Lewis Carroll Quotations

Jabberwocky

by Lewis Carroll, from "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There", 1871

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe.
 
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
  The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
  The frumious Bandersnatch!"
 
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
  Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
  And stood awhile in thought.
 
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
  The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
  And burbled as it came!
 
One, two! One, two! And through and through
  The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
  He went galumphing back.
 
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
  Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
  He chortled in his joy.
 
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

by Lewis Carroll, from "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There", 1871

Tweedledum and Tweedledee
  Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
  Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
 
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
  As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
  They quite forgot their quarrel.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

by Lewis Carroll, from "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There", 1871

The sun was shining on the sea,
  Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
  The billows smooth and bright --
And this was odd, because it was
  The middle of the night.
 
The moon was shining sulkily,
  Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
  After the day was done --
'It's very rude of thim,' she said,
  'To come and spoil the fun!'
 
The sea was wet as wet could be,
  The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
  No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead --
  There were no birds to fly.
 
The Walrus and the Carpenter
  Were walking close at hand:
They wept like anything to see
  Such quantities of sand:
'If this were only cleared away,'
  They said, 'it would be grand!'
 
'If seven maids with seven mops
  Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
  'That they could get it clear?'
'I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,
  And shed a bitter tear.
 
'O Oysters, come and walk with us!'
  The Walrus did beseech.
'A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
  Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
  To give a hand to each.'
 
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
  But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
  And shook his heavy head --
Meaning to say he did not choose
  To leave the oyster-bed.
 
But four young Oysters hurried up,
  All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
  Their shoes were clean and neat --
And this was odd, because, you know,
  They hadn't any feet.
 
Four other Oysters followed them,
  And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
  And more, and more, and more --
All hopping through the frothy waves,
  And scrambling to the shore.
 
The Walrus and the Carpenter
  Walked on a mile or so,
And they they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
  And waited in a row.
 
'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
'to talk of many things:
Of shoes -- and ships -- and sealing-wax --
  Of cabbages -- and kings --
And why the sea is boiling hot --
  And whether pigs have wings.'
 
'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,
  'before we have our chat;
For some uof us are out of breath,
  And all of us arre fat!'
'No hurry!' said the Carpenter.
  They thanked him much for that.
 
'A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,
  'Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
  Are very good indeed --
Now, if your're ready, Oysters dear,
  We can begin to feed.'
 
'But not on us!' the Oysters cried,
  Turning a little blue.
'After such kindess, that would be
  A dismal thing to do!'
'The night is fine,' the Walrus said.
'Do you admire the view?
 
'It was so kind of you to come!
  And you are very nice!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
'Cut us another slice.
I wish you were not quite so deaf --
  I've had to ask you twice!'
 
'It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,
  'To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out so far.
  And made them trot so quick!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
  'The butter's sblockquotead too thick!'
 
'I weep for you,' the Walrus said:
  'I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
  Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
  Borfore his streaming eyes.
 
'O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,
  'You've had a pleasant run!
Shall be be trotting home again?'
  But answer came there none --
And this was scarcely odd, because
  They'd eaten every one.