For a whole year, Malechiph and Unadjoko lived in harmony, amicably and happily. Unajoko rejoiced with all his heart that he had such a good wife, and could not find any flaw in her. But the time has come to think about father's orders.
“Even though it will be difficult for me,” Unadjoko reflected, “I am still ready to build a new house every year and, with the help of neighbors, plow with a hundred speckled oxen.” But how can I divorce such a good wife?
Unadzhoko grieved for a long time, but there was nothing to do: how could the Nart fail to fulfill his father’s behest?
“Even though I have nothing to reproach you for, even though I love you very much, we can no longer remain husband and wife.” Take whatever your heart desires from my house and go to your father! - the saddened Unadjoko told his Malechiph.
- Your word is law for me! I’ll take with me whatever my heart desires and go to my father. But if you really love me, fulfill my only request: let me finally arrange a feast for your friends, give you something to drink, feed you, and cheer you up. Let the Nart knights remember me with kindness! - Malechiph answered her husband.
Unajoko readily agreed and called all his friends. Malechipkh prepared a lot of food and drink, set the table and addressed the sarts:
“My husband is breaking up with me, and I ask you to feast and have fun at my table for the last time in order to preserve a good memory of me!”
The Narts began the feast, and Malechipkh served them food and drink, saying:
- Don't let the owner be sad! There are many like me. He will find himself a good wife.
And the Narts, bringing cup after cup to Unadjoko, got him drunk.
When the guests left; After feasting all day and night, Unajoko fell fast asleep.
Malechipkh harnessed the oxen to the cart, put straw there, covered it with a soft bedding, laid her husband on the cart and, driving the oxen, set off.
When we were halfway through the road, Unajoko woke up.
“Hey, Malechiph, where are we going?” he asked his wife, perplexed.
-Have you forgotten? “You broke up with me, and I’m going home!” Malechipkh answered calmly, driving the oxen.
“I didn’t forget, but I don’t understand where you’re taking me,” Unadjoko said in surprise.
- If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you. Remember, we had the following agreement: if you divorce me, I can take from the house what is most dear to me. But you are dearest to me! “Here I am going to my father and taking you,” answered Malechiph.
- We talked about it - it’s true! And the fact that you are driving me is good! “And I separated from you only because I had to fulfill three of my father’s covenants,” Unadjoko said.
- What are these three covenants? - asked Malechiph.
“When my father was dying, he ordered me to marry a new wife every year, to build a new house every year, and to plow with old pockmarked oxen every year.” I swore by Washho-kan to fulfill these three covenants. But you and I have lived for a year, and therefore I have to divorce you,” Unadjoko explained.
“Your father was wise, but if you didn’t understand him, who is to blame?” Marrying a new wife every year means not sitting at home, but going on a hike, so that when you return, your wife will seem new to you. Building a new house every year means that every spring you have to cover the house with fresh straw, and I have to cover the walls with clay. Every year, plowing with old oxen means plowing your field before all the snow melts, when the ground is still pockmarked, because there is nothing better than early sowing. “Now choose: either we return home, or I, by agreement, will take you to my place,” little Malechiph told her husband.
- If so, we’ll come back! - answered the husband. “I don’t want the Narts to say: “When Malechipkh left, she took Unadjoko with her!”
They returned home, and from then on Unadjoko lived with his wife amicably, happily and inseparably, like a piece of fluff stuck to honey.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru