The Epic "Manas". The Quarrel Between Chubak and Almanbet

The Quarrel of Chubak and Almanbet

The head of the warriors, Kyrgyl,
At forty, he still sinned.
A well-known adulterer,
He did no good for the people,
He was known as a gossip in the folk.
And once he spread a rumor
That at night Chubak
Met secretly with Kanikei.
Learning that Almanbet and Syrgak
Had gone on reconnaissance to Beijin,
He said to Chubak in front of the warriors:
— Son of Khan Akbalta, Chubak!
Didn’t know you were such a fool.
Though you are a Noygut hero,
You are lower than a fugitive, kapyr!
There is no dignity in Chubak,
If in all matters
Almanbet has risen above him.
Kenkol is no less than Talas!
Chubak is no worse than Manas!
Having drunk vodka, you always
Beat your chest, Chubak,
That you will turn the world upside down.
Syrgak and Almanbet yesterday,
Not taking you, went on patrol.
And you, like an old woman,
Stayed here by the cauldron!
Oh, my God, what a disgrace! —
Said the old rascal with sarcasm.
— Follow me, Noyguts! To the horses! —
Chubak roared in anger. —
And immediately the drum thundered.
— I will slay the Chinese myself! —
Cried the offended Chubak.
And immediately, mounting his horse,
The patrol rushed to catch up.
Learning about this, er-Bakay
Rode immediately to Manas
And told everything in detail.
— Hurry, uncle Bakay,
Before these two fools
Cause trouble there! —
Said Manas to Bakay.
— I cannot calm them down.
Only you can subdue them! —
Answered uncle Bakay.
And Manas himself rushed after,
So that Chubak and Almanbet,
Would not shed each other's blood.
Almanbet's horse Sarala,
Galloping fast as an arrow,
And Kokchebich, Syrgak's horse,
And with them the faithful Kartkuron,
Having traveled a hundred versts,
Descended from the mountains to the river path —
And here Chubak caught up with the patrol.
“Salam” Almanbet offered —
“Alyk” Chubak did not give in return.
— What happened, my Chubak?
Don’t you want to shake my hand
And you hold your sword by the handle?
Did the enemy suddenly attack?
Did the Kyrgyz troops get defeated? —
Chubak asked Almanbet.
— And have you forgotten, my dear,
How we swore with blood together
In military campaigns and in battle
To give our lives for friendship?!
Or is the oath with blood and sword
Nothing to you, Chinese?
You went on reconnaissance without me!
Did you think I was a coward, a traitor?
Did you think that in reconnaissance,
Like you, I would run to the enemy?
Or maybe you, Chinese slave,
Decided to run back to your own?
You took the young Syrgak on the journey,
To make it easier to deceive! —
And Chubak drew his sword.
In anger, Almanbet boiled:
— Enough! I have endured for long
And I cannot be silent now!
By blood, I am a Chinese! Yes!
But with a pure heart and soul
I came here to the Kyrgyz!
I am going to war against China,
To the homeland, to the native land!
I fight for Manas, for you,
I go to battle for the Kyrgyz!
But I did not know that er-Chubak
Is an unjust, evil fool!
And now for my honor
I will stand at the cost of my life!
Well then, my dear friend,
I am ready to fight you!
And, pulling his sword from its sheath,
He lunged at his friend.
Spurring Kokala,
Covering himself with a leather shield,
Chubak rushed forward.
Brother went against brother with a sword!
In a deadly battle,
The steel sparkled and rang.
Two equal warriors fought,
And every swing of the sword threatened
To spill the blood of a friend.
And suddenly, a loud voice struck,
Like thunder from the sky:
— What are you, friends, gone mad?! —
Manas roared in anger.
And immediately with his right hand
He took the reins of Sarala,
And with his left hand seized
Chubak's horse Kokala.
And now, like a faithful, formidable shield,
Khan Manas stands between them.
— Restrain your anger, heroes!
You are to me like twin brothers!
And each of you is closer to me than a brother!
When you are together and with me,
I can hold the whole world in my hand.
But if we do not come to agreement,
The people will be divided
Into small khanates and clans.
Word will spread again through the world,
That among the Kyrgyz there is no brotherhood!
Whoever separates from the clans,
Will become food for wolves!
But Chubak was unyielding:
— Let me go, I will settle with him,
With your loyal Chinese!
You, Khan Manas, have forgotten Altai,
When we fought with all our might
For the people without mercy.
We were thirteen years old,
And I risked life and death,
And the glory from my victories
All went to you, Manas!
I am not offended by this:
Like God, I value you!
But here comes Almanbet —
And for you, Chubak does not exist!
And forty warriors-choro
Seem like nothing to you!
And you have exchanged us, Khan Manas,
For a runaway Chinese! —
Chubak raged in fury.
— You let me go, Manas!
I will kill Chubak right now!
He called me a fugitive!
He threw me in the dirt! —
Almanbet rushed at Chubak.
The hero Manas was enraged:
— Friends, now I understand you!
You quarreled among yourselves,
So as not to go with me to battle.
Without you, I will go to Beijin!
And my call, you know, is the same —
Yesterday, today, tomorrow, henceforth:
“Either victory or death!”
Go, I release you!
And I will watch your disgrace!
He released the reins from his hands,
Sat silently on the hill.
And the enraged er-Chubak
Suddenly dismounted from his horse
And crossed his arms on his chest.
— My Almanbet, I was wrong,
I mistook pride for the devil.
I behaved like a fool,
I am ready to burn from shame!
Here are my hands! If you want — bind me!
Here is the abyss — push me down!
Here is the sword, to take my head!
But if you can — then forgive! —
Without a shadow of sorrow and evil
The valiant Chubak pleaded.
And Almanbet dismounted from his horse.
He threw the whip over his strong neck:
— And you forgive me, Chubak!
I have no grievances against you, my friend! —
And, like a young bride — a kelinchik,
Almanbet stood bowing.
When er-Manas saw
That the two heroes, like friends,
Stood embracing before him,
Tears sparkled in his eyes,
As if he suddenly saw
A double star in the sky.
And the four heroes:
Manas, Syrgak, and Almanbet,
And with them the valiant Chubak —
Set off on their further journey,
To look at Beijin from afar,
From the top of Tal-Choku.
From here, all of China is visible —
A great, blessed land.
At the very blue skies
Under the sun, clouds swirl.
The aroma of alpine meadows
Dulls your head.
And, taking the telescope,
Manas saw all of China.

