Tweedledum and Tweedledee: Difference between revisions
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The first known mention of '''Tweedledum and Tweedledee''' | The first known mention of '''Tweedledum and Tweedledee''' | ||
is found in an epigram (1727) by [[John Byrom]]. | is found in an [[epigram]] (1727) by [[John Byrom]]. | ||
It targets the rivalry of two composers | It targets the rivalry of two composers | ||
— [[Georg Friedrich Händel]] and [[Giovanni Battista Bononcini]] — | — [[Georg Friedrich Händel]] and [[Giovanni Battista Bononcini]] — | ||
in the London of the 1720s. | in the London of the 1720s. | ||
The pair appears again in a nursery rhyme (printed around 1805) | The pair appears again in a [[nursery rhyme]] (printed around 1805) | ||
which may (or may not) have been old enough to be known to Byrom. | which may (or may not) have been old enough to be known to Byrom. | ||
This rhyme is now worldwide | This rhyme is now known worldwide as a result of [[Lewis Carroll]]'s | ||
inclusion of it in his second Alice book [[Through the Looking-Glass]] (1871).<ref>Through the Looking-Glass, Chapter Four, Tweedledum and Tweedledee</ref> | |||
== The epigram (1927) == | == The epigram (1927) == | ||
| Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny; | That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny; | ||
Others aver that he to Handel | Others aver that he to Handel | ||
Is | Is scarcely fit to hold a candle; | ||
Strange all this difference should be | Strange all this difference should be | ||
'Twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee. | 'Twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee. | ||
| Line 39: | Line 38: | ||
They quite forgot their quarrel. | They quite forgot their quarrel. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Reference == | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 19:08, 16 March 2010
The first known mention of Tweedledum and Tweedledee is found in an epigram (1727) by John Byrom. It targets the rivalry of two composers — Georg Friedrich Händel and Giovanni Battista Bononcini — in the London of the 1720s.
The pair appears again in a nursery rhyme (printed around 1805) which may (or may not) have been old enough to be known to Byrom.
This rhyme is now known worldwide as a result of Lewis Carroll's inclusion of it in his second Alice book Through the Looking-Glass (1871).[1]
The epigram (1927)
An Epigram on the Feuds between Handel and Bononcini
Some say, compared to Bononcini That Mynheer Handel's but a ninny; Others aver that he to Handel Is scarcely fit to hold a candle; Strange all this difference should be 'Twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee.
The nursery rhyme
Tweedledum and Tweedledee Agreed to have a battle For Tweedledum said Tweedledee Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow, As black as a tar-barrel; Which frightened both the heroes so, They quite forgot their quarrel.
Reference
- ↑ Through the Looking-Glass, Chapter Four, Tweedledum and Tweedledee