μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Animal should not try to change his nature.

The wise and the foolish. · Wise and unwise conduct. · Prudence and Discretion. · Prudence in ambition. · view the constellation · filed as J512

Within the index

Filed under Prudence in ambition.

15 finer motifs beneath it
Crab comes ashore: killed by fox Kite tries to neigh like a horse. Loses his voice and gains nothing Camel tries in vain to dance Ass tries in vain to play lyre Wolf tries in vain to be doctor. Only increases patient's suffering Crow tries to imitate partridge's walk. Only spoils his own Mouse, bird, and sausage keep house together. When they exchange duties all goes wrong Ass tries to get a cricket's voice. Asks crickets what they eat to get such a voice. They answer, "dew." He tries it and starves Lizard tries to make himself as long as snake. Kills himself Fox tries to mask as dove, but loses all thoughts of murder Camel and jackal exchange food: camel is led by his good friend to thorny fruit and thorn sticks in his throat Frog wants to be shod like a horse Jackal accidentally made king but joins other jackals in howling at night. Killed Snake wants to act as pet like parrot: killed Frogs want to collect honey like bees
Filed beside it
One should not attempt to change his color One should let well enough alone One should not be too greedy Peacock spends so much time preening for coronation that birds become impatient and make the owl king instead

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