Kanturali and Selchan Hatun

When Kanli Koja's son Kanturali grew up, his father said, "My son, let me find you a bride." Kanturali said, "Father, I want a girl who is up before I rise, who is on her horse before I mount, who reaches the enemy before I do." His father laughed: "You are not looking for a bride, you are looking for a hero."

In a faraway land there lived a princess called Selchan Hatun. She rode well, shot arrows well and held a sword well. Her father used to say, "Whoever wishes to marry my daughter must first pass three tests." When Kanturali heard this, he set out with his forty warriors.

The first test was a raging bull. Kanturali put both hands on the bull's forehead and pushed with all his strength; the bull went backwards, grew tired and sank to the ground. The second test was a huge camel. Kanturali jumped onto the camel's back, held its halter, made it walk and calmed it down. The third test was a lion. Kanturali looked into the lion's eyes without fear; the lion drew back and lay down.

Selchan Hatun watched these tests from a hilltop and smiled. Her father kept his word, and the wedding was agreed. On the way home Kanturali fell asleep under a tree from tiredness. Just then enemies came. Selchan Hatun mounted her horse, took her bow and drove them back all by herself. Then she woke Kanturali.

When Kanturali woke up, he understood what had happened. At first his pride was hurt. "Why didn't you wake me?" he said. Selchan Hatun said, "You were tired. You passed three tests for me, so I kept watch for you once."

Kanturali felt ashamed, and then he laughed. "What did I tell my father? A girl who is up before I rise, on her horse before I mount. Here she is," he said. When they returned to the camp, the wedding lasted forty days and forty nights.

Dede Korkut played his kopuz: "Courage does not belong only to men. Two hearts that protect each other are stronger than the biggest army."