Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations and music clips as well as midi, pdf, and lilypond files. See 13650-h.htm or 13650-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/6/5/13650/13650-h/13650-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/3/6/5/13650/13650-h.zip) NONSENSE BOOKS by EDWARD LEAR With all the Original Illustrations 1894 PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. The first _Book of Nonsense_ was published in 1846. Three other volumes,-- _Nonsense Songs, Stories, etc._, published in 1871; _More Nonsense Pictures, etc._, in 1872; and _Laughable Lyrics: A Fresh Book of Nonsense, etc._, in 1877,--comprise all the "Nonsense Books" written by Mr. Lear. "Surely the most beneficent and innocent of all books yet produced is the _Book of Nonsense_, with its corollary carols, inimitable and refreshing, and perfect in rhythm. I really don't know any author to whom I am half so grateful for my idle self as Edward Lear. I shall put him first of my hundred authors." JOHN RUSKIN, In the _List of the Best Hundred Authors_. [Illustration: EDWARD LEAR. ENGRAVED BY ANDREW FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN SAN REMO, BY RONCAROLO.] CONTENTS. I. A BOOK OF NONSENSE. II. NONSENSE SONGS, STORIES, BOTANY, AND ALPHABETS. III. MORE NONSENSE PICTURES, RHYMES, BOTANY, ETC. IV. LAUGHABLE LYRICS: A FRESH BOOK OF NONSENSE POEMS, SONGS, BOTANY, ETC. [Illustration: QUI LEGIT REGIT.] The following lines by Mr. Lear were written for a young lady of his acquaintance, who had quoted to him the words of a young lady not of his acquaintance, "How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!" "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. His mind is concrete and fastidious, His nose is remarkably big; His visage is more or less hideous, His beard it resembles a wig. He has ears, and two eyes, and ten fingers, Leastways if you reckon two thumbs; Long ago he was one of the singers, But now he is one of the dumbs. He sits in a beautiful parlor, With hundreds of books on the wall; He drinks a great deal of Marsala, But never gets tipsy at all. He has many friends, lay men and clerical, Old Foss is the name of his cat; His body is perfectly spherical, He weareth a runcible hat. When he walks in waterproof white, The children run after him so! Calling out, "He's come out in his night- Gown, that crazy old Englishman, oh!" He weeps by the side of the ocean, He weeps on the top of the hill; He purchases pancakes and lotion, And chocolate shrimps from the mill.