The Bellman rebukes the Butcher, an illustration by JVL in Lewis Carroll's
The Hunting of the Snark, Artists' Choice Editions, 2006.
The Text:
72
But
the Butcher turned nervous, and dressed himself fine,
With yellow kid gloves and a ruff--
Said he felt it exactly like going to dine,
Which the Bellman declared was all
"stuff."
73
"Introduce
me, now there's a good fellow," he said,
"If we happen to meet it together!"
And the Bellman, sagaciously nodding his head,
Said "That must depend on the
weather."
74
The
Beaver went simply galumphing about,
At seeing the Butcher so shy:
And even the Baker, though stupid and stout,
Made an effort to wink with one eye.
75
"Be
a man!" said the Bellman in wrath, as he heard
The Butcher beginning to sob.
"Should we meet with a Jubjub, that
desperate bird,
We shall need
all our strength for the job!"
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