| Six men of Hindustan
|
| To learning much inclined
|
| went to see the Elephant
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| Though all of them were blind
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| That each by observation
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| Might satisfy his mind
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| Satisfy his mind, satisfy his mind
|
| Six men of Hindustan
|
| To learning much inclined
|
| Well the First approached the Elephant
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| And happening to fall
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| Against his broad and sturdy side
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| At once began to bawl
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| «God bless me!
|
| But this Elephant is very like a wall!»
|
| And the Second, feeling of the tusk
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| Cried, «Ho! |
| what have we here
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| So very round and smooth and sharp
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| To me 'tis mighty clear
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| This wonder of an Elephant is very like a spear!»
|
| All of them were blind
|
| All of them were blind
|
| Six men of Hindustan
|
| To learning much inclined
|
| The Third approached the animal
|
| And happening to take
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| The squirming trunk within his hands
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| Thus boldly up his spake
|
| «I see,""h he
|
| «The Elephant is very like a snake!»
|
| Then the Fourth reached out an eager hand
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| and felt about the knee
|
| «What most this wondrous beast is like
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| Is mighty plain,""h he
|
| «'Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!»
|
| And the Fifth who chanced to touch the ear
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| Said: «Even the blindest man
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| Can tell what this resembles most
|
| Deny the fact who can
|
| This marvel of an Elephant is very like a fan!»
|
| And the Sixth no sooner had begun
|
| about the beast to grope
|
| Seizing on the swinging tail
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| that fell within his scope
|
| «I see,""h he, «the Elephant is very like a rope!»
|
| All of them were blind
|
| All of them were blind
|
| Six men of Hindustan
|
| To learning much inclined
|
| To learning much inclined
|
| And so these men of Hindustan
|
| Disputed loud and long
|
| Each in his opinion
|
| Exceeding stiff and strong
|
| Each was partly in the right
|
| but all were in the wrong
|
| So often theologic wars,
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| The disputants, I ween
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| Rail on in utter ignorance
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| Of what each other mean
|
| And prate about an Elephant
|
| Not one of them has seen! |