7. How Lhepsch Sought the Edge of the World
(Translated from a Kabardian text. Third cycle, tale no. 53, p. 217 in The Narts: Circassian Epos. Vol. 1. Asker Hedeghalh'e. Maikop: The Circassian Research and Science Institute, 1968)

    "I shall find the edge of the world. I will see it with my own eyes." Said Nart Lhepsch.

    He fashioned a pair of iron boots and formed a walking stick to roam the World.

    He travelled here, he travelled there, he travelled everywhere. He saw a few, he saw a lot, there was nothing under the skies that he did not see.

    His boots wore out and fell round his ankles. His staff shortened to lesser than a span.

    He roamed and roved. His quest took him to all corners of the World, but he never arrived at the place where Heaven meets Earth.

    To this day Circassian elders have a saying about this vain endeavour: Lhepsch did not reach the edge of the world.


  I include the original Kabardian text in a latinized Kabardian alphabet.

Lhepsch duneym yi ghwne zerilhix'war

  - Se duneym yi ghwne qezghwetinsch, qizezghelheghwnsch, - zhiy'eriy, ghwsch vaqe yesch'(i)riy, ghwsch bash yesch'(i)riy duneyr qizepiyk'whinu nart Lhepsch yozcher.

  Kwedre k'wasch, kwedre plhasch. Yi vaqer lazcheriy yi lhapschem qif'exwezhasch, yi bash lazcheriy yi tsiper 'edaqem qich'emischizhu x'wasch.

  Kwedre k'wasch, lhix'wasch, awe wafemre sch'ilhemre zischzegheqwam nesa'im.

  Abi schhech'e nobe qiznesamiy:

  -  Lhepsch sch'im yi ghwne nesa'im! - adige lh'izchxem zha'e.


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