Первое, что приятно удивило меня в Абхазии – необычайное гостеприимство местных жителей, но, даже прежде, я был поражен захватывающей красотой страны: горы со снежными вершинами, лесистые ущелья и долины, бесчисленные озера и реки и километры морского побережья с чистыми пляжами. Субтропический климат – еще один плюс, особенно после Москвы. Неудивительно, что так много пословиц отражают здешнюю чудесную природу: поющие горы, танцующие реки, сверкающее море. Но главное, конечно, люди, их характер, взаимоотношения и их связь с Родиной.

 Я переехал сюда, убегая от суеты цивилизации, в поисках места, где я мог бы провести остаток жизни в неторопливой расслабленности. Наверное поэтому одна из самых привлекательных пословиц для меня – «не делай работу, пока она не закричит», которую я услышал от моего абхазского друга Тимура Пачулия.

Я благодарен судьбе за то, что свела меня с рядом абхазов, которые оказали значительное влияние не только на мою здешнюю жизнь, но, я бы сказал, на мой образ мышления. Один из них – это автор настоящей книги Олег Шамба. Именно он познакомил меня со множеством замечательных пословиц, которые раскрывают суть Абхазии лучше, чем все то, с чем я сталкивался прежде. Научные труды Олега Багратовича по фольклору отражают дух и величие абхазского народа. Неустанная деятельность «абхазского Даля» - Олега Шамбы по сбору, переводу и популяризации народных пословиц заслуживает большого уважения и почитания. Я разделяю его убеждение, что абхазские пословицы и афоризмы должны стать достоянием мировой цивилизации. Полагаю, что настоящее издание будет способствовать этой цели.

 Я думаю, мне посчастливилось найти то самое место на земле, где моя душа пришла в совершенную гармонию с телом. Надеюсь, что эта книга в наше непростое время поможет и вам приблизиться к состоянию внутреннего спокойствия и благополучия, а также развить философское отношение к жизни. Будь благословенна Абхазия – страна души «Апсны».

 Профессор Роджер Джесси

FROM THE TRANSLATOR

 As the song says, it’s a wonderful world. It’s exciting and varied, and includes many nations each with their own culture, traditions and customs which have usually been created and then passed on from generation to generation. The proverbs and sayings of a nation reflect the wisdom and experiences of its people, accumulated through the centuries.

 Abkhazia is an ancient country with a highly developed folk culture, and has naturally produced a large number of memorable expressions arising from this culture. The Abkhazians call their country “Apsny” which means “the land of the heart and soul” and is intended to include a wide range of deep meanings. Each generation has passed on their spirit heritage “Apsuara”, some kind of code of ethics which still influences all aspects of their lives.

 For thousands of years this multinational country has survived numerous wars and other disasters, which have created the situation whereby the majority of ethnic Abkhazians now live outside the country. Nevertheless, they still maintain a very strong connection with their motherland, and this has found its reflection in many of the proverbs in this book. Some fifteen years after the 1992-93 war for independence from Georgia, Abkhazia has at last been recognized by its powerful neighbour Russia, and thus has received the opportunity for its peaceful development.

 Having lived in this country for quite a while, after several years in Moscow, I have had the opportunity to experience rather close contact with different aspects of Abkhazian life. Unless you are a Hollywood star, it is difficult to imagine a wedding reception organized for 800 – 1000 guests. The menu includes traditional mamalyga (a type of corn porridge), adjika (a very hot spice puree made from peppers and garlic), cha-cha (a homemade vodka-type drink) and excellent wine from local grapes – again homemade of course.

 The welcoming hospitality of the local people is one of the first pleasant things I noticed here, but the very first thing was the breathtaking beauty of this country – snow-capped mountains, wooded valleys, countless lakes and rivers, and many kilometers of coastline, with beaches and all that lovely sea. The sub-tropical weather is another big plus, particularly after Moscow! No wonder so many of the country’s proverbs celebrate the wonders of nature here, and mention for example the singing mountains, dancing rivers, and shining sea. The other major subjects are the character and close ties

 of the people themselves, and of course their motherland and all its delights and wonders.

 I moved to this country looking for a place far from the rat race, in which to spend the rest of my life relaxing in a quiet and lazy manner. That’s why the most appealing proverb for me is “Don’t do the job until it starts to scream”, which I heard from my good friend and neighbour Timor.

 I’m grateful that fate has already put me in contact with a number of Abkhazians who have had an influence not only upon my life here, but even upon my way of thinking – my soul, if you like. One of these people is the author of this book, Oleg Shamba. Oleg has acquainted me with a set of charming proverbs which reveal the essence of Abkhazia better than anything I had met before. His research papers on folklore reflect the spirit and grandeur of the Abkhazian people. The indefatigable activity of Oleg Shamba – the “Abkhazian Dal”* - involving the collection, translation and popularisation of national proverbs deserves great respect and honour. I share his belief that Abkhazian proverbs and aphorisms deserve to become the cultural property of the civilized world. I believe that the present edition will promote this purpose.

 I think I was lucky to find the exact place in the world where my soul is now in complete harmony with my body. I hope this book will also help you at this stressful time to achieve a similar state of internal tranquility and well-being, and to perhaps develop a more philosophical attitude towards life. So God bless you, Abkhazia – the country of the heart and soul “Apsny”.

 Professor Roger Jesse

* Vladimir Dal (Владимир Даль) was an outstanding Russian linguist of the 19th century, who created one of the most important and complete Russian explanatory dictionaries.

 О РОДИНЕ И НАРОДЕ

THE MOTHERLAND AND ITS PEOPLE

•Теряющий Родину – теряет все.

• He who loses his motherland loses everything.

 •••

• У кого Родины нет, у того и Бога нет.

• If you have no motherland, you have no God.

 •••

• Родина – дороже золота.

• The motherland is worth more than gold.

 •••

• Без Апсны и абхазу не быть.

• Can’t be an Abkhazian without Apsny.

 •••

• Когда война за родину идет, приглашения не надо.

• When your motherland is at war, no invitation to participate is required.

 •••

• Счастлив тот, кто говорит с гордостью, что он абхаз.

• Happy is he who can proudly say he is Abkhazian.