Алиса в зазеркалье
The Lion and the Unicorn
SoofcourseNobodywalksslowerthanyou.’
‘Idomybest,’theMessengersaidinasulkytone.‘I’msurenobodywalksmuchfasterthanIdo!’
‘Hecan’tdothat,’saidtheKing,‘orelsehe’dhavebeenherefirst.However,nowyou’vegotyourbreath,youmaytelluswhat’shappenedinthetown.’
‘I’llwhisperit,’saidtheMessenger,puttinghishandstohismouthintheshapeofatrumpet,andstoopingsoastogetclosetotheKing’sear.Alicewassorryforthis,asshewantedtohearthenewstoo.However,insteadofwhispering,hesimplyshoutedatthetopofhisvoice‘They’reatitagain!’
‘Doyoucallthatawhisper?’criedthepoorKing,jumpingupandshakinghimself.‘Ifyoudosuchathingagain,I’llhaveyoubuttered!Itwentthroughandthroughmyheadlikeanearthquake!’
‘Itwouldhavetobeaverytinyearthquake!’thoughtAlice.‘Whoareatitagain?’sheventuredtoask.
‘WhytheLionandtheUnicorn,ofcourse,’saidtheKing.
‘Fightingforthecrown?’
‘Yes,tobesure,’saidtheKing:‘andthebestofthejokeis,thatit’smycrownallthewhile!Let’srunandseethem.’Andtheytrottedoff,Alicerepeatingtoherself,assheran,thewordsoftheoldsong:—
‘TheLionandtheUnicornwerefightingforthecrown:
TheLionbeattheUnicornallroundthetown.
Somegavethemwhitebread,somegavethembrown;
Somegavethemplum-cakeanddrummedthemoutoftown.’
