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.
He had forty-two boxes, all carefully packed,
With his name painted clearly on each:
But, since he omitted to mention the fact,
They were all left behind on the beach.
"His form is ungainly — his intellect small —"
(The Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."
His courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark.
Well, the loss of his clothes hardly mattered, because
He had seven coats on when he came,
With three pairs of boots — but the worst of it was,
He had wholly forgotten his name.
He would answer to "Hi!" or to any loud cry,
Such as "Fry me!" or "Fritter my wig!"
To "What-you-may-call-um!" or "What-was-his-name!"
But especially "Thing-um-a-jig!"
"His form is ungainly — his intellect small —"
(The Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."
While, for those who preferred a more forcible word,
He had different names from these:
His intimate friends called him "Candle-ends,"
And his enemies "Toasted-cheese."
He came as a Baker: but owned, when too late —
And it drove the poor Bellman half-mad —
He could only bake Bridecake — for which, I may state,
No materials were to be had.
"His form is ungainly — his intellect small —"
(The Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."
"His form is ungainly — his intellect small —"
(The Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."
"His form is ungainly — his intellect small —"
(The Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."