BORTE (A Historical Drama)

DAI SETSEN: Beibishe, don’t serve an ordinary dish, but a matchmaker’s dish! SATIN: What are you… my God, what is this matchmaker’s dish you’re on about? DAI SETSEN: You will understand at dinner. And now call the wandering Borte and Temujin over here! Satin goes out. Leaving, she says to herself in shock: ‘Yes I see, they already planned to get them married and they have sealed the deal.’ YESUGEI: So, matchmaker, tell me, what burden are you going to load upon me? DAI SETSEN: I do not adhere to such rules as ‘a daughter will live in honour, if she asks for a lot and not in honour – if she asks badly”. Borte is a sensible daughter; I consider it sacrilege to sell her for cattle. Among our people we have a saying: ‘if there is an equal, then give it away for free’. So, this is my offer, Yesugei myrza. It is but one wish – leave Temujin with us at least for a week. YESUGEI: To be fair, I also do not need any rumours to go around. They’ll say, his son married Dai Setsen’s daughter, a beauty, and a clever girl without any kind of trouble, and he received his bride for free. I’ll leave Temujin. For now, accept the grey stallion on which I arrived as a sign of the inviolability of our agreement. Use it however you wish. As for the gifts, I will tell you what they are once I go and get my son. DAI SETSEN: If I have a prophetic dream, and your horse is torn in my direction so you hear about that very dream with your own ears, then does this mean the Almighty brings the matchmakers together? If that is so then it is enough for me. Satin brings Borte and Temujin into the house, and pushing the young duo forward, puts them in a row in front of the adults. Dai Setsen and Yesugei look at Borte and Temujin, and as if having exhausted all appropriate responses, sit in silence. Dai Setsen, holding a white silk scarf in his hands, makes a sign towards his beibishe. Satin stands up. She is also extremely excited. SATIN: Now… you both… stand in front of the two parents and bow. Then Borte, you go up to father Yesugei and Temujin to father

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