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Overview
A hardworking shepherd discovers that a lamb with golden wool dances whenever he plays his flute. He asks for the lamb instead of wages, and after a year's service his reluctant master hands it over.
At an inn, a girl tries to steal the lamb and becomes stuck to its fleece. A woman who strikes her with a bread peel also sticks, and so does a priest who strikes the woman with his cane. While the flute plays, the lamb and its unwilling companions dance along together.
A princess is said to need laughter in order to recover. The dancing chain makes her laugh, and the lamb shakes everyone loose. The shepherd marries the princess, and the priest, the baker woman and the girl receive positions at court. The sticking is played for comedy and does no lasting harm.
Origins & earliest records
Translated tale III, The Lamb with the Golden Fleece, pp. 13–14, with a note citing Kriza ix, in Jones and Kropf's 1889 edition.
Records & interpretation
Directly read in the Project Gutenberg public-domain translation; tellers are not identified.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Folk-Tales of the Magyars
Selected bibliography; tale III, pp. 13–14, with note on Kriza ix.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Public-domain primary translationThe Folk-Tales of the Magyars (plain text)Research access: 2026-10-07
- Catalogue recordThe Folk-Tales of the Magyars (catalogue record)Research access: 2026-10-07
Image credits
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