According to Gardner E which explains why the farmer had to plow with hogs instead of horses or oxen- found in many US versions:

"The devil keeps coming around and taking things away from the farmer according to some pact between them. His cows and horses are taken, until he has only hogs left to plow with."

I assume this pact has something to do with the tale The Devil and the Farmer" above.


Lloyd wrote in the album's sleeve notes:

The tale of the shrewish wife who terrifies even the demons is ancient and widespread. The Hindus have it in a sixth century fable collection, the Panchatantra. It seems to have travelled westward by Persia, and to have spread to almost every European country. In early versions, the farmer makes a pact with the Devil and hands over his wife in return for a pair of plough oxen.

Waht are the early versions Llyod is refering to?

Does anyone have a link to the direct fable found in Panchatantra?

Child has: Benfey, Pantschatantra, I, 519-34

TY

Richie