Page:Carroll - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.djvu/11

<0 00 ,^ I LL In i-Ke golden afternoon. Full leisurely we glide ; For both our oars, with little skill, By little arms are plied. While little hands make vain pretence Our wanderings to guide. Ah, cruel Three I In such an hour. Beneath such dreamy weather, To beg a tale of breath loo weak To shr the tiniest feather ! Yet what can one poor voice avail Against three tongues together ? Imperious Prima flashes forth Her edict " to begin It " — In gentler tone Secunda hopes "There will be nonsense in It," While Tertia Interrupts the tale Not more than once a minute. O Anon, to sudden silence won, In fancy they pursue The dream-child moving through a land Of wonders wild and new. In friendly chat with bird or beast — And half believe it true.