that his money was nearly all gone, and that he really must live more economically, he decided on sending away most of his Wise Men. There were some hundreds of them—very fine old men, and magnificently dressed in green velvet gowns with gold buttons: if they had a fault, it was that they always contradicted one another when he asked for their advice—and they certainly ate and drank enormously. So, on the whole, he was rather glad to get rid of them. But there was an old law, which he did not dare to disobey, which said that there must always be
“Seven blind of both eyes:
Two blind of one eye:
Four that see with both eyes:
Nine that see with one eye.”
(Query. How many did he keep?)
Solutions to Puzzles from Wonderland
I
Ten.
II
In Shylock’s bargain for the flesh was found No mention of the blood that flowed around: So when the stick was sawed in eight, The sawdust lost diminished from the weight.
III
As curly-headed Jemmy was sleeping in bed, His brother John gave him a blow on the head; James opened his eyelids, and spying his brother, Doubled his fist, and gave him another.
This kind of box then is not so rare; The lids are the eyelids, the locks are the hair, And so every schoolboy can tell to his cost, The key to the tangles is constantly lost.
IV
’Twixt “Perhaps” and “May be”
Little difference we see: Let the question go round,
The answer is found.
V
That salmon and sole Puss should think very grand Is no such remarkable thing.
For more of these dainties Puss took up her stand; But when the third sister stretched out her fair hand Pray why should Puss swallow her ring?
VI
“In these degenerate days,” we oft hear said, “Manners are lost and chivalry is dead!”
No wonder, since in high exalted spheres The same degeneracy, in fact, appears.
The Moon, in social matters interfering, Scolded the Sun, when early in appearing; And the rude Sun, her gentle sex ignoring, Called her a fool, thus her pretensions flooring.
VII
Five seeing, and seven blind
Give us twelve, in all, we find; But all of these, ’tis very plain,
Come into account again.
For take notice, it may be true,
That those blind of one eye are blind for two; And consider contrariwise,
That to see with your eye you may have your eyes; So setting one against the other— For a mathematician no great bother— And working the sum, you will understand That sixteen wise men still trouble the land.
Prologues to Plays
Contents
Prologue to “La Guida di Bragia”
Prologue to “La Guida di Bragia”
(From an opera written for Carroll’s Marionette Theatre)
Shall soldiers tread the murderous path of war, Without a notion what they do it for?
Shall pallid mercers drive a roaring trade, And sell the stuffs their hands have never made?
And shall not we, in this our mimic scene, Be all that better actors e’er have been?
Awake again a Kemble’s tragic tone,
And make a Liston’s humour all our own?
Or vie with Mrs. Siddons in the art
To rouse the feelings and to charm the heart?
While Shakespeare’s self, with all his ancient fires, Lights up the forms that tremble on our wires?
Why can’t we have, in theatres ideal, The good, without the evil of the real?
Why may not Marionettes be just as good As larger actors made of flesh and blood?
Presumptuous thought! to you and your applause In humbler confidence we trust our cause.
Prologue 2
(Misses Beatrice and Ethel Hatch, daughters of Dr. Edwin Hatch, Vice-principal of St. Mary Hall, were friends of the author. He wrote two plays for performance at their house.) Curtain rises and discovers the Speaker, who comes forward, thinking aloud,
[Speaker]
“Ladies and Gentlemen” seems stiff and cold.
There’s something personal in “Young and Old”; I’ll try “Dear Friends” (addresses audience) Oh! let me call you so.
Dear friends, look kindly on our little show.
Contrast us not with giants in the Art, Nor say “You should see Sothern in that part”; Nor yet, unkindest cut of all, in fact, Condemn the actors, while you praise the Act.
Having by coming proved you find a charm in it, Don’t go away, and hint there may be harm in it.
Miss Crabb.
My dear Miss Verjuice, can it really be?
