The Sun once tried to ride the Horse, but the Horse could not bear its weight. The Ox took its place, and the Sun cursed the Horse, decreeing it would have a fixed time of death, endless grazing without satisfaction, and perpetual unrest. This curse marked the beginning of the Horse’s mortality and discontent.
Source:
South-African Folk Tales
by James A. Honey, M.D.
New York,1910
► Themes of the story
Divine Punishment: The Sun curses the Horse for its inability to bear his weight, decreeing a fixed time of death and perpetual dissatisfaction.
Supernatural Beings: The Sun is portrayed as a powerful entity capable of interacting directly with animals and imposing curses.
Transformation: The Horse undergoes a transformation from a state of contentment to one of eternal unrest and mortality due to the Sun’s curse.
► From the same Region or People
It is said that once Sun was on earth, and caught Horse to ride it. But it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore Ox took the place of Horse, and carried Sun on its back. Since that time Horse is cursed in these words, because it could not carry Sun’s weight:
“From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying.
This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying.
And day and night shalt thou eat,
But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest,
Though thou grazest till morning and again until sunset.
Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee,” said Sun.
Since that day Horse’s (certain) time of dying commenced.
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Dreamtime Whispers 