THE GREATEST FOOL OF ALL

Gaius Cassius was a notorious and infamous Fool among men and the women too would often smile slyly at the mention of his name. He prided himself greatly for his fame and many times boasted that no greater fool than he walked and breathed and roamed freely upon the land. But it happened like this say them that know, that a Wise Man mentioned to Gaius Cassius that in the Village by the River there was an even greater fool than he at large upon the land who boasting loudly
to all who would listen of his numerous and ridiculous acts of foolishness.
At this, Gaius Cassius grew mad with rage, and he set off at once in search of this self-styled fool, this charlatan, to set him straight about just who was the greatest Fool in the land. But when Gaius Cassius came at last to the Village by the River, the people there told him that their Fool had set out that very morning on a mysterious quest, but that if he moved very quickly, he might still catch up with him, in the town with its gates shut tight against the coming storm. So Gaius Cassius hurried his pace and soon indeed he came upon the town with its gates shut tight against the coming storm. But the people there told him that their Fool had fled in haste for his very life that same morning, convinced that his earthly existence was in grave peril. But, they added, he might still be able to catch up with him in the town bordering the ancient forest.
So Gaius Cassius traveled late into the night so eager was he to catch this impostor who had clearly been forewarned of his coming and who now fled from the wrath of Gaius Cassius, the true and greatest Fool in the land. But in the town bordering the forest, Gaius Cassius was told that the man he sought had gone to visit his wife in the village where a wise man ruled the city on top of a hill. So Gaius Cassius spent the last of his money on a fleet horse, so that he might catch this impertinent and would-be Fool while he slept, and so be done with him and all this ridiculous
running about from place to place. And indeed, when Gaius Cassius did finally approach the city on top of a hill where a wise man ruled, the Sun had just begun to rise, and the first foul had not yet crowed the day and all the townspeople were still asleep in the company of their dreams.
So Gaius Cassius crossed the river and climbed the hill and entered the City Gate, where he passed the Wise Man just as he was coming out of his house.
“Ah, I see it is you at last!” cried the wise man. “We heard you were coming. And well indeed I know the man you seek. Proceed to the last house on this street.
I am quite certain that when you enter that house, the Fool will be inside with his wife.”
So Gaius Cassius crept quietly to the silent house. And he snuck with the stealth of a sly fox through an open window ready to catch this fool and show him finally and for all time who the greatest Fool of all fools in the land might truly be. But then, Gaius Cassius heard the familiar laughter of a woman near by.
And there indeed did Gaius Cassius behold his own wife standing before him,
and his own open window, and his own dark and silent house. And then the Wise Man, who ruled the village on the hill, bordering and great and ancient forest by the river
that had its gates shut tight against a coming storm entered the house, shaking with laughter
and wiping the tears of mirth from his eyes.
“And now you see, Gaius Cassius,” he said, “Your quest has most certainly found the greatest success! And you shall never again suffer any rivals to your throne. For most assuredly,
there is no greater Fool at large in the land, than you!.”