μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
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Filed under Escape by false plea. A captive makes a request or proposes an action that permits him eventually to escape.

8 finer motifs beneath it
Wife accused of plan to escape weeps and threatens suicide so as to allay suspicion and escapeMonkey in danger on bridge of crocodiles pretends that the king has ordered them countedEscape from robbers by pretending to be going the same way but separating at the first opportunityMonkey saved from trap by feigning marriageRespite while captor acts as umpire between captivesMurder feigned to effect escape. Knight is refused permission to leave city. He rushes to city gates and pretends that he has just killed a public enemy. Is aided in his escapeA handy name. Thief is jailed for stealing a quarter of veal. Sends man named "Calf" to captor. "I took only one quarter of veal, but I am sending you a whole calf." Is set freeA plea for a larger audience. Fox asks cock to come down from a tree and sing for him. Cock asks fox to awake his companion, a dog, first. Dog kills fox
Filed beside it
Escape by equivocal oath. (Cf. K475.)Respite from death granted until particular act is performed"Wait till I get fat." Captured person (animal) persuades his captor to wait and fatten him before eating himExecutioner kept busy or interested until rescue comes. Sometimes until he changes his mindDeath cheated by moving bed. The man who has chosen Death as his godfather has his bed turned around when he sees Death standing at the foot of his bed. He thus escapes deathMan allowed to pick out tree to be hanged on. Cannot find oneEscape by persuading captor to talkRat persuades cat to wash face before eating: escapesEscape because of plea that leaves means of egress openThumbling in animal's belly persuades latter to go to his father's house for plunder: rescuedAss begs wolf to pull thorn out of foot before eating him: kicks wolf in mouthEscape by pretending to perform errand (do work) for captorEscape by pretending to dance so as to be untiedEscape from captor by means of flatteryEscape by asserting that captor will have ill luck after killing victimEscape by false prophecy: if corpses are buried in city, it will become a ruin: king releases condemned man

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