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Goulbat + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Caucasian Legends + +Author: A. Goulbat + +Translator: Sergei de Wesselitsky-Bojidarovitch + +Release Date: March 14, 2011 [EBook #35577] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAUCASIAN LEGENDS *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first"></p> +<div class="figure xd20e91width"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt= +"Original Front Cover." width="464" height="720"></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first"></p> +<div class="figure xd20e97width"><img src="images/titlepage.png" alt= +"Original Title Page." width="449" height="720"></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="titlePage"> +<div class="docTitle"> +<div class="mainTitle">Caucasian Legends</div> +</div> +<div class="byline">Translated from the Russian of<br> +<span class="docAuthor">A. Goulbat</span><br> +By<br> +<span class="docAuthor">Sergei de +Wesselitsky-Bojidarovitch</span></div> +<div class="docImprint">Hinds, Noble & Eldredge<br> +31, 33, 35 West Fifteenth St. New York City</div> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e123" href="#xd20e123" name= +"xd20e123">2</a>]</span></p> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first xd20e125"><span class="sc">Copyright, 1904, +by</span><br> +Sergei de Wesselitsky-Bojidarovitch <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e130" href="#xd20e130" name="xd20e130">3</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Contents</h2> +<ul> +<li> <span class="tocPagenum">Page</span></li> +<li>I. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch1">The Rain</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">9</span></li> +<li>II. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch2">Bakarr I., Tsar of +Georgia</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">15</span></li> +<li>III. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch3">The Incombustible +Tulip</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">18</span></li> +<li>IV. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch4">Saint Nina</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">37</span></li> +<li>V. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch5">The Diamond</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">82</span></li> +<li>VI. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch6">Happiness Is Within +Us</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">95</span></li> +<li>VII. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch7">The Tribute of +Roses</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">109</span></li> +<li>VIII. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch8">The Lot of the Holy +Virgin</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">118</span></li> +<li>IX. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch9">The Comet</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">128</span></li> +<li>X. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch10">The Jewel Necklace</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">139</span></li> +<li>XI. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch11">St. Mourvanoss</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">146</span></li> +<li>XII. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch12">Zesva</a></span> + <span class="tocPagenum">153</span></li> +<li>XIII. <span class="sc"><a href="#ch13">The Tale of +Mikhian</a></span> <span class= +"tocPagenum">156</span></li> +</ul> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb5" href="#pb5" name= +"pb5">5</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Preface of the Translator</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Last year the Georgian people celebrated the one +hundredth anniversary of the annexation of its country to the dominion +of the Great White Tsar. These past one hundred years have been an era +of uninterrupted and prosperous development of this nation of chivalry +and heroism as well as loyalty and devotion to a great and good cause. +In the third century A. D., the Georgians were converted to +Christianity by Saint Nina. Ever since they have been a mighty fortress +of christendom amidst wild and fanatic Mahometan tribes. Many a time +their loyalty to their faith was sorely tried by the unparalleled +cruelty of the Turks and Persians. Their capital was destroyed again +and again, their churches ransacked and they commanded to tread upon +the holy images which they venerated from childhood upwards. But even +in such a terrible moment the Georgians showed themselves worthy of +their all glorious traditions and thousands found their death in the +River Koura at Tiflis, their chosen capital. For centuries this little +nation of heroes battled with the Infidels and great was their +distress, almost overcome by the gigantic forces of savage enemies, +when a protector appeared in the north and re-established law and +order, confidence and happiness. Seeing that it was essential to assure +a permanent security, the ruler of Georgia asked in the name of his +people to be annexed to the Motherhood of Orthodox Nations.</p> +<p>I here reproduce a translation from the Russian of the reply of +Alexander I. Parlovitch, Emperor of all the Russias (1801): +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb6" href="#pb6" name= +"pb6">6</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Not to increase our forces, not for the gain and extension of +ours, the mightiest empire in the world, do we take upon ourselves the +burden of the administration of the Georgian kingdom. Worthiness, +honor, and humanity alone place on us the holy duty to establish in +Georgia a government which may found righteousness, safety, and give +every one protection of the law.”</p> +<p>Those are the noble terms of one of Russia’s noblest rulers, +and upon them is based the policy of the administration in regard to +the Georgians. The Georgians, being of the same faith as the Russians, +sympathize with the latter and are nowadays both a bulwark of the +orthodox church and of the true Russian conservative governmental +spirit. In the wars of 1853–56 and 1877–78 they fully +proved their perfect fidelity and chivalrous readiness to assist their +great deliverers against the Turks. The men of Georgia are renowned for +their heroism, while the women of that country are the most beautiful +in the world. The chief occupations of the Georgians are: pasturing, +farming, jewelry work, silk-manufacturing, and wine-growing. The +Georgians, taken as a whole, receive a considerable amount of +education, and their newspapers, several of which are published at +Tiflis, are very good. The leading paper is the “Iveria” +(<i>i. e.</i>, Georgia). Tiflis, the traditional capital of Georgia, is +a city of 180,000 inhabitants, among whom are 33,000 Georgians proper. +A number of other tribes or nationalities such as the Imeretians, +Gourians, Mingrelians, Wanetes, Khevsoures, etc., also belong to what +is called the Georgian family of nations. The greatest poet of Georgia +is Prince Kazbek. Among the grand old families we find the Orbelians, +who trace their ancestry back to an emperor of China, the +Chavchavadzes, the Growzinskys, Bgaration-Moukranskys, Amilakvaris, +Tsitsianovs, and many others, all of whom have rendered their native +land incomparable services and deserve the highest praise. The author +of the legends which I have attempted to translate, is a native +Georgian, Mr. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb7" href="#pb7" name= +"pb7">7</a>]</span>A. Goulbat, now living in Central Russia and leading +a literary life. He is filled with enthusiasm for his native land and +its valiant inhabitants. I have tried as well as I knew how to +translate the legends in the same spirit as the author wrote them in +the original, which was Russian.</p> +<p class="signed"><span class="sc">Sergei de +Wesselitsky-Bojidarovitch.</span> <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb9" +href="#pb9" name="pb9">9</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="body"> +<div id="ch1" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="super">Caucasian Legends</h2> +<h2 class="main">I. The Rain</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend of the 11th Century</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">At the time of Tsar George I (the rulers of Georgia +were called Tsars = kings), in the 11th century, there lived the famous +general, Kaiours, belonging to the glorious Orbeliani family. It is +known that these princes trace their ancestry from an emperor of China +and more than once intermarried with our rulers, in consequence of +which their position at the court of Georgia was an exceptionally +pleasant one. It is necessary to add to this that the submission and +zeal of the princes Orbeliani fully repaid this distinction. They +occupied from generation to generation the post of Sparapet, that is, +of general in chief of all the Georgian forces, and astonished the +world with their bravery. When George went to war with the Greeks, +Kaiours was taken prisoner, and as this took place during the battle of +Shirimna, where a great many Georgian leaders, among them the generals +Ratt and Zovatt, brothers of Kaiours, were lost, the Tsar for a long +time thought that Kaiours had died together with them. It was only when +the negotiations for peace began, that Emperor Vassilii the Second +proposed to the Tsar to exchange Kaiours for fourteen fortresses, viz., +for one in Tao, one in Baisiana, one in Artana, one in Kola, one in +Djavaheta, in Shavhetta, and so on; and besides he demanded as hostage +George’s three-year-old son, the Tsarevitch-successor Bagrat. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb10" href="#pb10" name= +"pb10">10</a>]</span></p> +<p>“I am so much indebted to the princely family of the +Orbelianis that I would consent to give half my kingdom for +them,” answered the Tsar.</p> +<p>At the end of the negotiations it was decided that the +Tsarevitch-successor should remain as hostage at Constantinople until +the Greeks had succeeded in introducing their administration in the +above mentioned fortresses and in no case longer than three years. +There were those who criticised the Tsar for giving away fourteen of +the best fortresses in exchange for one man, but the people almost +killed them. The general confidence in the warlike capacities of the +princes Orbeliani was so boundless that many openly said: “Let +only Kaiours come back and by him we shall not only regain possession +of all our fortresses, but with the help of God we shall obtain the +foreign ones!” There was no end to joy when he returned home. +More than all rejoiced his twelve-year-old daughter Tamara. The +captivity of the father was a great grief to her, as in his absence her +mother and brother died. Seeing Tamara riding forth by herself to meet +him, accompanied by an old gamdela (nurse) and several bitchos (young +boys, servants), the hero Kaiours, the very glance of whom turned whole +regiments to flight, cried like a child. Father and daughter tenderly +embraced and for a long time could not speak.</p> +<p>The cries of joy among the people ceased, all remembered the good +princess and the pretty boy, who had accompanied her everywhere, and +sadness darkened the general joyousness. Kaiours was the first one to +recover. He addressed those who had come to meet him and invited them +to his house, to feast with him. “Tamara tries by her courtesy to +take the place of my princess,” he said, “the Lord is not +without mercy; during my captivity he gave me a son in exchange for the +one whom he took away. <a id="xd20e284" name= +"xd20e284"></a>Plinii,” Kaiours says, turning to a handsome +youth, standing behind him, “help thy sister and me to serve the +guests.” All looks were now fixed on Plinii; tall, well-built, +with fine, regular features, he bore <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb11" href="#pb11" name="pb11">11</a>]</span>an unmistakable stamp of +aristocratic descent. Feeling himself the object of general interest, +he blushed and drooped his eyes, like our bashful young ladies, and +this modesty at once disposed everybody in his favor.</p> +<p>The old nobleman Alexander, whom for his bravery and warlike +successes they all called “the Macedonian,” sat down by +Kaiours and began to speak thus: “Friend, thou hast rightly said +that the Lord compensated thee for the loss of thy son by a fine youth, +whose attachment and filial respect to you we all see and which dispose +us in his favor, but we should also like to know who he is and why thou +didst adopt him?” “During my captivity,” answered +Kaiours, “the Lord sent me a friend. He was a well-known +dignitary, a favorite of the Emperor and did not need the friendship of +the prisoner, nevertheless not a day went by that he did not visit me. +We related to each other our war reminiscences and soon began to love +each other like brothers. When I received news of the death of my wife +and son, his friendly sympathy was my sole consolation. He told me +about his life and thus I found out that he had lost his loving +companion on the day of Plinii’s birth. The boy is now eighteen +years old and healthy, but not strong, and must be carefully looked +after. Before my departure my friend fell ill and called me to him. +‘I am dying,’ he said, ‘and thank God that this +happens before thy departure, because I am going to hand over to your +care my greatest treasure. Adopt Plinii instead of that son whom God +took away from thee. The doctors think that his health needs a much +warmer climate than ours.’ I swore to love and treat him like my +son and hope that the Lord will help me to fulfill my vow!” +continued Kaiours.</p> +<p>“Thou didst satisfy my curiosity on one point,” said +Alexander—“now I want to find out something else, but for +this we must repair to some other place. My heart also grieves about +the son, who by the will of the monarch is among the young men +accompanying the Tsarevitch-heir to Greece. Although our separation +will not exceed <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb12" href="#pb12" name= +"pb12">12</a>]</span>three years, yet it does seem an eternity to +me.” At these words the old men retired, and when they returned +they were carrying bowls of horn, filled with wine. With a gay +countenance they addressed the feasting crowd. “Friends,” +said Alexander, “congratulate me and help me to thank Kaiours, +who gives me the very best he possesses: I asked the gift of the hand +of his daughter for my boy.” Numberless people offered their +congratulations and the feasting continued far into the night. Kaiours +and Alexander saw each other often, the latter always hastened to +communicate any news about the son. In the meantime it was discovered +that the young men who accompanied Bagrat were learning all European +languages and sciences.</p> +<p>Kaiours thought thus: “I gave my daughter an entirely Georgian +education, she knows neither European languages nor those arts by which +the women over there so attract young men; would she not appear strange +to your son?”</p> +<p>Quite unexpectedly was heard Plinii’s sweet voice. +“Allow me to say a word.” The old men stared at him; he +stood before them all red with emotion. “Speak!” was their +unanimous answer.</p> +<p>“My late father did not mind spending any sum for my +instruction, they taught me everything that is to be learned in our +country. I easily learned the sciences, and if you permit me I shall be +only too glad to educate my sister, who herself has a great passion for +learning.”</p> +<p>Permission was given, and from then on the young people were +inseparable. Under Plinii’s direction Tamara soon acquired great +perfection in Greek. They studied together the poets, committing the +finest parts to memory. Tamara’s wonderful voice grew still +grander when she learned from Plinii how to accustom it to the rules of +music. A harp was obtained, and for whole hours at a time they rejoiced +in song. To the young people days, weeks, and months went by with +extraordinary rapidity, they were perfectly happy and for a long +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb13" href="#pb13" name= +"pb13">13</a>]</span>time could not imagine how they had become so dear +to each other. Being confident in Kaiours’s affection, they +fearlessly announced to him their discovery. But as Kaiours had once +given his word to Alexander, he did not consider it right to break it. +The lessons were stopped and Plinii forbidden to visit Tamara except in +the presence of her father.</p> +<p>The young people’s happiness suddenly turned to deep grief, +which Kaiours, who loved them sincerely, secretly shared. After a few +days of such torture, Plinii could not restrain his feelings and found +occasion to have a secret interview with Tamara. With tears in his eyes +he implored her to run away with him to Greece and there be married, +but neither prayers nor tears could persuade her to become disobedient +to her father.</p> +<p>“As thy wife should be so superior to all others as thou art +the most beautiful man in the world,” said Tamara, “how +canst thou wish to marry a runaway girl? No, Plinii, let us wait! God +is omnipotent! He knows, sees and esteems everything in due measure. He +knows very well whether we find it easy not to be able to see each +other, and I am sure that if we do nothing to provoke him, he himself +will find means to stop our separation; only this I pray thee, do not +forget me and don’t try to find an occasion to see me +secretly.”</p> +<p>Morning and evening, day and night, Tamara prayed to God to make an +end to their separation, and the Lord answered her prayer. Once upon a +time, accompanied by an old nurse and a bitcho (young boy servant), she +started on a pilgrimage to some distant monastery where there lived an +old man of ascetic life. To him Tamara revealed her grief and the old +man led her into his garden. There in the presence of all he began to +pray for her, and suddenly a terrible cloud appeared, lightning was +seen and fearful strokes of thunder were heard. Those who were present +fell to the ground from fright. At last the storm was over.</p> +<p>“Arise!” said the prior, “the Lord has heard us +sinners and comforted Tamara!” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb14" href="#pb14" name="pb14">14</a>]</span></p> +<p>“But where is she?” they asked.</p> +<p>“There,” answered the old man, pointing to a magnificent +fragrant lily, which had suddenly appeared in the midst of his garden. +“The Lord turned her into a flower,” he continued.</p> +<p>The people would not believe it. The nurse spread a rumor that the +crafty abbot had hidden Tamara. Forgetting godly fear and fearing +Kaiours’s wrath, she insulted and cursed him. The boy servants, +among whom there were many Mahometans, searched the whole monastery, +all the surrounding woods and bushes, and not finding Tamara anywhere, +they killed the holy old man and burned down the monastery. The ancient +building stood in flames, also the stone enclosure, many a hundred year +old tree, the huge library, in fact all the scanty good of the images. +Alone the church and the lily into which Tamara had been transformed +were spared.</p> +<p>Upon hearing of what had occurred, Kaiours and Plinii hastened to +the spot. In the church there was nobody, everything else represented a +field of coal and ashes. Tamara was nowhere to be found. Only in the +midst of all these ashes there grew a splendid, fresh, fragrant white +lily.</p> +<p>Plinii was the first to approach her and began to cry. Kaiours +followed him and was very much startled. He noticed that when +Plinii’s tears fell on the coal surrounding the lily, her tender +leaves grew quite yellow from jealousy; on the other hand when they +dripped into the lily she grew red from joy.</p> +<p>“Tamara, is it thou we see?” asked the father.</p> +<p>Just at that moment there came up a little breeze and Kaiours and +Plinii heard distinctly as though the leaves spoke:</p> +<p>“It is I, father!”</p> +<p>The inconsolable father could not stand the loss of his daughter and +immediately died from grief, but poor Plinii cried so much and so long +and so fervently prayed to God that he might be united with Tamara, +that in the end <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb15" href="#pb15" name= +"pb15">15</a>]</span>the Lord transformed him to rain. I have heard +that in bygone times whenever a dryness set in the inhabitants of the +surrounding villages hastened to the abandoned church, around which +lilies always grew in abundance, and picked whole baskets of them. They +scattered the fragrant harvest in the fields and gardens and the young +maidens sang Tamara’s song. The lovely melodious composition was +as fragrant and clean as the dear flower which they glorified. This +song, indeed, is Tamara’s very prayer, showing all her childish +faith in God’s almightiness. It ends with an invocation of +Plinii, who, they say, always appears in the form of a warm, beneficial +rain. I heard even that these lilies preserved a rare capacity, viz., +sometimes to grow red, sometimes yellow, and our maidens thus concluded +that these flowers could tell one’s fortune. Each maiden notices +one flower and after the rain goes to look for it. Is the lily yellow, +the young girl entertains great fears as to the fidelity of her lover; +is it red, she never doubts his attachment to her. Whether this quaint +custom still prevails I don’t know. I am always sorry when some +such tradition becomes forgotten! In our ancient legends there was so +much of the truthful, honorable and elevated that these circumstances +alone rendered them most instructive.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch2" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">II. Bakarr the First, Tsar of Georgia</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Story</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Bakarr the First ascended the throne after the death +of his well-beloved and much-esteemed father, Mirian the Converter. +Remembering the counsels of his dear, dear father, he turned all his +glorious efforts towards converting and instructing those mountain +inhabitants who had not submitted themselves to the peremptory orders +of Mirian and had thus not appeared to be baptized with the rest of the +grand old nation. Highly <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb16" href= +"#pb16" name="pb16">16</a>]</span>honorable in every way, simple in his +manners, the ever-patient Bakarr finally succeeded in obtaining the +long desired baptism of the wild unbelievers, without applying any +forcible and dangerous measures. Having heard of his peacefulness of +character, the Armenian Tsar thought it opportune to take the throne +away from him and hand it over to Irdat, the son of the deceased +Tsarevitch Revv and the Armenian Tsarevna Salomee. But Bakarr united +all the qualities of a brave and excellent general with the greatest +virtues of an earnest, peaceful Tsar. He therefore arranged an alliance +with his dear nephew, the Persian King Kossrovve the Second, and +jointly with him, in a fearful and hard-fought battle in the province +of Djavakheta, completely defeated and destroyed the wretched Armenian +army and turned it to disgraceful flight. The amply terrified Tsarevna +Salomee begged the Emperor of Greece to be kind enough to explain to +Bakarr that the Armenian Tsar had not acted upon her advice or +desire.