Алиса в зазеркалье

           Andnow,ife’erbychanceIput

           Myfingersintoglue

           Ormadlysqueezearight-handfoot

           Intoaleft-handshoe,

           OrifIdropuponmytoe

           Averyheavyweight,

           Iweep,foritremindsmeso,

           OfthatoldmanIusedtoknow—

           Whoselookwasmild,whosespeechwasslow,

           Whosehairwaswhiterthanthesnow,

           Whosefacewasverylikeacrow,

           Witheyes,likecinders,allaglow,

           Whoseemeddistractedwithhiswoe,

           Whorockedhisbodytoandfro,

           Andmutteredmumblinglyandlow,

           Asifhismouthwerefullofdough,

           Whosnortedlikeabuffalo—

           Thatsummerevening,longago,

           A-sittingonagate.’

           AstheKnightsangthelastwordsoftheballad,hegatheredupthereins,andturnedhishorse’sheadalongtheroadbywhichtheyhadcome.‘You’veonlyafewyardstogo,’hesaid,’downthehillandoverthatlittlebrook,andthenyou’llbeaQueen—Butyou’llstayandseemeofffirst?’headdedasAliceturnedwithaneagerlookinthedirectiontowhichhepointed.‘Ishan’tbelong.You’llwaitandwaveyourhandkerchiefwhenIgettothatturnintheroad?Ithinkit’llencourageme,yousee.’

           ‘OfcourseI’llwait,’saidAlice:‘andthankyouverymuchforcomingsofar—andforthesong—Ilikeditverymuch.’

           ‘Ihopeso,’theKnightsaiddoubtfully:‘butyoudidn’tcrysomuchasIthoughtyouwould.’

           Sotheyshookhands,andthentheKnightrodeslowlyawayintotheforest.‘Itwon’ttakelongtoseehimoff,Iexpect,’Alicesaidtoherself,asshestoodwatchinghim