μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Delay in bringing pardon allows deserved execution. Messenger, ignorant of contents of message, stops to view culprit's execution.

Chance and fate. · Unlucky accidents. · Other unlucky accidents. · view the constellation · filed as N394

Filed across the traditions
  • Italian Novella Rotunda.
Within the index

Filed under Other unlucky accidents.

1 finer motif beneath it
Sign of prisoner's reprieve changed by wind. A flag to be flown in certain way, but wind catches it just at the wrong moment so that prisoner is executed
Filed beside it
Drop of honey causes chain of accidents. Hunter drops honey in a grocery; weasel eats honey; cat chases weasel; dog chases cat; grocer kills dog: all the cause of a bloody feud between villages Fugitive slave takes wrong road and is caught Man falls dead from sudden realization Death from fright. (Cf. N383.3.) Unintentional injuries bring unfortunate consequences. (Sometimes the injuries are mere breeches of tabu.) Lover's wound breaks while he is in bed with mistress. He bleeds to death (or is discovered because of the blood) Feud starts over trifle Blind men accidentally hurt each other. (Trying to kill pig, or the like.) Lover who is detained away beyond stipulated time returns to find fiancée married Robber attempting to steal cow at night seizes thieving tiger. Great fight in stable Man blinded trying to heal girl. Powders blow into his one good eye The sleeping guard. Watchman falls asleep as enemy approaches Accidental self-injury Mistake in interpreting prophecy (oracle) brings misfortune Additional unlucky accidents

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