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