It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The first approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
‘God bless me! But the Elephant
Is very like a wall!’
The second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, ‘Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!’
The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see” Qouth he, “The Elephant is very like a snake”
The fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain, qouth he;
“This clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!”
The fifth who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: ‘E’en that blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!
The sixth no sooner had began
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
‘I see, qouth he, ‘the Elephant is very like a rope!’
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in hi sown opinion
Exceeding st
Ff and strong,
Through each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!