Алиса в зазеркалье
Humpty Dumpty
It’scalled"wabe,"youknow,becauseitgoesalongwaybeforeit,andalongwaybehindit—’
‘Andalongwaybeyonditoneachside,’Aliceadded.
‘Exactlyso.Well,then,"mimsy"is"flimsyandmiserable"(there’sanotherportmanteauforyou).Anda"borogove"isathinshabby-lookingbirdwithitsfeathersstickingoutallround—somethinglikealivemop.’
‘Andthen"momeraths"?’saidAlice.‘I’mafraidI’mgivingyouagreatdealoftrouble.’
‘Well,a"rath"isasortofgreenpig:but"mome"I’mnotcertainabout.Ithinkit’sshortfor"fromhome"—meaningthatthey’dlosttheirway,youknow.’
‘Andwhatdoes"outgrabe"mean?’
‘Well,"outgrabing"issomethingbetweenbellowingandwhistling,withakindofsneezeinthemiddle:however,you’llhearitdone,maybe—downinthewoodyonder—andwhenyou’veonceheardityou’llbequitecontent.Who’sbeenrepeatingallthathardstufftoyou?’
‘Ireaditinabook,’saidAlice.‘ButIhadsomepoetryrepeatedtome,mucheasierthanthat,by—Tweedledee,Ithinkitwas.’
‘Astopoetry,youknow,’saidHumptyDumpty,stretchingoutoneofhisgreathands,‘Icanrepeatpoetryaswellasotherfolk,ifitcomestothat—’
‘Oh,itneedn’tcometothat!’Alicehastilysaid,hopingtokeephimfrombeginning.
‘ThepieceI’mgoingtorepeat,’hewentonwithoutnoticingherremark,’waswrittenentirelyforyouramusement.’