"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail.
"There's a promise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you , will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?"
" You can really have no notion how delightful it will be,
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance--
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.
"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France---
Then turn not pale, beloved snail,but come and join the dance.
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?"
Who are the two friends walking together? Which of them is faster and more eager?
Where does the whiting want them to go? Who else is going there? What are all they going to do?
What event does the whiting invite the snail to?
What pleasure is the whiting looking forward to, apart from the dancing? What, however, is the snail's response?
Do you think the snail would like to join the dance but is unable to go that far? Or is it really not interested but is too polite to say so?
In what words does the snail decline the invitation? Are those words informal or formal?