Page:The poems of John Godfrey Saxe.djvu/280

260 "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
 * Is mighty plain," quoth he;

T is clear enough the Elephant
 * Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
 * Said: "E'en 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 Indostan
 * 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!