The Head and the Tail of the Serpent

by Jean de La Fontaine

Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Young Audiences
Setting: Fantasy
Format of Original Source: Fable
Recommended Adaptation Length: 10 Minutes

Candidate for Adaptation? Not Reviewed

EXCERPT:

Two parts the serpent has–
Of men the enemies–
The head and tail: the same
Have won a mighty fame,
Next to the cruel Fates;–
So that, indeed, hence
They once had great debates
About precedence.
The first had always gone ahead;
The tail had been for ever led;
And now to Heaven it pray’d,
And said,
“O, many and many a league,
Dragg’d on in sore fatigue,
Behind his back I go.

COMMENTS:

The translation is in verse; a head-start on lyrics.

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