Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav, from “Jewish Wisdom” by Joseph Telushkin

Once there was a prince who fell into the delusion of thinking he was a rooster. He took off all his clothes, sat under the table, and refused to eat any food but corn seeds. The king sent for many doctors and many specialists, but none of them could cure him. Finally, a wise man took off his clothes, crawled under the table and began to munch on corn seeds. The prince looked at him suspiciously and said: “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” The wise man answered: “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” “I am a rooster,” answered the prince belligerently. “Oh really? So am I,” answered the wise man quietly. The two of them sat together under the table until they became accustomed to each other. When the wise man felt that the prince was used to his presence, he signaled for some clothing. He put on the clothing, and then he said to the prince: “Don’t think that roosters can’t wear clothing if they want to. A rooster can wear clothes and be a perfectly good rooster just the same.” The prince thought about this for a while, and then he too agreed to put on clothes. Another time, the wise man signaled to have food put under the table. The prince became alarmed and said: “What are you doing?” The wise man reassured him: “Don’t be upset. A rooster can eat the food that human beings eat if he wants to, and still be a good rooster.” The prince considered this statement for a time, and then he too signaled for food. Then the wise man said to the prince: “Do you think that a rooster can get up and walk around if he wants to and still be a good rooster?” The prince considered these words for a time, and then he followed the wise man up from the table, and began to walk. After he began dressing like a person, eating like a person, he gradually recovered his senses and begin to live like a person. [Retold by Jack Riemer]