Why does the sun slow down towards the end
of the day?
(Translated from an Abzakh original. First cycle, tale no. 10,
pp. 108-9 in The Narts: Circassian Epos. Vol. 1. Asker
Hedeghalh'e. Maikop: The Circassian Research and Science Institute, 1968)
Have you ever wondered why the sun stops
for a while at some time towards the evening? …
This started to happen after the following
incident:
One day Satanay and a young Nart got
into an argument and then challenged one another as to who was more adept
at his art.
One said, "I can weave a Circassian coat
in one day."
It is said that Satanay was the only
person capable of performing such a feat.
The other, "I can make a saddle in one
day."
All day (of the appointed date) each
was busy making the object of the challenge.
The young Nart artisan sat hard at his
work.
As the sun was about to go down, seeing
that she still needed some time before her work was finished:
- "Oh sun, if only you come to a standstill
for a while!" said Satanay.
At that time it was usual for the Nart
wishes to come true. The sun stopped for some time, giving Satanay a chance
to finish weaving.
Since she had been working all day
long, Satanay must have become very exhausted. She stood up and stretched
her body. She put on the new coat to show it to the young Nart.
- "You are exactly as they say! You have
done a great job!" said the young Nart.
I include the original Abzakh in the latinized
Kabardian alphabet. Please note that this is an approximate rendering
by a non-native speaker. It should only be used as a rough guide.
It will most interest those familiar with Abzakh as they can reproduce
exactly the original sounds.
Tigher pschihere qizfizeteyvwgwerer
Tigher pschihapem, zi lhex'an gwerem, qewvew, wafe
chapem zawilere yitew zereschitim gw lhiptagha? ...
Arewischtew zich'ex'wrer mari.
Setenayere zi nart fesch'e 'yalere zeniqweqwghex.
Zim: "Heype saye sidin," - i'wagh.
Ar isch'ew, Setenaye xwefhaxw, schi'egheschtep
a'we!
Adirem: "Zi mafe'ye wane ssch'in," - i'wagh.
Mefe reynem, schhazh zifeghezaghem iwizch yitew,
schisighex.
Nart 'yaler fesch'e 'eze ble'iyghew schititiy,
yisch'en ze'iiyqwiy 'isizhighe.
Tigher wafe chapem nesighew, 'wefsch'eney qifenagher
t'ek'w imiwxi'we'ye yenegwey zex'wm:
- We Tigh, ze wiqizeteyvagheyeme! - i'wagh
Setenaye.
A lhex'anim nartme a'werer x'w xabzetiy, tigher
t'ek'w qizeteyviy, yidin qipaplhew zi schip'e yitigh.
Mafem bere zetesighetiy, Setenaye hazerew pschighen,
peghen faye. Qetejiy, lheschew ziywqwdiy seye sch'igha'eyr zischiylhiy
nart 'yaler qiriygheplhigh.
- Zera'werem witeyt, Setenay! F'iwe bgheschighe!
- nart qiriy'wagh.
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