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 his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“I clearly see the elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The _Second_, feeling round the tusk,
Cried: “Ho! what have we here,
So very round, and smooth, and sharp!
To me it is quite 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,” quoth he, “the elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The _Fourth_ reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee:
“What most this wondrous beast is like
To me is plain,” said he;
“’Tis clear enough the elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The _Fifth_, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “Even 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 on 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 in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong;
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong.
--JOHN GODFREY SAXE.