The Herdsman and the Lost Bull
The Herdsman and the Lost Bull, by Esopo: A herdsman lost his bull in a forest. He searched for it but couldn't find it. A fox appeared and offered to help him find the bull. The herdsman followed the fox, who led him deeper into the forest. Eventually, they came across the bull, which was tied up by a group of thieves. The fox revealed that he was working with the thieves and had been leading the herdsman on a wild goose chase to get rid of him. The herdsman was angry and threatened to punish the fox, but the fox just laughed and said, "You can't catch me!" and ran away.
By Esopo · First published 1668 · Genre: Fable, Children's literature, Animal Fiction · 132 words
First lines
A Herdsman was tending his cattle when he missed a young Bull, one of the finest of the herd. He went at once to look for him, but, meeting with no success in his search, he made a vow that, if he should discover the thief, he would sacrifice a calf to Jupiter. Continuing his search, he entered a thicket, where he presently espied a lion devouring the lost Bull. Terrified with fear, he raised his hands to heaven and cried, "Great Jupiter, I vowed I would sacrifice a calf to thee if I should discover the thief: but now a full-grown Bull I promise thee if only I myself escape unhurt from his clutches. "
What this Textopian page supports
The Herdsman and the Lost Bull is listed on Textopian as a fable by Esopo, dated 1668 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Esopo
- Date: 1668 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Children's literature, Animal Fiction, Classical Literature
- Length: 132 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Herdsman and the Lost Bull by Esopo
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Herdsman and the Lost Bull?
- How does this fable by Esopo fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fable first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Blacksmith And His Dog by Esopo
- The Bull And The Calf by Esopo
- The Old Hound by Esopo
- The Farmer And His Dogs by Esopo
- The Traveller And His Dog by Esopo
- The Horse And The Groom by Esopo
Genres
- Fable — Esopo is known for writing fables, and the title suggests a story with a moral lesson typically found in fables.
- Children's literature — Fables, especially Esopo's, are often written to educate children on moral lessons and values.
- Animal Fiction — The presence of animals as characters, in this case a herdsman and a bull, is a common element of animal fiction.
- Classical Literature — Esopo's fables are considered a part of classical literature, dating back to Ancient Greece.
Tags
fable · morality · animal characters · wisdom · loss · responsibility · trust · community · nature · courage · friendship · adventure