Two Travellers happened on their journey to be engaged in a warm
dispute about the colour of the Chameleon. One of them affirmed that
it was blue and that he had seen it with his own eyes upon the naked
branch of a tree, feeding in the air on a very clear day.
The other strongly asserted it was green, and that he had viewed it
very closely and minutely upon the broad leaf of a fig-tree.
Both of them were positive, and the dispute was rising to a quarrel;
but a third person luckily coming by, they agreed to refer the question
to his decision.
"Gentlemen," said the Arbitrator, with a smile of great
self-satisfaction, "you could not have been more lucky in your
reference, as I happen to have caught one of them last night; but,
indeed, you are both mistaken, for the creature is totally black."
"Black, impossible!" cried both the disputants!"
"Nay," quoth the Umpire, with great assurance, "the matter may be soon
decided, for I immediately inclosed my Chameleon in a little paper box,
and here it is." So saying, he drew it out of his pocket, opened his
box, and, lo! it was as white as snow.
The Travellers looked equally surprised and equally confounded; while
the sagacious reptile, assuming the air of a philosopher, thus
admonished them: "Ye children of men, learn diffidence and moderation
in your opinions. 'Tis true, you happen in this present instance to be
all in the right, and have only considered the subject under different
circumstances, but, pray, for the future allow others to have eyesight
as well as yourselves; nor wonder if every one prefers to accept the
testimony of his own senses."