The Peasant and the Angel of Death

Once upon a time, a peasant, whom the villagers took for a fool,
Dreamt having a sheep, but how to pay for it he didn’t have a clue
After much efforts and success in selling his chicken and eggs 
He had earned enough money to buy a small lamb with four legs

A few months later, a small lamb was born at his neighbor’s.
As he was not used to haggle, he went to see his big brother
The latter was well educated and had a lot of faith
“Brother, I want to buy a lamb with the money I saved

To have a sheep for the end of my days and my old age.”
“A sheep, that’s nothing” said his big brother, the sage.
The peasant smiled, graciously handed his purse and said:
“Pay my neighbor, I will have my lamb, and keep my faith”

The two brothers went to see the newborn lamb they hoped for,
The one holding the purse and the peasant opening the door.
His brother was so good and said to the neighbor farewell
The peasant was happy and joyful and wished his brother well.

His first wish finally came true ; he had his lamb and fed it too
Every day he enjoyed his lamb, gave him milk with the bottle.
The lamb, missing his mom, was nervous and stopped eating
The peasant was very unhappy that the lamb kept bleating.

After a while, as he was eager to get his lamb fed
He finally became friends with a rich neighbor’s girl
The girl felt sorry for the lamb and let it eat from her grass
The peasant was so thankful he promised a good help.

He knew that his lamb needed very fine grass, so he took the pitchfork
And keeping his promises to the rich girl, in the morning started to work
The lamb was happy and became fat, with the good grass and the fresh air
After a few months, he decided to sell his lamb, at the neighboring fair.

The village peasants sold their poultry and sheep at once.
The poultry and cattle fair was held there every month
Hoping that with the value of the sheep, he could afford a goat
And then, with the milk goat he could later have a herd,

Arrived at the fair he settled among other lucky farmers.
He admired his little sheep and watched the rich without envy.
To better see his sheep, he sat next to it on the ground,
When suddenly he saw a pair of huge black leather boots.

He raised his head and to his bad surprise, he saw a tall man.
The man was so tall that the peasant could not see his head
Suspecting a potential buyer, he stood up while lifting his eyes.
As the man was so tall, he believed, with the earnings to make a feast.

Soon he realized that the tall man was not handsome, but ugly
He looked at him again and he felt that his heart was not warm
But as not to lose his small sheep and spoil his happiness
He looked again with courage and faced him with a question
 
“You want to buy my small sheep? Is that right!”
The tall man locked at him with a grim face and with disdain
His look was so scary that the poor peasant started to tremble
From fear. He did not know what to say to the big bad guy.

Then he said: “If you want my sheep, I offer it to you as a gift”
The tall man, who found that the small sheep was so beautiful
Said to the poor seller: “I want you to carry the sheep to my house”.
The poor peasant, still trembling answered him: “I am following you,

But who are you, mister big man?” and no longer
Believing having a buyer, but rather seeing a phantom -
This tall man with the dark face and his avid glance -
The peasant saw only the dark eyes and the wrinkles.

He heard a deep voice saying: “I am the angel of death!”
Poor peasant, no longer believed in his dreams, but rather in his fate
As all his plans were suddenly dissipating like smoke.
He took his small sheep on his back and followed him.

Walking next to the angel, seeing his end and his ruin near,
No longer thinking of the goat, nor the herd, nor the neighbor
“Farewell my sheep! My goat! My herd! My lovely girl!”
Arrived at the hall of death he saw a room full of candles.

If I already have to die, and in front of these candles, I will dare ask
Murmured the peasant, “You, great angel of death, why all these lit candles? »
The angel with a smile, answered: “These are the souls of your village,
Of peasant men and women, young and elderly, of all ages”

The peasant audaciously thought and asked another question:
“Mister noble angel of the death, tell me the true reason
Why certain candles have low flames and others high ones?
Is this because of the room, the wax, or this cave?”

The angel laughed out loud, knowing that the peasant was in fear
Then with a malicious glance, which made the peasant feel pale and weird,
And with a grave voice, he responded, ”The high flames escape my authority
The low flames, I wait for them, because as they have to die, I take their lives.”

The peasant took heart and asked a wise question:
“Noble lord, who extinguishes the souls of all the ages?”
The angel of death very proudly said to the peasant: “Ask any question”
Before answering, the angel who takes the life said: “Wait”.

The angel of death reflects for a moment, then launches a strange glance,
As the room becomes clear, and suddenly his scary face changes
The peasant: “Whose is this candle with the very high flame?”
The latter hid his emotion, hoping it would be his soul’s.

“Ah! That flame?” Said the angel of death, then with a hesitant voice
He made a pause, knowing that this soul was well that of the peasant
And with a tone full of shame, realizing that his trick did not succeed
To take the sheep from the poor peasant with the least of worries,

He exclaimed: “Ah, what a destiny! Your life is not in my hands
You have to live a long time and certainly, I can do nothing to you.
This flame! It is well that of your soul!” The poor peasant,
Who could not believe what happened to him, abruptly grabbed his sheep

Stuck it under his arm, and nicely said to the big angel: 
“Since my soul is not in your hands, allow me to say goodbye to you.
Angel of death, I belong to life, since you do not have any authority.”
The angel of death launched a deadly cry, as his strength was to fall. 

This time the angel of death could not impress the peasant anymore, 
Who very merrily and content went away with his sheep, knowing
That his life was long, that he could continue dreaming of his herd
He hoped to marry the neighbor’s girl and to live with her in her castle.

 Copyright 2007 Emile Tubiana