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I didn't get to this until yesterday and given the absence of a thread I think I must be the only one finding it hard. I have all but 1 of the answers - 12 down (You shouldn't have espouser flogged dead[5]) is completely eluding me - and I think I've gone wrong with the moral tale. I was thinking along the lines of porcine and lupine characters but that's obviously wrong. Any hints for 12 down and the theme would be much appreciated.

I don’t remember the clue, but the wordplay clearly points to two-letter informal for thanks, you shouldn’t have, then three-letter espoused (not espouser), giving the past tense of an obsolete word for to flog

Just looked at the puzzle, and I didn’t do it, which explains my lack of memory. From the instructions, drop the r from espouser to give espouse

AP, your thinking about the characters is correct.