MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[4309] He was clumsy, stupid, slow, dirty, untruthful, deceitful, prodigal,
unfilial, but he did not abandon me. [4310] I often thought ^{[⁁]a lot} about myself.
[4311] That is to say I often took a quickl^[₰]look at myself, closed my eyes,
forgot, began again. [4312] We took a long time getting to Ballyba, we even
got there without knowing it. [4313] Stop, I said to my son one day. [4314] I had
just caught sight of a shepherd I liked the look of.

[4315] He was sitting on
the ground stroking his dog. [4316] A flock of black shorn sheep strayed about
them, unafraid. [4317] What a pastoral land, my God. [4318] Leaving my son on the
side of the road I went towards them, across the grass. [4319] I often stopped
and rested, leaning on my umbrella. [4320] The shepherd watched me as I came,
without getting up.

[4321] The dog too, without barking. [4322] The sheep too. [4323] Yes,
little by little, one by one, they turned and faced me, watching me as
I came. [4324] Here and there faint movements of recoil, a tiny foot stamping
the ground, betrayed their uneasiness. [4325] They did not seem timid, as sheep
go. [4326] And my son of course watched me as I went, I felt his eyes in my
back.

[4327] The silence was absolute. [4328] Profound in any case. [4329] All things
considered it was a solemn moment. [4330] The weather was divine. [4331] It was the
close of day. [4332] Each time I stopped I looked about me. [4333] I looked at the
shepherd, the sheep, the dog and even at the sky. [4334] But when I moved I saw
nothing but the ground and the play of my feet, the good one springing
forward, holding back, setting itself down, waiting for the other to
come up. [4335] I came finally to a halt about ten paces from the shepherd.

[4336] There was no use going any fa^urther. [4337] How I would love to dwell upon him.
[4338] His dog loved him, his sheep did not fear him. [4339] Soon he would rise, feeling
the falling dew. [4340] The fold was far, far, [4341] he would see from afar the light
in his cot. [4342] Now I was in the midst of the sheep, they made a circle
round me, their eyes converged on me. [4343] Perhaps I was the butcher come
to make his choice. [4344] I took off my hat. [4345] I saw the dog's eyes following