Phantasmagoria E-Book

Lewis Carroll

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 63

Beschreibung

Girt with a boyish garb for boyish task, Eager she wields her spade: yet loves as well Rest on the friendly knee, intent to ask The tale one loves to tell. Rude scoffer of the seething outer strife, Unmeet to read her pure and simple spright, Deem, if thou wilt, such hours a waste of life, Empty of all delight! Chat on, sweet Maid, and rescue from annoy Hearts that by wiser talk are unbeguilded. Ah, happy he who owns the tenderest joy, The heart-love of a child! Away, fond thoughts, and vex my soul no more! Work claims my wakeful nights, my busy days, Albeit bright memories of the sunlit shore Yet haunt my dreaming gaze.

Leseprobe

Phantasmagoria

PhantasmagoriaCANTO I The TrystyngCANTO II Hys Fyve RulesCANTO III ScarmogesCANTO IV Hys NourytureCANTO V ByckermentCANTO VI DyscomfytureCANTO VII Sad SouvenaunceECHOESA SEA DIRGEHIAWATHA’S PHOTOGRAPHINGMELANCHOLETTAA VALENTINETHE THREE VOICESTÈMA CON VARIAZIÒNIA GAME OF FIVESPOETA FIT, NON NASCITURSIZE AND TEARSATALANTA IN CAMDEN-TOWNTHE LANG COORTIN’FOUR RIDDLESFAME’S PENNY-TRUMPETCopyright

Phantasmagoria

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—Itook it for the carpet-broom      Left by that careless slavey.But presently the Thing began      To 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 excuse      Such cowardice in you:For Ghosts can visit when they choose,Whereas we Humans ca’n’t refuse      To 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 asweight,      With Coals and other lumber). “This is a ‘one-ghost’ house, and you      When you arrived last summer,May have remarked a Spectre whoWas doing all that Ghosts can do      To 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 heard      That 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 invite      The 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 who      Was 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 yet      A strict domestic part,And in my flurry I forgetThe Five Good Rules of Etiquette      We have to know by heart.”My sympathies were warming fast      Towards 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 find      A Ghost is not adumbthing!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 offerfoodto!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.      Thisisa piece of luck!”“What may I offer you?” said I.“Well, since youareso kind, I’ll try      A little bit of duck. “ Oneslice!  And may I ask you for      Another drop of gravy?”I sat and looked at him in awe,For certainly I never saw      A 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 recite      His “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 about      With 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 sense      Begins a conversation.

“If he should say ‘How came you here?’      (The way thatyoubegan, 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 tone      In 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 visithereno more,      If you attempt the Guy.I’ll have no bonfires onmyfloor—And, as for scratching at the door,      I’d like to see you try!” “The Third was written to protect      The 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 wishsomeGhosts I’ve metWould not soconstantlyforget      The maxim that you mention!” “Perhaps,” he said, “youfirst transgressed      The laws of hospitality:All Ghosts instinctively detestThe Man that fails to treat his guest      With proper cordiality.“If you address a Ghost as ‘Thing!’      Or strike him with a hatchet,He is permitted by the KingTo drop allformalparleying—      And then you’resureto catch it! “The Fourth prohibits trespassing      Where 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’: