Birtalan Ágnes: Kalmyk Folklore and Folk Culture in the Mid-19th Century: Philological Studies on the Basis of Gábor Bálint of Szentkatolna’s Kalmyk Texts.
FOLKLORE GENRES
by a great number of monks [of gelng rank) arrived at the old woman's and old man's [place]. Thereafter the old woman's and old man's son married and fell asleep at [that] night. While he was sleeping, the monks encircled his yurt sitting and prayed. 5 8 They prayed until dawn but meanwhile the old woman's and old man's son died. Thereafter the khan told the old woman old and man: - A man cannot escape from his predestined fate. 57 9 - And [he] went home. Thereafter the khan was watching for the old woman who was supposed to come from the direction of the rising Sun. Meanwhile that old woman arrived. The khan caught that old woman, bound a rope round her neck and tied the other 58 0 end of the rope to his horse's tail and dragged [her] along. He dragged her along in a hurry 58 1 and then burnt [her]. Thereafter the khan said: - Well, I will see [her son] marrying my daughter! - The old woman's son in her belly fell out while [his mother] was dragged. Thereafter the khan went to war. That boy who fell out was found by the khan's official 58 2 who made him his own son. That boy played together with the khan's daughter. Meanwhile they fell in love with each other. 5 8' [44] Thereafter the khan's wife sent a letter to the khan. - Your daughter has fallen in love with the official's son. - So she wrote 58 4 [in her message]. The messenger 58 5 arrived at the khan and gave that message letter. The khan asked that man: - What kind of a son has the official? - Thereupon that messenger 58 6 said: - The official found a boy on the ground and made this boy his own son. - Thereafter the khan grew angry and sent a message back to his wife. - Divest the official of his rank! 58 7 - He wrote in his message and [gave it to the messenger]. That young man took the message and left. While he was going, there were two yurts [on his way]. That young man arrived at the yurt on the northern side and dismounted there. While picking lice on his head, the wife in that yurt put him asleep. She unfolded his robe on his chest and looked into it. Upon looking into it, she found that message letter there. She read that message and tore it and burnt it. She wrote another message instead. She wrote in the message as follows: "Please wed 58 8 the official's son with my daughter and erect two-three white yurts. Settle servants 58 9 on its northern side; settle an assembly of monks on its southern side." [Such a message] she wrote. Thereafter the young man got up and left. For that matter, the yurt's owner wife was the official's daughter. Thereafter that young man gave the message to the khan's wife. The queen read it and erected several white yurts. [45] On the southern side she settled several assemblies of monks, 59 0 on the northern side she settled servants. Thereafter the khan was nearing home from the war. He arrived close to the yurts. A woman collected dung for fuel [there] and the khan asked her: - What are these many white yurts? - Thereupon the woman said: - The official's son and your daughter ... - Upon hearing that woman's words the khan cut her in two and with the fastest sprint of his horse arrived home. He flung the [felt] door upon the [roof] of the yurt: 27 8 Bálint nom umusäd (ungsiäd), Kalm nom umsäd. 2 7 9 Bálint uridain täbiksen xubiäsii, Kalm urdin läwsn xüwäs. 58 0 Bálint nége lit. "one" 28 1 Bálint ciräd doptolji orkäd tüimürdäji orkoba, Kalm. cireddowtlj orkäd tümrdjorkw. 58 2 Bálint tüsimiil (tüsimel), Kalm. tiisml. 28 7 Bálint Neiläd bäibe. Kalm. Niled bäw. Lit. "united, become united, became friends" here: "fell in love with each other". 58 4 Bálint ilgägädorkoba, Kalm. ilgägäd orhv lit. "sent". 58 5 Bálint tere kün lit. "that man". 28( 1 Bálint tere zalü lit. "that young man". 2 8 Bálint Tiisimülä gekü nerei n'i tasaläd orkol, Kalm. Tiisml gix nerin' tasläd ork! lit. "Stop naming him an official". 58 8 Bálint ne'ildüläd. cf. Kalm. nllülx (R. 278, Mun. 377). 58 9 Bálint caxär, Kalm caxr "die dienenden Kalmückenfamilien, die in der nähe des Fürsten (od Klosters) wohnen; die Handwerker, Arbeiter (Fleischer, Schuster etc.) vgl. caxar" (R. 420). 59 0 I. e. "sanctuaries, temples". 90
