Many tales were repeated, many songs were sung in the forge of Tlepsha, and the beginning of each song sounded like this: “Khasa Nartov, Khasa Nartov...”
Because all the tunes, Because all the legends were born on the Khas of Narts, began on the Khas of the Narts. And our Sosruko, strengthened in the forge of Tlepsha, strong-armed, listened to them with rapture - to the wonderful chants.
There were speeches on Khas Narts About the terrible heroic slaughter, About impassable paths, About tireless horses, About famous raids, About undefeated horsemen, About slain giants, About fogs in the mountain heights, About fierce hurricanes in boundless oceans, About deadly well-aimed arrows, About mighty, brave people, What a majestic feat the Song of glory deserve it.
Sosruko wants one thing - He wants to be at Khas Nartov, He wants to drink with them, Without losing his proud honor. He wants, listening to the tales, to comprehend the heart, mind, strength of the Narts, the mind with all his soul, and achieve, by measuring his strength, victory over the bravest on the day of the heroic conversation.
“Mother,” said Sosruko, “have I seen much in the world? And in the prime of life am I now. There, in the valley; at dawn, the Narts gathered on Khasu. How can I get to Khasu? Do I need to come with booty, To learn the custom of the Narts, To hear the words of their toasts? You are the most beautiful of all, Tell your son, dove: How to drink from the cup of the Narts?”
Sataney smiled: “Oh Sosruko, oh my light! Here is my answer: I will go To our sledges on Khasa. I will tell you about you, I will ask that my son receive an invitation. As a decision they will tell me: “Let Sosruko come,” - You go to the feast: The equipment is ready. Just listen to the word: You have not been in battle, And you have not known feasts, But it leads to disgrace Violation of decency! There is a custom among the Narts: They come to Khasa, having received an invitation!”
Sosruko answers: “Forgive my courage, But please, do me a favor!”
Satanya dressed up, Sataney dressed up, - Heads off to the sledges. Approaching the sledge, Everyone gives her the way, Everyone stands up to meet her, With subtle speech they greet her with this ringing toast:
“Who can compare with our beauty, Who can compare with gouache? With a full cup we approach the thin-browed Satan! You radiate goodness, You sparkle to this day with the beauty of a maiden, You observe our custom, - Decoration of the feast, Decoration of the world!”
The Narts exalt the guasha with a glorious speech, and the guasha answers them with a heartfelt speech:
"Narts, Narts, my brave family! Let my coming to you not be the beginning of your sorrow, your pride a disgrace, - I swear by Tha-Lord! I came with a great request. I have a horseman at home, And his name is Sosruko: This name is familiar to you. He is worthy of the title of Nart, He, like a warrior, is true to his word, - Mother's conscience is a guarantee. You are Sosruko invite, good Narts, to Khasa! If in this invitation you find humiliation - I don’t ask for honor: Let him sit at the end of the table! If this is impossible - put him behind your back And teach him all the ancient customs - Let him stand on the threshold, let him fill your horns, Look at your dances - Let him graze your alps in the clearing. multi-grass Narty, that’s my desire, Narty, that’s what I ask for!”
The Khasa sleds heard Mother Sosruko’s request, looked at each other, looked at each other, and were silent. The noble Nart Nashepko and Nasren the Longbeard looked at Thamada, and from the look it was clear that the Narts were at a loss, That the silence would be long. Then he became annoyed, and Thamada said loudly: “Come on, Narts, speak up, For the Narts must answer the women’s questions right away. Come on, Narts, be quick: It’s not proper for us to sit, If the mother is standing in front of us!”
Proud of the decoration, Panuco stood up and said, swollen with arrogance:
“We respect mothers, But we don’t invite heroes to Khasa at the request of women: This is not customary among the Narts! If we invite everyone that women give birth to, we won’t find a place on Khasa for the glorious Narts, the brave people!”
When Panuco finished his speech, Goguazh jumped up awkwardly, And, gloating, shouted loudly:
“Which of us, O brother Narts, has not fought with a powerful army? Has not galloped on the battlefield, Has not accomplished glorious deeds? Who has seen Sosruko in battle? Who has tested his sword and bow, experienced his strength? Everyone here is a great warrior, How can we let a Sucker into Khasa, who is not worthy And a contemptuous look?”
