Wezirmes Saves the Narts from Famine
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(Translated from a Kabardian text. First cycle, tale no. 11, pp. 109-13
in The Narts: Circassian Epos. Vol. 1. Asker Hedeghalh'e.
Maikop: The Circassian Research and Science Institute, 1968)
Wezirmes, the son of Ghwaze Pizghesch, was one of the
Nart elders. He grew up among the Nart heroes. He always outplayed his
Nart friends in the games that they played. Since his early years all people
held him in high esteem. All the Narts concurred that he would grow up
to be a perfect Nart.
One day, while playing with his friends, he saw the
village people going in one direction carrying all sorts of food and drink.
One was driving a sheep, another was carrying dried meat, and a third was
holding a tub of wine. Wezirmes was most surprised by a poor woman toting
a cask of food. Her children were walking behind her begging her for food.
"Mummy, we are starving, give us something to eat!" they cried. She paid
no heed to the heart-rending pleas of her little ones, and kept walking
with the other villagers towards their destination.
Wezirmes stopped playing and approached the crowd.
"Why are you carrying all these things? Where are you taking them?" he
asked. They all had one answer. "We are presenting these gifts to Peqwe
as offerings."
Those words broke Wezirmes's heart. He abandoned his
games. He walked for a while, silent, crest-fallen and quite pale.
After returning from a campaign, the Narts used to
amuse themselves by indulging in games. At those games the children of
the Narts assembled to partake in racing, wrestling, knucklebone, and stone-throwing
competitions.
The Narts at once sensed the absence of Wezirmes from
those games, since he had never missed a single meeting. They got worried
and wondered if he was ill. They sent someone to ask after him. The messenger
came back with the following words:
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There is nothing physically wrong with me. I am just disappointed with
the Nart heroes who offer old Billy goat beard, Peqwe, gifts as if he were
a god.
There and then he informed the Narts of his resolution:
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If the Narts do not stop their demeaning offerings, I will part ways with
them. I cannot, and will not come to terms with your obsequious behaviour.
Old Billy goat beard Peqwe does not deserve to be treated as a god by the
indomitable Nart heroes. My heart will find no peace until I rid the Narts
of this despot. This is all there is to it.
When the Narts heard what Wezirmes had to say, they
trembled with fear. They begged Wezirmes with tears in their eyes to unmake
his vow, lest Peqwe wreak his wrath upon them once the news of the vow
reaches him. Wezirmes brushed aside the advice and resolved to fulfil his
pledge. Therefore, he gathered all the Narts one day so that they all could
hear his vow first-hand:
-
If I fail to cut off Peqwe's head, and if I am unable to free the Narts
from the tyranny of that cowardly old Billy beard, then I am not worthy
of being called a Nart.
The Narts did not attach much importance to
these words. They thought that when Peqwe would hear about the vow, he
would surely make their lives very miserable. Unheedful of any council
to change his mind, Wezirmes began to devise a plan of action. First he
went to his mother, Lady Mighezesh, and told her:
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Our mother! I have solemnly vowed to rid the Narts of Peqwe's oppressive
yoke. Nobody on earth can make me alter my resolve, not even you, mother.
Please tell how to fulfil my pledge. I have no weapon to wield!
-
If you have resolved to fulfil your vow, then go to the vault below and
bring out your father's white-nosed steed. The saddle is hanging by the
iron horse-belts. Take it down. In a black chest, you will find your old
man's sure-cutting sword. Attach it to your belt.
Wezirmes brought out the white-nosed steed from the
cellar, put the saddle on it, and donned his father's sure-cutting sword.
He rode out. When he first lashed the whip, his steed rose up to the depth
of heaven. He let his horse do his capers on top of the world. When he
had enough frolicking, he turned to the road used by the people to convey
their gifts to Peqwe and set up a barricade. He confiscated all the offerings
and made the villagers turn back. From then on, he forbade anyone to make
the journey to Peqwe.
The Nart elders were caught between the sledgehammer
and anvil. They dreaded both Peqwe's ire and Wezirmes's unbridled strength.
They secretly dispatched a messenger to Peqwe through a secluded road to
tell him that Wezirmes was blockading the way of the gift-bearers. They
waited for the might of Peqwe to send Wezirmes to kingdom come. But, to
their utter astonishment, Peqwe just kept aloof, despite the fact that
Wezirmes went on impounding his gifts and turning back the bearers.
