Quotes by Edward Lear

They went to sea in a sieve, they did; In a sieve they went to sea; In spite of all their friends could say.

It's a fact the whole world knows, That Pobbles are happier without their toes.

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat. They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the Stars above And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!" Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long have we tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows, And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will." So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. We think so then, and we thought so still!

In the middle of the woods Lived the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo. Two old chairs and half a candle, One old jug without a handle- These were all the worldly goods.

And if you voz to see my roziz As is a boon to all men's noziz, - You'd fall upon your back and scream - '" Lawk! O criky! it's a dream!"

There once was an old man of Thermopylae, Who never did anything properly; But they said, 'If you choose To boil eggs in your shoes, You shall never remain in Thermopylae.'

There once was an old person of Dean, Who dined on one pea and one bean; For he said, "More than that, Would make me too fat," That cautious old person of Dean.

'How pleasant to know Mr. Lear! Who has written such volumes of stuff!' Some think him ill-tempered and queer, But a few think him pleasant enough.

There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said, "It is just as I feared!- Two Owls and a Hen, Four Larks and a Wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!"

There was an old person from Ware, Who rode on the back of a bear: When they asked,-"Does it trot?"- He said "Certainly not! He's a Moppsikon Floppsikon bear."