μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The dishes of the same flavor. Man thus shown that one woman is like another and dissuaded from his amorous purpose.

The wise and the foolish. · Acquisition and possession of wisdom (knowledge). · Wisdom (knowledge) taught by parable. · view the constellation · filed as J81

Filed across the traditions
  • Russian Andrejev No. *981 (II)
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
  • general *Basset 1001 Contes II 25
  • general *Wesselski Märchen 209
  • general Boccaccio Decameron I No. 5 (Lee 17), Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *981
Within the index

Filed under Wisdom (knowledge) taught by parable.

4 finer motifs beneath it
Monotony of restriction to one's favorite food. Counselor refuses to arrange extramarital pleasures for his lord. Ruler feeds him only his favorite food until the counselor protests the monotony. Ruler drives home his point Society is like a dish: must be properly mixed. Plates having salt, pepper, fish, etc. not edible without mixing To each his appropriate food. Woman gives morsel of various foods to each guest, with explanation Parable comparing canons to a stew made of their individual meals
Filed beside it
Three thousand parables of Solomon Minister taught by parable to make obeisance to the new king Priest walks in the mud. Congregation follows evil ways of priest. He walks in mud but they will not follow him. He thus shows them the folly of following his evil ways The gray and the black hairs: enemies reconciled. Duke summons two inveterate enemies. Has them tear out one of his hairs, one a gray, the other a black. Both pain him equally. He shows how their quarrels hurt him. They are reconciled Picking up water thrown on ground no harder than the undoing of slander Chair over fiery pit as figure of precariousness of life Rocks falling together and thread entering needle's eye suggest sexual intercourse: hence its beginning Men shamed for their cowardice by woman standing naked before them. (Usually connected with Jus Primae Noctis [T161]) Wisdom taught by parable: cloud which gives rain to thirsting crops or drops it in ocean Monk shames accuser by telling parable. Wind, Water, and Modesty (Sense of Shame). The first two give their addresses but the third says she has no address as no one wants her Boy saves life by showing father foolishness of plowing up his crop. Father has been persuaded to kill child Difficulty of thinking of God when occupied with worldly affairs. Shown by test: holy man made to carry milk without spilling. So occupied he forgets to think of God Fool digs holes in edge of road. Only those departing from straight path will fall in. Truth of principle later seen Man kills nest of ants: so God punishes man. (Cf. J225.0.4.) Lotus flower flourishes as long as it is in water: king should not leave castle Stones shaken in jar: difficulty in learning many dialects
Carried in tale types

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