once upon a time, there was a king who ordered his officials: "lead an elephant to me, and let s*ral blind men feel it with their hands. then ask each one of them to describe the shape of the elephant."
the officials led the elephant to the king. s*ral blind men surrounded it and felt it with their hands. the king asked them: "what do you think the elephant resembles?"
all these blind men strove to be the first to answer.
one blind man felt the elephant's tusk1 and said: "the elephant resembles a long, long carrot."
one blind man felt the elephant's ear and said: "the elephant resembles a dustpan."
one blind man felt the elephant's head and said: "the elephant resembles a large stone."
one blind man felt the elephant's foot and said: "the elephant resembles a stone mortar2."
one blind man felt the elephant's back and said: "the elephant resembles a bed."
one blind man felt the elephant's belly3 and said: "the elephant resembles a water vat4."
"ha! ha! all of you are wrong." the last blind man pulled the elephant's tail and said: "let me tell you that the elephant resembles a long, thin rope."
upon this the king and his officials all burst into laughter.
从前，有一个国王，命令大臣们说：“你们给我牵一头大象来，让几个盲人用手去摸，每个人说出大象的模样。”
大臣们牵来了大象，几个盲人都围上去用手触摸，国王问盲人：“你们觉得大象的样子像什么？”
几个盲人都争先恐后地回答。
一个摸着大象的牙齿说：“大象好像一根长长的萝卜。”
一个摸着大象的耳朵说：“大象好像一只簸箕。”
一个摸着大象的头说：“大象好像是一块大石头。”
一个摸着大象的脚说：“大象好像是一只石臼。”
一个摸着大象的背脊说：“大象好像一张床。”
一个摸着大象的肚子说：“大象好像一只大水缸。”
“哈哈，你们说的都不对!”*后一个盲人拉着大象的尾巴说：“告诉你们，大象就像一根长长的、细细的绳子。”
国王和大臣们听了都哈哈大笑。
__