Reading Notes (EC): Eastern Storie and Legends, Part C

How The Antelope Was Caught

     This story was about how this antelope kept wandering through the gardens of the King. The King asked its gardener to capture it. The gardener told the King he needed honey in order to catch it, which he was granted by the King. Very carefully and slowly, the gardener was able to gain the antelope's trust. He put some honey grass and sprinkled it on the ground leading to the castle. The clueless antelope followed the trail and into the castle. They closed the doors behind the animal and instantly it freaked out. The King said how the taste of lust could blind side even an animal. In the end, he let the antelope go back into the forest.
     I liked the end of this story and how the King let the animal go instead of killing it or holding it captive. Also, I thought the message of this story was clear and nicely portrayed. Giving into greed could lead to trouble. I could change the setting of this story and use other characters to illustrate the same message.

Antelope that wandered through the garden.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bibliography: "How the Antelope Was Caught"- Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock