CHAPTERI.DowntheRabbit-Hole
Alicewas
empezando
beginningtogetverytiredofsittingbyhersisteronthebanco
bank,andofhavingnothingtodo:onceor
dos veces
twiceshehadpeepedintothebookhersisterwasreading,butithadnopicturesorconversationsinit,“andwhatistheuseofabook,”thoughtAlice“withoutpicturesorconversations?”Soshewasconsideringinherownmind(aswellasshecould,forthehotdaymadeherfeelverysleepyandstupid),
si
whetherthepleasureofmakingadaisy-chainwouldbepena
worththetroubleofgettingupandpickingthedaisies,whende repente
suddenlyaWhiteRabbitwithpinkeyesranclosebyher.Therewasnothingsoveryremarkableinthat;
ni
nordidAlicethinkitsoverymuchoutofthewaytoheartheRabbitsaytoitself,“Ohdear!Ohdear!
Ishallbelate!”
(whenshethoughtitoverafterwards,itoccurredtoherthatsheoughttohave
preguntado
wonderedatthis,butatthetimeitallparecía
seemedquitenatural);butwhentheRabbitactuallytookawatchoutofitswaistcoat-pocket,andlookedatit,andthenhurriedon,Alicestartedtoher
pies
feet,foritflashedacrosshermindthatshehadneverbeforeseenarabbitwitheitherawaistcoat-pocket,orawatchtotakeoutofit,andardiendo
burningwithcuriosity,sheranacrossthecampo
fieldafterit,andfortunatelywasjustintimetoseeitpopdownagran
largerabbit-holeunderthehedge.InanothermomentdownwentAliceafterit,neveronceconsideringhowintheworldshewastogetoutagain.
Therabbit-holewent
recto
straightonlikeatunnelforsomeway,andthendippedde repente
suddenlydown,sosuddenlythatAlicehadnotamomenttothinkaboutstoppingherselfbeforeshefoundherselffallingdownaveryprofundo
deepwell.Eitherthewellwasvery
profundo
deep,orshefellveryslowly,forshehadplentyoftimeasshewentdowntolookaboutherandtopreguntarse
wonderwhatwasgoingtohappennext.First,shetriedtolookdownandmakeoutwhatshewascomingto,butitwastoo
oscuro
darktoseeanything;thenshelookedatthesidesofthewell,and
notó
noticedthattheywerefilledwithcupboardsandbook-shelves;hereandthereshesawmapsandpictureshunguponpegs.
Shetookdownajarfromoneoftheshelvesasshe
pasaba
passed;itwaslabelled“ORANGEMARMALADE”,buttohergreatdisappointmentitwas
vacío
empty:shedidnotliketo
caer
dropthejarforfearofkillingsomebodyunderneath,somanagedtoputitintooneofthecupboardsasshefellpastit.“Well!”
thoughtAlicetoherself,“aftersuchafallasthis,Ishallthinknothingoftumblingdownstairs!
Howbravethey’llallthinkmeathome!
Why,Iwouldn’tsayanythingaboutit,evenifIfelloffthetopofthehouse!”
(Whichwasverylikelytrue.)
Down,down,down.
Wouldthefallnevercometoanend?
“I
pregunto
wonderhowmanymilesI’vefallenbythistime?”shesaidaloud.
“Imustbegettingsomewhere
cerca
nearthecentreoftheearth.Letmesee:
thatwouldbefour
mil
thousandmilesdown,Ithink—”(for,yousee,Alicehad
aprendido
learntseveralthingsofthissortinherlessonsintheschoolroom,andthoughthiswasnotaverygoodopportunityforshowingoffherknowledge,astherewasnoonetolistentoher,stillitwasgoodpráctica
practicetosayitover)“—yes,that’sabouttherightdistance—butthenIpregunto
wonderwhatLatitudeorLongitudeI’vegotto?”(AlicehadnoideawhatLatitudewas,orLongitudeeither,butthoughttheywerenice
grandes
grandwordstosay.)Presentlyshe
comenzó
beganagain.“IwonderifIshallfallrightthroughtheearth!
Howfunnyit’ll
parecerá
seemtocomeoutamongthepeoplethatwalkwiththeirheadsdownward!TheAntipathies,Ithink—”
(shewas
bastante
rathergladtherewasnoonelistening,thistime,asitdidn’tsoundatalltherightword)“—butIshallhavetoaskthemwhatthenameofthecountryis,youknow.Please,Ma’am,isthisNewZealandorAustralia?”
(andshetriedtocurtseyasshespoke—fancycurtseyingasyou’refallingthroughtheair!
Doyouthinkyoucouldmanageit?)
“Andwhatanignorantlittlegirlshe’llthinkmeforasking!
No,it’llneverdotoask:
perhapsIshallseeitwrittenupsomewhere.”
Down,down,down.
Therewasnothingelsetodo,soAlicesoon
comenzó
begantalkingagain.“Dinah’llmissmeverymuchto-night,Ishouldthink!”
(Dinahwasthecat.)
“Ihopethey’llrememberhersaucerofmilkattea-time.
Dinahmydear!
Iwishyouweredownherewithme!
Therearenomiceintheair,I’mafraid,butyoumightcatchabat,andthat’sverylikeamouse,youknow.
Butdocatseatbats,Iwonder?”
AndhereAlice
comenzó
begantogetrathersleepy,andwentonsayingtoherself,inadreamysortofway,“Docatseatbats?Docatseatbats?”
andsometimes,“Dobatseatcats?”
for,yousee,asshecouldn’tanswereitherquestion,itdidn’tmuchmatterwhichwaysheputit.
Shefeltthatshewasdozingoff,andhadjust
comenzar
beguntodreamthatshewaswalkinghandinhandwithDinah,andsayingtoherveryearnestly,“Now,Dinah,tellmethetruth:didyouevereatabat?”
when
de repente
suddenly,thump!thump!
downshecameuponaheapofsticksanddryleaves,andthefallwasover.
Alicewasnotabithurt,andshe
saltó
jumpedupontoherpies
feetinamoment:shelookedup,butitwasall
oscuro
darkoverhead;beforeherwasanotherlongpassage,andtheWhiteRabbitwasstillinsight,hurryingdownit.
Therewasnotamomenttobelost:
awaywentAlicelikethe
viento
wind,andwasjustintimetohearitsay,asitturnedacorner,“Ohmyearsandwhiskers,howlateit’sgetting!”Shewasclosebehinditwhensheturnedthecorner,buttheRabbitwasnolongertobeseen:
shefoundherselfinalong,
bajo
lowhall,whichwaslitupbyarowoflampshangingfromtheroof.Thereweredoorsallroundthehall,buttheywerealllocked;
andwhenAlicehadbeenallthewaydownonesideanduptheother,tryingeverydoor,shewalkedsadlydownthe
medio
middle,wonderinghowshewasevertogetoutagain.De repente
Suddenlyshecameuponalittlethree-leggedmesa
table,allmadeofsolidglass;therewasnothingonit
excepto
exceptatinygoldenkey,andAlice’sfirstthoughtwasthatitmightbelongtooneofthedoorsofthehall;but,alas!
eitherthelocksweretoolarge,orthekeywastoosmall,butatanyrateitwouldnotopenanyofthem.
However,onthesecondtime
ronda
round,shecameuponabaja
lowcurtainshehadnotnotado
noticedbefore,andbehinditwasalittledooraboutfifteenincheshigh:shetriedthelittlegoldenkeyinthe
cerradura
lock,andtohergreatdelightitencajaba
fitted!Aliceopenedthedoorandfoundthatit
llevaba
ledintoasmallpassage,notmuchlargerthanarat-hole:shekneltdownandlookedalongthepassageintotheloveliestgardenyoueversaw.
