Coat O' Clay
by Unknown · from More English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
A smart woman lived in a village. People called her the Wise Woman. She knew many things. She helped sick people. She helped sad people. But she did not like silly people. She did not help them much.
A tall boy came to her door. He had a long nose. He had big eyes. This was the Silly Boy. He felt very silly. He asked the Wise Woman for help. "Can you make me smart?" he asked.
The Wise Woman looked at him. She shook her head. "You are very silly," she said. "You will be silly always. You need a mud coat. Then you will be smart. You will know more than me." He asked, "What is a mud coat?" She did not tell him.
The Silly Boy walked away. He thought about a mud coat. He saw a muddy puddle. "This is a mud coat!" he said. He jumped in the mud. He rolled in the mud. He was very dirty. "Now I am smart!" he said.
The Silly Boy went home. His Mother saw him. She saw the mud coat. "Oh, no!" she said. "You are very dirty. You are still silly." She was not happy. He was not smart.
The Silly Boy walked again. He fell in the water. He got very wet. He climbed out. He saw dry dust. He rolled in the dust. The dust stuck to him. "This is a mud coat!" he said. "Now I am smart!"
A Man on the Horse rode past. He saw the Silly Boy. The boy was in the dust. "You are very silly!" the man said. He laughed. The Silly Boy felt sad. "This is not the right coat," he thought.
The Silly Boy was very sad. He went back to the Wise Woman. She sat at her door. "I tried," he said. "I am still silly. I did not find the right mud coat."
The Wise Woman looked at him. She smiled a little. "The mud coat is the ground," she said. "It is for when you are very old. You will sleep in the ground. Then you will know many things. But you will always be silly. That is okay."
The Silly Boy understood. He was not sad now. He went home. He was still the Silly Boy. He knew he was silly. And that was okay.
Original Story
Coat o' Clay
Once on a time, in the parts of Lindsey, there lived a wise woman. Some said she was a witch, but they said it in a whisper, lest she should overhear and do them a mischief, and truly it was not a thing one could be sure of, for she was never known to hurt any one, which, if she were a witch, she would have been sure to do. But she could tell you what your sickness was, and how to cure it with herbs, and she could mix rare possets that would drive the pain out of you in a twinkling; and she could advise you what to do if your cows were ill, or if you'd got into trouble, and tell the maids whether their sweethearts were likely to be faithful.
But she was ill-pleased if folks questioned her too much or too long, and she sore misliked fools. A many came to her asking foolish things, as was their nature, and to them she never gave counsel—at least of a kind that could aid them much.
Well, one day, as she sat at her door paring potatoes, over the stile and up the path came a tall lad with a long nose and goggle eyes and his hands in his pockets.
"That's a fool, if ever was one, and a fool's luck in his face," said the wise woman to herself with a nod of her head, and threw a potato skin over her left shoulder to keep off ill-chance.
"Good-day, missis," said the fool. "I be come to see thee."
"So thou art," said the wise woman; "I see that. How's all in thy folk this year?"
"Oh, fairly," answered he. "But they say I be a fool."
"Ay, so thou art," nodded she, and threw away a bad potato. "I see that too. But wouldst o' me? I keep no brains for sale."
"Well, see now. Mother says I'll ne'er be wiser all my born days; but folks tell us thou canst do everything. Can't thee teach me a bit, so they'll think me a clever fellow at home?"
"Hout-tout!" said the wise woman; "thou 'rt a bigger fool than I thought. Nay, I can't teach thee nought, lad; but I tell thee summat. Thou 'lt be a fool all thy days till thou gets a coat o' clay; and then thou 'lt know more than me."
"Hi, missis; what sort of a coat's that?" said he.
"That's none o' my business," answered she, "Thou 'st got to find out that."
And she took up her potatoes and went into her house.
The fool took off his cap and scratched his head.
"It's a queer kind of coat to look for, sure-ly," said he, "I never heard of a coat o' clay. But then I be a fool, that's true."
So he walked on till he came to the drain near by, with just a pickle of water and a foot of mud in it.
"Here's muck," said the fool, much pleased, and he got in and rolled in it spluttering. "Hi, yi!" said he—for he had his mouth full—"I've got a coat o' clay now to be sure. I'll go home and tell my mother I'm a wise man and not a fool any longer." And he went on home.
Presently he came to a cottage with a lass at the door.
"Morning, fool," said she; "hast thou been ducked in the horse-pond?"
