Born in Highgate, Vermont, 2 June, 1816; Born in Highgate, Vermont, 2 June, 1816;

died in Albany, New York, 31 March, 1887died in Albany, New York, 31 March, 1887. .

He entered Wesleyan university in 1835, He entered Wesleyan university in 1835,

but left in his freshman year, and was but left in his freshman year, and was

graduated at Middlebury in 1839graduated at Middlebury in 1839. . During During

the four years following he studied law in the four years following he studied law in

Lockport, New York, and then in StLockport, New York, and then in St. . AIAI--

bans, Vermont, where, in 1843, he was bans, Vermont, where, in 1843, he was

admitted to the baradmitted to the bar. . He practised with He practised with

success in Franklin county for several success in Franklin county for several

years, becoming in 1850-'1 state's years, becoming in 1850-'1 state's

attorney for Chittenden county, and in attorney for Chittenden county, and in

1847-'8 he was superintendent of common 1847-'8 he was superintendent of common

schoolsschools..

John Godfrey SaxeJohn Godfrey Saxe

העיוורים והפילהעיוורים והפילזהו אחד מסיפורי הלימוד הידועים בתבל. הוא ידוע זהו אחד מסיפורי הלימוד הידועים בתבל. הוא ידוע

ברחבי מרכז אסיה, פרס והודו. נאמר כי סופר על ידי ברחבי מרכז אסיה, פרס והודו. נאמר כי סופר על ידי

, משורר סופי דגול שנולד בעיר , משורר סופי דגול שנולד בעיר 1313מיסטיקן בן המאה המיסטיקן בן המאה ה

בלק הנמצאת כיום באפגניסטן.בלק הנמצאת כיום באפגניסטן.

שמו ידוע בפי כל כג'לאלדין רומי.שמו ידוע בפי כל כג'לאלדין רומי.

RסQטPן Rו Qד QRאSינ R ב RסQטPןשSTשPRTה הPיו Rו Qד QRאSינ R ב שSTשPRTה הPיוPתPם, PתPם,שTוXקQדWי ַעUל מSשQTנ שTוXקQדWי ַעUל מSשQTנ

QRפSיל, Pם ב Rן ַעWינ R לPזו PצQאו QRפSיל,י Pם ב Rן ַעWינ R לPזו PצQאו יים שYTשQTתPRם, SרQR SRי ַעSו ים שYTשQTתPRם,אUף כ SרQR SRי ַעSו אUף כ

Rת QRלו URב הSסQתURכ RתשYTאUג QRלו URב הSסQתURכ שYTאUגURַעQתPRם. RחU ד URַעQתPRם.תPRנו RחU ד תPRנו

Rל הUפSRיל Rל הUפSRיל רSאשTוXן אYל מו רSאשTוXן אYל מוצPַעUד,צPַעUד,

RמPא Q הUסRו ְך YרYדQכR RמPאו Q הUסRו ְך YרYדQכR וQRצUלQעוXתPיו, QRצUלQעוXתPיו,מSשWRTשT הWיטWב ב מSשWRTשT הWיטWב בPRד: "מUשQTמPע, PRד: "מUשQTמPע,הSפQטSיר מSי הSפQטSיר מSי

QRלSי צWל ַעUי ב Wיל רSRפUל הWי צSלQR ַעUי ב Wיל רSRפUהסPפWק,סPפWק,

QRַעWין חוXמPה." RוX כ QRַעWין חוXמPה."הSנ RוX כ הSנ

QהUפSRיל ים ו SרQR QהUפSRילהPַעSו ים ו SרQR הPַעSו

PRיו QהUב QRשYTנ Sי אPחUז ב PRיושWTנ QהUב QRשYTנ Sי אPחUז ב שWTנRחוXת מPרוXמPה: PדPיו שQTלו RחוXת מPרוXמPה:י PדPיו שQTלו יה חPלPק, אPרXְך XR Rא כ ה חPלPק, אPרXְך "הו XR Rא כ "הו

PחUד, PחUד,ו וWRי ַעUד לQרוXמPא, RוXמQב WRי ַעUד לQרוXמPא,מSב RוXמQב מSב

Yה SRי ז QתPRא כ PRל פQRל̂ג Yה אWין כ SRי ז QתPRא כ PRל פQRל̂ג אWין כהUפSRיל,הUפSRיל,

QRַעWין הPרוXמPח." RוX כ QRַעWין הPרוXמPח."הSנ RוX כ הSנ

SRשQTקSידUת, שYTב SRשQTקSידUת, שQTלSישSTי שYTב שQTלSישSTימUתQמSידמUתQמSיד

, TשUכ Pר RדXו תURלQמו ,אYת TשUכ Pר RדXו תURלQמו אYת, הUח_לUקQלUק XקוQדSח ,לPפUת הUח_לUקQלUק XקוQדSח לPפUת

: TשUחPל RבQבSטQחPה :ו TשUחPל RבQבSטQחPה ו , QRלSי" ב ַעUי Wר , הUפSRיל QRלSי" ב ַעUי Wר הUפSRיל

