17th century, dramatic character, England, Europe, primary source, quotes
A marvelous line from As You Like It demonstrating the power of the fool to see and expose the folly of the allegedly wise with even just a passing glance. The wiseman’s folly is anatomiz’d / Even by the squand’ring glances of the fool. Source:...
18th century, England, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Stuart
Court account books in Europe provide a rich seam of information on the material care and remuneration paid to jesters. This entry, however, is the first I have seen which amounts to an IOU. The ‘late King William’ is clearly William III (better known as...
19th century, Europe, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes
This Italian quotation suggests that in a crazy world the only sane person is the one who plays the fool. It reminds me of a saying by an English clown that the fool stands on his head and sees the world the right way up. These are late echoes of a European medieval...
20th century, dramatic character, Europe, German, Germany, primary source, quotes
An early 20th century German play highlights the twin identity playing out in each of us. Ah, if we were but wise enough to see it.  Und doch nenn ich sofort euch zwei GestaltenDie unbotmäßig in euch allen walten:Ein kleiner König und ein grosser Tor.And yet I name...
fictive fool, folk fool, Ireland, Irish, primary source, quotes, stories
Meet Mael and Mlithe and Admlithe in an astonishing description of three jesters in the ‘Room of the Mimes’, from an Irish mythological cycle. Note that it is impossible not to laugh when you seen them regardless of your state of mind, and that the king...
16th century, German, Germany, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
There are many accounts of jesters intervening to rein in the crapulence of the king. In this case the curiously named Peter Bearskin (Peter Bärenhaut), jester to Landgrave Philip the Magnanimous of Hesse (1509-67), cured ruler-boozing by encouraging him to take a...
17th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
This account of the French jester Marais interceding, on behalf of two court musicians, is strikingly similar to an anecdote told about a Chinese jester some 500 years before at the court of Song Huizong 宋徽宗 (r. 1100-26). In both cases, it was a question of half-pay,...
Europe, fictive fool, Ireland, Irish, primary source, quotes
From the Ulster Cycle in Irish mythology, we are introduced to Rocmid, jester of the king of Ulster Conchobar / Conchubar. ‘I saw another man with Conchubar,’ said Mac Roth, ‘and he having a smooth, dark face, and white eyes in his head; a long...
