Page:Complete Works of Lewis Carroll.djvu/820

The wind to his ear brought a voice,
 "My brother, you didn't had ought ter!
And what have I done that you think it such fun
 To indulge in the pleasure of slaughter?

"A good nibble or bite is my chiefest delight,
 When I'm merely expected to see,
But a bite from a fish is not quite what I wish,
 When I get it performed upon me;
And just now here's a swarm of dace at my arm,
 And a perch has got hold of my knee.

"For water my thirst was not great at the first,
 And of fish I have quite sufficien—"
"Oh fear not!" he cried, "for whatever betide,
 We are both in the selfsame condition!

"I am sure that our state's very nearly alike
 (Not considering the question of slaughter),
For I have my perch on the top of the bridge,
 And you have your perch in the water.

"I stick to my perch and your perch sticks to you.
 We are really extremely alike;
I've a turn-pike up here, and I very much fear
 You may soon have a turn with a pike."

"Oh grant but one wish! If I'm took by a fish
 (For your bait is your brother, good man!)
Pull him up if you like, but I hope you will strike
 As gently as ever you can."

"If the fish be a trout, I'm afraid there's no doubt
 I must strike him like lightning that's greased;