So he ended, asking, - Overweight Pshaya shouted loudly:
"We, the descendants of honest ancestors, should violate the custom of the Narts? Invite all the mustachioed, all the unknown Narts to Khasa? He is worthy to be on Khasa, Who destroyed the mountains with a sword, Who knew the vastness of the world, Who crossed seas and land, Tempering his soul in battles! And your vaunted Sosruko, They say, is a small child: He cannot cross the ravine without a rest! Can we allow him Fill the horns for the sleds, Standing on the threshold, see Our faces, brothers-narts? Why shouldn’t you be angry with Satan? We’ve shed a lot of blood, We’ve hardened our body in battles, But Sosruko is your child, He’s still not strong enough, He’s still soft like dough, - There’s no place for him on Khas!”
I listened to these speeches by Satan with longing in my eyes. Woe! Woe! Mother Sosruko blushed and turned pale. She returned with anguish in her heart. Sosruko is waiting for his mother on the threshold, asking on the threshold:
“My mother, tell me, were you delayed on the Road? How long have you been on Khas! Tell me, what joy did you bring me as a gift today? What did the Narts tell you?”
Sataney is sad. Woe! Satanay is silent. Woe! “Mother,” Sosruko asked, “Who dared to offend you? Who dared to humiliate you?” Sosruko’s mother answered:
“I took the wrong path, I took a steep path, And the path, breaking off, Led me to dishonor. I am with bad news, my son! The Narts said about you: You are not a man, child, You have not come out of swaddling clothes, You have not yet been in battles, You are not glorified in chants! So said three Narts: Goguazh, Panuko, Pshaya.”
Consoling his own mother, Sosruko answered her like this:
“Don’t grieve, don’t cry, little dove, don’t be afraid of their actions. If only three Narts are Against my arrival, Then the misfortune is small. Pshaya, Goguazh, Panuko - There are three of them, and not three hundred, And three hundred are not scary for me. I’m not afraid of their slander, I don’t avoid meeting with them, I will bring the terrible sword into action Not once, not twice And until I experience the Nart valor to the limit, I will be forever full of thirst, - To measure their strength by force!”
So saying, Sosruko quickly pulled the girths tighter, gave the horse two measures of flint, so that the gray one would gain strength. Sparks flew up from the flint, Birds went blind from the fire! The stately warrior drew a damask sword, a stern sword. This sword of an enemy recognized anyone at a distance, and jumped out of its scabbard itself! Sosruko was careful, checked the sharpness of the sword, swung and hit the Stone idol: He cut the stone in two! He tested the strength of the heart, He hit the earth with his chest, Made from damask steel, - And the earth was crushed! I checked the strength of the forehead with a lot. “Is it as strong as a hammer?” Abra-stone hit with its forehead - Abra-stone was split!
Satan, admiring her son, the incomparable Giant, blessed him on his journey with an inspired and wise word:
“Go, my dear son, tell the Khasa Narts, young, old and old, that it is not for nothing that you were tempered by the Wise Tlepsh seven times, that you were born from stone, son, strong with the strength of damask steel! Know, my brave boy: the Narts recognize only the fearless, Those who distinguished themselves in hand-to-hand combat and in campaigns, Who destroyed mountains with a sword, Who knew the vastness of the world, Who crossed the seas and land, Tempering the soul in battles, Who was awarded the Song of glory for the majestic feat!
Be happy, young warrior, my Son, strengthened in the flames! I will ask Tlepsh, So that your days shine, So that your deeds are glorified by man everywhere! So that your sword is omnipotent, So that your horse is winged, So that your spear loses Count of the slain adversaries, So that you cut rocks with a sharp damask steel, So that your enemy, full of fear, Does not leave, does not hide in the thickets From your running greyhounds, From your soaring eagles, So that you are sharp on the battlefield, but without deceit, So that on the way back the Song of your fearlessness was ahead of the Horseman, so that she could return to our village before you, so that the proud Narts would know the power of your blows! Be happy, my dear son, so that I can part with the grief. Go to Khasa, boy, Come back to me a man!”
Oh, Sosruko, our son, Oh, Sosruko, our light, He was born for victories, He is dressed in chain mail, That burns like the sun, And his shield shines, Like sunlight! The horseman is going to the sledge! He goes to them for advice...
Satan, our mother, Shed no tears, our mother, The pain in the chest will heal, Wait to grieve! Why worry, mother? Do you see the scissors, mother? Tell your fortune on them, let the blades disperse and the blades come together, so that you can hear the answer: “Your Sosruko, your light, was created for victories!”
