Inset Stories - The Seven Sages of Rome

Inset Story	Motif
Abbas	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Disguise Deceitful lover Clothes Member of Clergy
Absalom Mortuus	Father/son relationships Death of son Biblical narrative
Absalom Rebellus	Father/son relationships Biblical narrative Rape Fratricide
Ahmed	Deception Deceitful woman Accidental death Murder Adultery Unjust execution Death of lover Beheading Deceitful lover Mistaken or concealed identity Judgement
Amantes	Accidental death Murder Suicide Death of lover Failed/rejected seduction Grief Mistaken or concealed identity
Amatores	Deceitful woman Familial relationships Murder Adultery Disposal of corpse Deception of would-be lover Death of lover Money in exchange for promise of sex Multiple lovers Failed/rejected seduction
Anthenor	Father/daughter relationships Arranged marriage Deceitful woman Childbirth Pregnancy Orientalised setting Dynastic marriage Impotence anxiety Wicked stepmother/mother-in-law Homosexuality Marriage
Aper	Animal tale Lesson: greed Boar Lesson: flattery
Arbor	Father/son relationships Age versus youth Lesson: loyalty Nature tale: tree
Aristoteles	Lecherous old man Gullible (would-be) lover Lesson: women’s cleverness and deceit Deception Humiliation Deceitful woman Old man
Armiger	Violent punishment Familial relationships Familial duty Theft Punishment for theft Debt Unjust execution Judgement Court of law
Assassinus	Murder Orientalised setting Caves and underground spaces Religious conflict Islamophobia Assassination Islam Christianity
Avis	Deceitful woman Animal tale Adultery Gullible husband Bird Talking bird Evidence False evidence of virtue Parrot Magpie
Balneator	Deception Humiliation Adultery Gullible husband Suicide Riches Money in exchange for promise of sex Woman tricked/coerced into sex Impotence anxiety Deceitful advisor Bathing Genitalia Lesson: greed Grief Mistaken or concealed identity
Canicula	Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Deceitful old woman Money in exchange for promise of sex Failed/rejected seduction Woman tricked/coerced into sex Old woman as go-between Dog Bodily transformation Old woman
Canis	Father/son relationships Animal tale Familial relationships Dog Lesson: haste Lesson: loyalty Serpent
Capsa	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Deceitful lover Person concealed within a chest
Cardamum	Conversion to Christianity Father/daughter relationships Arranged marriage Chastity Marriage
Creditor	Deception Violent punishment (Threat of) bodily mutilation Debt Deception of would-be lover Money in exchange for promise of sex Impossible conditions Revenge Blood Cross dressing: woman in men’s clothes Cross dressing Marriage Mistaken or concealed identity Gender play Judgement Court of law
Curiositas	Animal tale Riches Marriage Grief Gender play Prohibtions/taboos Eagle Riding/carried by an animal Foolish old man
Cygni	Father/daughter relationships Deception Animal tale Violent punishment Gullible husband Deceitful old woman Childbirth Pregnancy Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Food and drink Bird Woman tricked/coerced into sex Identity object Slander: wife falsely accused Bathing Bodily transformation Wicked stepmother/mother-in-law Rape Swan Necklace Mother/son relationships Marriage Mistaken or concealed identity Children Judgement
Elephantinus	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Theft Food and drink Evidence False evidence of virtue Woman tricked/coerced into sex Dreams Rape Elephant
Elephantus	Animal tale Violent punishment Elephant Riding/carried by an animal
Filia	Father/daughter relationships Violent punishment Pregnancy Familial duty Unjust execution Beating
Filius	Father/son relationships Murder Adultery Gullible husband Orientalised setting Deceitful son Patricide Marriage Children Wise child Judgement
Fons	Deception Pregnancy Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Cross dressing Deceitful advisor Genitalia Bodily transformation Sex change Cross dressing: man in women’s clothes Marriage Gender play
Fur et Luna	Deception Violent punishment Murder Riches Magic Theft Punishment for theft Beating
Gaza	Father/son relationships Deception Familial relationships Murder Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Familial duty Disposal of corpse Theft Punishment for theft Patricide Beheading Grief Mistaken or concealed identity