</p> +<p>Willing to let each one of his loving subjects approach and debate +with him, Bakarr on the other hand did not consider it in accordance +with his sublime merit to have the neighboring sovereigns mix in and +begin to reason about his own family affairs, and therefore he briefly +replied to the great Greek Emperor thus: “Until in the family of +the Georgian Tsar Bakarr the First there proveth to be one who is +unable and too weak to properly reign, the throne will belong to it, +and the children of Revv ought not to bring forth the slightest +pretensions.<span class="corr" id="xd20e346" title= +"Not in source">”</span> To his ally, however, to Kossrovve the +Second, he announced that the attack of the Armenian Tsar forced him to +seriously look after the safety and education of the children of his +brother and sister, whom Mirian willingly permitted to be married to +Pkerose. Actually at the end of the war, the first active deed of +Bakarr was the exact arrangement about the domains of Pkerose.</p> +<p>Instead of Rana from Bardave on, given to Pkerose by Mirian, he +begged Bakarr to give him Sammshvillde, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb17" href="#pb17" name="pb17">17</a>]</span>to which the Tsar fully +consented, constructing a direct line as far as the entrance of the +Christavstvo (province) of Abbots. Deeply moved by the +great-heartedness of the Tsar, Pkerose accepted Christianity and was +baptized with his whole nation, but Bakarr occupied himself with +thoroughly settling the widow and children of his brother Revv.</p> +<p>He led them to Kouketka, and having made his way into Roustava, he +handed over this country to the administration of his nephews Irdat and +Bakourious with the title of kristaves, and under them their mother +Salomee quietly lived in their company. This sovereign sacrificed his +whole life to the betterment and thorough reforming of his great +monarchy and distinguished himself by passionate uprightness. He +considerably increased the churches and the church servants. By him was +also founded the perfectly magnificent cathedral of Tsillkanny.</p> +<p>He died in the year three hundred and sixty-four and was buried by +the side of his father Mirian. Before dying he also, just like Mirian, +hung his royal crown on the marvellous cross of Saint Nina, touched his +son and successor Mirdat the Second with it, and afterwards placed the +crown on the head of his son and openly proclaimed him his rightful +heir. This solemn custom was strictly observed by all Georgian Tsars. +Although Bakarr made absolutely no new acquisitions, yet his short but +most wise administration had firmly united together all decaying, +poorer, and mutually inimical parts of his government, and finally +confirmed the actual preponderance of Christianity over all other +religions, and therefore his reign was considered one of the very best +and most blissful. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb18" href="#pb18" +name="pb18">18</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch3" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">III. The Incombustible Tulip</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">In the second century B. C., Armenia was governed by +Valarsass, the brother of the Persian Shah Arsass the Great. At that +period the countries to the north of the Arabs were called Chaldea and +Pontus. In the latter lived a young hero, Morphiliziy, who at the head +of his followers could not only repel all attacks of Valarsass, but +even in a decisive battle completely defeated him; thereupon he annexed +also the Georgian frontier counties, among others Kaeounan, and was +proclaimed Tsar (King) by his grateful subjects.</p> +<p>It happened that just then Kaeounan was governed by John, a native +of the city of Damascus, whom they therefore called Damassk, +<i>i.e.</i>, the Damascian. He was a widower and possessed but one +daughter, a perfect beauty, by the name of Nina. During the battle, +Damassk, through his personal bravery, attracted Morphiliziy’s +attention, who challenged him to a duel. For a long time the old +warrior’s experience counterbalanced the hero’s strength of +the Pontitian, but in the end his old strength began to give way, his +movements slackened their usual rapidity and he could not escape from +Morphiliziy’s horse, which transpierced him. Dripping with blood, +he fell from the faithful steed. At that moment Morphiliziy jumped off +his horse and tried to revive him with all his strength. The dying man +opened his eyes.</p> +<p>“Ask whatever favor thou wishest, old hero!” the +conqueror exclaimed. “In thee I found the first man whose +military adroitness excelled mine!”</p> +<p>“Don’t abandon my daughter,” murmured John, and +thereupon died.</p> +<p>Entering Kaeounan, Morphiliziy first of all rushed to John’s +house and was astounded by Nina’s beauty. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb19" href="#pb19" name= +"pb19">19</a>]</span>“She shall be my wife!” he loudly +broke out, and immediately appointed a day for the wedding.</p> +<p>With fright the unhappy orphan heard of this decision. How could +she, who so dearly loved her father, become the wife of his +murderer.</p> +<p>“Not for anything in the world,” she repeated a thousand +times in one hour, and upon pronouncing that sentence, her magnificent +eyes, which were usually a very ocean of goodness and mildness, were +filled with some terrible fire.</p> +<p>We must notice that in those times it was customary among our +noblemen to choose gamdelis among the Jewesses, for their daughters. +John had of course followed the general custom, and little Nina, who in +early childhood had lost her mother, loved her gamdela (nurse) with all +the enthusiasm of her daring soul. All of the gamdela’s tastes +were Nina’s. Her faith, her God were the same faith and the same +God as her pupil’s. Thus the nurse was the first person to come +to hear of Nina’s decision and was asked for advice. The old +woman silently listened to her and long did not say a word, only the +features of her face took a painful expression.</p> +<p>“Why art thou so silent?” impatiently remarked Nina.</p> +<p>“I am reflecting whether I shall tell thee still another cause +for thy refusing Morphiliziy or whether it is better to say no more +about it.” At last with a sad smile she broke out and at the same +time her piercing glance was fixed on Nina, who flew into a passion and +turned away.</p> +<p>“And so my supposition is true, thou dost love the aznaoure of +Cicero!”</p> +<p>Nina threw herself on the floor and hid her grieved face between the +knees of the gamdela. The old woman caressingly touched her long hair +with her wrinkled hands and began to think; at last she decided to +reveal the result of her reflections.</p> +<p>“Thou art so young that I am afraid to advise thee seriously. +Could not a time well come when thou mayest be sorry to have made him +thy master, who might <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb20" href="#pb20" +name="pb20">20</a>]</span>be thy slave? Remember that Morphiliziy is a +king, but Cicero does not even belong to the aristocracy. He is a +simple, poor nobleman of such as thy father had many; were he alive +such a marriage would hardly suit him. Besides thou art accustomed to +luxury, while Cicero has absolutely nothing, also whatever thou hast +thou canst never give away. The only means to unite you is for you to +run immediately into the country of his forefathers and there be +married. I tell thee openly: What disposes me in favor of Cicero is his +constant, endless and boundless submission to thee. I noticed it long +ago and have been watching him, but notwithstanding my experience and +closest attention, I did not find a single instance in which he might +be blamed.”</p> +<p>The hidden face of the young lady lit up with some roguish smile. +Perhaps she thought that the nurse esteemed her sagacity too highly. +Whatever may have been her feelings, the moment she raised her head +from the knees of the old woman, all traces of her smiles vanished. She +sat upon the floor at the nurse’s feet and for a long time they +silently glanced at each other; each one had her idea. Suddenly Nina +quite unexpectedly threw her white hands around the neck of the old +woman, hid her face on her shoulder and loudly cried.</p> +<p>“Gamdela,” she passionately said, “arrange it as +thou didst just now propose, arrange it all if thou lovest me and dost +not wish that I should die! I don’t want, I cannot—no, I +will not live without Cicero! For him I will give up with joy and +distinction my riches or even the royal crown! What is all that to me +if I am not to have him? Dost thou understand, dear nurse, that I love +him more than I ever loved thee, or my father; that I love him more +than whosoever in the world; that I love him as fishes do water. And +thou sayest that he could be my slave—well, do I want such a +thing? I myself desire to be his slave and do all he commands! I love +him just because he is poor, unknown and a stranger to every one +here!” and Nina again became hysterical. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb21" href="#pb21" name="pb21">21</a>]</span></p> +<p>The poor gamdela did her best to quiet the young girl with caressing +movements of her aged hands, she herself trembled from emotion, quietly +cried and innerly prayed. In the end she succeeded in putting Nina to +bed and herself called for Cicero, and with her first glance at the +young man persuaded herself that she was not mistaken as to his +boundless devotion to Nina. Yesterday still all fell in love with the +handsome youth, in the best of health, but now he stood before her with +a rawboned pale face and castdown eyes, even the lips grew white and +their edges nervously jerked.</p> +<p>The old woman with precaution informed him how matters stood, and +immediately tried with all her might to restrain his boundless joy.</p> +<p>When he had reflected a little, she ordered to prepare two riding +horses for the hour of midnight and advised Cicero to wait at the +Western Gates, whither she promised to bring Nina, dressed in +men’s clothes.</p> +<p>Upon this occasion he was also given a belt, richly sewn with gold. +Having done there everything that was necessary, the gamdela went to +Nina and prepared her for the hasty departure. Midnight came. With +silent steps two shades moved through the whole house and across the +court. At the Western Gates the impatient cavalier was already waiting +with an extra horse.</p> +<p>Nina quickly mounted it, with a happy smile motioned to the dear old +woman, and soon they disappeared in the darkness.</p> +<p>However much the gamdela wished to remain at the gates, as long as +the trampling of the galloping hoofs could be heard of those horses +which took away with them, perhaps forever, all that was dearest to her +in the whole world, common sense did not permit this and the nurse +returned home and passed the remainder of the night in tears and +prayer. At sunrise the house was filled with her lamentations.</p> +<p>The frightened servants instantly answered her call and found her in +the garden on the bank of the river. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb22" href="#pb22" name="pb22">22</a>]</span>By her side lay +Nina’s dress and linen. Seeing people run, she motioned to them, +and wringing her hands she explained to them that Nina was drowned. Old +and young rushed to the river, not only the people of the household, +but the whole town joined those seeking; nevertheless all efforts +proved to be in vain.</p> +<p>Morphiliziy’s warriors upon hearing of what had taken place +immediately informed their lord, and were all without exception ordered +to go to search for Nina. Morphiliziy himself rushed to the garden and +began to question the grief-stricken old woman.</p> +<p>From her explanations, constantly interrupted by moaning, he +understood that Nina long ago asked to go bathing, that the gamdela, +fearing the swiftness of the river, had not given her permission, and +that this day at sunrise the impatient girl had quietly slipped out +into the garden while the nurse was sleeping and got what she desired. +Awaking and beholding the empty bed, the gamdela immediately ran to the +banks of the river, but found nothing but Nina’s dress.</p> +<p>Morphiliziy himself went into the water, turned over every bush and +stone, swam beyond the town, but found nothing at all. Everywhere he +met people who were on the same errand; the warriors searched, the men +of Damask, the citizens, yes, all who could swim, were out working, but +in vain. The grieved sovereign came up on the bank and declared that he +would grant any reward to him who found Nina living or dead and brought +her to him. A day went by—no news. And a second day went by; many +of those on the lookout returned home with the discouraging news that +they had not found the girl. The town again took its usual look. +Morphiliziy alone did not sleep and thoughtfully sat on the roof of his +house. The night was warm, with bright moonlight, and acted quietingly +upon the unhappy Tsar. About midnight he beheld a shade approaching his +house and began to look at it with anxiety. Soon he discovered that it +was his favorite negro. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb23" href= +"#pb23" name="pb23">23</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Noy!” he cried out.</p> +<p>“It is I, sire,” replied the negro. “Let me +immediately report.”</p> +<p>“Come up quickly!” and Morphiliziy’s heart was +suddenly bent and frosted and beat so hard that it caused pain. The +hero put his hand on his breast in the hope of quieting its movements, +but it went on most painfully and his momentary joy turned to fearful +worry.</p> +<p>In a moment Noy appeared before him. “Hast thou found her +alive or dead?” he quickly asked.</p> +<p>“Living,” began Noy, “but....”</p> +<p>“Well, where is she then?... a horse, let me have a horse this +very moment!” shouted Morphiliziy, but the disappointed, almost +terrified looks of Noy caused him to think the matter over.</p> +<p>“Why art thou thus silent?” he impatiently asked the +slave.</p> +<p>“Sire ... she is not ... alone! She lives with ... a young +man!”</p> +<p>Morphiliziy turned his back upon the negro in order to hide the +impression which these words had produced on him. He sat down on a +stool and pointing to the carpet lying at his feet ordered Noy to +relate everything in detail and without hurrying.</p> +<p>“Sire,” said the negro—“I wished to deceive +thee! I wanted to escape bondage and return to the land of my +forefathers. I thought of taking advantage of the general disorder, +went into the stable, saddled thy horse, explaining that I was starting +for the search, and while all the people were looking for Nina along +the banks of the river, I started in the opposite +direction—straight to the sea, where I dreamt of finding a ship +and sailing away. At first I was unusually delighted, but little by +little I began to be overpowered by the fear of being pursued. My horse +flew like the wind and I induced it to go faster and faster. In the +meantime my fear grew stronger at every step. It changed to +terror—into some kind of despair; I no longer let the horse catch +breath, but chased <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb24" href="#pb24" +name="pb24">24</a>]</span>him like a crazy man. In the end his speed +grew smaller. I became furious, tore the cloth and beat him without +mercy. He still went on a little farther and beyond his strength, and +then rolled into the dust. This was in a forest. I unsaddled and +unbridled him, but he did not raise himself and so I continued my way +on foot. Suddenly I overheard human voices; I stopped and began to +listen. Evidently these were two persons in love with each other, and I +had nothing to fear. I cautiously approached, continuing to hide myself +in thick bushes and trying to look at those conversing.</p> +<p>“To my surprise I beheld two young boys; they sat together and +were eating. ‘Must we ride still farther?’ asked the +younger one.</p> +<p>“‘I am very tired!’</p> +<p>“‘It is no wonder you are tired, my little soul,’ +replied the older boy, ‘why, see! we did not leave our horses for +about twenty-four hours; I do think it would be more sensible if we +remained the night here; I shall light a fire as a guard against wild +beasts, put under thee my bourka [a long black cape without sleeves +commonly used all over the Caucasus], and watch while thou art +asleep!’</p> +<p>“‘Ah! but if we made for the village thou too couldst +rest?’</p> +<p>“‘No, my joy, I am more afraid for thee of Morphiliziy +and his followers than of all the wild animals of this slumbering +thicket. From the latter I can always save my bride, but from +Morphiliziy it is only a wonder if we escape alive!’</p> +<p>“I understood all, and impulsively retired. Why should I then +run away, knowing that thou wouldst give me my freedom in any case. +Returning to that spot whence I had descended to overhear their +conversation, I suddenly came upon a little stream and sat down on its +bank. My crazy race had quite exhausted my strength. I drew some bread +from my pocket, picked off some wild figs and began to eat, reflecting +how I should come home the quickest. Seeing where I was, there was no +use of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb25" href="#pb25" name= +"pb25">25</a>]</span>trying to return home on foot, but where should I +find a horse.</p> +<p>“Having finished my meal, I arose and went to that place where +a few hours before I had abandoned your horse; to my greatest pleasure +he was munching grass. I led him to the stream, let him drink, saddled +him and put on the bridle. To ride him would have had no sense. After +walking an hour he grew more lively, and I began to hope that he was +recovering, especially as he suddenly joyfully raised his head and +neighed. I imagined that in the distance some other horse answered +likewise. I hurried in that direction; after a little while the horses +again exchanged compliments, and guiding myself by their voices, I soon +met a young cavalier on a fine Persian horse.</p> +<p>“By his fashionable costume it was easy to distinguish him as +one of the local aristocrats. I reverently bowed; he answered my salute +and his eyes were fixed upon thy horse, which he fell in love with, +like a connoisseur.</p> +<p>“‘Whither art thou, traveller?’ he asked.</p> +<p>“‘I am from afar, sir, sent by my ruler upon a hasty and +important affair and must walk the rest of the way for I am incapable +of managing this horse.’</p> +<p>“‘It is the very best thoroughbred Arabian steed that I +have ever seen; thou didst excessively tire it and thou wilt certainly +ruin this jewel for good if you do not give him rest. I don’t +know thy master and don’t wish to know his name, but even on his +own land I cannot allow such a treasure to be ruined. Mount then my +horse, gallop away to thy lord and tell him that thou didst leave his +half-dead horse at the tavad of Bidandara’s. If he wishes to sell +him I shall pay any price he may demand; if he does not want to part +with him, why then let him send back my horse and take back his own; at +Bidandara’s everybody finds hospitality—even +animals,’ and he got off his horse, took hold of and led away +mine without listening to my exclamations of gratitude.</p> +<p>“I gave him time to go a long way and then chased his +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb26" href="#pb26" name= +"pb26">26</a>]</span>horse still more mercilessly than thine. I knew +that thou wilt give him the centuple, and therefore thought only how I +could reach thee the soonest. Upon entering the town he fell and I ran +the rest of the way on foot. What doest thou command me to do +now?”</p> +<p>“This moment thou wilt choose two of the best horses and lead +them hither. We shall immediately start in pursuit; tell my lifeguards +secretly to catch up with us. Let them have pity upon the horses and +take plenty of wine and provisions with them, for thou must be quite +hungry!”</p> +<p>In a few minutes the two cavaliers rode out of town and later on +they were followed by a whole detachment of warriors, trying to catch +up with them. Morphiliziy was not riding very fast, but thinking. He +remembered that still a short time before, when but a simple army +commander, he had no other wishes besides military glory; all his plans +seemed to have been successfully carried out when he was proclaimed +King and his name passed from mouth to mouth, surrounded with all the +glitter of the recent victory.</p> +<p>The triumph over Damask, the most glorious warrior of his century, +appeared to him as the height of blissfulness. He remembered also that +unusual, up to this time new to him, feeling which suddenly arose in +him upon beholding Nina.</p> +<p>The very glance at this young girl, hardly out of her teens, drove +out of his heart and imagination everything in which he up to this +moment had prided himself—military glory and victories over +Valarsass and the accession to the throne—all vanished somewhere +in the distance, occupied some remote spot and was no longer of any +interest to him. And to think that this child had made fun of him! This +child had managed her nurse and servants and warriors and even him, +Morphiliziy, the terrible, powerful and invincible conqueror! This +little girl feared not his anger, was not frightened by his forces, did +not tremble before his might. His warrior’s renown, his +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb27" href="#pb27" name= +"pb27">27</a>]</span>monarchy, his personal charms had not won her. She +was not at all excited or especially delighted over the impression she +had produced upon the hero, and in just the same way she treated a +little boy, whom he could knock down with one blow like some piece of +paper!</p> +<p>He resolved that Nina should be his wife however difficult it might +be to obtain her hand. She did not wish his love—she did not see +the need of his caresses—“then,” thought he, +“let her feel my strength, my might, my power—yes, my +wrath!”