Zezvais Tskheni (Gaprindaulis Simghera)
(scroll down for English translation)
Gadmoviare shenisluli samch’edlos mtebi
Shublze papari gadits’ie karishkhlis prtebi
Ros dahk’ravdi da dadgeboda mt’vrisa namkeri
Dols dahk’ravdi da utskho zhrzholas its’qebdnen mtebi
Khitanis velze, he ramdenjer gitareshnia
Zaalnis gortan alamtanats idek p’irveli
Sheni khvikhvini gaismoda satatretshia
Tskheni iqavi tu lamazi laghi prinveli
Doghis belado bakht’rionis tsikhis k’edlebi
Khmlita da doghit shen da zezvas shegilets’niat
Isartelvis dros tsetskhls ak’vesdnen sheni nalebi
Ise dahkrodi sik’vdilits ver ts’amogets’ia
Alvanis velze gaaprine gaprindauli
T’akht’is bogirtan utsabedad gulgatangulo
Sheni gants’irva iqo zezvas danashauli
Pekhmardo lurjav mt’rebis siskhlit gats’itlebulo
Da dghesats tush k’atss ch’iri akvs tu zhamta salkhino
T’akht’is bogirtan ts’utit maints alagmavs kurans
Qants’i tu ar akvs uzangaze daiskhavs ghvinos
Moikhseniebs gagtsdeba da kuds daikhuravs
Translation:
Zezvai’s Horse (Gaprindauli's Song)¹
Crossing the foggy mountains of Samchedlo
You flipped your mane wings in a storm
There was a snowdrift of dust all around
The mountains trembled at the drumming of your hooves
At Khitani, how many times did you gallop through?
At Zaalnis flag you were the first to arrive
In Satatreti² your neighing was heard
Were you really a horse or just a free bird?
You led the horserace to the walls of Bakht’rioni3
By the sword, you and Zezva won
Your horseshoes sparked with fire as you flew
So fast that even death couldn't follow
You sped Gaprindauli through the Alazani Valley
Suddently tiring at the Ottoman footbridge
It was Zezva’s offense that you sacrificed your life
Nimble-hooved horse, painted with the enemies' blood
And to this day, whether grieving or celebrating
A Tush man curbs his bay horse at the Ottoman footbridge
If there is no qantsi³ he pours wine into the stirrups
In honor of you he praises your name and tips his hat
¹This song is about Zezva Gaprindauli's horse. Gaprindauli was a 17th century folklore hero from Tusheti, famous for having participated in the Battle of Bakhtrioni.
²Satatreti literally means The place of the Tatars, the name the Georgians use to refer to Azerbaijanis.
³A 17th century fortress, today in ruins, originally served as an outpost of the Persian Safavid Dynasty in the 1650’s, until Georgian highlanders and plainspeople joined together in a surprise attack in 1659.
4️⃣A hollowed-out wild goat horn used as a drinking vessel for special toasts.