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Through
the Looking-Glass
and what Alice
found there
Kapitel 6:
Humpty Dumpty, Lewis Carroll, Seite 2 ( von 7 )
"To send all his horses and all his men," Alice interrupted, rather
unwisely.
"Now I declare that's too bad!" Humpty Dumpty cried, breaking into a
sudden passion. "You've been listening at doors - and behind trees - and
down chimneys - or you couldn't have known it!"
"I haven't, indeed!" Alice said very gently. "It's in a
book."
"Ah, well! They may write such things in a
book,"
Humpty Dumpty said in a calmer tone. "That's what you call a History of
England, that is. Now, take a good look at me! I'm one that has spoken to a
King, I am:
mayhap you'll never see such another: and to show you I'm not proud, you may
shake hands with me!" And he grinned almost from ear to ear, as he leant
forwards (and as nearly as possible fell off the wall in doing so) and offered
Alice his hand. She watched him a little anxiously as she took it. "If he
smiled much more, the ends of his mouth might meet behind," she thought:
"and then I don't know what would happen to his head! I'm afraid it would
come off!"
"Yes, all his horses and all his men," Humpty Dumpty went on.
"They'd pick me up again in a minute,
they would!
However, this conversation is going on a little too fast: let's go back to the
last remark but one."
"I'm afraid I can't quite remember it," Alice said very politely.
"In that case we start fresh," said Humpty Dumpty, "and it's my
turn to choose a subject -" ("He talks about it just as if it was a
game!" thought Alice.) "So here's a question for you. How old did you
say you were?"
Alice made a short calculation, and said "Seven years and six
months."
"Wrong!" Humpty Dumpty exclaimed triumphantly. "You never said a
word like it!"
"I thought you meant 'How old
are you?'"
Alice explained.
"If I'd meant that, I'd have said it," said Humpty Dumpty.
Alice didn't want to begin another argument, so she said nothing.
"Seven years and six months!" Humpty Dumpty repeated thoughtfully.
"An uncomfortable sort of age. Now if you'd asked
my advice, I'd
have said 'Leave off at seven' - but it's too late now."
"I never ask advice about growing," Alice said indignantly.
"Too proud?" the other enquired.
Alice felt even more indignant at this suggestion. "I mean," she
said, "that one can't help growing older."
"One can't,
perhaps," said Humpty Dumpty, "but
two can. With
proper assistance, you might have left off at seven."
"What a beautiful belt you've go on!" Alice suddenly remarked. They
had had quite enough of the subject of age, she thought: and if they really
were to take turns in choosing subjects, it was her turn now.) "At
least," she corrected herself on second thoughts, "a beautiful
cravat, I should have said - no, a belt, I mean - I beg your pardon!" she
added in dismay, for Humpty Dumpty looked thoroughly offended, and she began to
wish she hadn't chosen that subject. "If only I knew," she thought to
herself, "which was neck and which was waist!"
Evidently Humpty Dumpty was very angry, though he said nothing for a minute or
two. When he did
speak again, it was in a deep growl.
"It is a - most
- provoking - thing," he said at last, "when a person doesn't
know a cravat from a belt!"
"I know it's very ignorant of me," Alice said, in so humble a tone
that Humpty Dumpty relented.
"It's a cravat, child, and a beautiful one, as you say. It's a present
from the White King and Queen. There now!"
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