Filius
'''The Son (or, 'C'est li Contes dou Mal Genre Musart') '''
The lord of Antioch, named Belasor, has a son. When the boy is 14 years old, his mother dies. Belsasor is saddened, but eventually he remarries the beautiful and clever ten-year-old daughter of the Babylonian sultan. The son falls in love with her, and propositions her, suggesting that they kill his father. The young wife refuses, and the son pretends that the proposal had been a test of her faith, and asks her to swear never to speak of it. However, wracked by fear and worry, the wife eventually breaks down before her husband, and despite her protests that she will not be believed - or perhaps even doubted herself - she eventually reveals the son's plot. However, Belasor does not believe his son was serious, and takes no action - until, in the midst of an argument, he eventually accuses his son of dishonouring his wife. The son says nothing, but that night, kills Belasor in his sleep, and rules in his stead.
'''Note:'''
This narrative offers a direct inversion of the plot of the frame story, recasting the empress as (even younger, cleverer, and) loyal, and the son as conniving. See Runte's introduction for details and analysis (1974).
Critical Literature
No critical literature available
