美國語文第五冊 第266期：盲人摸象
It was six men of Indostan, to learning much inclined,
從前，有六個印度人，他們想了解外面世界，
Who went to see the elephant,
于是，相約一起去看大象，
(Though all of them were blind,)
（雖然，他們都是盲人，）
That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
每人都想通過自己的觸覺，滿足抑制不住的好奇心。
The first approached the elephant,
第一個盲人，走上前，
And, happening to fall against his broad and sturdy side,
碰巧摸到，大象寬厚的腹部，
At once began to bawl:
他立刻，朗聲叫道：
God bless me! but the elephant is very like a wall!
我的天呀！這大象，它，確實像是一堵墻！
The second, feeling of the tusk, CRIed: Ha! what have we here, so very round, and smooth, and sharp?
第二個盲人，抱住象牙，他也隨即高喊：哈！原來這又圓、又滑、尖尖的，
To me 't is very clear, this wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!
今天，我終于明白，這只大象，不過是支長矛。
The third approached the animal,
第三個盲人走上前，沒想到，
And, happening to take the squirming trunk within his hands,
竟然抓到，大象扭動的長鼻，
Thus boldly up he spake:
于是，興奮異常地叫喚，
“I see,” quoth he, the elephant is very like a snake!
我看呀，這，這大象好像，一條粗長的蟒蛇！
The fourth reached out his eager hand, and fell about the knee:
第四位盲人，性子忒急，急不可耐中，他伸出雙手，
What most this wondrous beast is like, is very plain, quoth he;
猛然間，摸到大象的粗腿，忙不迭地高聲反駁，所有這些，
'T is clear enough the elephant is very like a tree!
再清楚不過，這只大象，想必，你們應(yīng)該明白，與大樹，肯定分毫不差。
The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, said: E'en the blindest man can tell what this resembles most:
接下來，第五人湊巧拽住大象的耳朵，哪怕最瞎的人，也能知道，大象的明顯特征，
Deny the fact who can,
你們怎能，罔顧事實說話，
This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan!
至于，這頭大象的樣子，它壓根嘛，就像一把蒲扇。
The sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope,
第六個盲人，邁步過來，伸手一把，突然抓到
Than, seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope,
空中晃悠的，大象尾巴，他仔細摸索一番，開口叫喊，
“I see,” quoth he, the elephant is very like a rope!
我清楚了，大象呀，太像是，一條細長的繩子。
And so these men of Indostan disputed loud and long,
可憐，那六位印度盲人，針尖麥芒，長時間爭吵不停，
Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong,
他們愚蠢固執(zhí)，堅信不疑，誰都認為，自己完全正確，
Though each was partly in the right,
盡管， 每人描述的細節(jié)不錯，
And all were in the wrong!
但那狹隘眼光，徒留世人笑話！
