Fools try to frighten one another, but get scared themselves and both flee — Mythoi

Motif

Fools try to frighten one another, but get scared themselves and both flee.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Cowardly fools. · Cowardly fool. · view the constellation · filed as J2632

Filed across the traditions

Lithuanian Balys Index No. 3444
general Legends Nos. 867, 869f.

Within the index

Filed under Cowardly fool.

Filed beside it

Person frightened into falling down a cliff The attack on the hare (crayfish). Seven men make strenuous plans for the attack on the fierce animal. One screams with fright and the animal runs away. (Cf. J1736.1.) Surrender to the rake. Fool steps on a rake and falls down crying, "I surrender!" Fools frightened by stirring of an animal Fright at the creaking of a wheelbarrow The hawk frightened at the snipe's bill. The snipe: "It is a bill, but it is good for nothing (weak)." The hawk is no longer afraid Afraid of his knees. A man awakes with his knees in the air. He thinks the knees are a lion and splits them with his axe The sleeper answers for the dead man. A man falls asleep by a gallows. A company of wags come and invite the dead man on the gallows to accompany them. The sleeper awakes with a start and says, "I'll come at once." The wags flee in terror The dead girl frightens father and lover. The girl dies. The lover, thinking that she is asleep, talks to her. When he hears the father speak of her as dead he is frightened that he has talked to the dead. The father hears the lover talk and thinks that it is the girl's spirit. Both flee Fool frightened by stirring of the wind. Falls on a knife and kills himself Tailor puts on thimble as protection from slug Fright at animals' eyes in the dark Coward is frightened when clothing catches on thistle. (Cf. N384.2.) Coward boasts of what he would have done after danger is over Frightened by fireworks Boastful coward frightened when he sees strong adversaries. Hides in trousers of plowman who fights the men

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