THE WISE MEN AND THE ELEPHANT

The Wise Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Hindustan

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 its broad and sturdy side,

At once began to bawl:

Why, bless me! but the elephant

Is very like a wall!'

The second feeling at the tusk,

Cried, 'Ho! What have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me' its might 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 he spake:

'I see,' quoth he, 'the elephant

Is very like a snake!'

The fourth reached out his eager hand,

And felt about its knee

'What most this wondrous beast is like

Is mighty plain,' quoth he;

'It is clear enough the elephant

Is very like a tree!'

The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,

Said, 'E'en the 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 begun

About the beast to grope,

Than, seizing oon the swinging tail

That fell within his scope,

'I see,' quoth he, 'the elephant

Is very like a rope!'

And so these men of Hindustan

Disputed loud and long,

Each on his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strong;

Though each was partly in the right

They were all in the wrong!

-John G. Saxe

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