Eliza And Martin Carthy - The Elephant Lyrics
[Verse:]6 men of Hindustan to learnin' much inclinedWent to see the ElephantThough all of them were blindThat each by observationMight satisfy his mindSatisfy his mind, satisfy his mindSix men of HindustanTo learnin' much inclinedWell the First approached the Elephant& happenin' 2 fallAgainst his broad & sturdy sideAt once began 2 bawlGod bless me, but this Elephant is very like a wall!& the Second, feelin' of the tuskCried ho what have we hereSo very round & smooth & sharp2 me 'tis mighty clearThis wonder of an Elephant is very like a spear!All of them were blindAll of them were blindSix men of HindustanTo learnin' much inclinedThe Third approached the animal& happenin' 2 takeThe squirmin' trunk within his handsThus boldly up his spakeI see, quoth heThe Elephant is very like a snakeThen the Fourth reached out an eager hand& felt about the kneeWhat most this wondrous beast is likeIs mighty plain quoth he'Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!& the Fifth who chanced 2 touch the earSaid: "Even the blindest manCan tell what this resembles mostDeny the fact who canThis marvel of an Elephant is very like a fan! "& the Sixth no sooner had begunAbout the beast 2 gropeSeizin' on the swingin' tailThat fell within his scopeI see, quoth he, the Elephant is very like a rope!All of them were blindAll of them were blindSix men of Hindustan2 learnin' much inclined2 learnin' much inclined& so these men of HindustanDisputed loud & longEach in his opinionExceedin' stiff & strongEach was partly in the rightBut all were in the wrongSo often theologic warsThe disputants, I weenRail on in utter ignoranceOf what each other mean& prate about an ElephantNot one of them has seen
