fit for the deed I had to do.

My heart went hop, my heart went thump;

I filled the kettle at the pump.

Then some one came to me and said,

“The little fishes are in bed.”

I said to him, I said it plain,

“Then you must wake them up again.”

I said it very loud and clear;

I went and shouted in his ear.”

Humpty Dumpty raised his voice almost to a scream as he repeated this verse, and Alice thought with a shudder, “I wouldn't have been the messenger for ANYTHING!”

“But he was very stiff and proud;

He said “You needn't shout so loud!”

And he was very proud and stiff;

He said “I'd go and wake them, if—”

I took a corkscrew from the shelf:

I went to wake them up myself.

And when I found the door was locked,

I pulled and pushed and kicked and knocked.

And when I found the door was shut,

I tried to turn the handle, but—”

There was a long pause.

“Is that all?” Alice timidly asked.

“That's all,” said Humpty Dumpty. “Good-bye.”

This was rather sudden, Alice thought: but, after such a VERY strong hint that she ought to be going, she felt that it would hardly be civil to stay. So she got up, and held out her hand. “Good-bye, till we meet again!” she said as cheerfully as she could.

“I shouldn't know you again if we DID meet,” Humpty Dumpty replied in a discontented tone, giving her one of his fingers to shake; “you're so exactly like other people.”

“The face is what one goes by, generally,” Alice remarked in a thoughtful tone.

“That's just what I complain of,” said Humpty Dumpty.