</p> +<p>These reflections were interrupted by the approaching warriors. +Morphiliziy turned around; the moon lit up his pale face and sparkling +eyes. The soldiers were frightened, never yet had they seen him look +thus.</p> +<p>“Give Noy wine and bread—he will eat on the way, but to +you, my comrades in battle, I shall now unfold the secret of my soul. +You know my whole life, you know very well that there is not a man who +could boast of having conquered me; you know too that my very glance +can put regiments to flight, that my name was sufficient to make kings +and nations tremble, and now, when I reached the height of glory and +power, I wanted to divide them with an orphan, I wanted to place her +upon that throne for which I am indebted to your love and submission to +me, I wished to proclaim her Tsaritsa and share with her my glory, my +happiness, and my power! But she refused all these things, and me too, +and ran off with a boy. Now....”</p> +<p>Morphiliziy’s speech was interrupted, he sighed deeply and +continued:</p> +<p>“We are out to pursue them. Think up some punishment worthy of +their crime. What shall be done with her?”</p> +<p>“Kill them both!” was the unanimous reply.</p> +<p>“That is insufficient!” answered the Tsar.</p> +<p>“Drown them in the river, where they betrayed their +deception!”</p> +<p>“Not enough!” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb28" href= +"#pb28" name="pb28">28</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Have them burned alive!”</p> +<p>“Still too good for them!”</p> +<p>“Let them be torn to pieces by wild beasts!”</p> +<p>“All this is very little!” replied Morphiliziy. +“All this is quickly over and does not appease my desire for +revenge. They must be captured alive and locked up one opposite the +other, so that through the open windows of their dungeons they may see +each other, and then I shall prepare my rival a spectacle that will +wound him worse than fire, but afterwards I shall hand over to you +Nina, and then there will be time to cut off their proud heads and +throw them away to be eaten by the dogs!”</p> +<p>The Tsar grew silent, his face became still paler, his eyes stared +out worse than before; he was so terrible to look at, that even the +fearless warriors could not glance at him and hardly approached his +horse and Noy’s, which they were hurrying on at full speed. The +sun rose—they continued their ride, a whole day went by, the +journey went on as before, and night overtook them again when they +entered a forest. Noy announced that it was the same forest in which he +had left the fugitives. The moon shone poorly from behind the eternal +trees, it became necessary to get off the horses, which were left to +the care of several warriors, but the others went on and soon found +that little field of wild copse on which Cicero and Nina had rested, +they even found the place where they had been sitting.</p> +<p>The grass was trodden down, it bore the traces of spilt wine and +crumbs of bread—one large shrub was cut down—but there were +no branches.</p> +<p>“They probably burned them in a wood-pile,” remarked +Noy.</p> +<p>“Well, where then are the traces of the wood-pile?” +replied Morphiliziy. Upon noticing that from the place where they stood +onward the grass was trodden down and seemed to form a kind of road, +all followed upon this track. By sunrise they left the forest and +spread themselves out over a splendid meadow, which ended in a +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb29" href="#pb29" name= +"pb29">29</a>]</span>field. The track went on across the meadow to the +very field, which was beginning to be worked by laborers.</p> +<p>Morphiliziy dispatched one of his warriors to ask to whom this field +belonged and whether they had not seen two boys on horseback yesterday. +The soldier returned with a peasant.</p> +<p>“This is the field of the tavad Bidandari, we are his men and +did not work here yesterday, but we heard that our master had brought +home some two youths, one of whom is ill, and to-day by the orders of +the proprietor, my brother went for the znabar (a kind of doctor) on +the seacoast.”</p> +<p>“Why, is it far to the sea?” asked Morphiliziy.</p> +<p>“Six or seven agatches” (an agatche is a little more +than six and less than seven versts).</p> +<p>“What! is there no doctor nearer than that?” again asked +Morphiliziy.</p> +<p>“Why should there not be one? We have a doctor in the village +who is immediately at the side of the patient when required, but the +other one is cleverer because he takes advantage of the sea tide in +order to collect plants, shells, insects, and little fishes, which our +own doctors do not get a chance to use for their medicine.”</p> +<p>“Tell thy master that the owner of the Arab horse came to +thank him for his favor, to pay his debt, and asks permission to come +in.”</p> +<p>The peasant went off, but Morphiliziy ordered his warriors to return +to the forest, and taking Noy with him, followed from afar the running +laborer. He was very particular in explaining to Noy why he did not +wish his name to be disclosed before the right time.</p> +<p>Bidandari came out to meet his guest and led him to some gorgeous +apartments where a number of fashionably attired servants surrounded +the newcomer, offering elegant clothes, aromatic soaps, and every kind +of luxury customary in those times. Having washed and dressed, +Morphiliziy came into an adjoining room where a dinner was set. The +host met him at the door with <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb30" href= +"#pb30" name="pb30">30</a>]</span>two large horns filled with old wine, +which, joining hands, they drank at the same time, as a sign of +friendship. Notwithstanding that Morphiliziy had eaten almost nothing +for more than two days, the rare and numerous dishes did not dazzle +him. He had to make an effort in order to pretend that he was eating. +At the end of the dinner the host offered him to take a rest, but +Morphiliziy said that before that he would like to talk with him alone: +then Bidandari, who had not even looked as though he had recognized his +sovereign, respectfully fell down on one knee and kissed the edge of +the royal coat.</p> +<p>“You recognized me, tavad?” said the surprised King.</p> +<p>“Yes, your Majesty, but I did not dare to say this before the +rest, because I did not know the reason you had for not speaking +openly.”</p> +<p>“I came hither to carry out my revenge and I cannot do it +without your help.”</p> +<p>“Pray tell, what is it you order?”</p> +<p>“But this is against the laws of hospitality, in which your +house has always glorified itself.”</p> +<p>“If it be impossible to receive satisfaction for being +insulted otherwise—then give orders to kill me—in such a +way at least I fulfil my duty as to you, like a faithful subject, +obliged to defend the honor of his sovereign even to death and shall +not be responsible for what occurs in my house after my +death.”</p> +<p>“But, tavad, you forget that in such a case I fulfil my duty +neither like a Tsar, nor like a guest, but of this let us speak later. +The point of the affair is that in your own house my bride is hiding, +disguised as a boy, and I want to take her immediately with me. It +seems to me that by handing her over to me you do nothing offensive to +the rules of hospitality; as to her companion, he has insulted my royal +honor, and it is only natural that every true subject should himself +chase him out of his house as soon as he learns about his +crime.”</p> +<p>Bidandari sighed and his face took a sad expression. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb31" href="#pb31" name="pb31">31</a>]</span></p> +<p>“I ask a favor of you, sire; sooner order that I be killed +than that my guest receiveth the merited punishment and let me now tell +you all that weighs on me. Before death one is permitted to put aside +every etiquette and to speak with one’s sovereign without the +customary court formalities, thereupon I take the liberty of treating +you like a brilliant warrior.”</p> +<p>“You forget, tavad, that I am very much obliged to you, and +that you therefore have the right to demand anything you like of me +except to pardon my rival. You yourself are a young and unmarried +man,<a id="xd20e567" name="xd20e567"></a> is it possible you do not +understand my thoughts?”</p> +<p>“Forgive me, sire, but I must again speak none but the bare +truth! My meeting with your negro you already know about. Wishing to +come home by the very most direct way, I went on a trail which by +chance brought me up to two boys. The younger of them was shaking from +malaria, he was pale and lay upon a bourka, but the older one sat by +him in despair and wrung his hands. On this same little meadow two +saddled and tired horses were feeding; by their exhausted look it was +perfectly clear that the travellers came a long way. I came up from +behind, and when I greeted them, the elder brother quickly jumped up +and seized a kinjall (Caucasian knife or rather dagger), while the +younger boy simply sighed and looked at me in a terrified way; he was +evidently either too ill or too exhausted to make any kind of a +movement. ‘Fear nothing,’ I said, ‘I came to offer +you my hospitality, which you hardly have a right to refuse as you are +on my lands.’</p> +<p>“‘Excuse me,’ suspiciously answered the older +one—’before I accept your kind offer, I should like to ask +you where you took this horse from, which yesterday was still the +property of the monarch?’</p> +<p>“I explained it. The boy reflected. ‘What dost thou +think of, young man, accept quickly my offer, and together we shall +carry the sick brother into a warm room, in which his illness will be +over by morning, while here he may die from taking cold.’ +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb32" href="#pb32" name= +"pb32">32</a>]</span></p> +<p>“The boy got frightened.</p> +<p>“‘Promise me not to hand us out to Morphiliziy alive or +dead, and I will readily accept your invitation with gratitude; +otherwise we should both prefer to die.’</p> +<p>“I glanced at the sick boy, he evidently made an effort to +smile and thus confirm his brother’s words, but this smile lit up +his face with such an inexpressible magnificence that I began to be +very much puzzled—after all was it not a woman? I accorded the +desired promise. We made litters of the branches of a soft coppice. I +told them that I would send horses for their conveyance, but thy horse +tied itself to the girdle and we safely brought our litter to the +house. During the night the patient began to groan and constantly +repeated:</p> +<p>“‘Darling Cicero, if they discover us—kill me, I +wish to be neither a Tsaritsa nor anything else except thy +wife!’</p> +<p>“There was not the least doubt left by this time; this was a +woman who had run away from some detested man together with her lover. +Seeing that it was no longer possible to hide anything, Cicero related +the whole story to me. They already loved each other, sire, when thou +didst first see her. Perhaps thou wilt say that Cicero might perfectly +well have conquered his attachment; taking into account that Nina was +the object of this attachment—such a change was very improbable +indeed. I say further that I myself was overtaken by such an +extraordinary feeling of delight before this utmost perfection of +beauty that I felt as though it was not worth living on earth if one +could not possess Nina; and in consequence of all this, sire, thou dost +partly fulfil my proper wish if thou dost order me to be executed as +one bending down before thy will. To hand them out to you after my +promise is beyond my powers.”</p> +<p>Morphiliziy walked up and down the room with huge steps and +nervously twitching with his mouth.</p> +<p>“I wish to see her!” he said.</p> +<p>“Oh, monarch, be gracious! Before thy arrival here, +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb33" href="#pb33" name= +"pb33">33</a>]</span>a doctor had just attended upon her. She has a +fever from terror, she frequently cries, saying:</p> +<p>“‘I am so tired that I cannot ride any farther! They +pursue us—yes, they pursue us!’ If she should see thee now, +death would surely set in. As a satisfaction to thy offended pride, +take away my life, which has become so painful to me. I am more guilty +before thee than Cicero, because I dared to fall in love with thy +bride, while he just worshipped a free girl and was fervently loved by +her before thou didst enter the town and becamest our ruler. Thou didst +permit me to request rewards for ordinary services; don’t let +Nina perish! Don’t deprive her of that happiness of which she +deprived thee, and even me!” Bidandari wished to bend a knee, but +the Tsar did not allow him to take such a step.</p> +<p>“We shall converse like young men of equal rank,” said +he. “Leave me alone; in a few minutes I shall call +thee.”</p> +<p>Bidandari went out, but Morphiliziy again paced the floor. Within +him a terrible combat was going on. On one side his deceived love and +wounded pride demanded cruel revenge, on the other hand the elevated +thoughts of his soul, his well-known love of mercy and chivalrous +nobility of soul inclined him to follow Bidandari’s advice. After +walking a whole hour his bad intentions went away, and completely worn +out from physical exhaustion as well as spiritual disturbance, he threw +himself down upon the sofa and went to sleep with the firm resolution +to pardon Nina.</p> +<p>But alas! Ibliss (the devil) is always angered by any noble +intention, be it of a Christian, be it of a heathen, and always exerts +himself in finding ways of preventing their being carried out. And thus +it happened also this time. He appeared to Morphiliziy in a dream under +the form of Nina; she was sitting at the feet of Bidandari and gaily +joked and laughed. Morphiliziy did his best to overhear their +conversation and understood that they were laughing at his confidence. +Bidandari boasted about his cleverness, but Nina laughed aloud. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb34" href="#pb34" name= +"pb34">34</a>]</span></p> +<p>“I assured him that thou lovest Cicero—that once I came +upon you by chance; and he believed it all like a stupid child. He +allows Cicero to marry and lets you go to Rome, whither I shall soon +follow you, and then only will he find out the true state of affairs. +Thou must admit, my Nina, that I cleverly thought up all and am worthy +of a reward!”</p> +<p>Instead of answering, Nina threw herself on his neck and Morphiliziy +saw and heard how the mouths joined together in kissing. He awoke +trembling from furor. “Noy,” he cried. The negro +appeared.</p> +<p>“Tell the warriors to bring me immediately, all chained, +Bidandari, Cicero, and her! I shall instantly ride home alone! If I +stay here but a minute longer I shall choke them all, and this is +little! A horse, I say, a horse!”</p> +<p>In a moment he was already riding off home, but at sunrise on the +following day they brought to his house the three guilty ones. He came +out on the roof, all wicked, dark, terrible! All his former noble +feelings had disappeared for good, he gave himself up to the work of +pitiless revenge. Silently he pointed to Nina and his house. The +warriors understood and led her there. Cicero made a desperate effort +to run after her, but the heavy chains and powerful arms of the +soldiers held him fast. Then the Tsar pointed to Cicero and to the +house situated opposite him. Cicero was led off there. Before him there +remained but Bidandari.</p> +<p>“Cut off his sly head!” shouted Morphiliziy, with such +anger that a flame came out of his mouth at these words. The warriors +fell upon Bidandari, but hardly had his head been divided from his +body, when a wonder occurred. The day was bright and clear, without a +single cloud in the sky, but at this moment an immense black cloud +descended unto the corpse and hid him from the eyes of those standing +about. All stared with the greatest attention. Little by little the +cloud went off, but on the spot where Bidandari stood a magnificent +white tulip grew up. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb35" href="#pb35" +name="pb35">35</a>]</span></p> +<p>“He is a witch!” cried Morphiliziy, and again the flame +was seen coming out of his mouth and nostrils.</p> +<p>“Bring the messenger of charms, the old gamdela, and knock her +down before this cursed tulip!”</p> +<p>When they cut off her head and the blood was spattered unto the +tulip, its centre grew strikingly red with pale rosy stripes on the +leaves, which rendered it still more beautiful.</p> +<p>“Now,” said Morphiliziy angrily, “drag Cicero to +the window, stand by his side and don’t let him turn his head. I +should like him to see everything that is going to occur +opposite!”</p> +<p>And he roared like a madman, and the flame again came out of his +mouth, nostrils and ears. “Away with the remaining people from +here,” he shouted in conclusion. The square was instantly +cleared.</p> +<p>“Hand me Nina over here!” was Morphiliziy’s last +command as he entered the house and took a place at a window opposite +the one to which Cicero was lashed. They brought up Nina, half dead +from fear.</p> +<p>“God of Israel! save me!” she cried out.</p> +<p>“Nobody will save thee from me!” wickedly answered +Morphiliziy, and seizing Nina and embracing her he brought her to the +open window. Opposite, Cicero was making astounding but futile efforts +to free himself from his chains.</p> +<p>“Call to my God—Cicero! He is stronger than that +man!” cried Nina. In this moment she glanced at her feet and +fainted from terror. Morphiliziy was also astounded. He saw that her +feet grew together and formed one black mass. He rashly tore her +clothes off her body, but the transformation took place still faster; +her whole body burned and grew black, and in a few minutes from her +hands there jumped out a splendid butterfly and joyfully flew across +the square to meet another one who had come out of Cicero’s +dungeon. Both of them hurried to the gamdela’s body and to the +white tulip and circled around them. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb36" href="#pb36" name="pb36">36</a>]</span></p> +<p>How could one describe Morphiliziy’s wrath? To express his +anger he could no longer find any human words. Some horrible, fearful +sounds came out of his mouth together with flames. With terror his +warriors looked on as he threw himself about on the square and as his +eyes flashed. Little by little he turned completely into a flame. Fiery +tongues began to climb out of the window, slipped down to the square +and everywhere rose into the air, hoping to burn the poor butterflies. +In vain did they fly all over the place, everywhere the flame chased +them, at last they hid themselves in the tulip, which hastened to +shelter them with its leaves. The whole fury of the fire was now fixed +upon the unhappy little flower. Just then the body of the gamdela was +transformed into a shower. As much as Morphiliziy harassed his enemy, +the faithful gamdela fought against him; thus, notwithstanding all the +badness of Morphiliziy, he did not succeed in burning the tulip, but +the white leaves only ornamented themselves with all the colors of the +flame. In the end the nurse finally conquered her enemy. He went down +into the ground and shows himself only when the Lord wishes to punish +sinners.</p> +<p>Oh, how dreadful he can then be! He shakes the whole earth, he tears +to pieces its interior and forms deep precipices where formerly +flourishing cities stood, lets whole villages fall to ruins, destroys +hundred-year-old edifices, rips up gardens, fields, meadows, forests. +In a word, Morphiliziy became a perfect subterranean fire and hourly +curses new generations, while the good, faithful gamdela daily renders +thanks to Him who turned her into a beneficent shower, without which +men and beasts and plants and everything that is good on earth would +perish.</p> +<p>When danger had vanished the leaves of the tulip opened themselves, +the butterflies hopped out and hastened to Damassek’s house. +There they took again their former aspect. They were married, sold off +all of John’s <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb37" href="#pb37" +name="pb37">37</a>]</span>wares, and with incalculable riches went away +to Rome. Before their departure they dug out the tulip and took it +along with them. Cicero’s country is also favored by heaven just +like ours. There they purchased an elegant house, a magnificent garden, +and the very best spot of this garden was reserved for the tulip. With +their own hands they planted and took care of it, and soon the whole +town delighted in the splendid flower, which, refreshed by frequent +showers, grew in size. In a few years the whole garden became one field +of tulips.</p> +<p>Cicero’s and Nina’s numerous children played around +them, while a shower refreshed them morning and evening. Nina and +Cicero always went into the garden at that time, and with gratefulness +kissed the bright leaves, remembering their dear gamdela whom people +now bless the world over, as a reward for her faithfulness and +love.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch4" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">IV. Saint Nina</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Tale</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">The fourteenth of January is a day of great solemnity +throughout Georgia. This is the fête of Saint Nina, who converted +us to Christianity. Nina’s father, Zavonlon, was, according to +tradition, a relation of the great and holy martyr, George, who married +Sossanna, the sister of Yovenalii, patriarch of Jerusalem, whose family +came from Koloss. He and his sister became orphans in early childhood +and went to Jerusalem, where Yovenalii accepted an appointment as +secretary, while Sossanna entered the service of Sarah, a woman of +Vifleem. In the meantime Zavonlon travelled from Kappadokia to Rome to +be presented to the Emperor, and reached there just at the time when +the Brandjis, who had revolted, appeared in the valley of Patalania. +Zavonlon did not let them reach Rome, but turned them to flight, +captured the Tsar and leaders, and handed them over to the Emperor. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb38" href="#pb38" name= +"pb38">38</a>]</span>When, however, the monarch condemned them to +death, they began to cry and implore Zavonlon to convert them to +Christianity.</p> +<p>“Lead us to the temple of thy God,” they said, +“before having us killed. Thou didst capture us and having +sacrificed us to God thou wilt not be responsible for our death, +magnanimous hero!”