Howshelongedtogetoutofthatdarkhall,andwanderaboutamongthosebedsofbrightflowersandthosecoolfountains,butshecouldnotevengetherheadthroughthedoorway;
“andevenifmyheadwouldgothrough,”thoughtpoorAlice,“itwouldbeofverylittleusewithoutmyshoulders.
Oh,howIwishIcouldshutuplikeatelescope!
IthinkIcould,ifIonlyknewhowtobegin.”
For,yousee,somanyout-of-the-waythingshadhappenedlately,thatAlicehad
empezado
beguntothinkthatveryfewthingsindeedwerereallyimpossible.There
parecía
seemedtobenouseinwaitingbythelittledoor,soshewentbacktothemesa
table,halfhopingshemightfindanotherkeyonit,oratanyrateabookofrulesforshuttingpeopleupliketelescopes:thistimeshefoundalittle
botella
bottleonit,(“whichcertainlywasnotherebefore,”saidAlice,)androundthecuello
neckofthebottlewasapapel
paperlabel,withthewords“DRINKME,”beautifullyprintedonitinlargeletters.Itwasallverywelltosay“Drinkme,”butthewiselittleAlicewasnotgoingtodothatinahurry.
“No,I’lllookfirst,”shesaid,“andsee
si
whetherit’smarked‘poison’ornot”;forshehadreadseveralnicelittlehistoriesaboutchildrenwhohadgotburnt,andeatenupbywildbeastsandotherunpleasantthings,allbecausetheywouldnotrememberthesimplerulestheirfriendshad
enseñado
taughtthem:suchas,thatared-hotpokerwill
quemará
burnyouifyouholdittoolong;andthatifyoucutyourfingerverydeeplywitha
cuchillo
knife,itusuallybleeds;andshehadneverforgottenthat,ifyoudrinkmuchfroma
botella
bottlemarked“poison,”itisalmostseguro
certaintodisagreewithyou,soonerorlater.However,this
botella
bottlewasnotmarked“poison,”soAliceventuredtosabor
tasteit,andfindingitverynice,(ithad,infact,asortofmixedflavourofcherry-tart,custard,pine-apple,roastturkey,toffee,andhotbutteredtoast,)sheverysoonterminó
finisheditoff.“Whatacuriousfeeling!”
saidAlice;
“Imustbeshuttinguplikeatelescope.”
Andsoitwasindeed:
shewasnowonlytenincheshigh,andherfacebrightenedupatthethoughtthatshewasnowtheright
tamaño
sizeforgoingthroughthelittledoorintothatlovelygarden.First,however,shewaitedforafewminutestoseeifshewasgoingtoshrinkany
más
further:shefeltalittlenervousaboutthis;
“foritmightend,youknow,”saidAlicetoherself,“inmygoingoutaltogether,likeacandle.
I
pregunto
wonderwhatIshouldbelikethen?”Andshetriedtofancywhattheflameofacandleislikeafterthecandleisblownout,forshecouldnotremembereverhavingseensuchathing.
Afterawhile,findingthatnothingmorehappened,she
decidió
decidedongoingintothegardenatonce;but,alasforpoorAlice!
whenshegottothedoor,shefoundshehadforgottenthelittlegoldenkey,andwhenshewentbacktothe
mesa
tableforit,shefoundshecouldnotpossiblyllegó
reachit:shecouldseeitquiteplainlythroughthe
vidrio
glass,andshetriedherbesttoclimbuponeofthelegsofthemesa
table,butitwastooslippery;andwhenshehad
cansado
tiredherselfoutwithtrying,thepoorlittlethingsatdownandlloró
cried.“Come,there’snousein
llorar
cryinglikethat!”saidAlicetoherself,rathersharply;
“Iadviseyoutoleaveoffthisminute!”
Shegenerallygaveherselfverygoodadvice,(thoughsheveryseldomfollowedit),andsometimesshescoldedherselfsoseverelyastobringtearsintohereyes;
andoncesherememberedtryingtoboxherownearsforhavingcheatedherselfinagameofcroquetshewasplayingagainstherself,forthiscuriouschildwasveryfondofpretendingtobetwopeople.
