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.
And the Banker, inspired with a
courage so new
It was
matter for general remark,
Rushed madly ahead and was lost to their
view
In his zeal to
discover the Snark
But while he was seeking with thimbles and
care,
A Bandersnatch
swiftly drew nigh
And grabbed at the Banker, who shrieked in
despair,
For he knew it
was useless to fly.
He offered large discount—he offered a
cheque
(Drawn “to
bearer”) for seven-pounds-ten:
But the Bandersnatch merely extended its
neck
And grabbed at the
Banker again.
Without rest or pause—while those frumious
jaws
Went savagely
snapping around—
He skipped and he hopped, and he floundered and
flopped,
Till fainting
he fell to the ground.
The Bandersnatch fled as the others
appeared
Led on by that
fear-stricken yell:
And the Bellman remarked “It is just as I
feared!”
And solemnly
tolled on his bell.
He was black in the face, and they scarcely
could trace
The least
likeness to what he had been:
While so great was his fright that his
waistcoat turned
white—
A wonderful
thing to be seen!
To the horror of all who were present that
day,
He uprose in full
evening dress,
And with senseless grimaces endeavoured to
say
What his tongue
could no longer express.
Down he sank in a chair—ran his hands
through his hair—
And
chanted in mimsiest tones
Words whose utter inanity proved his
insanity,
While he
rattled a couple of bones.
“Leave him here to his fate—it is
getting so late!”
The
Bellman exclaimed in a fright.
“We have lost half the day. Any further
delay,
And we sha’nt
catch a Snark before night!” |
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