</p> +<p>Then Zavonlon went to the patriarch and informed him of all that had +taken place. Without saying a word to the Emperor, the patriarch, with +the help of Zavonlon, baptized them, let them partake of the Holy +Communion, and taught them the Christian faith. At sunrise on the +following day the Brandjis rose, attired themselves in funeral robes +and started for the place of execution. They prayed, thanked God, who +had saved them by baptism, and said:</p> +<p>“We are immortal even after death, because the Lord hath +glorified us by giving us permission to partake of the Holy Communion. +Yes, let His name now be glorified! now, henceforth, and evermore! Woe +to our fathers, who died in ignorance and remained in the dark, we +shall not taste the sorrowful, but the joyful fruit. Approach, +executioner, and cut off our heads!”</p> +<p>At these words they willingly stretched their necks under the sword. +But Zavonlon, who could no longer stand this spectacle, rushed to the +Emperor in order to implore his pardon for them.</p> +<p>“I give them to thee; do with them whatever thou wilt!” +said the sovereign. Zavonlon lost no time in returning to the spot of +execution and succeeded in saving those sentenced.</p> +<p>Thereupon they began to beg him to lead them home to their native +land in order to preach there about the Faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, +and convert those desirous of leaving paganism. Zavonlon went to the +patriarch, got some priests, and with the Emperor’s permission +departed, accompanied by the Brandjis. When they had but one more day +of travelling before them, a rumor <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb39" +href="#pb39" name="pb39">39</a>]</span>spread in their country that the +Tsar was alive and meant to return with his courtiers. The sections of +Kkhozamo, Kkhosa, Goakchladja or Gardadja, Kkhonebag, Kkhjirag or +Kindtjag, Zadja, Zaza, Zarda, Zamra and Tkmoka hurried to meet them, +and were reached on the banks of a great and deep river; the water was +blessed and they entered it and came out at one special spot where a +priest laid his hand on them.</p> +<p>Zavonlon stayed with them till they were baptized and converted, put +everything in perfect order, left the priests and went away, +overwhelmed with gorgeous presents.</p> +<p>“I shall take these treasures for the decoration of the tomb +of the Lord,” thought Zavonlon, and started for Jerusalem, where +he gave everything to the poor. At that time Yovenalii (in monkhood he +had taken the name of Zadass) was patriarch of Jerusalem, and made +friends with Zavonlon, while Sarah of Vavilon recognized him and +learned to cherish his capacities. Besides, she said to the patriarch: +“Zavonlon is the father of the Brandjis (original inhabitants of +Barcelona) whom he converted, and to whom he gave the Holy Baptism; he +carried out the commands of God, and thinking the matter over, I +counsel thee to let him marry thy sister Sossanna” (probably +Susanna). Sarah’s counsel was carried out and the young couple +left for Colossus, Zavonlon’s fatherland.</p> +<p>Soon the bride gave birth to a daughter, Nina. When she was twelve +years old her parents sold their whole property and settled in +Jerusalem. Here Zavonlon was made a monk by the Patriarch German +(because Sossanna’s brother had already died), and became +divorced from his wife. Pressing his daughter to his breast and +covering her face with tears, he said:</p> +<p>“My dear and only child, I leave thee an orphan, and recommend +thee to our Heavenly Father, God, who nourishes all live beings, +because He is the father of orphans and the Judge of widows. Fear +nothing, my daughter, but try to imitate Mary Magdalen and the sisters +of Lazarus in their love to God. If thou lovest Him as <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb40" href="#pb40" name="pb40">40</a>]</span>much as +they did, He will also refuse nothing to thee.” Having embraced +her once more, he crossed the Jordan and started to preach the +teachings of God among wild nations, where the only God, creator of all +beings, knew that the time was ripe. Sossanna, on the other hand, by +order of the patriarch, looked after the poor women, but was put in the +service of Niapkhora, an Armenian woman from Doroim.</p> +<p>She stayed two years at her house, learning the laws of God, because +at that time there was nobody in all Jerusalem so well acquainted with +the Old and New Confession and who had such a broad and enlightened +mind. Niapkhora was honorable and truthful and imitated Abraham in +hospitality. Her house was always open to all pilgrims coming to pray +at the Tomb of the Lord. More than once she happened to receive +Christians who had been Jews and had inhabited Georgia. From them Nina +heard a story how, at the time of the Babylonian captivity, some Jews +had settled down at Mtzkhet and how they yearly sent some of their +people to the Easter celebrations at Jerusalem. They also told her that +in the second year of Aderka’s reign in Georgia, they found out +about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ through these very messengers. +Within thirty years at Mtzkhet delegates arrived from the +preosviashtchennik (clerical title) Anna with the following news:</p> +<p>“He to whom the wise men brought presents is now grown up and +teaches us a new faith; thereupon we are sending word to the Jews in +order to find among them teachers of the law and to tell them: +‘Come ye all, who uphold the law of Moses and clear up our +perplexity! Let all those acquainted with law immediately leave the +foreign lands and hasten with all possible speed to the fatherland, in +order to confirm and guard the faith of our forefathers, carry out the +laws of Moses, save the common folk from being dazzled by the new +teaching, and furthermore, put the guilty one to death.’ Elios, a +man who was no longer young, of the tribe of the Levites, decided to +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb41" href="#pb41" name= +"pb41">41</a>]</span>go to Jerusalem, leaving his mother, a descendant +of the high priest Ilia, to the care of his sister Sidonia, because the +old woman herself said:</p> +<p>“‘Go, my beloved son, whither the Lord and his holy law +call thee, but mind my remarks: thou as a man well instructed in law +shouldst not allow them to have a godless intention. I beg +thee—do not have a hand in spilling the blood of this man. Thou +knowest that this is the carrying out of the ancient prophecies, +believe this one with all thy heart as I believe in +him!’”</p> +<p>Together with Elios went a young Hebrew, Longinos, a warrior from +Karssan, and they reached Jerusalem just at the time of the crucifixion +of our Lord, as they arrived on a Friday.</p> +<p>When they drew lots, a Greek tunic fell to the share of Elios, but +Longinos received the garment of the Lord, which he carried back to +Kontais (this garment used to hang in the centre of the church in a +crystal vessel up to the time of Shah Abass, who sent it away to +Russia). When they began to crucify our Lord, by chance the sound of +the hammer and nails came to the mother of Elios, and she +exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Good-bye, kingdom of Israel! Unhappy ones—you are lost +forevermore! By your craziness you kill your Vladyka and the Saviour of +the world, and thus you become the wilful murderers of your Creator! +Woe ye unhappy ones! There is no lamentation equal to your distress! +Woe to me, because my ears have heard these mournful sounds!” and +with these words she gave up her soul to God. When, however, Elios +returned to Mtzkhet bringing the robe, Sidonia came out to meet him, +and crying and weeping threw herself in his arms to tell him of her +mother’s death; and lo! she came to glance at the robe. She +recognized it as having belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the +thought that her brother had helped along his death filled her heart +with indescribable sorrow. Having placed on her breast the invaluable +holy relic, she died. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb42" href="#pb42" +name="pb42">42</a>]</span></p> +<p>The news of her death spread all over Mtzkhet and reached the Tsar, +who wished to see the dead woman. Coming to her body he was struck by +the beauty of the robe, giving out a heavenly glow, and he wanted to +put it on, but no power under the sun could tear the relic out of the +arms of the deceased. Elios buried his sister together with the robe, +and thus saved it from further attempts of the unbelieving.</p> +<p>These tales made a strong impression on Nina’s soul, she often +and long reflected how she might seek out the place where the robe was, +and tried to obtain information from her governess. “My +child,” said Niapkhora, “I see that by thy strength thou +are equal to a lioness, whose roar hushes up the growling of all +quadrupeds. Thy capacity for penetration puts thee on a footing with +the female eagle, who by her flying exceeds the male eagles and with +her little eyes sees all creation; having beheld the booty she inspects +it with her piercing glances, just as the fire experiments with the +gold, and makes for it with spread-out wings. Such will be thy life. +Thy voice will be heard all over the world and thy booty is to enrich +God. Now I will explain it all to thee. Thou knowest that the immortal +God had compassion for the mortal inhabitants of this world and came to +earth in order to assemble around him the nations and save the whole +world. His first good deeds were applied to the Hebrews, among whom he +made the dead arise, made the blind see, and healed the sick. +Astounded, they sent out messengers all over the world in order that +the Hebrews might most rapidly assemble at a great council.</p> +<p>“‘We are perishing,’ exclaimed the messengers, +‘hurry, gather ye all!’</p> +<p>“Then from all countries there came together people, educated +in the laws of Moses—they came together to openly oppose +themselves to the Holy Ghost and, namely, do what was necessary to the +world. They crucified the Lord Jesus and drew lots to get his robe. The +robe was handed over without quarreling to the Man of Mtzkhet. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb43" href="#pb43" name= +"pb43">43</a>]</span>Thou knowest also that upon the burial of our Lord +they placed guards at his tomb, but that he arose according to +prediction, and in the tomb there remained nothing but the shroud, +which the Apostle Luke took, but no one knows to whom he gave it. As to +the vesture of the Lord, which was not found in the tomb, many conclude +that the Apostle Peter took it without telling anything about its +further fate. I in my turn am more inclined to believe what we heard +from the Hebrews of Mtzkhet. The crosses are hidden here at Jerusalem, +but this place is unknown to everybody until the Lord doth open it in +times to come by his chosen messenger!”</p> +<p>Hearing these words, Nina raised herself and thanked God and asked: +“Well, where then is that land where the robe was +discovered?”</p> +<p>“The town of Mtzkhet is in Georgia. This is a mountainous +land, the borderland of Armenia, and its inhabitants still continue to +practise idolatry. The Chaldean magis have a strong influence over the +people,” replied Niapkhora.</p> +<p>At that time there arrived from Ethesus a woman who had come to +visit and pay homage to the Holy Sepulchre and who stopped at +Niapkhora’s.</p> +<p>“Is the Empress Helen still in the shade of unbelief?” +asked Niapkhora of her.</p> +<p>“I am her servant,” answered the newcomer, “and +know all her wishes, both open and hidden. She would like to become a +Christian and be baptized.”</p> +<p>“Let me go to the sovereign,” Nina began to ask of her +mistress, “perhaps our Lord Jesus Christ!”</p> +<p>“Let us first ask the blessing of our most holy Patriarch +German,” answered Niapkhora, and went to him.</p> +<p>Soon they called in Nina and placed her on the steps of the ambo; +thereupon German put his hands upon her shoulders and having sighed +from the depth of his soul, he said: “Vladyka, Immortal God! To +Thee I commit this orphan, the daughter of a sister of one of Thy +servants, and send her to preach Thy faith and announce Thy +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb44" href="#pb44" name= +"pb44">44</a>]</span>resurrection everywhere where Thou desirest it to +be carried out! Heavenly Jesus! be Thou her companion during the +journey, her protector in danger, a refuge, a leader and a teacher as +Thou hast been from century to century to all those who feared Thy holy +name!”</p> +<p>That very night the Virgin appeared to St. Nina in a dream, to whose +happy lot Iveria fell when she together with the apostles drew lots to +see who should go to preach the faith of Christ in Georgia. In the +hands of the Heavenly Queen there was a vineyard cross, which by her +command was tied with some of Nina’s hair. The Most Holy Virgin +handed the cross to the sleeping girl and ordered her to go in her +stead to convert the Iverian people. The Saint awoke with the cross in +her hands and hastened to announce to her mother all that had occurred. +With happy emotion Sossanna listened to her, kissed her, crossed +herself, and blessing her, let her start out, commending Nina to the +care of God.</p> +<p>From her mother Nina went straight to the Ethesian woman, whom she +began to hurry up to start out, as her heart was burning with +impatience; and notwithstanding the uncertainty and length of the +journey, her readiness to do everything to serve God was so great that +she did not have the least fear; this ardor was not left unrewarded by +the Leader of Hearts. He Himself appeared to St. Nina, quieted and +strengthened her for the coming expedition.</p> +<p>Having reached Ethesus, the Saint, in the house of her companion, +found the Tsarevna Ripsime fleeing from the Diocletian torments +together with fifty friends. Soon they were joined by three hundred +maidens and Saint Gaiane, her nurse. Ripsime grew attached to Nina, +because the Ethesian woman told her the latter’s story, and the +Saint took advantage of the kind feelings of the Tsarevna in order to +instruct her still more in the faith; and in the course of this year +she baptized the Queen, Gaiane, and seventy men of her suite.</p> +<p>They passed two years together at the monastery of <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb45" href="#pb45" name= +"pb45">45</a>]</span>Poss-Rhoss. Just at that time Emperor Maximian +sent his eunuchs everywhere to seek out the beautiful and good girls +and bring them to him—without distinction of rank, extraction, or +even religious belief.</p> +<p>The messengers arrived at the monastery of Poss-Rhoss, beheld +Ripsime, and struck by her unusual beauty, they did not yet decide to +take her, but began to enquire about her family. Having found out that +she was of royal rank, they considered her worthy of becoming +Maximian’s wife, painted her portrait and went away. Hardly had +Maximian glanced at her portrait, when his heart flamed up with some +strong passion. He announced that in the whole world there was no equal +perfection of beauty, that Ripsime was worthy of becoming his wife, +that their marriage should be celebrated with unheard of till then +solemnity, and he immediately sent messengers to all parts of his +immense monarchy so that each subject might come to take part in the +nuptial festivities. In the meantime the saints trembled from fear +because they knew that this Tsar was like a vessel of anger, sly like a +snake in heaven, also not clean, and idolatrous. They imagined that the +Tsarevna’s portrait would cause them to be very much grieved, and +having fasted a long time, they prayed to God and decided to rely on +His holy mercy and secretly run away from this place. And thus the +seventy sisters set out for Armenia, in the neighborhood of +Vagkarshapat, and reached a splendid town called New Dovin, where the +Tsar himself resided.</p> +<p>Here they took up their quarters in poor huts, which surrounded the +town from the north and west and were used for pressing out the grapes. +Here with laborious work they earned their own living. Having, however, +discovered that the Tsarevna Ripsime with her nurse and companions had +disappeared in some unknown place, Maximian became perfectly furious +and sent messengers to look everywhere for her.</p> +<p>His ambassadors arrived at the court of Trdat, Tsar of <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb46" href="#pb46" name="pb46">46</a>]</span>Armenia, +with the following letter: “The autocratic Emperor to his nearest +brother, friend and comrade Trdat—I salute thee. Thy friendship +is our most faithful ally; I inform thee above all that the sinful +Christian nature is very harmful to us, because it forces the nations +to disregard our mightiness and not respect our Majesty. Their religion +consists of the following points: they serve a dead and crucified man, +adore wood and consider it glorious to die for their Lord. Although +they fear not the Jews, they nevertheless fear Him, whom the Jews +killed and crucified. In their blindness they defame monarchs, scorn +the gods, attribute absolutely nothing to the powerful brightness of +the sun, moon, and stars—saying that these are the creations of +the crucified. They anger the whole world to such a degree that fathers +and mothers separate themselves one from another, not awaiting death. +In vain do our commands and terrible tortures exterminate them, for +they appear in still greater numbers! Having by chance seen a young +Christian maid, I wished to marry her, but she, instead of desiring to +be united with a Tsar, rebuked me like a dirty being and secretly ran +off into thy lands. Investigate this affair, my dear brother, order a +search to be made, and as soon as thou findest her with her companions, +put to death the latter, but send splendid Ripsime hither, or if she +pleases thee, take her, for thou wilt not find such a perfect beauty in +all Greece. I hope that thou art in good health—adieu, serve the +gods!”</p> +<p>Having read the letter, Trdat began the search, and soon found the +saints. Ripsime produced on him exactly the same impression as on +Maximian and he also made up his mind to have her become his wife. But +the Saint flatly refused him, and so he tortured her together with +thirteen companions on the fifth of October; and Saint Gaiane and two +others on the following day. The remaining succeeding in hiding +themselves; among them was also St. Nina, who by God’s +instructions hid herself in the branches of a prickly rosebush, without +flowers. Here <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb47" href="#pb47" name= +"pb47">47</a>]</span>she beheld a bright star coming down from the +clouds; it served as a footstool to a deacon, in whose hands there was +a censer; out of the latter there came such an abundant perfume that +the sky really darkened. The deacon was accompanied by innumerable +heavenly beings. This was the instant when the martyrs breathed their +last breath, united themselves with the heavenly forces sent out after +their souls, and together with them rose to heaven.</p> +<p>“Lord Jesus!” exclaimed the Saint, “why dost thou +abandon me with aspics and snakes?”</p> +<p>In answer to this lamentation, a voice was heard from Heaven, +saying: “Arise and start for the North, where there is a great +harvest, but few workers!”</p> +<p>And thus the fourteen-year-old child went out to convert a whole +country. She guided herself by the voice of God and overcame all +difficulties: the length of the journey and physical exhaustion, and +the fear of wild animals and wicked people and the cold and hunger and +want! She went as the apostles went; without a staff, and just like +them, she conquered kings, converted whole nations, healed the sick and +glorified the name of that God who had called to her: “Arise and +go!” Without losing a moment’s time she left for the +North.</p> +<p>The dear one constantly reminded her of the following words: +“There is a great harvest but few workers!” and in this she +seemed to think there was an explanation of the fact that on her fell +the godly choice. Near Khertviss her strength began to fail. From +continuous walking she had become quite lame and was forced to stop and +go into winter quarters—enduring innumerable privations. In time +her health was so much restored that she started again on her +expedition.</p> +<p>Having reached the frontier of Djavakhetta she stopped on the bank +of Lake Pkaravno, known also under the designations: Pkdrnav, Paraban, +Pkanavar, and Tanaravan; from this lake flows out a river called the +Mtkouar of Djavakhetta, from which are to be seen high mountains +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb48" href="#pb48" name= +"pb48">48</a>]</span>covered with snow even during the summer months. +They are the cause of much cold weather in all the neighboring towns +and villages. Fear seized Saint Nina.</p> +<p>“O Lord!” she cried out, trembling, “accept my +soul!” and she fell to the ground. For two whole days she could +not master her fright nor continue her journey. At last hunger forced +her to ask for food of some poor fishermen trading on the lake and of +the shepherds who guarded their herds on the banks of the lake.</p> +<p>The latter often used to invoke their gods at night. These were +called Armaz and Zaden, and the heathen inhabitants of the lake +districts promised them rich sacrifices if they only guarded the herds +from any possible evil. Hearing that their prayers were spoken in +Armenian, to which Saint Nina was somewhat accustomed as she had served +at Niapkhora’s, she dared to ask them whither they had come.</p> +<p>“I am an Akovanian from Elrbienik on the banks of the +Lopatsh-Tskan” (this is the left arm of the <span class="corr" +id="xd20e766" title="Source: Alasana">Alazana</span>, <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e769" title="Source: Plin">Plinii</span> calls the +inhabitants of this region Loubienis), said one of them.</p> +<p>“We are Kakhetines from Sapourtzle and Kindsar near +Mouknar,” murmured two others.</p> +<p>“But I am a Touissian from Rabatt,” added a third +one.</p> +<p>“Here is one from the great city of Mtzkhet, where there lives +a Tsar and where we have temples of our gods; in summer we all drive +our herds to the banks of the Pkarnav, thus saving ourselves from the +unbearable heat of our countries. The reason that the lake has so many +names is that each of us pronounces its name according to his own +language. In the autumn we disperse to our many homes to escape the +cold of this district.”</p> +<p>“Where is Mtzkhet?” asked Nina with a fainting +heart.</p> +<p>“This river unites itself with another one which comes from +Kola, changes its name to Mtkonar and flows to Mtzkhet.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb49" href="#pb49" name= +"pb49">49</a>]</span></p> +<p>She looked at the sides of the river: it was an endless plain. She +became frightened upon beholding its boundless limits. Having sighed +over the great length of the coming journey, she put her head on a +stone near the source of the river and fell asleep.