The fee used up before the main question is reached. A man with an unsolved question seeks the help of a wit. The latter refuses to answer unless paid. He takes small fees for each easy question leading up to the principal question. Before reaching that point the fee is exhausted, and the question remains unanswered — Mythoi

Motif

The fee used up before the main question is reached. A man with an unsolved question seeks the help of a wit. The latter refuses to answer unless paid. He takes small fees for each easy question leading up to the principal question. Before reaching that point the fee is exhausted, and the question remains unanswered.

Deceptions. · Deceptive bargains. · Other deceptive bargains. · view the constellation · filed as K265

Cited in the index

general Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 214 No. 39.

Within the index

Filed under Other deceptive bargains.

Filed beside it

Deceptive damage claims Selling oneself and escaping Profitable league made with both parties to a quarrel Goods misappropriated Exorbitant price demanded and received Deceptive wages Stolen property sold to its owner The price of a lump of gold. A trickster asks a goldsmith what he would pay for a lump of gold of a certain size. Believing that the man has such a lump, the goldsmith pays him a large sum The priest made sick of his bargain: three words at the grave. A poor man in return for a steer gets permission from the priest to speak three words at the burial of his enemy, the rich man. Priest: "From earth are you come." Man: "Now the steer is dead." Priest: "In earth shall you remain." Man: "Father, do you want the meat?" Priest: "I wish you were in hell!" etc Agreement not to scratch. In talking the trickster makes gestures and scratches without detection Deceptive wager New bags for old! Recovery of the old bag (containing money or having magic power) which the stupid wife has given away. The husband exchanges a new bag for it Counting out pay. Hole in the hat and hat over a pit Dupe denied food until hands are clean. Grass burned around food makes continued washings unavailing Trickster sells what is not his to sell Trickster persuades girl to reveal hidden gold by promising to make it into ornaments

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