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Motifs — first 20 of 73
- What creature has sweetest blood: gnat's tongue torn out. Assembly to decide who has the sweetest blood so that it may be the food for the serpent. Gnat discovers that man has the sweetest blood. Rather than let him tell this secret, swallow tears out his tongue. Gnat can only buzz. (Cf. A2344.2, A2426.3.2.) A2236.1
- Female rattlesnakes mate with black snakes rather than with male rattlesnakes. B754.3.1
- Lost parson says he would rather have devil for guide than clerk who is with him. Devil appears, causes death of both. C12.5.4
- Test of friendship: substitute as murderer. A man in misery gives himself up as a murderer rather than endure further misery. His friend tries to take on himself the guilt and be substituted. The real murderer, touched by the generosity, confesses. H1558.2
- "Take side road rather than main one where three roads meet": counsel proved wise by experience. J21.5.2
- Ruler learns lesson from the example of an exiled king. Rewards the exile rather than a successful merchant. J55
- Wisdom from fool: make peace before rather than after the war. J156.1
- Army faces enemy rather than the anger of their king who would kill them if they returned in flight. J216.1
- Lamb prefers to be sacrificed in temple rather than to be eaten by a wolf. J216.2
- Crab would rather be killed outright than imprisoned and starved. J216.3
- Escaped lamb delivers himself to shepherd rather than to slaughter. J217.1
- Enemies make peace rather than slay each other. J218
- Lion and wild boar make peace rather than slay each other for benefit of vulture. J218.1
- Choice: small injustice permitted rather than to cause troubles of state. J221
- King overlooks wife's unfaithfulness rather than to cause troubles of state. J221.1
- Senator overlooks wife's adultery rather than impair his reputation. J221.1.1
- Man would rather pay 500 florins he did not owe than have it said he did not pay debts. J221.3
- Sheep and ignorant shearer. Had rather die than suffer longer from him. J229.2
- Rower prefers to be stoned by his master rather than remain out in the storm. J229.7
- King who experiences the cultural civilization of an empire in dream would rather be poor and primitive. J245.2