Page:Carroll - Phantasmagoria and other poems (1869).djvu/29

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PHANTASMAGORIA.
17

"The Fifth is one you may prefer
That I should quote entire—
The king must be addressed as 'Sir':
This, from a simple courtier,
Is all the laws require:

"But should you wish to do the thing
With out-and-out politeness,
Accost him as 'My Goblin-King,'
And always use, in answering,
The phrase 'Your Royal Whiteness!'

"I'm getting rather hoarse, I fear,
After so much reciting;
So, if you don't object, my dear,
We'll try a glass of bitter beer—
I think it looks inviting."