Tweedledum And Tweedledee

           Theywerestandingunderatree,eachwithanarmroundtheother’sneck,andAliceknewwhichwaswhichinamoment,becauseoneofthemhad‘Dum’embroideredonhiscollar,andtheother‘Dee.’‘Isupposethey’veeachgot"Tweedle"roundatthebackofthecollar,’shesaidtoherself.

           Theystoodsostillthatshequiteforgottheywerealive,andshewasjustlookingroundtoseeiftheword"Tweedle"waswrittenatthebackofeachcollar,whenshewasstartledbyavoicecomingfromtheonemarked‘Dum.’

           ‘Ifyouthinkwe’rewax-works,’hesaid,‘yououghttopay,youknow.Wax-worksweren’tmadetobelookedatfornothing,nohow!’

           ‘Contrariwise,’addedtheonemarked‘Dee,’‘ifyouthinkwe’realive,yououghttospeak.’

           ‘I’msureI’mverysorry,’wasallAlicecouldsay;forthewordsoftheoldsongkeptringingthroughherheadlikethetickingofaclock,andshecouldhardlyhelpsayingthemoutloud:—

           ‘TweedledumandTweedledee

           Agreedtohaveabattle;

           ForTweedledumsaidTweedledee

           Hadspoiledhisnicenewrattle.

           Justthenflewdownamonstrouscrow,

           Asblackasatar-barrel;

           Whichfrightenedboththeheroesso,

           Theyquiteforgottheirquarrel.’

           ‘Iknowwhatyou’rethinkingabout,’saidTweedledum:‘butitisn’tso,nohow.’

           ‘Contrariwise,’continuedTweedledee,‘ifitwasso,itmightbe;andifitwereso,itwouldbe;butasitisn’t,itain’t.That’slogic.’