</p> +<p>In a dream there appeared to her a man of middle height with flying +hair, and handed her a written roll, which ran as follows: “Carry +this in all haste to the idolatrous Tsar of Mtzkhet!” Saint Nina +cried bitterly and began to implore and pray: “O Lord! I am a +woman, an adventurer, uneducated, I am unable to say much; now how in +the world am I to go into a strange land to heathen nations—to a +mighty Tsar?”</p> +<p>Then the shining man unfolded the roll in which were written ten +commandments as on the tablets of Moses, and gave them to St. Nina to +read. She awoke with the roll in her hands. The following were the +contents of the roll:</p> +<p>I: Amen—I say unto ye, go on then, for this testament will be +proclaimed all over the world, will go from mouth to mouth, and hardly +will it be known when documents will appear to commemorate the +event.</p> +<p>II: Make no difference between men or women. III: As thou goest, +instruct all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Ghost. IV: The world is the language of enlightenment +and thy glory, O Israel! V: This good deed of heaven will be practised +the world over. VI: He who accepts you, accepts Me and he who accepts +Me accepts Him who glorified Me. VII: Mary loved the Lord exceedingly, +for she always obeyed his commandments. VIII: Not cutting off the +bodies of the murderers, the souls of those who are powerful shall not +linger. IX: The speech of Jesus to Mary Magdalen: “Go, O woman, +and announce my fraternity!” X: “Teach them to promptly and +rigidly observe all these commandments and then I shall be with you, in +all times and to the end of the world—Amen!” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb50" href="#pb50" name="pb50">50</a>]</span></p> +<p>Having read the roll, Saint Nina became convinced that this +apparition came directly from the Lord. She ardently prayed that the +Lord might soothe her, and committing herself to his will, she +immediately followed the course of the river. At first it flowed +towards the West through wild and sterile countries. The journey became +still more terrible through the number of wild animals filling these +deserts with their fearful roaring, but not one of them attempted to +approach and touch the protégé of God. Only when the +river turned to the East did they begin little by little to disappear. +Driven on by fear she forgot exhaustion and went rapidly ahead, hardly +stopping a minute to catch breath. Soon after the turn of the river +Saint Nina overtook some travellers going to Ourbishi or Ouriat-Oubani +(which means “Street of the Hebrews”), and joyfully +followed them, but at Ourbishi a disappointment awaited her; instead of +believers of the real God she found people who bowed down and adored +fire, wood, and stone; her heart burned with indignation, but the Lord +comforted her by instructing some Jews to give her a hospitable +reception, which she made use of for about one month, when the +following spectacle aroused her feelings:</p> +<p>She beheld a great crowd of people going towards Mtzkhet, and as she +heard from her host that there were Hebrews there, she followed the +people in the distance and thus happened to reach her point of +destination upon the fête of Armaz. Before reaching the bridge +near Mogontka this large crowd stopped like one man to bow down to the +fire, and Saint Nina cried bitterly at the loss of such a large, large +number of human souls, ransomed by the most precious blood of our Lord +Jesus Christ. On the sixth of August, 324 A. D., on the day of the +Transfiguration of the Lord, Saint Nina, according to tradition, +accomplished her first wonder. Upon that day appointed for the +fêting of the idol Armaz, it was the duty of the Tsar and +Tsaritsa to take part in the ceremonies. From early in the morning +numberless crowds of people, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb51" href= +"#pb51" name="pb51">51</a>]</span>like flowers in the field, filled the +streets, shouting and hurrying, each one trying to excel his neighbor +in ornamenting their respective houses with carpets, fine shawls and +other such articles, all along the road by which the royal +cortège was to pass. First there arrived the Tsaritsa Nana, +surrounded by the wives and daughters of the aristocracy. She was +followed by the Tsar with a numerous suite. Songs of praises and +blessings were heard among the crowd of the nation. With great pomp the +procession ascended the mountain to adore their god, who was cast of +clean gold, while at his side there stood two inferior gods of silver, +who wore gold cuirasses and in their aquamarine eyes had <span class= +"corr" id="xd20e801" title="Source: artifically">artificially</span> +made rolling emerald pupils. These last idols were of human proportions +and inside of them a mechanism was hidden, through which their hands +(in which there were sharp swords) cut down all those who dared to +approach the chief god without making a sacrifice, or all those who +adored other and foreign gods instead. On the Roman bridge, Saint Nina +joined the procession.</p> +<p>“What in the world does all this mean?” she asked of a +Jewess.</p> +<p>“This is the god of gods—Armaz, who calls the people to +do him homage. No other idol can compare with him, because each of us +puts on his best garment to-day and holds a flag in his hand as a sign +of joyousness.”</p> +<p>In the meantime the procession had reached its destination. The Tsar +bowed down to the ground, surrounded by whole clouds of incense. The +sacrificers offered their victims. The Tsaritsa, the nobility, +innumerable hordes of people followed the example of their ruler to the +greatest displeasure of the Saint, who with all her heart prayed to +Him, who had made her glorious and lo! a short-breathed West wind came +up, at first softly, then always stronger and stronger, and finally +turned into an oragan.</p> +<p>Losing their breath and feeling choked, the Tsar ran away and the +sacrificers and the nation too, but the orcano turned into a perfect +rain of stones—not allowing even <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb52" href="#pb52" name="pb52">52</a>]</span>half of those fleeing to +seek shelter. Stones of such a size poured down that not every grown up +man could raise them with both arms, and they continued to ransack the +temple and idols, until all had been turned to ashes and dust.</p> +<p>The heathens fled in terror; this mountain, such a short time before +so crowded with people, had now been totally cleared of men and upon it +sat only Nina, who was not at all terrified by the fearful spectacle. +She saw in this a new proof of the all mightiness of her own God, and +under his powerful protection she quietly lay down and peacefully fell +asleep on a huge block of stone.</p> +<p>The next day, by the order of the Tsar, one of the noblemen went to +inspect the scene of the disaster of the preceding day. He beheld Saint +Nina, concluded by her dress that she was a traveller from some distant +land, and with customary Georgian hospitality, invited her to stop at +his home. But his offer was by no means accepted by the Saint. She +continued her journey along the banks of the river and finding on the +road an eye of one of the gods, she took it along with her. Upon +reaching the junction of the Koura and Aragva, where formerly there +stood a town and a fortress, she resolved to take a rest and pass the +night at that point of the cape, where till then there still remained +the ruins of the church of Favora.</p> +<p>At that time beautiful, well-shaped, high birches grew there, with +magnificent shady branches. They were planted by Tsar Bartom, who often +rested in their shade; this custom was long observed by the nobility +and well-known men and almost every sunny day some one from the +aristocracy passed the day under the branches of the birches. On one of +these trees Saint Nina painted a cross and lived under it in constant +prayer till the twelfth of August. On that day came to refresh herself +with the coolness of the famous trees, the lady of the royal court +Krokhana with her servant, a Greek woman. The latter by the order of +her mistress asked the Saint who <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb53" +href="#pb53" name="pb53">53</a>]</span>she was, what she was +undertaking, and whether she did not need something. The Saint said +that she was “Tevee,” <i>i. e.</i>, a prisoner of war +(which does not mean that she was a servant, as some writers out of +pure ignorance expressed themselves in describing her life) and did not +tell of her real extraction. Krokhana immediately invited her to follow +her to the palace, but the Saint refused even this invitation.</p> +<p>Within three days, <i>i. e.</i>, on the day of the Assumption of the +Holy Virgin, she crossed the Mtkovar and entered the royal fruit +gardens. Near the place where now stands the church of the Katholikoss +(Patriarch) and a pillar erected by God, there lived in those times a +guardian, whose wife Anastasia hastened to come out to meet the +stranger. She embraced her like an old and dear friend, kissed her, +washed off her dusty feet, rubbed her exhausted body with strengthening +fragrant butter and having offered her bread and wine, asked her to +take a rest and to recover after the long, long journey. Here the Saint +remained nine months, frequently visiting Ourbishi, where some Hebrews +lived, in the hope of finding out something more about the Lord’s +robe; and indeed the Lord blessed her attempts. She made the +acquaintance of Abiatkar, the descendant of Elios, whom she quickly +converted to Christianity together with all his family. “When she +arrived,” said Abiatkar in his tale, remembered in Georgian +History, “I received a letter from Jewish priests in Antiochia, +in which they expressed themselves thus”:</p> +<p>“The Lord divided the kingdom of Israel into three parts, +which were owned by the Romans, Armenians, and Barbarians. There will +be no more prophets; all that he told us through the inspiration of the +Holy Ghost was fulfilled, we are scattered all over the world and our +fatherland is occupied by the Romans. O Jews! let us now weep with our +nation, for we offended God, the Creator of all beings.”</p> +<p>Looking over now the books in which Moses teaches <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb54" href="#pb54" name="pb54">54</a>]</span>us: +“each one who on earth calls himself God shall be put to +death!<span class="corr" id="xd20e837" title= +"Not in source">”</span> Why is it possible then that we sinned +in killing Jesus of Nazareth? We actually see that in ancient times, +when our forefathers sinned before God and forgot Him, He lowered them +to servitude and made them experience all the horrors of captivity; but +when they turned again to Him and invoked Him, He saved them from need. +From the scriptures we know that this happened seven times in ancient +history. Now, then, when our fathers put their hands on the son of a +poor woman, God deprived us of his mercifulness and support and lo! our +government fell to pieces, we were separated from our temples and our +nationality was forgotten. That was about three hundred years ago. The +Lord does not hear our prayers and does not send us help, from which we +conclude that perhaps this man was sent by God. Thus did they write me +several times and aroused doubts in my soul, to explain which, I +applied to Saint Nina. I asked her who was Jesus and why the Son of God +became a simple man.</p> +<p>Then Saint Nina opened her mouth and from it flowed out words of +life as abundantly as the waves in the depth of the sea. From her very +mouth I found out everything contained by the Christian books, and she +explained to me their profound meaning. I felt like a man aroused from +sleep, like a madman coming back to his senses. She filled my heart +with pity for our forefathers, made me convince myself in the truths of +the New Testament, and from her words I indeed recognized in him Jesus +Christ, the Son of God, crucified, resurrected, and having come with +glory; nay, I understood that He was the one who had been promised to +those believing. I saw many other wonders yet, accomplished by Saint +Nina at Mtzkhet in my time, and together with my daughter Sidonia was +converted and received the Holy Baptism, being cleansed of all +wickedness. I received that which the prophet David had vainly wished: +I heard a choir of voices glorifying the New Testament, the object of +his sighing; and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb55" href="#pb55" name= +"pb55">55</a>]</span>we were favored with the permission to partake of +the Holy Communion, of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the +Lamb that perished for the sins of the world, the best and most +compound of victuals. O Lord, strengthen this faith in my heart to my +last breath! All that I shall after this relate, I myself heard, with +my own ears from my mother, my father, or read in books, recording the +words spoken by our ancestors.”</p> +<p>After this follows the story already known to us about the robe. On +the tomb of Sidonia under a huge cedar grew up a fragrant bush loaded +down by a numberless quantity of flowers and leaves, and from its +branches a whole bush was formed, under which Saint Nina let herself +down, not knowing how near she was to the aim of her desires. All +nights she passed here in prayer, and lo! in one of these sleepless +nights of prayer a shining man appeared to her and, pointing to the +fragrant bush, ordered her to take up some earth under it to use for +healing the sick. The next morning as usual Anastasia came to her, +offering her wine, bread, fruits, and cheese. Having noticed that her +eyes were filled with tears, Nina asked her the cause, and so found out +that both she and her husband were deeply grieved by the fact that they +had no children and attributed this misfortune to Anastasia’s +illness. The Saint immediately applied holy earth and Anastasia was +cured.</p> +<p>Let us now return to Abiatkar’s tale. During that period Saint +Nina saw one and the same dream three or four times in those few +minutes in which she used to rest. A horde of blackbirds bathed itself +in the river, came out of the water whiter than snow, and rushed +towards a peach tree actually growing near her bush. In the apparition +it appeared covered with wonderful buds and flowers. With great haste +the birds gathered and all rivalled one another in bringing them to the +Saint as to the owner of the garden; afterwards united around her in a +circle and sang most marvellously.</p> +<p>The Saint related all these events to my daughter <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb56" href="#pb56" name="pb56">56</a>]</span>Sidonia, +who exclaiming very loud, expressed herself thus: “O Prisoner; +thou that didst take off our chains! I know that thou art the reason of +all that hath now taken place, that by thee we are made to discover and +acknowledge the past spilling of the blood of the Heavenly Man, for +that deed the Hebrews and their kingdom perished, they were deprived of +their temples and a strange people took the place of their greatness. +Jerusalem, O Jerusalem! how thou dost spread thy wings in order to +protect under them nations from every part of the world, thy children +only remained without shelter and are scattered one by one all over the +earth! Now there comes to us here a woman, born in a foreign land, who +makes over our whole kingdom!”</p> +<p>Then addressing the Saint, she said: “That, which thou sawest, +clearly predicts to us that this place has been changed by thee into +religious gardens, in which thy pupils and followers whitened by thee +like birds will eternally gather heavenly fruits, singing praises and +glorifying God!”</p> +<p>The Saint openly preached the message of Christ, telling the people +that up till then they had been entirely misled. She pointed to the +grape cross which had already accomplished many wonderful cures without +applying any medicine, simply by holding it to the sick people. She was +joined in her converting expedition by seven Jewish women whom she had +baptized. Among them also my daughter Sidonia, and I myself helped them +with all my strength, trying to deserve the glorious name of Paul, +which the Saint had bestowed upon me upon my baptism. Knowing well the +Jewish law, and being instructed by the Saint, it was easier for me to +convert the unbelieving and some of them becoming rebellious, wished to +assault me with stones; but Tsar Mirian sent out several of his +attendants to deliver me from their arms, because the news of the glory +of the wonders accomplished in Greece and Armenia came to him and so he +did not prevent Saint Nina and her pupils from preaching the truth, +which he sympathized with. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb57" href= +"#pb57" name="pb57">57</a>]</span></p> +<p>But the devil, who had for a long time raged against the true +believers, won the heart of the Tsaritsa Nana, who kept her husband +from becoming a Christian. The fasts, vigilance, and prayers of the +Saint astounded the heathens and they frequently asked her the cause of +such actions.</p> +<p>Filled with joy, she naturally took advantage of such moments to +unceasingly preach to them the religion of Christ, and Anastasia and +her husband zealously assisted her in such a time. Once they brought to +the Saint a dying infant, whom all physicians considered absolutely +incurable. The mother of the baby was a fierce adorer of idols and did +not cease to injure the faith of Christ, and even prevented others from +accepting the teachings of Saint Nina. Only the complete hopelessness +forced her to apply to the wonderful girl.</p> +<p>“I am not educated in human science,” said the Saint, +“but the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I serve is strong enough to heal +him.”</p> +<p>And with these words she placed him on her foliage couch, on which, +having knelt, she usually pronounced her long prayers and kept her +almighty vigilance, and having crossed him with the vineyard crucifix, +she sent him away, healthy and happy. But his mother, who now fervently +believed in the Christian faith, loudly glorified the Lord Jesus +Christ. A little later the Tsaritsa fell ill and they sent for the +marvellous doctor to the palace.</p> +<p>“I cannot go into a heathen house and therefore request the +Queen to come to me,” was the answer of the Saint. Nana +submitted. Her son Revv and some ladies of the court were obliged to +carry her in their arms. Numerous crowds of people accompanied the +procession with visible curiosity and concealed their dissatisfaction; +but this dissatisfaction turned to excessive joy when she was cured and +with tremendous attention did the crowds of heathens listen to Sidonia, +who had educated the Tsaritsa in the true faith; after that she was +baptized by Abiatkar and returned to her husband, a fervent Christian. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb58" href="#pb58" name= +"pb58">58</a>]</span></p> +<p>Here it will be opportune to tell why Tsar Mirian once upon a time +was so much in favor of Christianity. Hardly any other monarch in the +world could boast of such great success in war as Mirian; he conquered +much and always had good luck, nowhere and never did he lose a single +battle, and he justly deserved the term “the invincible.” +But that which seemed to all mere luck, was nothing less than the +intention of God, leading him this road to learn the truth.</p> +<p>In the year 312 the Persian Tsar Sapor sent a messenger to Mirian +with a proposal to unite their forces and jointly attack Greece. Mirian +consented, and soon their army, the number of which the contemporaries +compare with grass in the fields or the leaves of the trees, fell upon +the Emperor Constantine, who did not dare to oppose himself, and with +sorrow saw how they ravaged one Greek province after another.</p> +<p>The clergy encouraged its sovereign, assuring that the Lord would +not let the unbelievers possess a Christian kingdom. A dream convinced +Constantine still more in this idea. He hastened to become baptized and +led his army by a flag on which was represented a cross of stars, +surrounded, according to the apparition, with the words: “By this +I conquer!”</p> +<p>Soon the handful of Christians conquered the hordes of heathens at +Andriansora. Both tsars with the remainder of their troops were turned +to flight and pursued by Constantine who, following them on their +heels, invaded their dominions. The Persian Tsar, having abandoned his +ally, ingloriously fled, but Mirian defended the towns and fortresses +in Georgia until all his generals had perished; then he sent an embassy +to Constantine with peace proposals.</p> +<p>Constantine, who feared a second invasion of the Persians, consented +to peace only with the imperative condition that in case of a war with +the Persians, Mirian should assist him with an army, but to make sure +of the observance of this condition, he took Mirian’s son Bakour +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb59" href="#pb59" name= +"pb59">59</a>]</span>as a hostage. Mirian’s failure in the war +with Constantine, the incomprehensible fear which had forced him to +turn to flight, him, Mirian, whom all considered fearless and +invincible and who up to this time had known no fear, gave him an +exalted opinion of that God whom Constantine worshipped, and he +frequently thought about His incomparable mightiness. The wars in which +he was allied with Trdat, had led him astray, although, after the war +with Constantine and the disaster at the fête of Armaz his faith +in the religion of the false gods was very much shaken, but the furious +opposition of the Tsaritsa Nana made also this second deep impression +vanish.</p> +<p>Now, however, when the newly converted woman wished to bring him to +the light of truth, she was met with indifferent curiosity and cold +inquisitiveness, instead of the former hearty interest. Mirian had +already succeeded in forgetting that impression, which the victory of +Constantine and complete fall of Armaz had produced upon him, he +interrupted her fiery, persuasive speeches with the question how he +came to see her healthy once more. The Tsaritsa spoke the truth. Her +husband knew very well what a tremendous contrast there was between her +experience and all then known means of curing, and he would not believe +at all that the simple appliance of a cross could have as consequence a +complete restoration to health. The court ladies, witnesses of the +wonder, were then summoned to appear, and very naturally confirmed the +words of the Tsaritsa. But the Tsar was not yet convinced.