Volume Iv Part 32 (1/2)

Two travelers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they pa.s.sed, And on their way in friendly chat, Now talked of this, and then of that, Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter, Of the chameleon's form and nature.

”A stranger animal,” cries one, ”Sure never lived beneath the sun.

A lizard's body, lean and long, A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot with triple claw disjoined; And what a length of tail behind!

How slow its pace; and then its hue-- Who ever saw so fine a blue?”

”Hold, there,” the other quick replies, ”'Tis green,--I saw it with these eyes, As late with open mouth it lay, And warmed it in the sunny ray: Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewed And saw it eat the air for food.”

”I've seen it, sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue; At leisure I the beast surveyed, Extended in the cooling shade.”

”'Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I a.s.sure ye!”

”Green!” cries the other in a fury-- ”Why, sir!--d'ye think I've lost my eyes?”

”'Twere no great loss,” the friend replies, ”For, if they always serve you thus, You'll find them of but little use.”

So high at last the contest rose, From words they almost came to blows: When luckily came by a third-- To him the question they referred, And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew, Whether the thing was green or blue.

”Sirs,” cries the umpire, ”cease your pother!

The creature's neither one or t'other.

I caught the animal last night, And viewed it o'er by candlelight: I marked it well--'t was black as jet-- You stare--but, sirs, I've got it yet, And can produce it.” ”Pray, sir, do; I'll lay my life the thing is blue.”

”And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen The reptile, you'll p.r.o.nounce him green.”

”Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,”

Replies the man, ”I'll turn him out: And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him.”

He said: then full before their sight Produced the beast, and lo!--'twas white.

Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise-- ”My children,” the chameleon cries, (Then first the creature found a tongue), ”You all are right, and all are wrong: When next you talk of what you view, Think others see as well as you: Nor wonder, if you find that none Prefers your eyesight to his own.”

After De La Motte, by James Merrick [1720-1769]

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT A Hindoo Fable

It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and st.u.r.dy side, At once began to bawl: ”G.o.d bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!”

The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, ”Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp?

To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”

The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: ”I see,” quoth he, ”the Elephant Is very like a snake!”

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, 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!”