"'You may seek it with thimbles—and seek it with care;

⁠You may hunt it with forks and hope;

You may threaten its life with a railway-share;

⁠You may charm it with smiles and soap—'"

("That's exactly the method," the Bellman bold

⁠In a hasty parenthesis cried,

"That's exactly the way I have always been told

⁠That the capture of Snarks should be tried!")

"'But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day,

⁠If your Snark be a Boojum! For then

You will softly and suddenly vanish away,

⁠And never be met with again!'