</p> +<p>It was then ordered that any one of the eye-witnesses should be +called up, and lo! a whole crowd of people came to testify the truth of +what had taken place. Among others there was also Abiatkar, to whose +tale we shall now return: “The sovereign noticed me and began to +inquire about the Christian teachings. He knew much in the Old and New +Testament, and thus I had to explain rather than merely relate, and so +it was easier to converse <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb60" href= +"#pb60" name="pb60">60</a>]</span>with him than with the uneducated +heathens. After that time he often sent for me.</p> +<p><a id="xd20e888" name="xd20e888"></a>Once he told me that in the +Book of Nebrotk the following version was written: <span class="corr" +id="xd20e890" title="Source: ‘">“</span>During the +construction of the tower of Kaskinie in the city of Khagkan (Babylon), +Nebrotk heard a heavenly voice, which said to him: <span class="corr" +id="xd20e893" title="Source: “">‘</span>I am Michael, to +whom the Lord confided the administration of the East, go thou out of +this town, for the Lord does not wish that thou shouldst see that which +He hid from human eyes. Leave the building, for otherwise God will +certainly destroy it. In the future there will come a Heavenly King, +whom thou dost want to see, and although He will be hated by the cursed +nation, the fear of His name will cleanse the earth of all sins, kings +will renounce their thrones in order to live in poverty. He will look +upon thee with mercy in disastrous times and will save +thee!’”</p> +<p>I did my best to convince the sovereign that this is the +confirmation of that which we have already read many a time in the Old +and New Testaments. He agreed with me, but continued to adore the idols +and the fire, notwithstanding the prayers of the Tsaritsa, who +constantly persuaded him to be baptized. The devil held him still +another year in his claws after Nana had been converted. On that +account I could not convert even a single heathen, while Saint Nina +daily converted dozens of people, untiringly preaching to the people +the truth. She continued to pretend that she was a prisoner of war, not +telling anyone whence she came and whither she intended to go. Much +time went by, the Tsar interfered with the Saint and remained deaf and +dumb to the prayers of the Queen; and the visits of Abiatkar did not +lead to the desired result. He conversed whole hours with him and every +time let him depart unpersuaded in the truth.</p> +<p>Once there arrived from Khorossan a courier of the Sossanid family, +with messages from the Shah of Persia who suddenly fell ill. The +Tsaritsa Nana sent for Saint Nina, who again refused to come to the +house <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb61" href="#pb61" name= +"pb61">61</a>]</span>of the idolatrous Tsar and requested the sick man +to repair to her house. King Mirian, who was not yet fully convinced of +the mightiness of the Christian God and had not entirely renounced his +former religion, wished himself to accompany his dying guest, whom they +bore in their arms.</p> +<p>“Through what power dost thou effect thy cures?” said +the Tsar, turning to the Saint. “Art thou not a daughter of +Armaz, dost thou not belong to the number of the descendants of Zaden, +notwithstanding that thou callest thyself a stranger? Dost thou not +secretly bow down before them and seek their moral support? And do they +not give thee the power of healing, which nourishes thee wherever thou +art? I know that thou didst convert people to the faith of a foreign +God for the sole sake of trying their fidelity afterwards. Glory to our +gods, who have disclosed the truth to me! I shall respect thee as I do +the governess of my children and cover thee with honors in this mighty +city, where thou didst hide thyself under the pretense of being a +prisoner, but display no more before me and do not speak about the +Christian faith.</p> +<p>“Our great gods only are the actual healers of the world! The +sun shines because they illuminate it, they send down rain, give +fertility to the earth and nourish blessed Georgia. Armaz and Zaden +know all secrets. Gatz and Gaim, the ancient gods of our forefathers +are worthy of the confidence of all mortals! If thou wilt cure this +mtvar I will shower riches upon thee, make thee a citizen of Mtzkhet +and a servant (mere priest) of Armaz. Although they (the idols) were +destroyed by an unusual storm and hail of stones, yet the spot where we +adored them did not perish. Ytkrondjan—the Chaldean God and our +Armaz are constantly fighting. It is known that our god once directed +the sea against his enemies and that is the reason why they now revenge +themselves by letting this disaster occur just as the rulers of the +earth constantly do. Carry thou out then, my order!”</p> +<p>“O King!” answered Saint Nina, “as the +representative <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb62" href="#pb62" name= +"pb62">62</a>]</span>of our Lord Jesus Christ and the prayers of His +All-holy Mother and all saints existing, I am sent by God, the Creator +of Heaven and Earth, the Father of all great and small beings, from man +down to the last degrees of insects, through His indescribable mercy, +like a piece of coal out of the stove of His goodness in order that +thou shouldst learn to believe in and reach heavenly heights, the sunny +world, the depths of the sea, earthly magnitude! Find out and +acknowledge now thou, O Tsar, Him who covers the sky with clouds, who +fills the air with the sound of thunder and shakes all creation, who +lights up the sky with lightning, makes the tops of mountains slip off +or turns them into volcanoes! Before His voice the foundations of earth +tremble and mountains disappear like sea-waves! Know thou all this and +admit thou the invisible God, living in heaven, who has sent His Son +begotten of Him, to earth in the form of a mortal man, who having +accomplished everything His Father wished Him to do, rose to Heaven in +sublime glory. Dost thou not see that this, the eternal, only and true +God looks after the needs of the humble and turns His face away from +the proud? O Tsar! the time is already approaching when even thou shalt +know and recognize God and verily shalt behold the wonder of light, +which there is in this town. I am speaking of the Lord’s robe; +and the sheepskin of Illina, and many other treasures indeed, are +hidden here, which God will point out to thee. I shall cure thy +archimage just as I healed thy wife in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ +and by the strength of His honest cross. The Tsaritsa already informed +thee that she recovered from her illness only after she had sincerely +renounced the idol-worship. Now her mind has broadened out and with +ardor she does everything that is ordered in the Christian +law—nay, that other people may learn from her righteous way of +living!”</p> +<p>Then, upon the command of the Saint, they placed the image facing +the East. The Tsaritsa fell down on her knees and began a prayer under +the cedar while the Saint raised the hands of the sick man towards +Heaven and ordered him to loudly repeat thrice: <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb63" href="#pb63" name="pb63">63</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Renounce thou Satan! Bow thou down before my Lord Jesus +Christ, the Son of God!”</p> +<p>But from great weakness the sick man could not speak. Then the Saint +began to implore God to restore him to health, with tears and great +lamentations, and her pupils stood by her side.</p> +<p>One day and two nights she continued her prayers, and when at last +the invalid had repeated the holy words for the third time, the badness +of his soul suddenly abandoned him, he became a healthy man and a +Christian, together with his family and servants and glorified the +Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost! Mirian began to fear the wrath +and revenge of the Persian Tsar and wanted to have the Saint +immediately executed—alone the desperate lamentations and tearful +supplications of his beloved wife could cut short his anger, and +dissatisfied, he decided to seek distraction in hunting. This is how +Sidonia, daughter to Abiatkar, and pupil to Nina, relates the +event:</p> +<p>“On Saturday, July the twentieth, a royal hunt was appointed +in the direction of Mouknar. The devil disturbed the royal heart, +awakening in him the old love for idols and fire, and so he firmly +resolved to exterminate all Christians with the sword. Four of his +nearest councillors accompanied him upon the hunt, and to them he +turned and made the following speech:</p> +<p>“‘We are worthy to be punished by our gods for +forgetting their glory and permitting Christian witches to preach their +law and teachings in our country. Through their witchcraft they +accomplish wonders, but not at all by the might of their God. I have +now made up my mind that all those who pay homage to and adore the +Crucified shall perish by the sword, and furthermore, I insist that an +effort shall be made to increase the love of serving the gods, the real +rulers of Kartla (the native word for Georgia). I shall propose to my +wife to abandon the faith of the Crucified, and if she doth not fulfil +my order, I shall forget her love for me and have her <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb64" href="#pb64" name="pb64">64</a>]</span>put to +death with the rest!’” With joyfulness the heathens +listened—it seemed to them as though the monarch’s speech +had come out of their own hearts. They had long reflected about such an +event, but did not dare to express their thoughts, knowing the +attachment of the sovereign for his wife. Now they strongly supported +his views and encouraged him in his actions.</p> +<p>In the meantime they had already passed Moukkvar and Mirian ascended +the high mountain Tekkhotk (in Armenian Tkakoutk) in order to look at +Kaspii and Ouplis Tzikke. When, however, he reached the tiptop, +although this was just at noon, the sun suddenly disappeared before his +eyes and day turned to night. An impenetrable fog covered all the +surroundings and the Tsar himself not noticing this, rode a long way +off from his followers. An unusual thought weighed upon him.</p> +<p>Surprised, he wished to ask whether all the rest were also in the +fog or whether he alone was dazzled, but nobody answered his questions. +In vain he rode over the mountains covered with bushes, his horse +constantly stumbled and fell, the trees scratched his face and tore his +clothes, the Tsar was involuntarily trembling, while his exhausted and +tortured horse at last succumbed to fatigue and rose no more, thus +depriving its reckless rider of any hope of saving his life. Then he +remembered his former doubts and understood Whose hands were pushing +him down.</p> +<p>“I called to the gods, but they did not help me!” he +exclaimed. “Now I shall turn to Him who was crucified on the +cross, whom Nina preached about and with whose help she succeeds in +healing men. Is He not strong enough to deliver me from this disaster? +I am already fully in the darkness of terrible sin and do not know +whether this darkness has come for all, or whether I alone am punished +with blindness.</p> +<p>“If Thou wilt save me, God of Nina, then I pray to Thee, +lighten up darkness and show me where my palace stands! I will accept +the religion of Thy name, I will <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb65" +href="#pb65" name="pb65">65</a>]</span>erect and glorify the wooden +cross, I will build a temple of prayer, following the teachings of +Saint Nina, and become a true Christian.”</p> +<p>With hearty and sincere repentance in his heart, he swore to become +a Christian, and hardly had he succeeded in closing his lips when his +eyes opened. The sun shone for him with all its gloriousness, he +climbed off the fallen horse and stopping at the place where he had had +the vision, he raised his hands towards the East and exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Thou art the King of kings and the God of gods announced and +proclaimed by Saint Nina! Let Thy name be glorified by all people in +Heaven and on earth. Thou didst deliver me from peril and didst open my +eyes; now I found out that Thou wishest to save, comfort and draw me +towards Thee, according to the words of Thine arch-angel. Blessed be +the Lord! On this spot I shall erect a cross, yes, I will glorify Thy +holy name and let the remembrance of this marvellous event be kept +upright for centuries and centuries to come.” Having taken +precise notice of the spot he went away, but in the meantime his +attendants, who had been everywhere vainly looking for him, came +together to discuss what was to be undertaken next.</p> +<p>“Yes, let all my nation glorify the God of Nina!” +suddenly rang out the Tsar’s voice, “for He is the Eternal +God and to Him alone is due glory from century to century!”</p> +<p>They gave a fresh horse to the King and he rode home very happy, and +best of all—both mentally and physically cured!</p> +<p>In the meantime the Tsaritsa had already heard the report that +Mirian had disappeared and a little later she received news that he was +already returning. With great haste she rushed out to meet her beloved +husband and an innumerable crowd of people followed after her. They +arrived together at Kindsa, which lies in Gkartk.</p> +<p>As to Saint Nina, she was pronouncing her usual prayer in the rose +bush, and several of us were there <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb66" +href="#pb66" name="pb66">66</a>]</span>with her. Gradually as the Tsar +approached the whole nation began to be greatly moved and excited, +because he shouted in a loud voice:</p> +<p>“Where is the stranger, who, from now on, will be my mother, +because her God saved me from death?”</p> +<p>Having found out already that she was praying, the Tsar branched off +on a side road and his suite followed him. Before reaching the rose +bush Mirian left his horse and coming up to the Saint, he humbly bowed +to her, saying:</p> +<p>“Now make me worthy of invoking thy God, who has indeed been +my saviour!”</p> +<p>Having taught him a little, Nina on the very spot ordered him to bow +down towards the East and adore the Lord Jesus Christ.</p> +<p>But the people, who did not understand the point of the whole +affair, began to be rebellious, seeing the Tsar and Tsaritsa humbly +kneeling.</p> +<p>On the next day Mirian dispatched ambassadors to Rome to the Emperor +Constantine, with a request to speedily send some priests to baptize +the nation, and with a letter from Saint Nina to the Empress Helena, +informing her of the wonders which had been performed on Tsar Mirian +near Mtzkhet, through the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ. The day +the Tsar was converted the Saint sent to Saint Gregory Nansien asking +for instructions as to what she should do next. By his advice she +personally destroyed the new idol Armaz, which they had already +succeeded in placing on a mountain beyond the Koura, and to which the +people daily bowed at sunrise, climbing up to the roofs of their houses +and turning their faces towards the sun. In its place she erected a +cross on a hill near Mtzkhet, beyond the river Aragva. But as this +cross was roughly made, the people kept away from it until the Lord had +glorified it. While expecting the arrival of priests, the Saint and her +followers preached the word of God day and night, untiringly preparing +the nation before being baptized, and they went from Klardjet +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb67" href="#pb67" name= +"pb67">67</a>]</span>to the land of the Alanes and from the Caspian +gates to the land of the Massajettians, while the remaining pupils of +the Saint spread all over Georgia.</p> +<p>The Tsar had already become an active and energetic Christian before +the return of the ambassadors. He said to the Saint: “I am +burning to construct a house of God, let us now choose the +site!”</p> +<p>“Let thy mtavares (provincial governors) solve that question +and have it arranged so that thou and the nation will draw the utmost +profit out of it,” replied Saint Nina.</p> +<p>“No!” said the King, “I love thy rose bush and +wish to sacrifice everything in order to erect a temple on that spot. I +shall have my vineyards, great cedars, fruit trees, and fragrant +flowers cut down. Dost thou not remember how in thy vision the black +birds became so white that it was blinding, and having perched +themselves on the vineyard trees, filled the air with heavenly songs? +Now we will turn this visible vineyard into an invisible one, giving us +eternal life, and let us build in it a house of worship and prayer +before the arrival of the Greek priests!”</p> +<p>Immediately they began to get the materials together. For the church +seven pillars were necessary. Thereupon a great cedar was cut down +which furnished six pillars, while the seventh was made out of a large +pine. When the wooden walls had been erected they fixed the six +pillars, each one in a place specially prepared for it, while the +seventh, which was unusually large and was meant for the cupola, they +could by no means lift from the ground. They hastened to report this to +the Tsar, who ordered all the people to make for the building, and he +himself went there too. In this affair all then known means of raising +weights were used, but neither the numberless arms, nor any possible +art could succeed in obtaining the desired result. And Tsar and people +asked each other with the greatest surprise: “What can this +mean?” And having labored till night they went back to their +houses in great sorrow. Saint Nina, however, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb68" href="#pb68" name="pb68">68</a>]</span>with +twelve of her followers, remained by the pillar, washing it with her +tears and praying and groaning. About midnight a terrifying vision +began; we saw how the mountains of Armaz and Zaden were trembling as +though somebody were shaking them in order to block up the course of +both rivers. Mtkouar returned and inundated the town, by reason of +which the air was filled with cries, lamentations and groaning, while +the Aragva flowed towards the fortress and its waves dashing against +the fortress walls, made such a fearful noise that we ran away in +terror, but the Saint shouted:</p> +<p>“Do not be afraid, sisters, the mountains still stand in their +places and the rivers have not altered their course, and the nation +quietly sleeps. Although that which you beheld did not happen in +reality, yet this was not a mere dream, for the mountains of unbelief +were thoroughly shaken up in Georgia, for the rivers of innocent +children’s blood, which flowed in honor of the idols, dried up, +for legions of demons, chased out of this region by the mightiness of +the Cross are pitifully combatting, seeing how their waves of wrath +cannot carry out anything nor harm the fortress of Christ’s +faith. Come back and let us pray!”</p> +<p>Then all these sounds quieted down and everywhere one could +distinguish silence once more. The Saint stood up with raised hands and +prayed that what had been begun by the Tsar should not be destroyed. +But before dawn the vision repeated itself, and this time more +terrifying than ever: it seemed as though an immense and terrible army +had attacked the city from three different sides.</p> +<p>Having forced the gates open it completely filled the streets. +Everywhere a fearful emotion had spread, shrieking and murdering took +place. Pools of blood flowed at every corner. In some places the people +threw themselves upon the enemy with arms in their hands; some of them +from terror and confusion turned against their own countrymen. Here one +was killing the other<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb69" href="#pb69" +name="pb69">69</a>]</span>—there a second one was expiring, a +third one’s heart was perfectly broken by the lamentations of his +family. Suddenly a loud, loud voice was heard:</p> +<p>“The Persian Tsar Kkhouara! The king of kings Kkhouaran +Kkhouara has ordered that the sharpness of the sword should spare the +Jews!” Only upon hearing this cry did I begin to come back to my +senses, but just like ten of my companions, I could not exactly +remember how affairs stood. We were still imagining warriors turning +around us with swords in their hands, who knocked down and killed +everybody and everything. And once more a cry was heard: “Tsar +Mirian is taken!”</p> +<p>Then the brave worker of Christ’s vineyard said: “I know +that he who is shouting is in great distress. Give thanks unto God, for +the enemy is overcome and Georgia saved, and this very place +too!” She cheered us up like an experienced doctor, like a +sincere teacher, like a great apostle! Afterwards fearlessly throwing +herself upon this regiment of robbers and destroyers, she angrily asked +them:</p> +<p>“Where then is the Persian King Kkhoua and Kkhouaran-Kkhonafa? +Only yesterday you left the land of Sab and hurried hither with a +terrible and most numerous army in order to destroy the city and +exterminate the inhabitants. Ye Northern and Western winds, chase them +away into the dark mountains and bottomless precipices, for He arrived +before whom you turn to flight!”</p> +<p>With these words she raised her hand and made the sign of the +cross.</p> +<p>Instantly all fell to pieces and were swept off, great silence set +in and we all began to congratulate her upon the glorious victory and +thank God for the happy and favorable end of such a terrible vision and +for His revealing to the Saint through this event the future +flourishing state of the country. When, however, it began to grow +light, the other women fell asleep, while I, Sidonia, could see how the +Saint continued praying, raising her hands to Heaven. Suddenly there +stood before her a <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb70" href="#pb70" +name="pb70">70</a>]</span>youth, shining with indescribable brightness, +dressed in a fiery-blazing garment and said three words to her, from +which the Saint fell down with her face on the ground. The youth +stretched out his hands towards the pillar, raised it and put it in the +right place. In my astonishment I approached and asked: “Why, +mistress, what is this?”</p> +<p>“Bow down thy head!” she replied, and wept from fear. A +little later she rose, ordered me to get up too, and we left this place +together.</p> +<p>In the meantime our sisters had waked up and actually saw that the +pillar, which had seemed to them enveloped in flames, was coming down +from Heaven and was approaching its destination. When it was within +twenty loktays of the ground it stopped. Hardly had daylight appeared +when the Tsar, tortured with impatience and anxiety, hastened to the +building which he was burning to see finished. From a distance it +seemed to him that the strokes of lightning were rising to Heaven. He +hurried on. In the end, unable to conquer his curiosity, he actually +ran. His whole suite and innumerable hordes of people rushed after him, +doing their best to speedily reach and help to put out the fire in the +burning edifice, and lo! a wonderful spectacle now presented itself to +the eyes of all present.