“Butit’snousenow,”thoughtpoorAlice,“topretendtobetwopeople!
Why,there’shardlyenoughofmelefttomakeonerespectableperson!”
Soonher
ojo
eyefellonalittleglassboxthatwaslyingunderthemesa
table:sheopenedit,andfoundinitaverysmallcake,onwhichthewords“EATME”werebeautifullymarkedincurrants.
“Well,I’lleatit,”saidAlice,“andifitmakesme
crecer
growlarger,Icanreachthekey;andifitmakesme
crecer
growsmaller,Icancreepunderthedoor;soeitherwayI’llgetintothegarden,andIdon’tcarewhichhappens!”
Sheatealittlebit,andsaidanxiouslytoherself,“Whichway?
Whichway?”,holdingherhandonthetopofherheadtofeelwhichwayitwas
creciendo
growing,andshewasquitesorprendió
surprisedtofindthatsheremainedthesametamaño
size:tobesure,thisgenerallyhappenswhenoneeatscake,butAlicehadgotsomuchintothewayof
esperar
expectingnothingbutout-of-the-waythingstohappen,thatitparecía
seemedquitedullandstupidforlifetogooninthecommonway.CHAPTERII.ThePoolofTears
“Curiouserandcuriouser!”
lloró
criedAlice(shewassomuchsorprendido
surprised,thatforthemomentshequiteforgothowtospeakgoodEnglish);“nowI’mopeningoutlikethelargesttelescopethateverwas!
Good-bye,feet!”
(forwhenshelookeddownather
pies
feet,theyseemedtobealmostoutofsight,theyweregettingsofaroff).“Oh,mypoorlittle
pies
feet,Iwonderwhowillputonyourzapatos
shoesandstockingsforyounow,dears?I’msureIshan’tbeable!
Ishallbeagreatdealtoofarofftotroublemyselfaboutyou:
youmustmanagethebestwayyoucan;—butImustbekindtothem,”thoughtAlice,“orperhapstheywon’twalkthewayIwanttogo!
Letmesee:
I’llgivethemanewpairofbootseveryChristmas.”
Andshewentonplanningtoherselfhowshewouldmanageit.
“Theymustgobythecarrier,”shethought;
“andhowfunnyit’ll
parecerá
seem,sendingpresentstoone’sownpies
feet!Andhowoddthedirectionswilllook!
Ohdear,whatnonsenseI’mtalking!”
Justthenherheadstruckagainsttheroofofthehall:
infactshewasnowmorethan
nueve
ninefeethigh,andsheatoncetookupthelittlegoldenkeyandhurriedofftothegardendoor.PoorAlice!
Itwasasmuchasshecoulddo,lyingdownononeside,tolookthroughintothegardenwithone
ojo
eye;buttogetthroughwasmorehopelessthanever:
shesatdownand
comenzó
begantocryagain.“Yououghttobeashamedofyourself,”saidAlice,“agreatgirllikeyou,”(shemightwellsaythis),“togoon
llorando
cryinginthisway!Stopthismoment,Itellyou!”
Butshewentonallthesame,sheddinggallonsoftears,untiltherewasa
gran
largepoolallroundher,aboutfourinchesdeepandalcanzando
reachinghalfdownthehall.Afteratimesheheardalittlepatteringof
pies
feetinthedistance,andshehastilydriedhereyestoseewhatwascoming.ItwastheWhiteRabbitreturning,splendidly
vestido
dressed,withapairofwhitekidglovesinonehandandagran
largefanintheother:hecametrottingalonginagreathurry,mutteringtohimselfashecame,“Oh!
theDuchess,theDuchess!
Oh!
won’tshebesavageifI’vekeptherwaiting!”
