Unfortunate Boot, The

DESCRIPTION: A blacksmith is courting Jessie when two farmers rap on her window to court her and her sister. He hides, thinking it is her father, but runs off with one of their boots when the sex resumes. In the snow next day one brother had to carry the other home
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1908 (Greig/Duncan2)
KEYWORDS: sex trick humorous
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Greig/Duncan2 315, "The Unfortunate Boot" (2 texts)
Roud #5867
NOTES [121 words]: In the ballad the blacksmith is called "Vulcan." The whole tale then becomes an analog for the Hephaestus/Vulcan, Aphrodite, Ares triangle in which Hephaestus uncovers the illicit affair between the other two and exposes them to public ridicule.
Greig/Duncan2: "Written about 1852" about events the previous year at Pitnycalder in the parish of Aberdour. The notes name the participants. - BS
"The love of Ares and Aphrodite crowned with flowers" occurs first in the Odyssey, told as a tale in book VIII, starting around line 300. It was a popular tale, and came to the Latin-speaking world, e.g., through Ovid, Metamorphoses, book IV, starting around 170. I have to wonder how a folk poet would know about it, though. - RBW
Last updated in version 2.4
File: GrD2315

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