</p> +<p>The extraordinary illumination was not caused by a fire as supposed: +it came from the pillar, blazing with light. Softly did it come down +from Heaven, supported by the arms of two angels, placed itself in the +right spot, and was firmly fixed without the help of human hands. O, +how great was the general delight! Happiness and emotion spread all +over Mtzkhet.</p> +<p>The Tsar, Tsaritsa, dignitaries, and people without distinction of +rank or class, shed tears of emotion, all glorified God and praised +Saint Nina, for great wonders were accomplished on that day. In the +first place a blind-born Hebrew, who approached the pillar, which had +been placed by God, began to see. Secondly, the sepetsouli <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb71" href="#pb71" name= +"pb71">71</a>]</span>(<i>i.e.</i>, page) Kha Mazaepouki had been +entirely paralyzed for eight years. His mother took him in his bed and +had it carried to the shining pillar, afterwards turning to Saint Nina, +she said in an imploring voice: “Look, O mistress, at my dying +baby, I know that He about whom thou dost preach is the God of +gods!”</p> +<p>Then the Saint moved up to the pillar and having put her hand on the +boy, said to him: “Thou dost believe in Jesus Christ the Son of +God, who hath come to save the world? Be healthy and from this very day +on glorify God, who hath cured thee!” And the boy got up in +perfect health, and Tsar and nation were seized with fear. All the sick +hastened to the spot and were healed, but as many could not stand the +wonderful light coming out of the pillar, the Tsar ordered to have it +covered with wood, which, nevertheless, of course did not prevent the +people from approaching the pillar and getting cured.</p> +<p>The work of completing the church was immediately taken in hand, and +it was arranged so that the pillar should be left in its above +mentioned place. In the meantime the ambassadors of Tsar Mirian had +already related to the Emperor Constantine and the Empress Helen, his +mother, about the conversion of their sovereign to the faith of the +true God, and this filled their hearts with joy, for Mirian offered +them his friendship and help in conquering and destroying the +Persians.</p> +<p>They hastened to send Bishop John (upon the advice given by the +Antiochian patriarch Evstafii) and with him two priests and three +deacons. Upon this occasion Constantine wrote a letter of +congratulation to Mirian, filled with blessings and expressions of +thankfulness to God, and sent him some gorgeous presents, but above all +an invaluable gift—namely: the image of Rouiz with five hundred +pieces of holy relics. The Empress Helen also wrote a letter in which +she highly praised the resolution of Mirian and encouraged him. The +arrival of the bishop, priests, and deacons at Mtzkhet was a day of +general feasting, for Tsar as well as people were equally thirsting to +be baptized. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb72" href="#pb72" name= +"pb72">72</a>]</span></p> +<p>Immediately a proclamation was sent to all the kristavs, military +commanders, and dignitaries of the monarchy to gather around the Tsar, +and all started for Mtzkhet. Thereupon began the general baptizing: +Saint Nina baptized the Tsar and the priests the Tsaritsa and +princes.</p> +<p>Bishop John on the other hand blessed the Mtkouar, and together with +the deacons having found a place near the bridge Mogoutka, opposite the +house of the priest Elios, he baptized in these waters all dignitaries +and courtiers; that is the reason why this spot is called +Mtkavartka-Sanatklavi, <i>i.e.</i>, “the place where the +Mtkavares were baptized.”</p> +<p>Farther down the river, both priests, the deacon and the bishop, +after having baptized the nobility and dignitaries, baptized the +people, who hurried towards them as much as possible—begging to +quickly receive the great favor. Just so the prophecies of St. Nina, +who was constantly and uninterruptedly repeating to them that he who +does not let himself be baptized, would never behold the real light, +awakening in them the greatest enthusiasm. Thus nearly all Georgians +and fifty Hebrew families from the house of Varrava were +christened.</p> +<p>To the Hebrew-Christians the Tsar granted the suburb of Tsikhe Dide. +This was in the year 327.</p> +<p>Alone the mountain inhabitants and Mirian’s brother-in-law, +Pkeros, who had received the province of Ran as a dowry from his bride, +beginning from Bard, did not pay attention to the Tsar’s summons +and remained heathens, having respectfully remarked to the Tsar that +his power over them could not be extended to their form of religion. +When, through His great mercifulness, the Lord deigned to show to the +holy Tsaritsa His living cross, Tsar Mirian hastened to send to the +Emperor Constantine the Bishop John, asking him for a piece of the wood +of the holy living cross. To this request he joined the wish to have +many priests, in order to send them out not only into all provinces, +but also to each <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb73" href="#pb73" name= +"pb73">73</a>]</span>single city of his government to educate, +enlighten, and baptize the people all over Georgia.</p> +<p>At that time an invitation was also sent to architects, for it took +a great many to erect and establish churches throughout the kingdom. +The Emperor received the ambassador with great rejoicing and handed him +the pieces of the holy living wood on which had lain the holiest legs +of the Saviour of the world, and two nails from the Lord’s hands. +The pieces of the holy living wood are called Nerkveli in Georgian. +Emperor Constantine handed great riches to Bishop John, ordering him to +erect a church with this money in the newly converted country, but to +divide up the remaining treasures among the other Georgian churches. He +also sent with him many priests and architects and having flattered and +complimented the envoy and bishop, allowed them to start for home.</p> +<p>Having reached the province of Eroushatk, they left there one +architect and a priest, ordering them to establish and erect a church, +and giving them the necessary sum for that undertaking. The priest +besides was given charge of the most holy nails, which were to be kept +in this temple. When they again arrived at Mangliss, they did the same +thing, leaving the holy Nerkvelis, and then soon reached Mtzkhet. But +Mirian, who had been awaiting their arrival with such impatience, was +deeply grieved by the fact that they had been staying out longer on the +way than he had expected them to do, and besides—had left in the +provinces both invaluable holy relics; but Saint Nina comforted him by +the following words: “Quiet down, O Tsar! It was necessary that +everywhere on their route they should proclaim and firmly establish the +name of the Lord—while thou in the grand capital art in +possession of quite as great a treasure, viz., the robe of the +Lord!”</p> +<p>Then the Tsar sent for Abiatkar, and with him came quite a large +number of Jews. When, however, he asked them questions about the robe +they related how it was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb74" href= +"#pb74" name="pb74">74</a>]</span>under the wonder-working pillar and +added to this the whole report of Sidonia, which we have already +told.</p> +<p>“Blessed be Thou, O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living +God!” exclaimed the Tsar, raising his hands toward Heaven, +“merciful and charitable in saving us from the devil and the land +of darkness and having built this church, nay, having brought Thy robe +hither from the most holy city of Jerusalem to spare it from the hands +of the Jews, who hath not acknowledged Thee and to hand it over to our +care, to a foreign and strange nation, honoring and fearing Thee with +all their heart!”</p> +<p>Immediately the church was begun, first commencing with the court. +“Let the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed,” said +then Saint Nina, “and of God the Father, who hath sent His son, +who leaving the all-shining heavenly regions, came down to earth, was +without doubt born of the seed of David, of the branch of Joachim, of +the most holy and most pure Virgin and her thou didst make the cause of +our salvation, earthly enlightenment and glory of Thy people O Israel! +Of her was born the God man, the light of all believing, the image of +God, baptized with water and with the Holy Ghost, was crucified and +interred, rose on the third day—going up to His Father, whither +he comes with glory, for He is worthy of all glory, honor, and +adoration, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost now, henceforth +and evermore! Amen.”</p> +<p>When all were really and successfully baptized, the royal son Revv +reminded them about the famous tree, which grew in the court and had a +marvellous power to heal even the most desperate mortal wounds. It was +noticed more than once that even the snakes, when wounded by mortal +shots, if they ate the leaves of this tree or the buds falling from it, +immediately were healed.</p> +<p>Having found out about this, Bishop John said: “This land was +really and truly destined by God to have the holy faith introduced in +it, and by His godly attention this marvellous tree grew up and was +preserved to <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb75" href="#pb75" name= +"pb75">75</a>]</span>our days. Now, however, when the might of Christ +had been spread all over Georgia, it does seem advisable to make a +cross out of it, which will be an object of veneration for the whole +country!”</p> +<p>And so, on Friday the twenty-fifth of March, three hundred and +thirty A. D., the Tsarevitch Revv, together with the bishop and masses +of people, set forth to cut down the tree, the branches of which, +notwithstanding that it was in the winter season, were quite green. +This tree was so beautiful that having cut it only slightly, one +hundred men took it up in their arms together with its branches and +leaves and carried it into the town, where they placed it near the +church.</p> +<p>To the general astonishment it really kept its freshness and beauty +during thirty-seven days, as though it had been replanted with a root +or been constantly refreshed by living water. When, however, all the +bushes were covered with leaves and the fruit trees with flowers, on +the first of May, a Saturday, Tsar and people entered the church and +with ardor and joyfulness made crosses out of it. The following day at +sunrise a cross of stars descended from Heaven, and having let itself +down to the church, seemed to have turned itself into a crown of stars +which remained visible to the whole nation until sunset. Then two stars +started forth from it: one flew towards the East and the other towards +the West, while the cross, keeping its heavenly glitter and beauty, +quietly directed itself to the spring which had been created by the +tears of Saint Nina, and having gone up by the river Aragva to a stony +plateau, rose to Heaven. As this vision repeated itself daily and was +seen by all the people, the Tsar asked the Saint to explain its +reason.</p> +<p>“Send thou,” she said, “into the highest mountains +in the East and West, to follow up and watch the direction which the +stars take and, there where they stop we shall each time erect a cross +to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ!”</p> +<p>The Tsar lost no time in ordering guards placed on the summits of +the mountains. This was on Friday, and <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb76" href="#pb76" name="pb76">76</a>]</span>Saturday, according to +custom, at sunrise the wonder again repeated itself. The next day +arrived the men who had been keeping guard on the Kvobtka-Tkavv, and +said to the Tsar:</p> +<p>“The star stopped just above the mountain Tkkot and then went +down into the Caspian Sea and disappeared.” But others who had +also kept guard on the Keretk, said:</p> +<p>“We beheld a star which came straight to us and stopped in the +village of Bode.” Thereupon Saint Nina said:</p> +<p>“Take both these crosses and establish one on the mountain +Tkkot as God hath instructed ye, while the other ye shall give to the +servant of God—Salome, who will plant it in the town of Oudjarmo, +because Bode or Bondi is a simple hamlet with few inhabitants and thus +should not be put on a footing with a capital, which has a large +population, and so Bondi, too, will soon see that it is a place +pleasing to God.” The words of the Saint were most punctually and +correctly carried out on the seventh of May.</p> +<p>In consequence of the marvellous heavenly apparition, a third cross, +taken up by men and preceded by Saint Nina, was solemnly carried to the +foot of the stony <span class="corr" id="xd20e1070" title= +"Source: pleateau">plateau</span>.</p> +<p>There the Saint, the King, and the people passed a whole night +praying at the spring which had been created by the tears of Saint +Nina. At that spot many wonders and cases of healing took place too. +The day following they ascended the mountain to the top of the rocky +plateau (now known by the designation Djouar), the Saint gave the +example and after her Tsar and people, rich and poor, the prominent and +religious fell down with their face resting on the ground and prayed to +God with many tears and great lamentations, so that the mountains were +filled with the sounds of crowds praying. Then the Saint, having put +her hand upon the stone, said to the bishop:</p> +<p>“Come thou and make the sign of the cross on this +stone.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb77" href="#pb77" name= +"pb77">77</a>]</span></p> +<p>As soon as the Saint’s command had been executed, the holy +cross was well fastened to a rock by the hands of the Tsar and his +family. Innumerable crowds of people bowed down before the cross, +praising and blessing the Son of God and believing with all their +hearts and souls in Him and in the Holy Trinity. Even the most +distinguished Mtavares did not leave the holy church, the fiery pillar +and the holy cross, and were witnesses of the perfectly unusual wonders +and most marvellous cures.</p> +<p>The Sunday of the Easter Full-moon was chosen by Mirian for +celebrating the holy cross, and this custom was observed all over +Georgia up to the governor-generalship of Yermolow.</p> +<p>On the first Wednesday after the fête of the Holy Trinity, a +new wonder occurred. A fiery cross showed itself above the cross on +Mount Djuarr, while above it there seemed to be a crown, consisting of +twelve stars. Besides, the mountain gave out an <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1085" title="Source: indiscribable">indescribable</span> +fragrance. This vision was seen by everybody, and many of the +unbelieving were baptized on that memorable day, while the faith of the +Christians was very much strengthened, and they loudly glorified God. +At the cross still another wonder took place. A light seven times +brighter than the sun was lowered from Heaven unto the cross and angels +went up and down this apparently fiery road—as the sparks fly +from the bursting crater. Even the very mountain was shaken as though a +strong earthquake were taking place during the wonderful +apparition.</p> +<p>This wonder called forth general surprise, and all those present +praised God more and more, and as such wonders repeated themselves +daily before the eyes of the whole nation, people from every town and +village of the kingdom streamed in to bow to the cross. At that time +the Tsarevitch, a grandson of Mirian and the only son of the crown +prince Revv, was taken with a hopeless illness, but his father placed +him in front of the cross and with tears in his eyes, said: +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb78" href="#pb78" name= +"pb78">78</a>]</span></p> +<p>“If thou, O holy cross, wilt heal my son, I will erect a +shrine for thee!”</p> +<p>And the child came back to life and was taken home by his +father—restored to perfect health. The Tsarevitch immediately +returned with the greatest joy in order to thank God and begin to carry +out his solemn promise. Soon a marble chapel was built, into which Revv +daily came to give thanks unto God, and used to bring rich gifts. Ever +since that moment a still greater number of the weak and sick were +attracted by the holy cross, and having been cured, they joyfully +glorified our Lord Jesus Christ and the strength of His honorable +cross. A blind youth who had fasted for fully seven days and had been +praying as long before the cross, got back his sight and glorified +God.</p> +<p>A woman who had the misfortune of having the devil in her for eight +whole years, was deprived of the power of reasoning and here tore her +clothes to pieces and became idiotic—there became greatly +weakened. For twelve days they held her in front of the cross; in the +end the Lord healed her and she returned home, healthy in body and +soul, lauding God and honoring His holy cross. It happened that a +little baby fell from a certain height and was instantly killed. His +mother put the breathless corpse near the foot of the cross and from +morning till evening unceasingly prayed with tears constantly in her +eyes.</p> +<p>“Woman!” they said to her, “take him away and bury +him, for he is dead, and thy prayers will be of no use!”</p> +<p>But she continued praying and loudly lamenting without giving up +hope throughout the night, the next day and a third day, and lo! to the +seventh day.</p> +<p>On this seventh day, however, in the evening, the baby came back to +life and was carried off living and healthy by his mother, who did not +cease to praise and thank God. Such great wonders persuaded many +fruitless husbands to resort to the strength of the holy cross, and +having begged with real faith, they became the fathers <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb79" href="#pb79" name="pb79">79</a>]</span>of +numerous families and daily came to adore the cross and bring gorgeous +presents. Not only the sick who personally came to pray at the foot of +the cross were successfully cured, but also the warriors combatting +far, far away from Djouar, if they only implored the help of the cross, +became able to defeat their enemies and unharmed returned to Mtzkhet to +justly glorify God. Many infidels, when in great need, addressed the +cross with prayers and receiving salvation from destruction, hastened +to Djouar to give thanks unto God and be baptized. Besides these +already mentioned, masses of other suffering people were healed and the +unhappy comforted by invoking the holy cross, created by the +almightiness of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and to them +is due all glory, honor, and veneration, now, henceforth, and evermore. +Amen.</p> +<p>At that time Saint Nina, the Tsar, and the nation received a message +from the patriarch from Rome. Just then, too, arrived a deacon from the +land of the Brandjees in order to congratulate Saint Nina and ask her +to pray for them. He also brought a letter from his Tsar to Saint Nina, +whose father had baptized all Brandjees. At Jerusalem and +Constantinople a report was spread that the sun of truth was now +shining in Georgia and Jee—from all possible regions they sent +letters asking to give precise details of the wonders which had +happened at the pillar and the rose bush and of the extraordinary cases +of cures. Having carefully inquired about all this, the brandja-deacon +glorified God and went home with numerous letters containing the longed +for statements. Then the Tsar spoke thus to the Saint and the +bishop:</p> +<p>“It is my wish with the power of the sword to force the +mountain inhabitants as well as my brother-in-law Pkheros to serve the +Son of God and to oblige them to venerate and respect the honest +cross!”</p> +<p>“God doth not order thee to convert them with the +sword!” was their unanimous answer. It is thy duty to convert +them after having pointed out to them with the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb80" href="#pb80" name="pb80">80</a>]</span>help of +the New Testament and the cross—the road of truth leading to life +eternal and how to be thankful to the Lord, who lightens up the +terrible darkness of their souls.</p> +<p>Saint Nina, together with the bishop, left for the mountain regions, +and the Tsar ordered the kristav (most likely district governor) to +accompany them. Upon arriving at Tsorbanne, they called together the +mountaineers, inspected Dsrbin, Tchartal, Tkkhela, Tsilkammy, and +Gorangor. They assembled the Tchartalians, who were almost like wild +beasts, the Fkholians, the Gondamakavians, and to all these tribes they +preached about the holy cross of Christ. But they did not want to +listen, and so the royal kristav drew his sword and destroyed their +idols and subjected them.</p> +<p>From there they went into Yaletia (the present Mtaletka) and taught +the nations of Tionet and Ertso (in Armenian Erdzoitk), who received +them well and were baptized, but the Fkholis (nowadays the Pchaves), +settled over to Doushet. The remaining mountain inhabitants also +refused to become Christians, for which the Tsar doubled their taxes +and thus forced them to emigrate. It is true later on, Saint Avive, +bishop of Nekretsa, converted several of them to Christianity, while +the rest are even to this day infidels. Saint Nina started for Ranne in +order to enlighten Pkeros, but as she approached Kouket and reached +Bondi, she was obliged to make a longer stop. Kakhetians streamed there +in great number, questioned her and many became persuaded in the +correctness and truthfulness of her teachings. At Bondi, however, she +fell ill. Hardly had the news of this deplorable event reached Revv and +Salome, who lived at Oudjarmo, when they hastened to the Saint and also +informed the Tsar and Tsaritsa. The sovereign gave orders that Bishop +John should bring over the Saint, but she really preferred to remain +where she was, and so the Tsar set out for Bondi with a numerous +suite.