995. Dives et Vidua. Quidam dives multas habuit vaccas, et erat quaedam vidua eidem proxima, unam tantummodo habens vaccam pinguem; quam dives ille concupiscens ait servo suo, “Ecce vidua illa pinguissimam habet vaccam, vade et adduc mihi illam.” Qui, praeceptum domini sui faciens, domino suo illam adduxit; qui iussit eam interfici, quia pinguis erat, fecitque partem decoqui, partemque assari, et ad prandium suum deferri. Sed, primo morsello inde assumpto suffocatus, ille dives interiit.
M0995 (not in Perry). Source: Odo, Fable 42. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. For another fable about self-destructive greed, see the story of the man who discovered fire, #986.