"Fool yourself," said he, "the wise woman says I'll know more 'n she when I get a coat o' clay, and here it is. Shall I marry thee, lass?"
"Ay," said she, for she thought she'd like a fool for a husband, "when shall it be?"
"I'll come and fetch thee when I've told my mother," said the fool, and he gave her his lucky penny and went on.
When he got home his mother was on the doorstep.
"Mother, I 've got a coat o' clay," said he.
"Coat o' muck," said she; "and what of that?"
"Wise woman said I'd know more than she when I got a coat o' clay," said he, "so I down in the drain and got one, and I'm not a fool any longer."
"Very good," said his mother, "now thou canst get a wife."
"Ay," said he, "I'm going to marry so-an'-so."
"What!" said his mother, "that lass? No, and that thou 'lt not. She's nought but a brat, with ne'er a cow or a cabbage o' her own."
"But I gave her my luck penny," said the fool.
"Then thou 'rt a bigger fool than ever, for all thy coat o' clay!" said his mother, and banged the door in his face.
"Dang it!" said the fool, and scratched his head, "that's not the right sort o' clay sure-ly."
So back he went to the highroad and sat down on the bank of the river close by, looking at the water, which was cool and clear.
By-and-by he fell asleep, and before he knew what he was about—plump—he rolled off into the river with a splash, and scrambled out, dripping like a drowned rat.
"Dear, dear," said he, "I'd better go and get dry in the sun." So up he went to the highroad, and lay down in the dust, rolling about so that the sun should get at him all over.
Presently, when he sat up and looked down at himself, he found that the dust had caked into a sort of skin over his wet clothes till you could not see an inch of them, they were so well covered. "Hi, yi!" said he, "here's a coat o' clay ready made, and a fine one. See now, I'm a clever fellow this time sure-ly, for I've found what I wanted without looking for it! Wow, but it's a fine feeling to be so smart!"
And he sat and scratched his head, and thought about his own cleverness.
But all of a sudden, round the corner came the squire on horseback, full gallop, as if the boggles were after him; but the fool had to jump, even though the squire pulled his horse back on his haunches.
"What the dickens," said the squire, "do you mean by lying in the middle of the road like that?"
"Well, master," said the fool, "I fell into the water and got wet, so I lay down in the road to get dry; and I lay down a fool an' got up a wise man."
"How's that?" said the squire.
So the fool told him about the wise woman and the coat o' clay.
"Ah, ah!" laughed the squire, "whoever heard of a wise man lying in the middle of the highroad to be ridden over? Lad, take my word for it, you are a bigger fool than ever," and he rode on laughing.
"Dang it!" said the fool, as he scratched his head. "I've not got the right sort of coat yet, then." And he choked and spluttered in the dust that the squire's horse had raised.
So on he went in a melancholy mood till he came to an inn, and the landlord at his door smoking.
"Well, fool," said he, "thou 'rt fine and dirty."
"Ay," said the fool, "I be dirty outside an' dusty in, but it's not the right thing yet."
And he told the landlord all about the wise woman and the coat o' clay.
"Hout-tout!" said the landlord, with a wink. "I know what's wrong. Thou 'st got a skin o' dirt outside and all dry dust inside. Thou must moisten it, lad, with a good drink, and then thou 'lt have a real all-over coat o' clay."
"Hi," said the fool, "that's a good word."
So down he sat and began to drink. But it was wonderful how much liquor it took to moisten so much dust; and each time he got to the bottom of the pot he found he was still dry. At last he began to feel very merry and pleased with himself.
"Hi, yi!" said he. "I've got a real coat o' clay now outside and in—what a difference it do make, to be sure. I feel another man now—so smart."
And he told the landlord he was certainly a wise man now, though he couldn't speak over-distinctly after drinking so much. So up he got, and thought he would go home and tell his mother she hadn't a fool for a son any more.
But just as he was trying to get through the inn-door which would scarcely keep still long enough for him to find it, up came the landlord and caught him by the sleeve.
"See here, master," said he, "thou hasn't paid for thy score—where's thy money?"
"Haven't any!" said the fool, and pulled out his pockets to show they were empty.
"What!" said the landlord, and swore; "thou 'st drunk all my liquor and haven't got nought to pay for it with!"
"Hi!" said the fool. "You told me to drink so as to get a coat o' clay; but as I'm a wise man now I don't mind helping thee along in the world a bit, for though I'm a smart fellow I'm not too proud to my friends."
