The Three Numskulls of Palermo—Li tri minchiuna di Palermu

Once upon a time in Palermo, there were three numskulls who werefighting over which one of them was the biggest fool of all. Whoeverwon the contest was to be rewarded with an old worn-out coat they had found, and each one wanted it. As they were fighting, along came a man from out of town, who asked,

“What’s the problem, friends? Why are you hitting one another?” “We’ve found a coat,” one of them replied, “and whichever of us is the

biggest fool here gets to keep it. And I say it’s mine because I’m the biggest fool!”