The brave tribe of Narts sits on the Khas, At this time - lo and behold! — Sosruko arrives. There is thunder in the sky and the valley shakes. The sledges stood up in fear: What’s going on in the area? “Hey, Nart warriors From the Nart monastery! What do you see, what do you hear? What kind of thunder is heard, What kind of horseman rushes and the valley shakes?”
Blood boils in the Narts’ veins, Anger bubbles up in the Narts’ souls: “Who wants to disrupt Khasy’s majestic fun? Never before have Horsemen come to us without an invitation!” As our Sosruko rode up, As Nartov looked at Khasa, Thunder struck with such force that the peak shook, that the bosom of the earth shook Like a cradle, Hundreds of lightning flashed, Illuminating both Sosruko, and the horse, and the equipment. Then the Narts became confused, were surprised, fearful, and ordered the seven one-eyed Giants to stand up at once and meet the guest according to the ancient laws.
They stood in a row and said: “Oh, Sosruko, our brother, Satan’s glorious son! We recognized you by your seat. We have not seen your face until now, But we have been waiting for you: You have been famous for a long time! What, horseman, say - You have come to us? Why are you angry and frowning? talk to people, Walk with us, Show off your standing. You dance on Khas, Show off your standing to everyone. Don’t hit the dirt with your face, Take the heavy hammer, Raise it, lower it, Break the anvil, Show your power, glorious son of Satan, Defeat Pshaya, Shake the brave men, Slay Goguazh. defeat, show your power. Oh, Sosruko, let’s go, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”
So the giants said, they took Sosruko by the hand and brought him to Khasa. The sledges stood up in honor of Sosruko, and Panuko, full of swagger, wants to appear brave. He came up with the horn of Sano and said to Sosruko: “Drink! You, Sosruko, are a brave warrior, You are worthy of the horn of the Narts!”
Sosruko raises his horn, Zdravitsa proclaims:
“I drink so that the word of the Narts remains unbreakable, I drink so that the glory of the Narts multiplies in generations! Let the thoughts of the Narts, the arrows of the Narts leave their mark throughout the centuries, And let the descendants glorify the brave Spirit, the bold feat! May Their great examples remain incorruptible, May Their deeds and creations remain incorruptible, May their deeds and creations remain incorruptible Wise Narts of the generation As long as this sweet dignity, this joyful dignity is imperishable, Precious and desirable!” Without blinking an eye, Sosruko drinks the sano at once. Goguazh approaches him, brings the second horn to him, makes a speech like this:
“Oh, Sosruko, our rival, you are not tested in battles! They say that you were raised by Satan, the gouache of the Narts, They say that you were not born of our Woman, Sosruko! If you are the child of two women, Dry two horns at once!”
Sosruko did not blink an eye, draining his healthy horn.
The overweight Pshaya with the third horn then jumped up to Sosruko:
"Oh, Sosruko, a stately warrior, a damask Nart, strong-armed! There is such a military custom: Whoever enters into battle for the first time, Must kill three in battle, gaining respect. Drinking sano is not a battle, Not a great event, We do not judge you harshly: Drain the three horns of the sano! This is what the order of the narts commands: Drink the sano without looking back, So that your steel body Rings with a Nart song, So that Khasa Nartov trembles from the young dance, So that the earth trembles under iron feet, So that the animals are afraid, So that the doors give way, So that you show courage to the Nart daughters with a beautiful Glorious sweet-voiced song You drink a little more - The third is worthy of the horn!
Then Nasren Longbeard, of the bravest breed, stood up and said sternly to the Narts:
“He drank two horns. Enough! I consider the third horn superfluous. Sosruko is not yet ripe. I will say about our guest: The heart, the bones are not strong, The hops will overpower him, knock him over, - Who will praise us for this? Enough, sledges, enough, sledges, I consider the third horn superfluous!”
Sosruko Goguazh's heart senses deceit, Panuko's hypocrisy, lies and pretense, and evil intentions: To get him drunk in a vile way And to kill him vilely.
But Sosruko knows: He is forever dishonored, Whoever does not drink from the horn - Even if he is poisoned! Whoever does not drink from the horn is judged strictly: He is reputed to be a pathetic coward!
Oh, the damask damask one, strong-armed and stately, does not want to enter into an argument, the third horn raises, the third horn drains, - the whole soul is burning in him! Despising wickedness, He jumped onto a tripod, round, small table, and on the table were dishes, cups, bowls and horns!
