Beschrijving
The Terrible Threat (previously Sham Threat: either... or). This tale exists chiefly in four different forms:
(1) A man’s horse (saddle, bridle, etc.) is stolen. He threatens that if it is not returned immediately, he will do what his father would have done in these circumstances. The bystanders are horrified and give him a new horse (the thief returns his horse). They ask the man what it was his father would have done. He replies, “He would have walked” (have bought a new saddle).
In oriental variants, the man’s shoes are stolen, and the man says his father would have bought new shoes.
(2) Two travelers (horsemen, teamsters) meet on the road and neither will give way to the other. One of them threatens that if the other does not let him pass, he will do to him what he did the day before to another man who was in his way. The other traveler lets him pass, and asks what it was he had done the day before. He replies that he had let the man pass [K1771.2]. Cf. Type 202.
(3) A beggar (dervish, Gypsy) threatens the inhabitants of a village (a single person) that if they do not give him some particular thing, he will do to them what he did to the people in another village (what his father did in the same situation, something he does not want to have to do). They give him what he wants but ask what he meant by his threat. He explains, he had to go on without the thing (had to work).
(4) A lazy student (night watchman) asks his father for money (asks for more pay). He threatens that if his request is not granted, he will have to do something that he does not want to have to do. The answer to the question is, he will have to study (work for his same wages) [K1771.3].
(1) A man’s horse (saddle, bridle, etc.) is stolen. He threatens that if it is not returned immediately, he will do what his father would have done in these circumstances. The bystanders are horrified and give him a new horse (the thief returns his horse). They ask the man what it was his father would have done. He replies, “He would have walked” (have bought a new saddle).
In oriental variants, the man’s shoes are stolen, and the man says his father would have bought new shoes.
(2) Two travelers (horsemen, teamsters) meet on the road and neither will give way to the other. One of them threatens that if the other does not let him pass, he will do to him what he did the day before to another man who was in his way. The other traveler lets him pass, and asks what it was he had done the day before. He replies that he had let the man pass [K1771.2]. Cf. Type 202.
(3) A beggar (dervish, Gypsy) threatens the inhabitants of a village (a single person) that if they do not give him some particular thing, he will do to them what he did to the people in another village (what his father did in the same situation, something he does not want to have to do). They give him what he wants but ask what he meant by his threat. He explains, he had to go on without the thing (had to work).
(4) A lazy student (night watchman) asks his father for money (asks for more pay). He threatens that if his request is not granted, he will have to do something that he does not want to have to do. The answer to the question is, he will have to study (work for his same wages) [K1771.3].
Motief
K1771.2
K1771.3
Commentaar
Version (1) is documented in the 8th century in the Carmina of Theodulf of Orléans. Version (2) appears in the early 17th century in Otho Melander’s Jocorum atque seriorum [...] Liber primus. Version (3) appears in the 14th century in the Persian Risla-i dilgu of ‘Ubaid-i Zkn. Version (4) is part of the Nasreddin Hodja tradition.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
1563*
Subgenre
mop