“So I was thinking,” murmured the Rat, dreamful and languid. “Dance-music⁠—the lilting sort that runs on without a stop⁠—but with words in it, too⁠—it passes into words and out of them again⁠—I catch them at intervals⁠—then it is dance-music once more, and then nothing but the reeds’ soft thin whispering.”

“You hear better than I,” said the Mole sadly. “I cannot catch the words.”

“Let me try and give you them,” said the Rat softly, his eyes still closed. “Now it is turning into words again⁠—faint but clear⁠— Lest the awe should dwell⁠—And turn your frolic to fret⁠—You shall look on my power at the helping hour⁠—But then you shall forget! Now the reeds take it up⁠— forget, forget , they sigh, and it dies away in a rustle and a whisper. Then the voice returns⁠—