Rק, Rק,פSRקQפRו פSRקQפRו". TשPחP נ QRַעWין כ XוR ."הSנ TשPחP נ QRַעWין כ XוR הSנ

ים, SרPר הWקXי, עוSיַעSב QרPים,ה SרPר הWקXי, עוSיַעSב QרPהRוX חוXצWץ, Qד Yג PצPא נ RוX חוXצWץ,י Qד Yג PצPא נ י

Q שPTת ְך YרYR PדוX סPבSיב לUב Q שPTתי ְך YרYR PדוX סPבSיב לUב יRחU קWץ: Rו SRכ RחU קWץ:לUו Rו SRכ לUו

R Rו R "הUפSRיל, הPַעWז Rו "הUפSRיל, הPַעWז,TישSחQכUהQל,TישSחQכUהQל

QRַעWין הPַעWץ." RוX כ QRַעWין הPַעWץ."הSנ RוX כ הSנ

,TשPן חY PRאXז Yן חPשT,הUח_מSישSTי ב PRאXז הUח_מSישSTי בRחוXת צPפPה, RבUטRו RחוXת צPפPה,ו RבUטRו ו

QRמUסQמWרוXת, PתוX כ QRמUסQמWרוXת, מUסQקPנ PתוX כ מUסQקPנRפPה: PRיו אaמYת צQרו RפPה:מSל PRיו אaמYת צQרו מSל

QדUי לQהSתQפURלQפWRל, QדUי לQהSתQפURלQפWRל,"הUפSRיל, ו "הUפSRיל, וSיפPה." QRַעWין הUמQRנ RוX כ SיפPה."הSנ QRַעWין הUמQRנ RוX כ הSנ

Pס RמQכ̂נ PסשSTשSRTי שPTלWו ו RמQכ̂נ שSTשSRTי שPTלWו וRת, QסWמYל הUפSRקQחו Rת,ו QסWמYל הUפSRקQחו ו

XבוP Qנ SRז PבוXתPRפUס לUפYRלYא ב Qנ SRז תPRפUס לUפYRלYא בRת: QRחו Uכ QסוXף לUהSתQו Rת:ו QRחו Uכ QסוXף לUהSתQו ו

Rק, R סוXף-פPRסו Yהו Qז Rק,"הUפSRיל, ו R סוXף-פPRסו Yהו Qז "הUפSRיל, וRט." QRַעWין הPחו RוX כ Rט."הSנ QRַעWין הPחו RוX כ הSנ

RסQטPן Rו Qד QכPְך חUכQמWי הPאSינ RסQטPןו Rו Qד QכPְך חUכQמWי הPאSינ וR פQRלPאSים, R פQRלPאSים,הSתQפURלQפQRלו הSתQפURלQפQRלוXוRתQַעUת דYד אPחYל אPכQ QכPל אYחPד אYת דUַעQתRוXו וWRעוXת הSטQַעSים, QRקU"ן ד WRעוXת הSטQַעSים,ב QRקU"ן ד ב

QכPל אYחPד צוXדWק מQַעUט, QכPל אYחPד צוXדWק מQַעUט,ו וPם טוXַעSים. R̂ל Pם טוXַעSים.א_בPל כ R̂ל א_בPל כ

תQחUת SרQR תQחUת אPכWן לXא פURַעUם ב SרQR אPכWן לXא פURַעUם בRס RספR^לQמו פR^לQמו

QRחSים שSTטPRה, Uכ QRחSים שSTטPRה,לUמSRתQו Uכ לUמSRתQוQRלSי לPדUַעUת QחSים מSב QRלSי לPדUַעUת נXוג QחSים מSב נXוג

QRלPל, QRלPל,כ כQתPRא שT הUפQRל̂ג YרXRTה שUאמPRתQ שT הUפQRל̂ג YרXRTה שUמ

Q מSתQפURלQפQRלSים ַעUל QכPְך Q מSתQפURלQפQRלSים ַעUל ו QכPְך ופSRילפSRיל

א_תPה. Pא רXם לP א_תPה. ַעWינ Pא רXם לP ַעWינ

The Blind Men and the The Blind Men and the

ElephantElephant

John Godfrey SaxeJohn Godfrey Saxe- -

תרגם: שמואל רוזןתרגם: שמואל רוזן

ציורים: פרידל שטרןציורים: פרידל שטרן

הוצאת "צבר" תל-אביב, תשי"חהוצאת "צבר" תל-אביב, תשי"ח

Japanese print of the sixJapanese print of the six blind men …blind men …

Blind monks examining an Blind monks examining an elephantelephant

Blind Men and an ElephantBlind Men and an Elephant

The story of theThe story of the blind men and anblind men and an

elephantelephant appears to have originated inappears to have originated in

IndiaIndia, , but its original source is debatedbut its original source is debated. .

