Duke Philip said to his jester one day:
“I challenge you to a trial of wits. If you get the better of me I will give you a thousand ducats. If I get the better of you, you will lose your place.” So they agreed to have the trial on the first day of April.
When the day came the Duke had a great feast and plenty of wine to drink. The jester drank and drank until he appeared to be quite drunk.
“Now, we will try him for drunkenness,” cried the Duke, “and condemn him to be executed.”
So they tried the poor jester for being drunk, though he was not so drunk as they thought he was. They decided he was to be executed. They tied a band around his eyes, and the executioner struck him a light blow on the neck, and they poured hot water on him to make him think he was bleeding to death. It was all a joke, but the jester took it in great earnestness.
Finally the jester fell down as though he were dead. They called to him and said:
“It is a joke! Now get up!” But the jester lay on the floor and they all thought he was really dead.
“He is dead of fright. He thinks we have bled him to death!” and they were all much alarmed at this end of their joke. They sent for a doctor, but the jester could not be aroused.