University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll

with an introduction by Alexander Woollcott and the illustrations by John Tenniel

collapse sectionI. 
  
  
collapse sectionI. 
  
collapse sectionV. 
  
collapse sectionVI. 
  
collapse sectionVII. 
  
collapse sectionX. 
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionXII. 
  
collapse sectionII. 
  
collapse sectionI. 
  
collapse sectionIV. 
  
collapse sectionVI. 
  
collapse sectionVIII. 
  
collapse sectionIX. 
  
  
  
collapse sectionIII. 
  
collapse section 
  
  
collapse sectionV. 
  
  
collapse sectionVI. 
  
  
collapse sectionVII. 
  
collapse sectionVIII. 
  
  
collapse sectionIX. 
  
collapse sectionX. 
  
collapse sectionXI. 
  
collapse sectionXII. 
  
  
collapse sectionXV. 
  
collapse sectionXVII. 
  
collapse sectionXVII. 
  
collapse sectionXX. 
  
collapse sectionIV. 
  
collapse sectionI. 
  
collapse sectionIII. 
  
collapse sectionV. 
  
  
collapse sectionXIII. 
  
collapse sectionXVI. 
  
collapse sectionXVII. 
  
collapse sectionXIX. 
  
collapse sectionXX. 
  
collapse sectionXXIII. 
  
collapse sectionV. 
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
collapse section 
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
  
collapse section 
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionVI. 
  
collapse section 
  
  
collapse section 
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
collapse sectionVII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

And here I must relate a little fable
I heard last Saturday at our high table:—
The cats, it seems, were masters of the house,
And held their own against the rat and mouse:
Of course the others couldn't stand it long,
So held a caucus (not, in their case, wrong);
And, when they were assembled to a man,
Uprose an aged rat, and thus began:—
“Brothers in bondage! Shall we bear to be
For ever left in a minority?

913

With what ‘fell unity of purpose’ cats
Oppose the trusting innocence of rats!
So unsuspicious are we of disguise,
Their machinations take us by surprise—
Insulting and tyrannical absurdities!
It is too bad by half—upon my word it is!
For, now that these Con—, cats, I should say (frizzle 'em!),
Are masters, they exterminate like Islam!
How shall we deal with them? I'll tell you how:—
Let none but kittens be allowed to miaow!
The Liberal kittens seize us but in play,
And, while they frolic, we can run away;
But older cats are not so generous,
Their claws are too Conservative for us!
Then let them keep the stable and the oats,
While kittens, rats, and mice have all the votes.
“Yes; banish cats! The kittens would not use
Their powers for blind obstruction, nor refuse
To let us sip the cream and gnaw the cheese—
How glorious then would be our destinies!
Kittens and rats would occupy the throne,
And rule the larder for itself alone!”
 

“Sometimes, indeed, not being informed that the wires are at work, we are completely taken by surprise.”

“We are without protection against this most insulting and tyrannical absurdity.”

“It is as exterminating as Islam.”

“Their powers would scarcely be exercised for the purposes of fanaticism, or in a spirit of blind obstruction.”

“These narrow local bounds, within which our thoughts and schemes have hitherto been pent, will begin to disappear, and a far wider sphere of action will open on the view.”

“Those councils must be freely opened to all who can serve her well and who will serve her for herself.”