μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Within the index

Filed under Clever dealing with a king.

2 finer motifs beneath it
King's attention attracted by fighting when it cannot be otherwise gainedUnjust action brought to inform king of judge's malfeasance. Husband is imprisoned and wife detained by judge. She accuses her husband of having stolen her
Filed beside it
Clever ways of breaking bad news to a king, who will kill bearer of bad tidingsKing's capriciousness censured: the ass in the stream. A nobleman seeing an ass letting water in a river remarks that it reminds him of his king. He explains to the king that just as the ass puts water where it is already plentiful, so the king awards wealth where it is not needed. The king says that it is all in the nature of the nobleman's fate. Subsequent events prove thisOne-eyed king has rocks counted on pain of death. Clever man avoids saying "one" (which king considers a curse on his one eye) by saying that first is the rock that must not be called by nameAbbot gives king unique concert. Separates hogs into tenors, bassos, etc. So arranges them that when he pricks them they render a tunePoet goes to king to complain of destruction of his dwelling. King requires story. Poet recites list, ending with account of the destruction of his dun. Reparation grantedClever hero feigns dullness so as to avenge himself on kingSon of God to see king. When steadily unable to be admitted to presence of a king, a clever man demands an interview saying he is the son of God come down to earth and will condescend to see the king. When asked to show the king Heaven and the path to it, the pretender retorts that when he was sent down by the Father, he was told to look to matters relating to this earth

wander