Oh, you sing, I’ve forgotten the words.
[Creatures solemnly dance round and round Alice, treading on her toes, waving fore-paws to mark time while Mock Turtle sings.]
First Verse
“Will you walk a little faster!” said a whiting to a snail,
“There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle—will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?
Second Verse
“You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!”
But the snail replied, “Too far, too far!” and gave a look askance—
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.
[The creatures dance against Alice, pushing her back and forth between them. She protests and finally escapes; they bump against each other.]
Alice
Thank you; it’s a very interesting dance to watch, and I do so like that curious song about the whiting.
Mock Turtle
Oh, as to the whiting, they—you’ve seen them, of course?
Alice
Yes, I’ve often seen them at din—