Another commentary on gullibility
The Walrus
and The Carpenter
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass
and What Alice Found
There, 1872)
The sun was shining on
the sea,
Shining with all his
might:
He did his very best
to make
The billows smooth and
bright--
And this was odd, because
it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the
sun
Had got no business to
be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him,"
she said,
"To come and spoil the
fun!"
The sea was wet as wet
could be,
The sands were dry as
dry.
You could not see a cloud,
because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying
overhead--
There were no birds to
fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at
hand;
They wept like anything
to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared
away,"
They said, "it would
be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven
mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the
Walrus said,
"That they could get
it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the
Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk
with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant
talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more
than four,
To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked
at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked
his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did
not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters
hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed,
their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean
and neat--
And this was odd, because,
you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed
them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they
came at last,
And more, and more, and
more--
All hopping through the
frothy waves,
And scrambling to the
shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested
on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters
stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the
Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and
sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling
hot--
And whether pigs have
wings."
"But wait a bit," the
Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out
of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the
Carpenter.
They thanked him much
for that.
"A loaf of bread," the
Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready,
Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters
cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness,
that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine,"
the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
"It was so kind of you
to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing
but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite
so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the
Walrus said,
"To play them such a
trick,
After we've brought them
out so far,
And made them trot so
quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing
but
"The butter's spread
too thick!"
"I weep for you," the
Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he
sorted out
Those of the largest
size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming
eyes.
"O Oysters," said the
Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant
run!
Shall we be trotting
home again?'
But answer came there
none--
And this was scarcely
odd, because
They'd eaten every one.