He forgot his worries, started to dance joyfully, he spun like a whirlwind, did not touch the dishes or cups! The table seemed too wide to the Dancer - Bowls with hot seasoning swirled around the edges. He dances the majestic Dance of battle and glory, Without shaking the seasoning, Without spilling even a drop, But from the riotous dance Hasa walks like a walker!
Sosruko jumped onto the floor, Nartam shouted cheerfully:
"Look, Nart clan, My turn has come! Let the Nart circle decide: Who am I - an enemy or a friend? Here I am, all of me, I don’t hide, I’m not afraid of anyone! I know your laws, To play “On foot and horse.” Begin, Nart clan, My turn is behind you, Here I am, all of me, I’m not hiding, I’m not afraid of anyone! Who is the most skillful here? Let’s shoot arrows in the wind. Begin, Nart clan, It’s my turn for you, Here I am, I’m not hiding, I’m not afraid of anyone! We will drive each other into the ground in the fight. Begin, Nart clan, It’s my turn for you, Here I am, I’m not hiding, We’ll play like a wheel, We’ll ride along the mountain, Begin, Nart clan, It’s my turn for you!”
The Narts stood up and threatened Sosruko with their swords. Panuko steps forward, He takes out an arrow from his quiver and shoots it straight into the sky from his bow. The sledges are cutting the ram, the sledges are removing the skin, - At that moment, from behind a cloud, Suddenly an arrow flies in and pierces the ground near the butchered carcass. The souls of the Narts rejoice. Everyone was delighted with Panuco's skill.
Sosruko appears and shoots his arrow into the sky from his bow. Here the bull is being slaughtered by sledges, here the bull is being cooked by sledges, but the arrow is still not visible. The meat takes a long time to cook, but the arrow is still not visible. The meat is divided into pieces, but the arrow is still not visible. Khasa mocks, Laughs at Sosruko:
“You’re not an archer! Where is the arrow? It got lost, and there’s no trace left! It’s not for you, brother Sosruko, to compete with him, with Panuko, It’s not for you, brother Sosruko, to compete with him in shooting! You decided to show yourself as your husband, You decided to brag before the Nart Khasa, - Where is your arrow, guy? It flew away, disappeared, flew away, daring!”
So said the overweight Pshaya - All the sledges laughed. Suddenly an arrow appeared, pierced the round table, pierced the middle! A loud word announced the valley of the Narts:
“Glory, glory to Sosruko! You showed a miracle to the Narts, You surprised all the Narts with a daring arrow! That arrow, Nart Sosruko, as you shot from the bow, We began to slaughter the bull, We began to cook the meat, The meat was cooked for a long time, Khasa sat down at the tables, continuing the glorious feast, filling the healthy horn, - Suddenly an arrow appeared, pierced the round table, the middle struck: Apparently, she wandered for a long time in the vault of heaven!
Oh, Sosruko, you brought Glory to the Nart family! Tell us, Sosruko, We would like to know, Do you hit the target with the same accuracy from a bow?”
Having said this, the sledges hide the Golden Ring. An oak tree stands above a cliff, above a stormy stream, it is crowned with thick, noisy foliage, and in that foliage the sleds hide a golden ring.
Goguazh comes forward, he wants to knock off the ring, he sharpens his teeth on him. Then the arrow whistled, flew through the foliage - And didn’t hit the leaf, Didn’t touch the ring. Sosruko steps forward and shoots an arrow, and at once knocks the ring off the sled tree!
Extremely far-sighted, quick-eyed Sosruko proved his accuracy, surprised our sledges. “How else will you, Sosruko, surprise our Narts?”
The strong-armed Sosruko approaches Pshae’s sledge and starts speaking like this:
"A pshaya with a strong neck and a wicked soul! Don't chase someone else's glory, you much-deceitful one: There will be no profit here... Give up pretense and cunning, Let's enter into single combat: Show your dexterity, Prove your courage, - In the middle of a green meadow Let's drive each other into the ground. Start little by little, And I will answer you... I went out on the road, For I knew, that I will meet a bolder man, a stronger brave man with a strong neck, come forward, it’s my turn after you, here I am, I’m not hiding, I’m not afraid of anyone!”
Pshaya, the low-browed Nart, burns with black anger, He grabs Sosruko, lifts him up and spins him around! He places his own foot between steel legs, He crushes the enemy, To break his strength. So he lifted Sosruko and with a swing, instantly, he drove young Nart into the ground knee-deep.