"Wise man! smart fellow!" said the landlord, "and help me along, wilt thee? Dang it! thou 'rt the biggest fool I ever saw, and it's I'll help thee first—out o' this!"
And he kicked him out of the door into the road and swore at him.
"Hum," said the fool, as he lay in the dust, "I'm not so wise as I thought. I guess I'll go back to the wise woman and tell her there's a screw loose somewhere."
So up he got and went along to her house, and found her sitting at the door.
"So thou 'rt come back," said she, with a nod. "What dost thou want with me now?"
So he sat down and told her how he'd tried to get a coat o' clay, and he wasn't any wiser for all of it.
"No," said the wise woman, "thou 'rt a bigger fool than ever, my lad."
"So they all say," sighed the fool; "but where can I get the right sort of coat o' clay, then, missis?"
"When thou 'rt done with this world, and thy folk put thee in the ground," said the wise woman. "That's the only coat o' clay as 'll make such as thee wise, lad. Born a fool, die a fool, and be a fool thy life long, and that's the truth!"
And she went into the house and shut the door.
"Dang it," said the fool. "I must tell my mother she was right after all, and that she'll never have a wise man for a son!"
And he went off home.
Story DNA
Moral
True wisdom is not something that can be acquired superficially or through simple instruction; some inherent traits, like foolishness, are lifelong.
Plot Summary
A foolish lad seeks wisdom from a wise woman, who cryptically tells him he'll be wise only when he gets a "coat o' clay." The fool repeatedly attempts to acquire this 'coat' through literal means—rolling in mud, covering himself in dust, and drinking excessively—each time believing he has become clever, only to be ridiculed or exploited by others. After each failed attempt, he returns to the wise woman, who finally reveals that the true "coat o' clay" is the earth of his grave, signifying that he is destined to remain a fool his entire life. The fool, accepting his fate, goes home.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hopeful expectation to repeated disappointment to resignation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-industrial, rural society where local 'wise women' served as informal advisors and healers, and where social standing was clearly defined.
Plot Beats (12)
- A wise woman, who helps people but dislikes fools, is introduced.
- A foolish lad approaches the wise woman, asking how he can become clever.
- The wise woman tells him he will be a fool until he gets a "coat o' clay," then he'll know more than her, but won't explain what it is.
- The fool, taking the instruction literally, rolls in a muddy drain, believing he has acquired the coat and is now wise.
- He proposes marriage to a lass, but his mother calls him a bigger fool for giving away his lucky penny and choosing a poor bride.
- The fool falls into a river, then rolls in road dust to dry, thinking this new layer is the correct "coat o' clay" and he is now smart.
- A squire rides by and calls him a bigger fool for lying in the road.
- The fool goes to an inn, where the landlord suggests drinking to moisten his 'dusty' inside for a true "coat o' clay."
- After drinking excessively, the fool believes he is wise but is kicked out by the landlord for not paying.
- Disheartened, the fool returns to the wise woman, admitting his attempts have failed.
- The wise woman explains that the only "coat o' clay" that will make him wise is the earth when he is buried, confirming he will die a fool.
- The fool accepts his inherent foolishness and returns home.
Characters
The Wise Woman
A woman of advanced age, likely with the weathered hands of someone accustomed to working with herbs and tending to the needs of a rural community. Her build is probably sturdy, reflecting a life of practical labor.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a rural English wise woman of an unspecified historical period, likely 18th-19th century. She would wear a plain, long-sleeved linen or wool gown in muted earth tones (brown, grey, dark green), possibly with a simple apron over it. Her shoes would be sturdy, low-heeled leather or wooden clogs for comfort and durability.
Wants: To live her life peacefully, offering counsel to those genuinely in need and capable of understanding, while avoiding unnecessary bother from fools.
Flaw: Her impatience with fools and her direct, sometimes harsh, manner of speaking can be off-putting or misunderstood.
She remains unchanged, serving as a static source of truth for the Fool. Her wisdom is constant, while the Fool's understanding evolves (or fails to).
Wise, pragmatic, impatient with foolishness, observant, direct, and somewhat cynical. She offers practical advice but has little tolerance for those who can't grasp simple truths.
The Fool
A tall, gangly young man with an awkward build. His movements are likely uncoordinated and clumsy, reflecting his lack of worldly wisdom.
Attire: Typical peasant attire for a young man in rural England (18th-19th century). He would wear a coarse linen or homespun wool shirt, possibly a worn waistcoat, and sturdy breeches or trousers in muted colors like brown or grey. His shoes would be practical, well-worn leather boots or heavy clogs. His hands are often in his pockets, indicating a casual, somewhat aimless demeanor.