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"So Peqwe pretends that he doesn't care. I know how to ruffle his feathers!"
said Wezirmes, and went to Peqwe's place. As he was approaching the house,
he called out Peqwe in a frightful voice:
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"Hey you, Peqwe, old billy-goat beard! Come out, you cowardly idol, and
show yourself.
When Peqwe heard this challenge, he trembled with
fear and sent a word to Wezirmes that he was too ill to meet him. Wezirmes
dismounted and walked to the door saying, "if he is ill, I am in perfect
health." He barged into the house and saluted Peqwe:
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"Good day to you, Peqwe!"
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"May you be smitten with misfortune!" retorted Peqwe.
Wezirmes bared his sword as he heard the insolent
response and made to cut off Peqwe's head. But Peqwe bolted with Wezirmes
at full tilt behind him.
When Peqwe realized that there was no place for him
to hide on Earth, he climbed up to the skies and wove a spider house to
live in.
As Peqwe was a god, and as he created the fields for
the Narts, he unleashed his anger on them. He ordered the skies to hold
off the rains. He caused the rivers to dry. The earth became arid, the
crops died, the trees shed their leaves, the cattle miscarried, and women
became infertile. The Narts fell into hard times and they started to blame
Wezirmes for the curse that had befallen them.
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"Instead of bliss you have brought us misfortune by incurring the wrath
of Peqwe. How do we survive this famine now?"
Wezirmes was dejected. As he reflected on his dilemma,
he hit on the idea of consulting Satanay, the omniscient and wise Lady.
He mounted his steed and rode to her place.
Wezirmes told Satanay the whole story.
The prophetess looked at Wezirmes's steed:
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Your old white-nosed steed is the progeny of the ancient Alhp breed. A
brave hero reared it. Heat it well and strike it thrice with your lash.
It will carry you like the wind to the eye of heaven. It will get you to
your destination.
Wezirmes did exactly as Lady Satanay bade him to
do. He heated his horse, then struck it three times. It carried him instantly
to the depths of heaven, and noiselessly they made inside Peqwe's cobweb
house.
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"Good day to you, Peqwe!" said Wezirmes, saluting him in a most seemly
manner.
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"Go to hell! You had made my life a misery on Earth before you drove me
out to this god forsaken hole. Why don't you leave me in peace in my new
abode here?" riposted Peqwe tremulously.
-
"Don't cast your aspersions upon me, Peqwe. I have come to tell you about
the calamity that has befallen the lands of the Narts."
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"Pray tell me, what affliction has smitten the country of the Narts? Surely
it can't be that bad," said Peqwe, pretending innocence.
-
"It is said that because I had forbidden the Narts to send you gifts, you
became so angry that you drove goodness out of the land. Crops do not grow
anymore, cattle have ceased to breed, and women have become barren. The
land is cursed with famine. The Narts have lain the blame at my door. They
say that I am the cause of all this darkness.
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"Yes, you only have yourself to blame. You are the arch villain. You seized
the gifts that they had intended for me. Your evilness had been shadowing
me on earth. Then you chased me out of the world. And now you have the
temerity to follow me to heaven.
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"It is worry that has brought me to you. The Narts have sent me to make
amends with you. 'We can't even find water to drink,' they say."
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"It pleases me no end that you find no water to drink. That will teach
you not to make enemies with Peqwe," howled Peqwe.
When Peqwe said this, Wezirmes continued:
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"Please forgive my one mistake. Do not doom all the Narts for a single
slip. There, look down to earth. Can't you see how those hapless Narts
are looking up to you in beseechment? Young and old, women and children
have climbed up Mount Hereme to beg you to make it rain so that crops might
grow anew," said Wezirmes.
No matter what Wezirmes said, Peqwe refused to budge
from his place. Realizing that the conversation was going nowhere, Wezirmes
continued:
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There, look down. The Narts on Mount Hereme have brought you gifts. They
are extending them to you. Take them, Peqwe!" Wezirmes stretched his hand
towards earth.
Detecting no trickery in these words, Peqwe looked
out of his cobweb house and down to earth. Wezirmes seized on his chance.
He drew out his sword and smote Peqwe on his neck, his head flying off
instantly.
Afterwards, it kept raining for seven weeks, with blood
streaming down from the stricken body. The curse of Peqwe was lifted. The
crops grew in abundance once more. The trees were full of fruit. The number
of cattle multiplied. Women gave birth.
Ever since this episode, all Narts held Wezirmes in
great esteem on account of his bravery. He was admitted to the Nart Council.
They toasted that in his adulthood he would be like a real Nart hero.
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