Sosruko begins. He lifts Pshaya, lifts him high and throws him to the ground, and drives Pshaya into the ground up to his shoulders, and then pulls him out, he exposes Pshaya to the ridicule of the Narts.
Pshaya - Strong Neck - Fierce, grabs, Raises Sosruko And drives the young Nart into the ground up to his waist.
Sosruko begins. So he grabs Pshaya, tears him off the ground, lifts him to the sky and throws him to the ground. He drives the strong-necked Pshaya into the ground so that the earth covers even Pshaya’s head!
Trembling with fear, the Narts looked at each other and exclaimed: “This is death, not fun! Not a game, but reprisal! Our glory is crumbling! You would, truly, Strong-armed Sosruko, pity these heads of the Narts, whose tenacity is known. Let’s end the combat: Let’s play with the wheel, Let’s ride along the mountain!”
Sosruko answers: “If Khasa wants, we’ll play with the Wheel, we’ll ride along the mountain!”
Oh, Sosruko, our light, He has no Thirst for someone else’s glory in his heart! With a calm soul, To win the game, He directs his step towards Harama Mountain, And his cry thundered in the ears of the strongmen: “Who is stronger? Who is braver? Let’s start the competition!” Like thunder is this cry, But silence is the answer: There are no hunters here. The competition should begin. The cry rang out again:
“Since there are no hunters - I am alone against everyone I will enter the competition, I will concede to you now I am the beginning of the game. Roll the wheel on me from the mountain. Begin, Nart clan, It’s my turn after you, Here I am, I don’t hide, I’m not afraid of anyone!”
Everyone takes the wheel, Which is called Jean-Cherch, And whose spokes are sharp, And the Narts roll their wheel up, To the top of the mountain.
Oh, Sosruko made of damask steel, Whose soul is enveloped in passion! It is not fear or care that sheds drops of sweat, it is the thirst for battle that burns, it is the thirst for a glorious deed that sparkles on the face!
The robe shook with a small trembling, not from fear, - Now at the mountain foot the dudes are talking, now Sosruko dances proudly In honor of the venerable elders-Narts, glorifies the elders-Narts, Praises their greatness. They look at this miracle, roll the wheel off the cliff and arrogantly announce: “Hit as you want, hit as you can!”
Oh, Sosruko, our son, He is alone - against everyone! He hits Jean-Cherch with his hand and returns him to the top. The Narts from above shout: “How your hand strikes! Your arrival is our end, Your arrival is our shame, - Why did you enter into a dispute? The hour of battle has not come, Why are you destroying us? Why are you seething in anger, You, whose body is damask steel? The Inyzh did not come to us, Chints do not threaten us! You hit Jean-Cherkh, A groan was heard in response, - There is no courage in this. If you are really brave And born for victories - Beat Jean-Cherch with your chest!”
Oh, Sosruko, our light, He beats Jean-Cherch with his chest, Returns him to the top. The Narts tremble in fear, The Narts shout in fear: “We will call you a daredevil only then, If you hit with your forehead, Returning Jean-Cherch!”
And Sosruko, our light, says in response to them: “Let the Nart circle decide who I am - an enemy or a friend! I am ready to punish the evil army of Chintov, But before the battle comes, Roll down the mountain as quickly as possible, Jean-Cherch, So that my third blow will make the Narts tremble!”
The Narts are looking sadly at Sosruko now: They were shocked by this cry. For the third time the wheel flew down the mountain.
A real hero does not run away from the game. He hits with his damask forehead, Jean-Cherch returns, And it flies up, Over the Harama Mountain!
Then the sledges became upset, began to glorify heroism, praise Sosruko’s strength, proclaiming toasts, calling him a brave man. They address the order to the one-eyed giants: “Hey, bring Sosruko under your arms to our Khasa! Hand over the cup of courage, Place Sosruko in a place of honor!”
The giants are setting up Nine tripod tables, - Sano's horns are not lacking Nine days before Sosruko. Nine days in honor of Sosruko They pronounce praises, and at parting they present gifts to the Winner.
Oh, our damask Sosruko, He’s riding and galloping back. Satan meets him and asks: “My dear son, Speak: on Khas Nartov. What did you see, what did you hear? Who came out to meet you? Who made you wonder with courage and eloquence? Who praised and glorified you? In what place were you sitting, awarded the honor of swearing?” This is how Sosruko answered her: “No one met me there. We only ate and only drank on this small Hasa, and no one praised me, and, perhaps, did not scold me!”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru