The Talkative Tortoise
A tortoise receives a clever means of traveling through the air but is warned that success depends on remaining silent.
The tale builds a simple condition into its entire structure: the tortoise can be carried only while keeping hold and refusing the temptation to answer provocation.
This entry follows the version selected by Joseph Jacobs. Related tellings occur across Asian and European fable traditions; Loreveil should compare them as variants only when their textual histories are documented.
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Connected lore
Curated relationships invite comparison without implying that distinct traditions are the same.
Sources & citations
Jacobs, Joseph, ed. Indian Fairy Tales. London: David Nutt, 1892.
Joseph Jacobs, editor · David Nutt; digital edition by Project Gutenberg · 1892
public domain