The following I read in various sources:

The Occitan and the French version are both by Florian. The novel (not play) is completely in French; Florian later published this song in Occitan. He had learned that language only at the age of 12, but felt it to be closer to the roots of his identity than literal French. One author writes, approvingly, that Florian has provencalized the language.

Now, Monique, my questions: what does that mean? Is the language of the poem archaic, compared with the usage of his contemporaries? And is it more literal? (These sheep will never excrete any droppings, will they?)

In my opinion, the Occitan version may well be the earlier one, given the powerful rhyme pastourel - co d'uel, which does not work in French. On the other hand, the nice variation C'est encor lui (translating: "That's he once more" or "That's still he") adds to the sublimely comic effect I was referring to, and is missing in the Occitan.