Once upon a time, there was a king who ordered his officials:

　　從前，有一個(gè)國(guó)王，命令大臣們說(shuō):

　　"Lead an elephant to me, and let several blind men feel it with their hands. Then ask each one of them to describe the shape of the elephant."

　　“你們給我牽一頭大象來(lái)，讓幾個(gè)盲人用手去摸，每個(gè)人說(shuō)出大象的模樣。”

　　The officials led the elephant to the king. Several blind men surrounded it and felt it with their hands. The king asked them:

　　大臣們牽來(lái)了大象，幾個(gè)盲人都圍上去用手觸摸，

　　"What do you think the elephant resembles?"

　　“你們覺(jué)得大象的樣子像什么?”

　　All these blind men strove to be the first to answer.

　　幾個(gè)育人都爭(zhēng)先恐后地回答。然后，叫他們

　　One blind man felt the elephant's tusk and said:

　　國(guó)王問(wèn)盲人:

　　"The elephant resembles a long, long carrot."

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的牙齒說(shuō):

　　One blind man felt the elephant's ear and said:

　　“大象好像一根長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的蘿

　　"The elephant resembles a dustpan."

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的耳朵說(shuō):

　　One blind man felt the elephant's head and said:

　　“大象好像一只簸箕。”

　　"The elephant resembles a large stone."

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的頭說(shuō):

　　One blind man felt the elephant's foot and said:

　　“大象好像是一塊大石頭。

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的腳說(shuō):

　　"The elephant resembles a stone mortar."

　　“大象好像是一只石臼。”

　　One blind man felt the elephant's back and said:

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的背脊說(shuō):

　　"The elephant resembles a bed."

　　“大象好像一張床。”

　　One blind man felt the elephant's belly and said:

　　一個(gè)摸著大象的肚子說(shuō):

　　"The elephant resembles a water vat."

　　“大象好像一只大水缸。”

　　"Ha! Ha! All of you are wrong." The last blind man pulled the elephant's tail and said:

　　“哈哈，你們說(shuō)的都不對(duì)!”最后一個(gè)盲人拉著大象的尾巴說(shuō):

　　"Let me tell you that the elephant resembles a long, thin rope."

　　“告訴你們，大象就像一根長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的、細(xì)細(xì)的繩子。”

　　Upon this the king and his officials all burst into laughter.

　　國(guó)王和大臣們聽(tīng)了都哈哈大笑。