Beschrijving
Cases Solved in a Manner Worthy of Solomon. This miscellaneous type comprises various tales dealing with the idea of unusual, often clever, methods to determine the truth [J1141ff.]. Cf. Types 1534, 1833J, and 1833K. Examples:
(1) A poor man finds a purse with money in it and returns it to its owner hoping for a reward. The owner pretends that some money is missing, and that the finder took it already for his reward. The judge decides that, since the amount of money is different, the purse did not belong to the man who claimed it, and that the poor man may keep it until its rightful owner is found [J1172.1].
(2) A judge gives sticks to all the suspects in a court case and tells them that the guilty one’s stick will grow during the night. The guilty man cuts a bit off his stick and thus is discovered.
(3) Someone announces to all the people in the village that the thief has a gnat on his cap (that his cap is burning). One man reaches for his cap and thus shows himself to be the thief [J1141.1].
(4) All the suspects are required to touch some object in the dark, and are told that the hand of the guilty one will be blackened. In fact, the object blackens any hand that touches it. The guilty man does not touch the object and is thus the only one whose hand is not blackened [J1141.1.4].
(5) In order to determine which of two women is the owner of a spindle of thread, the judge asks them what the spindle is made of. Only the owner knows the right answer [J1179.6].
(6) Disputants are ordered to fabricate a copy of the disputed object (precious stone) [J1154.2]. The owner and the cheater can do so, but the false claimants cannot.
(7) A man (innkeeper) whose silver has been stolen summons his guests (employees) to the table and orders them to make various ridiculous gestures. When they are all engaged in this game, he commands them to put their heads under the table. Then he asks if the thief has head under the table. The thief answers, “Yes.”
(1) A poor man finds a purse with money in it and returns it to its owner hoping for a reward. The owner pretends that some money is missing, and that the finder took it already for his reward. The judge decides that, since the amount of money is different, the purse did not belong to the man who claimed it, and that the poor man may keep it until its rightful owner is found [J1172.1].
(2) A judge gives sticks to all the suspects in a court case and tells them that the guilty one’s stick will grow during the night. The guilty man cuts a bit off his stick and thus is discovered.
(3) Someone announces to all the people in the village that the thief has a gnat on his cap (that his cap is burning). One man reaches for his cap and thus shows himself to be the thief [J1141.1].
(4) All the suspects are required to touch some object in the dark, and are told that the hand of the guilty one will be blackened. In fact, the object blackens any hand that touches it. The guilty man does not touch the object and is thus the only one whose hand is not blackened [J1141.1.4].
(5) In order to determine which of two women is the owner of a spindle of thread, the judge asks them what the spindle is made of. Only the owner knows the right answer [J1179.6].
(6) Disputants are ordered to fabricate a copy of the disputed object (precious stone) [J1154.2]. The owner and the cheater can do so, but the false claimants cannot.
(7) A man (innkeeper) whose silver has been stolen summons his guests (employees) to the table and orders them to make various ridiculous gestures. When they are all engaged in this game, he commands them to put their heads under the table. Then he asks if the thief has head under the table. The thief answers, “Yes.”
Motief
J1141
J1172.1
J1141.1
J1141.1.4
J1179.6
J1154.2
Commentaar
The tale of the lost purse (1) appeared in the Disciplina clericalis (No. 17) of Petrus Alfonsus, and is now known throughout Europe. Version (2) comes from Middle Eastern wisdom literature, version (3) was recorded by Ibn al-auz, version (5) is found in the Indian Jtaka (No. 546), version (6) was documented in the Mongolian Ardschi Bordschi.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
926C
Subgenre
sprookje