Phantasmagoria and Other Poems E-Book

Lewis Carroll

• Herausgeber: anamsaleem
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Today, Lewis Carroll is best remembered as a writer of juvenile fiction responsible for such timeless works as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. However, Carroll was also a poet who wove dark visions and supernatural themes into his substantial body of work. Much of the verse collected in Phantasmagoria and Other Poems has a supernatural or visionary theme. A must-read for fans of Victorian ghost stories.

Leseprobe

Phantasmagoria and Other Poems

Lewis Carroll

.

CANTO I--The Trystyng 

One winter night, at half-past nine,Cold, tired, and cross, and muddy,I had come home, too late to dine,And supper, with cigars and wine,Was waiting in the study. 

There was a strangeness in the room,And Something white and wavyWas standing near me in the gloom -_I_ took it for the carpet-broomLeft by that careless slavey. 

But presently the Thing beganTo shiver and to sneeze:On which I said "Come, come, my man!That's a most inconsiderate plan.Less noise there, if you please!" 

"I've caught a cold," the Thing replies,"Out there upon the landing."I turned to look in some surprise,And there, before my very eyes,A little Ghost was standing! 

He trembled when he caught my eye,And got behind a chair."How came you here," I said, "and why?I never saw a thing so shy.Come out! Don't shiver there!" 

He said "I'd gladly tell you how,And also tell you why;But" (here he gave a little bow)"You're in so bad a temper now,You'd think it all a lie. 

"And as to being in a fright,Allow me to remarkThat Ghosts have just as good a rightIn every way, to fear the light,As Men to fear the dark." 

"No plea," said I, "can well excuseSuch cowardice in you:For Ghosts can visit when they choose,Whereas we Humans ca'n't refuseTo grant the interview." 

He said "A flutter of alarm Is not unnatural, is it?I really feared you meant some harm:But, now I see that you are calm,Let me explain my visit. 

"Houses are classed, I beg to state,According to the numberOf Ghosts that they accommodate:(The Tenant merely counts as WEIGHT,With Coals and other lumber). 

"This is a 'one-ghost' house, and youWhen you arrived last summer,May have remarked a Spectre whoWas doing all that Ghosts can doTo welcome the new-comer. 

"In Villas this is always done -However cheaply rented:For, though of course there's less of funWhen there is only room for one,Ghosts have to be contented. 

"That Spectre left you on the Third -Since then you've not been haunted:For, as he never sent us word, 'Twas quite by accident we heardThat any one was wanted. 

"A Spectre has first choice, by right,In filling up a vacancy;Then Phantom, Goblin, Elf, and Sprite -If all these fail them, they inviteThe nicest Ghoul that they can see. 

"The Spectres said the place was low,And that you kept bad wine:So, as a Phantom had to go,And I was first, of course, you know,I couldn't well decline." 

"No doubt," said I, "they settled whoWas fittest to be sentYet still to choose a brat like you,To haunt a man of forty-two,Was no great compliment!" 

"I'm not so young, Sir," he replied,"As you might think. The fact is,In caverns by the water-side,And other places that I've tried,I've had a lot of practice: 

"But I have never taken yetA strict domestic part,And in my flurry I forgetThe Five Good Rules of EtiquetteWe have to know by heart." 

My sympathies were warming fastTowards the little fellow:He was so utterly aghastAt having found a Man at last,And looked so scared and yellow. 

"At least," I said, "I'm glad to findA Ghost is not a DUMB thing!But pray sit down: you'll feel inclined(If, like myself, you have not dined)To take a snack of something: 

"Though, certainly, you don't appear A thing to offer FOOD to!And then I shall be glad to hear -If you will say them loud and clear -The Rules that you allude to." 

"Thanks! You shall hear them by and by.This IS a piece of luck!""What may I offer you?" said I."Well, since you ARE so kind, I'll tryA little bit of duck. 

"ONE slice! And may I ask you for Another drop of gravy?"I sat and looked at him in awe,For certainly I never sawA thing so white and wavy. 

And still he seemed to grow more white,More vapoury, and wavier -Seen in the dim and flickering light,As he proceeded to reciteHis "Maxims of Behaviour." 

CANTO II--Hys Fyve Rules 

"My First--but don't suppose," he said,"I'm setting you a riddle -Is--if your Victim be in bed,Don't touch the curtains at his head,But take them in the middle, 

"And wave them slowly in and out,While drawing them asunder;And in a minute's time, no doubt,He'll raise his head and look aboutWith eyes of wrath and wonder. 

"And here you must on no pretence Make the first observation.Wait for the Victim to commence:No Ghost of any common senseBegins a conversation. 

"If he should say 'HOW CAME YOU HERE?'(The way that YOU began, Sir,)In such a case your course is clear -'ON THE BAT'S BACK, MY LITTLE DEAR!' Is the appropriate answer. 

"If after this he says no more,You'd best perhaps curtail yourExertions--go and shake the door,And then, if he begins to snore,You'll know the thing's a failure. 

"By day, if he should be alone -At home or on a walk -You merely give a hollow groan,To indicate the kind of toneIn which you mean to talk. 

"But if you find him with his friends,The thing is rather harder.In such a case success dependsOn picking up some candle-ends,Or butter, in the larder. 

"With this you make a kind of slide(It answers best with suet),On which you must contrive to glide,And swing yourself from side to side -One soon learns how to do it. 

"The Second tells us what is right In ceremonious calls:-'FIRST BURN A BLUE OR CRIMSON LIGHT'(A thing I quite forgot to-night),'THEN SCRATCH THE DOOR OR WALLS.'" 

I said "You'll visit HERE no more,If you attempt the Guy.I'll have no bonfires on MY floor -And, as for scratching at the door,I'd like to see you try!" 

"The Third was written to protectThe interests of the Victim,And tells us, as I recollect,TO TREAT HIM WITH A GRAVE RESPECT,AND NOT TO CONTRADICT HIM." 

"That's plain," said I, "as Tare and Tret,To any comprehension:I only wish SOME Ghosts I've metWould not so CONSTANTLY forgetThe maxim that you mention!" 

"Perhaps," he said, "YOU first transgressedThe laws of hospitality:All Ghosts instinctively detestThe Man that fails to treat his guestWith proper cordiality. 

"If you address a Ghost as 'Thing!'Or strike him with a hatchet,He is permitted by the KingTo drop all FORMAL parleying -And then you're SURE to catch it! 

"The Fourth prohibits trespassingWhere other Ghosts are quartered:And those convicted of the thing(Unless when pardoned by the King)Must instantly be slaughtered. 

"That simply means 'be cut up small':Ghosts soon unite anew.The process scarcely hurts at all -Not more than when YOU're what you call'Cut up' by a Review.