The Battles Of Wits

One day a boastful magician came to the court of a king.

"Your Majesty, I am the cleverest man in your kingdom," he declared, "I challenge anyone to refute that."

"I refuse it," said the court jester. "Let us have a competition. If you can do with your eyes open, what I can do with my eyes shut, then you win the competition. And I will give you 100 gold coins. But if you can't, then you have to pay me that amount,"

"You are anxious to lose your money, it seems!" laughed the magician. "Let's begin the competition."

"Bring some burning hot sand," the court jester ordered the gaurds. He picked up some of the sand quickly, and threw it on his own dace, but kept his eyes shut.

"Now," he said to the magician, "Can you do the same thing with your eyes open?"

The magician had to say he could not. He didn't want to blind himself!

"Then you lose the competition," said the king. "Pay my clever jester 100 gold coins and always remember - only fools boost, clever people never do!"