Swarming like ants,
He saw people, er-Manas.
He saw blooming gardens, fields,
And meadows, er-Manas saw.
And Almanbet told them:
— Over there, behind the black mountain,
Is my native city, Chett-Beijin.
On the throne there sits
The main ruler, Esenkhan.
Behind Chett-Beijin in the distance
Are the lands of Khan Alooke,
Where his youngest son rules —
The fierce Konurbay.
And on the left — the blessed land,
Where the maiden Orongu rules.
To the left — the Manchu tribes,
And to the right — the Solon tribes.
Next to them are the lands
Of Khan Bozkerik.
And there, beyond the turbulent river,
Shine the lakes of Kok-Noor,
The ruler there is the fat Jolo.
Great is the fragmented China!
When the whole world was engulfed by a flood,
The entire earth was flooded with water,
But in those years, the flood's water
Did not reach Beijin.
Even Solomon did not know about it,
And Rustem — Dastan was not here,
And even Alexander himself
Could not conquer it.
And the son-in-law of Muhammad, Aziret,
Could not influence the people.
The people live here, hardworking,
With a great trusting soul.
But we will not go to China —
Our cursed enemy is Konurbay.
We must crush him
And kill him like a robber!
And at the top of Tal-Choku,
Wishing for faithful luck,
Er-Chubak left with Manas
To their troops, on the return path.
And Almanbet and er-Syrgak
Went on reconnaissance to find out
The routes to Beijin.

The Epic of "Manas". The Appointment of Almanbet as Commander-in-Chief