Gibbosi	Deception Deceitful woman Accidental death Adultery Disposal of corpse Hunchback
Gladius	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Multiple lovers Sword
Holofernes	Biblical narrative Lesson: women’s cleverness and deceit Deception Deceitful woman Murder Deception of would-be lover Beheading
Imago	Deception Violent punishment Riches Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Imprisonment Money in exchange for promise of sex Deceitful lover Woman tricked/coerced into sex Identity object False evidence of unchastity/criminality Slander: wife falsely accused
Inclusa	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Imprisonment Evidence False evidence of virtue Identity object Ring Marriage Mistaken or concealed identity
Inclusa and Puteus
Ingenia	Gullible (would-be) lover Deception Deceitful woman Adultery
Iuvenis Femina	Deception Adultery Deceitful old woman Disguise Cross dressing Deceitful lover Woman tricked/coerced into sex Old woman as go-between Cross dressing: man in women’s clothes Rape Mistaken or concealed identity Gender play Old woman
Jusjurandum	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Evidence False evidence of virtue Mistaken or concealed identity Judgement
Lac venenatum	Animal tale Food and drink Bird Serpent Poison
Latronis Filii	Father/son relationships Deception Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Cannibalism Disguise Disposal of corpse Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Theft Punishment for theft Imprisonment Caves and underground spaces Judgement Court of law
Lavator	Father/son relationships Accidental death Familial relationships
Leo	Familial relationships Adultery Failed/rejected seduction Slander: wife falsely accused Lion
Lepus	Animal tale Rabbit Violent punishment
Linteum	Deception Deceitful woman Familial relationships Adultery Gullible husband
Medicus	Familial relationships Illness Medicine Illegitimacy Deceitful old man Murder
Mel	Animal tale Violent punishment (Threat of) bodily mutilation Food and drink Beating Dog Weasel
Mercator	Deception Deceitful woman Murder Adultery Gullible husband Suicide Evidence False evidence of unchastity/criminality Rape Friendship Grief
Nasus praemorsus	Father/son relationships Violent punishment Familial relationships (Threat of) bodily mutilation Theft Punishment for theft Debt Judgement Court of law
Nomina	(Threat of) bodily mutilation Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Impotence anxiety Genitalia Bodily transformation Sex change Gender play
Noverca	Father/son relationships Lesson: women’s cleverness and deceit Deception Deceitful woman Violent punishment Familial relationships Murder Gullible husband Riches Theft Punishment for theft Unjust execution Revenge Evidence False evidence of unchastity/criminality Wicked stepmother/mother-in-law Marriage Children
Nutrix	Deception Familial relationships Deceitful old man Murder Deceitful old woman Riches Childbirth Pregnancy (Threat of) bodily mutilation Familial duty Mistaken or concealed identity Children Old woman Judgement Court of law
Pallium	Deception Violent punishment Adultery Gullible husband Deceitful old woman Failed/rejected seduction Deceitful lover Evidence Woman tricked/coerced into sex Identity object False evidence of unchastity/criminality Clothes Old woman as go-between Beating Rape Old woman
Panes	Deception Illness Medicine Food and drink Body fluids
Parricida	Father/son relationships Deception Familial relationships Illness Medicine Murder Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Disposal of corpse Food and drink Deceitful son Patricide Age versus youth Boar
Piscis	Animal tale Riches Impossible conditions Genitalia Sex change Fish Gender play
Polyphemus	Father/son relationships Deception Illness Medicine Murder Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Cannibalism Disguise Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Theft Punishment for theft Imprisonment Blindness Ring
Praeceptum galli	Animal tale Violent punishment Illness Magic Rooster Food and drink Bird Talking bird Overheard secret Beating Serpent
Puer 4 annorum	Adultery Food and drink Children Wise child
Puer 5 annorum	Deception Riches Theft Punishment for theft Food and drink Bathing Children Wise child Old woman Judgement Court of law