Wants: To become wise and shed his reputation as a fool, primarily to gain respect from his mother and others.
Flaw: Extreme literal-mindedness, inability to understand metaphor or abstract concepts, and a complete lack of common sense.
He attempts to gain wisdom through various literal interpretations of the 'coat o' clay' but ultimately fails to understand the metaphorical meaning, ending the story as still a fool, though perhaps with a slightly better understanding of his own limitations.
Gullible, naive, literal-minded, easily pleased, persistent in his quest for wisdom, but fundamentally lacking in common sense. He is good-natured but easily misled.
The Mother
A practical, no-nonsense woman, likely of a sturdy build, reflecting her life as a rural mother.
Attire: Simple, functional peasant clothing: a plain, long-sleeved dress in a dark, practical color (e.g., dark blue or brown linen), possibly with a sturdy apron. Her attire would be clean but well-worn.
Wants: To see her son become self-sufficient and make sensible choices, though she has little hope for it.
Flaw: Her harshness and lack of patience with her son's limitations.
Remains unchanged, serving as a consistent voice of reality for the Fool.
Pragmatic, direct, critical, realistic, and somewhat harsh. She is exasperated by her son's foolishness.
The Lass
A young, likely unassuming village girl, probably of a slender build.
Attire: Simple, clean peasant dress, perhaps a light-colored linen smock with a patterned apron, typical of a young woman in rural England.
Wants: To find a husband, even if he is a fool, seeing it as a simple path to marriage.
Flaw: Her willingness to marry a known fool, indicating a lack of discernment or desperation.
A brief encounter that highlights the Fool's literal-mindedness and his mother's practicality.
Opportunistic, somewhat naive, easily swayed by the prospect of marriage (even to a fool), and perhaps a bit playful.
The Squire
A man of authority and wealth, likely well-fed and robust, befitting his status as a landowner.
Attire: Fine riding attire of the 18th-19th century English gentry: a tailored wool riding coat (e.g., dark green or brown), breeches, polished leather riding boots, and a crisp linen shirt with a cravat. He would likely wear a tricorn hat or a riding cap.
Wants: To go about his business without interruption, maintaining his social status and authority.
Flaw: His arrogance and dismissiveness of those he considers beneath him.
Serves as another character who confirms the Fool's lack of wisdom, reinforcing the story's central theme.
Haughty, dismissive, easily amused by the Fool's antics, but also quick to anger when inconvenienced. He embodies the upper class's view of the lower class.
The Landlord
A stout, perhaps slightly portly man, typical of an innkeeper who enjoys his own wares.
Attire: Practical, sturdy innkeeper's attire: a coarse linen shirt, a leather or wool waistcoat, dark trousers, and a heavy apron. His clothes might be a bit stained from his work.
Wants: To run his inn profitably and ensure he is paid for his services.
Flaw: His willingness to exploit others for profit.
Serves as another character who exploits the Fool's literal interpretation of 'wisdom' for his own gain, further illustrating the Fool's unchanging nature.
Opportunistic, cunning, jovial but quick to anger when cheated, and somewhat cynical. He is willing to take advantage of the Fool's naivety.
Locations
Wise Woman's Cottage Door
The entrance to a wise woman's cottage in the Lindsey region, likely a simple, rustic dwelling. The wise woman sits just outside, paring potatoes, with a path leading up to it and a stile nearby.
Mood: Mysterious, slightly foreboding due to whispers about the wise woman, but also mundane with the potato paring.
The fool first encounters the wise woman and receives the enigmatic prophecy about the 'coat o' clay'.
Roadside Drain
A roadside drain or ditch, containing only a small amount of water and about a foot of thick mud.
Mood: Grubby, unappealing, but seen as a place of opportunity by the fool.
The fool attempts to acquire his first 'coat o' clay' by rolling in the mud.
Highroad River Bank
The bank of a cool, clear river, adjacent to a highroad. The ground is dusty.
Mood: Peaceful and natural by the river, but quickly becomes dusty and chaotic on the road.
The fool falls into the river, then rolls in the dust of the highroad, creating his second 'coat o' clay'. He is then nearly run over by the squire.
Village Inn
A bustling village inn with a landlord smoking at the door. Inside, there are pots of liquor.
Mood: Lively, convivial, but ultimately leads to trouble for the fool.
The fool attempts to get his third 'coat o' clay' by drinking, leading to him being kicked out for not paying.