Alicefeltsodesperatethatshewasreadytoaskhelpofanyone;
so,whentheRabbitcamenearher,she
comenzó
began,inalow,timidvoz
voice,“Ifyouplease,sir—”TheRabbitstartedviolently,
caer
droppedthewhitekidglovesandthefan,andskurriedawayintothedarknessashardashecouldgo.Alicetookupthefanandgloves,and,asthehallwasveryhot,shekeptfanningherselfallthetimeshewentontalking:
“Dear,dear!
Howqueereverythingisto-day!
And
ayer
yesterdaythingswentonjustasusual.I
pregunto
wonderifI’vebeenchangedinthenight?Letmethink:
wasIthesamewhenIgotupthismorning?
IalmostthinkIcanrememberfeelingalittledifferent.
ButifI’mnotthesame,thenextquestionis,WhointheworldamI?
Ah,that’sthegreatpuzzle!”
Andshe
comenzó
beganthinkingoverallthechildrensheknewthatwereofthesameageasherself,toseeifshecouldhavebeenchangedforanyofthem.“I’msureI’mnotAda,”shesaid,“forherhairgoesinsuchlongringlets,andminedoesn’tgoinringletsatall;
andI’msureIcan’tbeMabel,forIknowallsortsofthings,andshe,oh!
sheknowssuchaverylittle!
Besides,she’sshe,andI’mI,and—ohdear,howpuzzlingitallis!
I’lltryifIknowallthethingsIusedtoknow.
Letmesee:
fourtimesfiveistwelve,andfourtimessixisthirteen,andfourtimes
siete
sevenis—ohdear!Ishallnevergettotwentyatthatrate!
However,theMultiplicationTabledoesn’tsignify:
let’stryGeography.
LondonisthecapitalofParis,andParisisthecapitalofRome,andRome—no,that’sallwrong,I’m
seguro
certain!ImusthavebeenchangedforMabel!
I’lltryandsay‘Howdoththelittle—’”andshe
cruzó
crossedherhandsonherlapasifsheweresayinglessons,andcomenzó
begantorepeatit,buthervoz
voicesoundedhoarseandstrange,andthewordsdidnotcomethesameastheyusedtodo:—.“HowdoththelittlecrocodileImprovehisshiningtail,AndpourthewatersoftheNileOneverygoldenscale!
“Howcheerfullyhe
parece
seemstogrin,Howneatlyspreadhisclaws,AndwelcomelittlefishesinWithgentlysonreír
smilingjaws!”“I’msurethosearenottherightwords,”saidpoorAlice,andhereyesfilledwithtearsagainasshewenton,“ImustbeMabelafterall,andIshallhavetogoandliveinthatpokylittlehouse,andhavenexttonotoystoplaywith,andoh!
eversomanylessonsto
aprender
learn!No,I’vemadeupmymindaboutit;
ifI’mMabel,I’llstaydownhere!
It’llbenousetheirputtingtheirheadsdownandsaying‘Comeupagain,dear!’Ishallonlylookupandsay‘WhoamIthen?
Tellmethatfirst,andthen,ifIlikebeingthatperson,I’llcomeup:
ifnot,I’llstaydownheretillI’msomebodyelse’—but,ohdear!”
criedAlice,withasuddenburstoftears,“Idowishtheywouldputtheirheadsdown!
Iamsoverytiredofbeingallalonehere!”
Asshesaidthisshelookeddownatherhands,andwas
sorprendió
surprisedtoseethatshehadputononeoftheRabbit’slittlewhitekidgloveswhileshewastalking.“HowcanIhavedonethat?”
shethought.
“Imustbegrowingsmallagain.”
Shegotupandwenttothe
mesa
tabletomeasureherselfbyit,andfoundthat,asnearlyasshecouldguess,shewasnowabouttwopies
feethigh,andwasgoingonshrinkingrapidly:shesoonfoundoutthatthecauseofthiswasthefanshewasholding,andshe
caer
droppedithastily,justintimetoavoidshrinkingawayaltogether.“Thatwasanarrowescape!”