Puteus	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Suicide
Regina	Deception Violent punishment Murder Adultery Failed/rejected seduction Revenge Deceitful lover Evidence False evidence of unchastity/criminality Slander: wife falsely accused Dog Dwarf Judgement
Roma	Deception Magic Religious conflict Military conflict Mistaken or concealed identity
Samson	Biblical narrative Gullible (would-be) lover Humiliation Deceitful woman Violent punishment Murder Suicide (Threat of) bodily mutilation Imprisonment Deception of would-be lover Blindness
Sapientes	Deception Violent punishment Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Disposal of corpse Magic Caves and underground spaces Beheading Blindness Evidence Deceitful advisor Dreams Age versus youth
Senes	Father/son relationships Deception Violent punishment Familial relationships Murder Familial duty Disposal of corpse Patricide Imprisonment Impossible conditions Revenge Beating Age versus youth Dog Judgement Court of law
Senescalcus	Deception Illness Adultery Money in exchange for promise of sex Deceitful advisor Homosexuality Mistaken or concealed identity
Senescalcus and Roma	Deception Illness Adultery Riches Magic Money in exchange for promise of sex Religious conflict Deceitful advisor Military conflict Homosexuality Mistaken or concealed identity
Senex Caecus	Deception Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Overheard secret Impossible conditions Wise old woman Wise old man Blindness
Simia	Animal tale (Threat of) bodily mutilation Theft Genitalia Monkey Lion Riding/carried by an animal
Spurius	Conversion to Christianity Father/son relationships Deception Deceitful woman Familial relationships Illegitimacy Murder Adultery Orientalised setting Patricide Imprisonment Revenge Religious conflict Islam Christianity Age versus youth Military conflict Mistaken or concealed identity
Striga	Deception Deceitful woman Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Overheard secret Deceitful advisor Mistaken or concealed identity
Striga and Fons	Deception Deceitful woman Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Overheard secret Cross dressing Deceitful advisor Genitalia Bodily transformation Sex change Cross dressing: man in women’s clothes Mistaken or concealed identity Gender play
Striges	Deception (Threat of) bodily mutilation Cannibalism Disguise Disposal of corpse Magical beings (spirits, demons, djinn, witches) Magic Rooster Theft Punishment for theft Food and drink
Tentamina	Violent punishment Adultery Blood Dog Mother/daughter relationships
Thesaurus in puteo	Father/son relationships Deception Familial relationships Murder Riches Deceitful son Patricide
Turtures	Animal tale Violent punishment Murder Suicide Food and drink Bird Evidence Grief
Vadium	Chastity Deception Murder Riches Failed/rejected seduction Deceitful lover Evidence Identity object Ring Person concealed within a chest False evidence of unchastity/criminality Slander: wife falsely accused Clothes Member of Clergy
Vaticinium	Father/son relationships Animal tale Familial relationships Riches Disguise Magic Food and drink Bird Talking bird Dynastic marriage Overheard secret
Vaticinium and Amici	Chastity Father/son relationships Animal tale Familial relationships Illness Medicine Riches (Threat of) bodily mutilation Disguise Magic Food and drink Bird Talking bird Dynastic marriage Overheard secret Blood Ring Bathing Dreams Bodily transformation Identification object Friendship Sword Marriage
Vidua	Deception Deceitful woman Suicide (Threat of) bodily mutilation Disposal of corpse Punishment for theft Blood Evidence Marriage Death of husband Grief
Viduae Filius	Father/son relationships Familial relationships Murder Rooster Bird Mother/son relationships Judgement
Virgilius	Deception Violent punishment Murder Riches Theft Mistaken or concealed identity
Voluptaria	Violent punishment Accidental death Murder Adultery Food and drink Imprisonment Revenge Cross dressing: woman in men’s clothes Cross dressing Woman tricked/coerced into sex Bathing Genitalia Rape Sword Military conflict Poison Gender play Judgement
Vulpes	Deception Animal tale (Threat of) bodily mutilation Beating Fox
Zuchara	Deception Deceitful woman Adultery Gullible husband Food and drink Money in exchange for promise of sex Deceitful lover Evidence False evidence of virtue Woman tricked/coerced into sex