Classic Poem

Oft has it been my lot to mark
A proud, conceited, talking spark,
With eyes, that hardly served at most
To guard their master 'gainst a post,
Yet round the world the blade has been
To see whatever could be seen,
Returning from his finished tour,
Grown ten times perter than before;
Whatever word you chance to drop,
The traveled fool your mouth will stop;
" Sir, if my judgment you'll allow,
I've seen — and sure I ought to know, "
So begs you'd pay a due submission,
And acquiesce in his decision.

Two travelers of such a cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they passed,
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 assure 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 'mdash, 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 pronounce 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. "