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The Blind Men and the Elephant
based on a Jain fable by John Godfrey Saxe, American poet (1816-1887)
It was six men of Indostan The Fourth reached out an eager hand, To learning much inclined,
And felt about the knee. Who went to see the Elephant What most this wondrous beast is like (Though all of them were blind),
Is mighty plain," quoth he; That each by observation
as Tis clear enough the Elephant Might satisfy his mind!
Is very like a tree!” The First approached the Elephant, The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, And happening to fall
Said: «E'en the blindest man Against his broad and sturdy side, Can tell what this resembles most; At once began to bawli
Deny the fact who can "God bless me! but the Elephant
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a wallis
Is very like a fan! The Second, feeling of the tusk, The Sixth no sooner had begun Cried, “Ho! what have we here
About the beast to grope, So very round and smooth and sharp Than, seizing on the swinging tail To me 'tis mighty clear
That fell within his scope, This wonder of an Elephant al see, * quoth he, athe Elephant Is very like a spearls
Is very like a ropel The Third approached the animal, And so these men of Indostan And happening to take
Disputed loud and long, The squirming trunk within his hands, Each in his own opinion Thus boldly up and spake:
Exceeding stiff and strong, a see," quoth he, athe Elephant Though each was partly in the right, Is very like a snake!"
And all were in the wrong!
Moral: So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance, Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
