μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Pound of flesh. (Fleischpfand.) Literal pleading frees man from pound of flesh contract. Contract does not give the right to shed blood. Impossible, therefore, to carry out.

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever persons and acts. · Cleverness in the law court. · Clever pleading. · view the constellation · filed as J1161.2

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda.
  • general *Type 890
  • general Köhler-Bolte I 211f.
  • general Wesselski Mönchslatein 172 No. 138
  • general *Wesselski Märchen 252 No. 61
  • general *Chauvin VIII 200ff. No. 245
  • general *Taylor Hdwb. d. Märchens s. v. "Fleischpfand"
  • general Oesterley No. 195
  • general Dunlop-Liebrecht 262
  • general JEGPh. XXX (1931) 348–60
  • general Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice
Within the index

Filed under Literal pleading: letter of law has been met.

Filed beside it
The three joint depositors may have their money back when all demand it. Money is left by three joint depositors subject to their joint order. It is stolen by one. When the banker is sued he agrees to give up the money when he receives joint order from all three Trespasser's defense: standing on his own land. Man has earth from his own land in his shoes Money in the stick. Before swearing, the cheater hands a stick containing the stolen money to the man he has stolen it from. He then swears that he has repaid it Literal penance: boy outwits pope. For three years not to drink wine, not to lie in bed, nor sleep with a prostitute. He goes to a convent, sleeps on eider down, and sleeps with the nuns. (God's daughters). When the pope condemns him he says he will go to his brother-in-law (Christ: he has wedded God's daughters). (Cf. J1764.5.) Barber paid to change color of woman's face burns her with acid. He has fulfilled contract Ruler forbids blacksmith to reveal solution of riddle unless he has seen him 100 times. Smith reveals the solution on receipt of 100 crowns bearing the ruler's likeness Ruler orders doctor to wear his hair and his robe "not too long and not too short". Has both his hair and his cloak cut half short and half long Drunk philosopher wagers that he can drink the ocean dry. Agrees to do so if the other will hold back streams emptying into the ocean. Agreed to drink only the ocean Man tells servant that he may have anything he can take with his teeth (eat). Servant takes master's cape with his teeth Thief makes it fall out that he has but taken what has been given him (he has followed literal instructions)
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “fleischpfand” · wander