Lewis Carroll: The Hunting of the Snark

1. Fit the First: THE LANDING (continued)

"His form is ungainly--his intellect small--"
     (So the Bellman would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
     Is the thing that one needs with a Snark."

He would joke with hyenas, returning their stare
     With an impudent wag of the head:
And he once went a walk, paw-in-paw, with a bear,
     "Just to keep up its spirits," he said.

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.

The last of the crew needs especial remark,
     Though he looked an incredible dunce:
He had just one idea--but, that one being "Snark,"
     The good Bellman engaged him at once.

He came as a Butcher: but gravely declared,
     When the ship had been sailing a week,
He could only kill Beavers. The Bellman looked scared,
     And was almost too frightened to speak:

But at length he explained, in a tremulous tone,
     There was only one Beaver on board;
And that was a tame one he had of his own,
     Whose death would be deeply deplored.

The Beaver, who happened to hear the remark,
     Protested, with tears in its eyes,
That not even the rapture of hunting the Snark
     Could atone for that dismal surprise!

It strongly advised that the Butcher should be
     Conveyed in a separate ship:
But the Bellman declared that would never agree
     With the plans he had made for the trip:

Navigation was always a difficult art,
     Though with only one ship and one bell:
And he feared he must really decline, for his part,
     Undertaking another as well.