μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Within the index

Filed under Debtor refuses to pay his debt.

3 finer motifs beneath it
Mutual agreement to sacrifice family members in famine. Trickster refuses to carry out his part of the bargainMutual agreement to divide food. Trickster eats other's food and then refuses to divide his ownThe dog refuses to help the wolf. A farmer plans to kill a faithful old dog. The wolf makes a plan to save the dog. The latter is to rescue the farmer's child from the wolf. The plan succeeds and the dog is rewarded. The wolf in return wants to steal the farmer's sheep. The dog refuses his assistance
Filed beside it
Reward for accomplishment of task deceptively withheldRefusal to make sacrifice after need is past. In distress a person promises a sacrifice to a god (saint) but disregards the promise when the danger passesPayment of money to the devil impossible, since debtor learns that the devil is deadDebt with worthless bond repudiatedFalse offer to return goods in place of paymentDebtor tells creditor that he has had his reward in the hope of paymentToad receives water from frog; refuses earth in returnServant refused payment because of single mistakeMan refuses to pay murderer for killing and kills himFish promised in return for bacon. Later: "Drink up the river, you shall then have fish. All the fishes there are mine."Debt to be paid "tomorrow". Tomorrow never comesAgreement to leave sum of money on coffin of friend. One puts on his share in cash; other makes out a check for the total amount and takes cash left by the otherTo pay beggar for standing in tank all night. Beggar sees lights in temple. Payment refused since beggar has thus warmed himselfTrickster cheats by pretending deafness. Palm rat, when asked to throw down nuts according to bargain, replies that he is deaf when eating

wander