μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 1reference

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • India*Thompson-Balys.
Within the index

Filed under Accidental discovery of crime.

4 finer motifs beneath it
Criminal accidentally detected: "that is the first" – sham wise man. The sham wise man employed to detect theft is feasted. As the servants enter with food he remarks to his wife, "That is the first" (course). (Or allowed to feast for three days remarks at end of first day "That is the first.") The servants, thinking they are detected, confessCriminal accidentally detected: "That is the first" – sleepy woman counting her yawns. Robber hearing her flees. (Cf. N612.)Numskull bridegroom unwittingly sings out phrases that thieves mistake to mean he has detected themThief hears owner of house singing "Bore and throw out the earth" and thinks himself detected. Offers owner money to purchase his silence
Filed beside it
Numskull talks to himself and frightens robbers awayNumskull bribed to keep silent in elephant sale when he manifests interest, though utterly ignorantCane as evidence of robbery. A man believing that he has killed a robber forgets his cane. Later finds it in robber's houseMurder revealed to thieves climbing into bankImpostor accidentally gives king talking bed which reveals his identityOfficer comes accidentally to the same building where the fugitive sleeps
Travels with
Woman thinks calf's bleating has accused her of stealing from harvest. Begs that people not believe what calf said. (Cf. N611.)
Carried in tale types

wander