There once lived a young man who wanted to get married. But death came to his door and said: “You must die on your wedding day.”

The young man decided to run away from death. He ran to Mount Biledjan. There he saw an old man sitting in the clouds. He had a long white beard and held a staff in his hand. “Where are you going?” he asked.

“I'm fleeing from death,” the young man replied.

“No one has ever escaped death. But I decide when death may take you, because I am the master of time.”

“What do I have to do so that I don't die yet?” asked the young man.

“Do you see the plum tree with the well? Drink from the clear water, it will make you strong.”

The young man thanked him and went to the well. He drank from the water and made his way home again.

It was the day of the wedding when he arrived home. But as soon as he entered his house, death stood before him.

“Now I'm taking you with me!” he shouted.

“Leave my son alive and take me,” cried the young man's mother.

But when Death grabbed the mother, she called for help. Then the father approached Death and shouted: “Let my wife live and take me!”

But he soon called for help too.

“Let my parents live. I'll come with you, but I want to kiss my bride once more.”

Death agreed. Together they went to the bride's house. She embraced him and he kissed her for so long that Death scolded him: “Hey there! That's enough! Now you have to come with me!”

“Take me with you,” said the young woman, ”but I want to kiss my groom again.”

While Death waited, he thought: “Wasn't it a shame to tear apart such a great love?” So he finally went away quietly.

But the young man and his bride celebrated their wedding for three days and three nights.

Three apples fell from the sky. One for the bride, one for the groom and one for the old man with the white beard, for the time he gave us.

Fassung Djamila Jaenike, nach: C. Downing; Armenian Folk-Tales and Fables, London 1972, Übersetzung ins Englische Lysander Jaenike © Mutabor