It has been attributed to theIt has been attributed to the JainistsJainists, ,

BuddhistsBuddhists, , and sometimes to theand sometimes to the SufisSufis oror

HindusHindus, , and has been used by all those and has been used by all those

groupsgroups. . The bestThe best--known version known version

attributed to an individual in the modern attributed to an individual in the modern

day is the 19th Century poem byday is the 19th Century poem by John John

Godfrey SaxeGodfrey Saxe..

It was six men of It was six men of

Indostan Indostan

To learning much To learning much

inclined,inclined,

Who went to see the Who went to see the

ElephantElephant

))Though all of them Though all of them

were blindwere blind)),,

That each by That each by

observationobservation

Might satisfy his Might satisfy his

mindmind

,

The First approached the ElephantThe First approached the Elephant,, And happening to fallAnd happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy sideAgainst his broad and sturdy side,,At once began to bawlAt once began to bawl::

""God bless meGod bless me! ! but the Elephantbut the ElephantIs very like a wallIs very like a wall!" !"

The Second, feeling of the tuskThe Second, feeling of the tusk,, Cried, Cried, ""HoHo! ! what have we herewhat have we hereSo very round and smooth and So very round and smooth and

sharpsharp??To me 'tis mighty clearTo me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an ElephantThis wonder of an ElephantIs very like a spearIs very like a spear!" !"

The Third approached the animalThe Third approached the animal,, And happening to takeAnd happening to take

The squirming trunk within his The squirming trunk within his handshands,,

Thus boldly up and spakeThus boldly up and spake::""I see,I see," " quoth he, quoth he, ""the Elephantthe Elephant

Is very like a snakeIs very like a snake!" !"

The Fourth reached out an eager handThe Fourth reached out an eager hand,, And felt about the knee And felt about the knee..

""What most this wondrous beast is likeWhat most this wondrous beast is likeIs mighty plain,Is mighty plain," " quoth hequoth he;;

""Tis clear enough the ElephantTis clear enough the ElephantIs very like a treeIs very like a tree!"!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the earThe Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,,SaidSaid: ": "E'en the blindest manE'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles mostCan tell what this resembles most;;Deny the fact who canDeny the fact who can

This marvel of an ElephantThis marvel of an Elephant

Is very like a fanIs very like a fan!"!"

The Sixth no sooner had begunThe Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope About the beast to grope,,

Than, seizing on the swinging tailThan, seizing on the swinging tailThat fell within his scopeThat fell within his scope,,

""I see,I see," " quoth he, quoth he, ""the Elephantthe ElephantIs very like a ropeIs very like a rope!"!"

And so these men of IndostanAnd so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and longDisputed loud and long,,Each in his own opinionEach in his own opinion

Exceeding stiff and strongExceeding stiff and strong,,Though each was partly in the Though each was partly in the

rightright,,And all were in the wrongAnd all were in the wrong!!

So oft in theologic wars, So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I The disputants, I

ween,ween,Rail on in utter Rail on in utter

ignoranceignoranceOf what each other Of what each other

mean,mean,And prate about an And prate about an

ElephantElephantNot one of them has Not one of them has

seenseen! !

ילדים ילדים ציורי ציוריהסיפור הסיפור על על

In various versions of the tale, a group of blind In various versions of the tale, a group of blind

men men ((or men in the darkor men in the dark) ) touch an elephant to touch an elephant to

learn what it is likelearn what it is like. . Each one touches a different Each one touches a different

part, but only one part, such as the side or the part, but only one part, such as the side or the

tusktusk. . They then compare notes on what they felt, They then compare notes on what they felt,

and learn they are in complete disagreementand learn they are in complete disagreement. .

The story is used to indicate that reality may be The story is used to indicate that reality may be

viewed differently depending upon one's viewed differently depending upon one's

perspective, showing how absolute truths may perspective, showing how absolute truths may

be relative; the world ofbe relative; the world of halfhalf--truthstruths. .

Various versions are similar, and differ primarily Various versions are similar, and differ primarily

in how the elephant's body parts are described, in how the elephant's body parts are described,

how violent the conflict becomes, and how how violent the conflict becomes, and how ((or ifor if) )

the conflict among the men and their the conflict among the men and their

perspectives is resolvedperspectives is resolved..

Blind Men Study the ElephantBlind Men Study the Elephant; ; Liu Zhangde; 1985Liu Zhangde; 1985..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#Jain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#Buddhist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#Sufi-Hindu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Men_and_an_Elephant#External_linkBlind_Men_and_an_Elephant#External_link

httphttp://://wwwwww..famousamericansfamousamericans..netnet//johngodfreysaxejohngodfreysaxe//

: מקורות ועוד אסיה בעמי שונות :גרסות מקורות ועוד אסיה בעמי שונות גרסות

קלריטה ואפריםקלריטה ואפריםהנכם מוזמנים להיכנס לאתר שלנו:הנכם מוזמנים להיכנס לאתר שלנו:

www.clarita-efraim.comwww.clarita-efraim.comנשמח לתגובותנשמח לתגובות