122 THROUGH RUSSIA ON A MUSTANG. 



A fair specimen is the khorovod " A Wife's Love." 

 A youth, and maiden, who represent the husband and 

 wife, are surrounded by the circle of singers. The hus- 

 band offers his wife a present, which she seizes and 

 flings contemptuously to the ground. The khorovod 

 singers, amazed at this exhibition of wifely insubordi- 

 nation, sing: 



Good people, only see ! 



She does not love her husband at all ! 



Never agrees with him, never bows down to him ; 



From him turns away ! 



The husband goes to the bazaar and buys a whip, 

 which he offers his wife as a more acceptable present 

 than the one she threw on the ground. When he 

 brings a whip in his hand, she receives him with every 

 mark of affection ; and after a blow with it she bows 

 very low and submissively, and rewards him with 

 kisses. The khorovod singers laugh approvingly and 

 change their song : 



Good people only see ! 



How well she loves her lord ! 



Always agrees with him ; always bows down to him ; 



Gives him kisses, even. 



But the subject of wife-beating is not always treated 

 of humorously in the khorovods. One popular song 

 runs thus : 



Beat not thy wife without a cause ; 

 But only for good cause beat thy wife ; 

 And for a great offense, — etc. 



These circling choral dances are believed to be of 

 very remote antiquity among the people of Russia. 



