In that scene Alice is asked to recite a famous moral poem by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), and the words come out quite nonsensical instead. Thought I do a quick side by side comparison of Watts' original, Carroll's version, and my own Austen inspired variation. This is very rough still, but I'd still love to hear what thoughts you have on it: please share them!
First, Isaac Watts:
'Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him complain,
"You have waked me too soon, I must slumber again."
As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed,
Turns his sides and his shoulders and his heavy head.
"A little more sleep, and a little more slumber;"
Thus he wastes half his days, and his hours without number,
And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about sauntering, or trifling he stands.
I pass'd by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn and the thistle grow broader and higher;
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags;
And his money still wastes till he starves or he begs.
I made him a visit, still hoping to find
That he took better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talked of eating and drinking;
But scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.
Said I then to my heart, "Here's a lesson for me,"
This man's but a picture of what I might be:
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and reading.
(1715)
Next:, Mr. Carroll's, with interrupting dialogue omitted:
'Tis the voice of the Lobster: I heard him declare
"You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair."
As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose
Trims his belt and his buttons, and turns out his toes.
When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark,
And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark;
But, when the tide rises and sharks are around,
His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.
I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye,
How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie:
The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat,
While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat.
When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon,
Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon;
While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl,
And concluded the banquet by eating the owl.
(1865)
And my own:
’Tis the voice of the
Lobster: In tones not muted,
‘Take no pleasure in
novels? Intolerably stupid!’
Like a lady when
shopping for muslins and lace,
Our minds shout
agreement, even as our hearts race.
‘Little boy and girls
should be tormented,’ he said,
But only so long as it
is good for their heads:
‘To torment or
instruct: words found synonymous.’
All precision of
language has now gone amiss.”
“I passed by his
garden, and to my surprise,
Something shocking
indeed was happening inside.
‘Indeed! Of what
nature!’ The questions were fret.
‘More horrible than
anything we’ve met with yet.’
‘Good heaven! A riot?
Give me peace of mind!’
‘I expect murder and
everything of that kind.’
Laughing, ‘The riot is only in your own brain!
The confusion there
might drive anyone insane.’
(2016)
