Once upon a time, it happened that all Olympus was dull and the gods were moping about, simply bored to death. It was a warm summer day and in a distant valley below they could see a group of Greek peasants disporting on the green turf in gala attire. The happy rustics were dancing and singing, enjoying the bright sunshine, and the sounds of their mirth floated up faintly to the gods in a manner that was altogether offensive to them.

"Omnipotent Father," cried Mercury, ill-naturedly, “it would be rare sport, O king of gods and men, to scatter all these gaily-robed revelers, and by a shower spoil their finery and their fun."

The suggestion was enthusiastically received by the assembled deities.

"I propose an amendment," exclaimed Juno, with feminine sympathy. "Before you send the rain, let your priest from the shrine below announce to the people that a shower is about to descend, but it shall wet only fools."

Zeus, approving, a slight sound of thunder was heard, and the priest stood in front of the altar and made the requisite announcement to the peo

ple. Only one of the Greeks took the precaution to go into his house. Every other man waited to see the fools drenched, and every man there was in two minutes wet to the skin. When the sun reappeared the man who had sought shelter came out of doors and laughed at his drenched and disconcerted fellows, who, angered at his dry and comfortable condition, fell upon him and beat him severely, calling him "a fool" and the like. Bruised and battered, he defended himself as well as he could, crying, "Have patience but a moment, and I will prove to you that I am not such a fool as I look." His tormentors paused, and he, looking upward, fell on his knees, exclaiming:

“O, Zeus, merciful and just, send down another shower; wet me to the skin even as these fools are wet, make me as great a fool as my neighbors and enable me, a fool, to live at peace among fools."

Down came the shower prayed for, and the two assemblies, the gods above and the fools below, roared with laughter, as he stood there drenched to the skin like the rest. "This is unjust," cried

Juno, as the laughter ceased, "and you have spoiled that good fellow's robe."

"True," replied Zeus, "but with that shower I bestowed upon him wit, wisdom, and humor, and have breathed that fact into the ear of the chief of the district, who will take this humorous philosopher home with him, to be at once his diverter and instructor."

That night at a banquet given by the chief, the wise fool stood near his master, pouring out witty truths as fast as his lips could utter them, and the gods both envied the fun and admired the wisdom. "That fellow," cried Zeus, "shall be the founder of a race. Henceforward each court shall have its fool; and fools shall be the preachers and admonishers of kings. Children," he added, to the gods and goddesses, raising a goblet of nectar, "here's a health to the first of fools."

H

THE FOOLS OF SHAKE

SPEARE

THE FOOL IN LIFE AND IN

LITERATURE

ISTORY records the names of a number

of men who in the character of court fool have made themselves famous both in word and deed. Of these one of the most distinguished was Triboulet, court jester to King Francis I, of France. Triboulet was a nickname, but we know no other. He was deformed in body, ludicrous in appearance, but of a very brilliant mind. His wisdom was equal to his wit, and he was, at times, both fool and adviser to the king. Francis was deeply attached to him and he returned the affection loyally. Much of his wit is recorded, and his pranks at the meeting of his master with King Henry VIII, of England, at the "Field of the cloth of gold," are related in the chronicles

V

of that brilliant spectacle. It is of Triboulet that the following bon mot is related. He had offended a powerful nobleman of the court, who, in retaliation, threatened to hang him. As the nobleman was a man of his word, poor Triboulet's life was in danger, so he went to the king and told him of the threat.

"Never fear, Triboulet," said the king, "if he hangs you, I'll hang him fifteen minutes afterwards."

To this Triboulet replied, "Couldn't your Majesty contrive to hang him fifteen minutes before?"

Two other French fools of distinction were Brusquet and Chicot. The former held the Voffice of jester to three kings, Henri II, Francis II, and Charles IX; while the latter was the friend and fool to Henri III.

The most prominent English court fools or jesters were: Will Sommers, in the reign of Henry VIII; Patch, attached to the household of Cardinal Wolsey; Heywood, at the court of Queen Mary; and Dick Tarleton, at that of Eliz