μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Compassionate executioner. A servant charged with killing the hero (heroine) arranges the escape of the latter.

Deceptions. · Escape by deception. · Death order evaded. · view the constellation · filed as K512

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • English Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne)
  • Irish MacCulloch Celtic 74
  • Italian Boccaccio Decameron II No. 9 (Lee 56), Basile Pentamerone II No. 6, III No. 2
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Chinese Eberhard FFC CXX 95 No. 53.
Within the index

Filed under Death order evaded.

6 finer motifs beneath it
Compassionate executioners. Slaves charged with killing (drowning) the infant heroine are touched by her "laughing smile" and put her in a calfshed (hollow tree), where she is found by cowherds, who rear her "Prince will soon want me back." Executioner persuaded to let hero go Compassionate executioner: bloody coat. A servant charged with killing the hero smears the latter's coat with the blood of an animal as proof of the execution and lets the hero escape Compassionate executioner: substituted heart. A servant charged with killing the hero (heroine) substitutes an animal, whose heart he takes to his master as proof of the execution Compassionate executioner: feigns to torture victim Compassionate executioner: sleeping potion supplied instead of poison
Filed beside it
Uriah letter changed. Falsified order of execution. A messenger is sent with a letter ordering the recipient to kill the bearer. On the way the letter is changed so that the bearer is honored Bribed executioner releases culprit Disguise as girl to avoid execution Escape by hiding
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Father orders son assassinated. (Cf. K512.)
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “compassionate” · wander