μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The two presents to the king: the beet and the horse. A farmer takes an extraordinary beet as present to the king and receives a large reward. His companion is eager for a reward and leads a handsome steed to the palace. The king rewards him with the beet.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Foolish imitation. · Types of foolish imitation. · view the constellation · filed as J2415.1

Filed across the traditions
  • England Baughman
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda
  • India Thompson-Balys
  • West Indies Flowers 490.
  • general *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 798
  • general BP III 188ff., *191
  • general *Gaster Exempla 190 No. 25
  • general Köhler-Bolte I 136
Within the index

Filed under Foolish imitation of lucky man. Because one man has had good luck a numskull imitates and thinks he will have equal luck. He is disappointed.

2 finer motifs beneath it
The gift of the donkey. Ruler rewards the gift of a clever donkey. Greedy nobleman seeking a like reward sends ruler two donkeys in rich trappings. Ruler advises the donor that he is sorry that his gift will deprive him of worthy companionship The two presents to the king: two poems. A famous poet presented to the king some poems and was richly rewarded. Another poet likewise gave the king some poetry. The king gave him the first poet's verses
Filed beside it
Picking the louse and the flea. One man rewarded with forty crowns for picking louse from king's robe. Imitator given forty lashes for picking flea Crab tries to imitate bird who lays egg in pot of boiling water. Falls in instead of being rewarded Fairies help forgotten child, but strangle child trying to imitate good luck Ascetic imitates Brahmin's practices. Brahmin goes to heaven, ascetic to hell Pig sees goat return decked with ornaments and plenty of food; goes out and imitates trick played by goat but is beaten instead A snake for the real daughter. Stepdaughter, married to a snake, appears decorated with jewels. Stepmother desires a snake be procured for her daughter. She is swallowed instead
Carried in tale types

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