"
"That is true," she thought, as she went away; "but any fool could
have told me that. This wise man is a fraud; even my husband is as
wise as he."
Then she stopped short and slapped her hand against her forehead.
"Why," she cried, "I will make a Wise Man of Perry, my husband, and
then he can earn money without working!"
So she went to her husband and said,
"Get up, Perry Smith, and wash yourself; for I am going to make a Wise
Man of you."
"I won't," he replied.
"You will," she declared, "for it is the easiest way to earn money I
have ever discovered."
Then she took a stick and beat him so fiercely that at last he got up,
and agreed to do as she said.
She washed his long beard until it was as white as snow, and she
shaved his head to make him look bald and venerable. Then she brought
him a flowing black robe with a girdle at the middle; and when he was
dressed, he looked fully as wise as either Socrates or Sophocles.
"You must have a new name," she said, "for no one will ever believe
that Perry Smith is a Wise Man. So I shall hereafter call you
Pericles, the Wisest Man of Gotham!"
She then led him into the streets, and to all they met she declared,
"This is Pericles, the wisest man in the world."
"What does he know?" they asked.
"Everything, and much else," she replied.
Then came a carter, and putting a piece of money in the hand of
Pericles, he enquired,
"Pray tell me of your wisdom what is wrong with my mare?"
"How should I know?" asked Pericles.
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