Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy The Elephant
[Verse:]
6 men of Hindustan to learnin' much inclined
Went to see the Elephant
Though all of them were blind
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
Satisfy his mind, satisfy his mind
Six men of Hindustan
To learnin' much inclined
Well the First approached the Elephant
& happenin' 2 fall
Against his broad & sturdy side
At once began 2 bawl
God bless me, but this Elephant is very like a wall!
& the Second, feelin' of the tusk
Cried ho what have we here
So very round & smooth & sharp
2 me 'tis mighty clear
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 learnin' much inclined
The Third approached the animal
& happenin' 2 take
The squirmin' trunk within his hands
Thus boldly up his spake
I see, quoth he
The Elephant is very like a snake
Then the Fourth reached out an eager hand
& 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!
& the Fifth who chanced 2 touch the ear
Said: "Even 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 2 grope
Seizin' on the swingin' tail
That fell within his scope
I see, quoth he, the Elephant is very like a rope!
All of them were blind
All of them were blind
Six men of Hindustan
2 learnin' much inclined
2 learnin' much inclined
& so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud & long
Each in his opinion
Exceedin' stiff & strong
Each was partly in the right
But all were in the wrong
So often theologic wars
The disputants, I ween
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean
& prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen