Inventio lyrics

(In der Küche der Herzogin)

[...] ‘If everybody minded their own business,’
Said the Duchess, in a hoarse growl, ‘the world would go round
A deal faster than it does. ‘Which would not be an advantage,’
Said Alice, who felt
Very glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of
Her knowledge. ‘Just think
What work it would make with the day and the night!
You see the earth takes
Twenty-four hours to turn round on its axis- [...]
Or is it twelve? I-’ Oh, don’t bother
Me,’ said the Duchess; ‘I never could abide figures!’
And with that she began nursing
Her child again, singing a sort of lullaby to it as she did so,
And giving it a violent
Shake at the end of every line: