The Shepherd and his Flock

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The Shepherd and his Flock

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:

“What! shall I lose them one by one,
This stupid coward throng?
And never shall the wolf have done?
They were at least a thousand strong,
But still they’ve let poor Robin fall a prey!
Ah, woe’s the day!
Poor Robin Wether lying dead!
He follow’d for a bit of bread
His master through the crowded city,
And would have follow’d, had he led,
Around the world. Oh! what a pity!
My pipe, and even step, he knew;
To meet me when I came, he flew;
In hedge-row shade we napp’d together;
Alas, alas, my Robin Wether!”
When Willy thus had duly said
His eulogy upon the dead,
And unto everlasting fame
Consign’d poor Robin Wether’s name,
He then harangued the flock at large,
From proud old chieftain rams
Down to the smallest lambs,
Addressing them this weighty charge,–
Against the wolf, as one, to stand,
In firm, united, fearless band,
By which they might expel him from their land.

COMMENTS:

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

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