</p> +<p>The whole nation rushed to the invalid, whose glance <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb81" href="#pb81" name="pb81">81</a>]</span>was +illuminated with true heavenly brilliancy. With love and veneration did +the true believers cut off little bits of pieces from her garment and +covered their souvenir with kisses. The Tsaritsa and the princesses +crowded around her, showering blessings upon her, and with tears and +sorrow they looked forward to their separation from their teacher, +protector, and healer. The Princess Salome, Kherosh Avrizounelle (in +Armenian Perojavr Sounetsi), the kristaves and mtavares began to +implore the Saint to relate her life to them, saying:</p> +<p>“Who art thou? How didst thou come into our kingdom to save +us? Who was thy instructor? O mistress, do let us know the history of +thy life! Why shouldst thou speak of captivity—O thou happy, +happy Tsaritsa, who hast delivered us from the burdens of captivity? +For through thee we found out that the Son of God had been predicted by +prophets, that after Him the work of spreading the new faith was +carried out by twelve apostles, and as many as seventy-two pupils. But +of all this immense number, thou alone wert given and sent unto us by +God. Why in the world dost thou then call thyself a prisoner and +foreigner?” Then the Saint continued:</p> +<p>“Children of the Faith, Tsaritsa and princesses—all ye +who are surrounding me, I now see that you may be compared with the +ancient women in their faith and love to Christ. You desire to know the +biography of His insignificant servant. I consent, for I feel that my +end is approaching and I shall sleep the eternal sleep in which she who +gave birth to me is already resting. Take ye then the inkstand and +write up the history of my life, so that your children shall discover +how great your faith in God was, how constant and unchangeable your +love to me and what wonders you were allowed to be witnesses +of.”</p> +<p>Then the Princess Salomee and Kherosh Avrizounelle began to record +the events, while the Saint related to <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb82" href="#pb82" name="pb82">82</a>]</span>them all that we have +here undertaken to describe. She advised the Tsar to replace Bishop +John by the priest Jacob when the time should come. John held a final +mass, and Nina received from his hands the Holy Communion, after which +she gave up her most righteous soul to the Lord of Heaven and earth, in +the fifteenth year after her arrival in Georgia, in the year of our +Lord three hundred and thirty-nine. Her death caused great sorrow and +mourning in Mtzkhet and Oudjarmo. They buried her at Bondi (the present +Sidjack) in accordance with the sworn oath which she had received from +the Tsar. As this was at that period a little known and unimportant +village, the Saint had evidently chosen it from extreme humility. The +Tsar and his noblemen were deeply grieved by this choice, but of course +did not venture to oppose her last will.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch5" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">V. The Diamond</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">At the time of Tsar Artchill the First, who was +married to Marion, the daughter of the Greek Emperor Julian (363 A. +D.), many Greeks settled over into Georgia, among them the painter +Martin. To his care the inner ornamentation of the church of Stephan +Tsminda (<i>i.e.</i>, of Saint Stephen) was left. This great house of +worship had been planned and constructed at Mtzkhet by the all +honorable Artchill, near the gates of the Aragva, near the towers and +bastions erected in its neighborhood for national defence. Martin was a +perfectly honorable and reliable man and very clever and gifted in the +execution of his orders. The paints which were at his disposal assumed +such a marvellous, nay overwhelming resemblance with reality, that +several of the saints represented by them appeared as though they were +alive, and astounded faithful and esteemed believers <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb83" href="#pb83" name="pb83">83</a>]</span>many +hundred years after his death. On one of the walls he had undertaken to +reproduce the apparition of the most Holy Virgin to Saint Nina. The +latter was seen down on her knees stretching out her arms and receiving +a holy cross made of fine vineyard branches. The fear, happiness, love +to God and perfectly boundless submission to His holy will were +expressed not only in the character features of the Saint, but in every +movement, nay, in every fold of her garment. The union of all these +various thoughts was above picturesque sciences and naturally called +forth the amply justified astonishment of the contemporaries of Martin +and of the very latest visitors to the temple. Yes, indeed, the Greek +Martin was a great, great artist. And therefore he loved his art so +much that it seemed dearer to him than all the world put together, with +the exception of his daughter Poullkheria.</p> +<p>At the period when our tale begins, the portrait of Saint Nina was +already carefully finished off, and the artist was applying himself +over the figure of the most Holy Virgin. As humble as he was clever and +ingenious, he alone, it appeared, did not notice the beauty of his +productions, and while just then all those standing about were filled +with amazement and extreme delight, he sighed while comparing his +master works with those shining, marvellous, indescribable, and +exceptionally extraordinary pictures which his poetic imagination +seemed to behold moving as it were in the air, and which were so dear +to his elevated soul. How in the world should he represent the features +of the most Holy Virgin?</p> +<p>That was a question which tortured him day and night. Every time he +reflected about them he thought he could see the sweet, short, dear +face of his daughter, and with terror in his heart he attempted to +drive away this imaginary apparition. It seemed to him like some +wicked, harsh, impossible insult. Again he did his best to find a +proper type which would have nothing earthly about it, and once more +that same loving and beloved <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb84" href= +"#pb84" name="pb84">84</a>]</span>little face of Poullkheria presented +itself to him. At last in perfect despair he went to the Katholikoss +(this fully corresponds to the rank of a patriarch), John the Second, +imploring counsel and prayer. One day and two nights they fervently +prayed together near the holy djouar (thus was named the place near the +fountain of tears of Saint Nina, not far from the cross erected in that +very vicinity; djouar in reality means cross). On the second morning +the Katholikoss ordered the painter to immediately return to his +home.</p> +<p>“Lay thyself down at the feet of our great converter,” +said he, “and go to sleep, for I do heartily believe that in a +dream thou art destined to see namely those features in which the most +Holy Virgin must be represented!”</p> +<p>Martin went to the place appointed, fulfilled the command of John, +and a third time saw the features of Poullkheria; she appeared to him +with some especially magnificent heavenly radiance.</p> +<p>“But how shall I reproduce this astonishing light?” +murmured the painter, and began to strictly observe the fasts and pray +like the ancient prophets and other true servants of the Lord. For a +whole week he constantly went through all the different religious +services and ate nothing, nor did he drink anything. On Saturday, after +partaking Communion, he took a meal and lay down with the intention of +sleeping under the portrait.</p> +<p>In the dream he beheld already the heavenly Tsaritsa, viz., just as +it was customary and necessary to reproduce her. Hastily he jumped up +and drew out on the wall with charcoal the all glorious and all +impressive picture. This was the very first representation of the kind, +and it completely satisfied and pleased the artist himself! The worry +which had long been weighing down on him was changed into inexpressible +happiness and good fortune, and he hurried to the holy djouar (cross) +where with tears he thanked and sang praises unto God. The following +day just at sunrise Martin rose, awoke Poullkheria and led her off with +him. Hardly had he arranged <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb85" href= +"#pb85" name="pb85">85</a>]</span>her as was his desire, when an +unknown youth came up to them.</p> +<p>“Old man!” he said, respectfully bowing, “I also +want to work on the image of the Heavenly Queen, instruct me how it is +necessary to dispose of thy colors.” With great incredulity +Martin stared at him. The gorgeous garment, the graceful movements +showed plainly that he was a man not accustomed to hard labors. +“It is not at all easy to teach how to apply the colors,” +he answered. “Take off thy expensive and most elegant robe and +thy delicate hands will not stand difficult, exhausting work.” +The youth nevertheless insisted, and Martin having rapidly explained to +him what to do, began the work and soon forgot him and Poullkheria and +all creation, and was utterly absorbed in his magnificent inner world. +In the meantime Poullkheria followed the newcomer. He was a tall, +well-built, handsome youth, broad-shouldered with a slender waist, +which was pinched in by a fine gold belt with decorations of highly +precious stones, and how these various-colored stones played and shone +and reflected! when he had placed it on a huge marble piece and he +easily and quickly arranged on it a heavy stone, which her father moved +from place to place—very slowly and only gradually. The youth did +not pay the very least attention to her—he was evidently worried +and pulled down by some outside event. Deep sighs from time to time +came out of his breast, and in the end Poullkheria remarked that a tear +fell unto the edge of the marble slab. It now really seemed as though +he as well as Martin had wandered off into some unknown world and had +forgotten everything earthly. Martin painted without interruption for +seven hours; and in a like manner, without taking any rest, worked the +sweet newcomer. Glancing at their indefatigable application, +Poullkheria became frightened and feared that her posing might never +come to an end, and so began to weep most bitterly. The features of her +face suddenly assumed another look and thus her father began to be +thoughtful and remember all that had taken place. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb86" href="#pb86" name="pb86">86</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Enough, my poor darling child!” he said with delicacy, +and addressed the youth. Immense spots of paint and butter were now to +be seen on various parts of his costly attire, his hair was indeed in +the greatest disorder and his face red from exhaustion. Martin really +did not know how he should thank and reward him.</p> +<p>“Tell me at least thy name, thou good youth!” he said, +turning to the boy.</p> +<p>“Mirdat.”</p> +<p>“Why—is it possible?”</p> +<p>“Be silent!” interrupted the youth and went out, but +Martin looked after him with inexpressible astonishment. Only in this +moment did he recognize in him the Tsarevitch-successor, the great and +famous victories of whom the whole East was talking. Yesterday only he +had returned from a victorious expedition to Rome, and they were +convinced that he would soon start out again. How was it possible that +during these very few days of rest he wished to take upon himself such +a tiresome and dry work? Afterwards he thoroughly inspected what he had +achieved and was perfectly overcome by the number and variety of colors +and shades arranged and used by him.</p> +<p>“If he accomplishes his new war as rapidly as the first, I +shall have enough colors left up to the time of his return,” +reflected Martin, and gayly and joyfully went home with his dear little +daughter, who all along the route questioned him about Mirdat. Having +dined in haste and slept a little, Martin once more continued his +labors and was steadily busy until sunset.</p> +<p>Thus the undertaking went on day after day with the difference only +that Mirdat no more appeared. It seems that he had left for Movakanne +and soon after had pacified it for his father. It is not useless to +relate what happened to Mirdat upon his first expedition.</p> +<p>The provinces of Ranna, Movakanne and Aderbadaganne since the most +remote times belonged to Georgia, and only during the reign of Tsar +Mirdat the Fourth, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb87" href="#pb87" +name="pb87">87</a>]</span>grandfather of our hero, they came under the +control of the Persians. Satrappe Barzabode administrated them. Having +taken Ranna, the Tsarevitch-successor Mirdat wished to call out +Barzabode in a duel. Barzabode took up his quarters in an abandoned +tower beyond the city, but Mirdat surrounded it from evening +on—supposing that during the night it would be impossible for him +to slip out and escape, and so he resolved to give rest to his +exhausted and wornout warriors till morning. In the night he made an +inspection tour of his brave camp, and passing quite close to the tower +on the grassy slopes, he overheard a sweet conversation. He stood still +and paid close attention. The sweet voice, hardly hearable, pronounced +the word: “Batono!” (“Sir.”)</p> +<p>He raised his head and almost fainted from extreme astonishment and +delight: on the roof there stood a girl of indescribable beauty. The +moon was shining on her and gave her long, regular features some secret +mysteriousness and unusual charm. And suddenly her coral mouth opened, +and from it poured out a low, inspiring and enchanting speech. She +implored the young military commander to save her from the clutches of +her very old father.</p> +<p>“Who and what can dare to oppose itself to thee? Thou dost +conquer towns and provinces. Thy powerful army defeats and submits even +hero princes. Whomsoever or whatsoever thou mayest look at in this +world, thou canst always consider it thine own, for it doth not come +within thy reach only when thou dost not wish it so. Thou hast +wonderful beauty, common sense, mind, strength, and bravery, while I +never had anything except a dear father. He prided himself in his +warlike glory—thou didst darken it! He had won for himself the +entire confidence of the Shah, thou didst destroy it. He boasted about +the invincibility of his warriors, while thou didst conquer and baffle +them. Thou above all didst have my way of looking at things and my +imagination. Thy all powerful type did victoriously enter my soul and +doth <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb88" href="#pb88" name= +"pb88">88</a>]</span>drive out from it the poor, terribly degraded +character of my old father!”</p> +<p>And at these solemn words the beauty fell down on her knees. +“O do not tear him away from me!” she murmured, +reproachingly, stretching out her arms towards him.</p> +<p>“There will be no duel!” unexpectedly said Mirdat; he +turned around and quickly went to his tent. This young lady was the +daughter of Barzabode, Sagdoukta. From that moment onwards Mirdat loved +her with all the mightiness and emotion of his hero-prince’s +heart, and there was deep, deep grief and depression in his soul. Was +it possible to suppose that the Tsar would permit him to marry the +daughter of that satrame, to whose care certain provinces had been +intrusted and who of late had been deprived of the right of +administrating them?</p> +<p>Having reflected a little he made up his mind to leave a +comparatively small number of warriors in the places which he had but +just successfully conquered, while with the remaining soldiers he +returned to his father in order to ask for fresh instructions. +Everywhere they met and received the young conqueror with great +ceremony and delight; radiant faces were surrounding him, the joyful +cries of the people filled his ears, while in his heart it was all dark +and heavy. With unbelievable effort he finally forced himself to answer +the general and most hearty greetings constantly showered on him with a +caressing smile, and on the following day, when he safely reached his +beloved home, he immediately went to continue and work for the +glorification of the most Holy Virgin, invoking her assistance and +protection. The same was his object when he reached his native town +after his second great victorious campaign in Movakanne. But this time +Martin, who had already succeeded in finishing the expression of the +face of the Heavenly Queen and having spent some time in reproducing +her garment, now took the matter more easily, and indeed, frequently +watched and glanced at his busy assistant. Having noticed the +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb89" href="#pb89" name= +"pb89">89</a>]</span>running tears of his daughter, he let Poullkheria +go home, and turning to him, asked him what might be the cause of his +great sorrow.</p> +<p>“Thou hast helped me so much,” said Martin, “that +I should really like to render thee some good service, good youth; +perhaps my old age makes me fit and enables me to give thee some highly +useful counsel.”</p> +<p>“Thy grey hair testifies that already long, long ago the time +went by when thou wert excited and moved by those thoughts and plans +which called forth my tears. Nobody except the most Holy Virgin is +strong enough to make my terrible grief go by, viz., because I love +with all my heart a splendid girl to whom the sovereign will never give +me his consent to be married.”</p> +<p>Saying these words Mirdat went, with a painful expression on his +face, but Martin understood this most simple clear explanation quite +differently, and through this mistake he let his most honest and loyal +soul almost perish. This soul was perfectly clean, enlightened, free of +sin, and shining like the most costly diamond.</p> +<p>And so once upon a time, during a dream, some heavenly angels cut +out the soul and brought it to the Lord. “O, Vladyka!” they +said, “look thou at this brilliant diamond—this is the soul +of the Greek man Martin, who hath given up his whole life to the +glorification of Thy name. There is not one vice which can possibly +obtain admission to or seek refuge in it, for it doth entirely belong +to Thee! Looking at it and admiring it, we are frequently thinking that +upon the death of Martin this diamond will be fully worthy of +ornamenting Thy holy throne.”</p> +<p>The sweet, sweet angel voices quieted down, while from the depths of +the earth the devilish laughing and ridiculing were heard. “Why +dost thou so rejoice—miserable Satan?” asked the guarding +angel by order of the Eternal God.</p> +<p>“Very soon this diamond will be spoiled, darkened, and I shall +become the happy possessor of it!” replied the devil. +Thereupon,the good angels began to bitterly <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb90" href="#pb90" name="pb90">90</a>]</span>cry, but +the Lord comforted them. He gave commands that the soul should again be +placed and fixed in the body of the sleeping painter, and also informed +the angels that in case Martin should ever happen to listen to and obey +the sly devilish instructions and thus have his soul darkened, that +they should find means to bring it back to God, although it be by the +heavy, nay distressing, road of worldly grief and tears.</p> +<p>And quickly the angels descended into the church of Stephen Tsminda +(that is of Saint Stephen) and put the blinding diamond back into the +slumbering Martin, but after them Satan came up and began to persuade +the Greek that his daughter had completely won the heart of the +Tsarevitch and that he himself would become a royal father-in-law. And +thus at last vanity stained the diamond with dark and dirty spots, its +shining lightness began to go out more and more, while the perfectly +extraordinary and marvellous beauty seemed to be covering itself with a +dark skin, and Martin daily continued to give himself up to worthless +vain thoughts. And see, the diamond was decaying and would soon lose +all of its unusual qualities. In the meantime Mirdat conquered and +pacified Aderbadaganne.</p> +<p>“What dost thou wish me to give you as a reward for thy highly +valuable services?” asked the delighted, enthusiastic Artchill. +Mirdat reverently fell down on one knee and kissing the lower end of +the royal garment, asked for permission to be married to the daughter +of the conquered satrappe. The loving father replied with an amused +smile: “As long as thou didst administrate Ranna, Movakanne, and +Aderbadaganne, Sagdoukta seemed to have hold of thy heart, and it seems +to me that the very best way for thee to get out of this dangerous +position is to claim the honor of obtaining her hand!”</p> +<p>Immediately an embassy was dispatched to Barzabodus, who received it +with indescribable joy and delight. Sagdoukta, supplied with a most +gorgeous trousseau and dowry, was conducted to Mtzkhet where the +marriage <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb91" href="#pb91" name= +"pb91">91</a>]</span>ceremony was performed and the innumerable +fêtes connected with it continued for many days. The Tsar gave +his son the city of Samshrilde with the province surrounding it. +Besides through her beauty, Sagdoukta distinguished herself still more +by her very remarkable mind and, which was in those times rare, a +general education.</p> +<p>Mirdat sent for the very wisest and most learned men of his age, +living in Samshvillede and intrusted them with translating into +Georgian the holy New Testament, and thoroughly explaining it to the +Tsarevna Sagdoukta, who already fully believed in our Lord Jesus +Christ, and having gone through and accepted the holy baptism, intended +to have a cathedral of Zion erected at Samshvillede. For the planning +of the inner walls a most precise and talented artist was +necessary.</p> +<p>Mirdat just then remembered his old friend Martin, and sent some +attendants to look for him. But when their point of destination was +reached, he was no longer among the living. He had succeeded in +finishing his work in the church of Stephen-Tsminda at the time of the +last campaign of the Tsarevitch in Aderbadaganne, received a right +royal reward from Artchill, but instead of returning to Greece as would +have seemed natural, he remained at Mtzkhet, hoping to bring them to a +favorable issue.</p> +<p>He daily went to the merchants of gorgeous weavings, chose the most +precious objects, and composed of them a most valuable and rich costume +for his Poullkheria.</p> +<p>The very most talented and experienced tailors under his personal +direction were employed in ornamenting with and sewing on these +garments precious stones of one exquisite color, and besides that +jewels. Trying first one thing, then another on his beloved +Poullkheria, for whole hours at a time he watched and interested +himself in her superhuman beauty, and with full confidence displayed +before her the pictures of her future greatness. On hearing all these +compliments and glorious prophecies <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb92" +href="#pb92" name="pb92">92</a>]</span>the shining eyes of Poullkheria +lit up with still greater joyfulness. Her clean heart could not +understand or appreciate the many foolishly vain thoughts and +intentions of her father. She loved Mirdat, indeed, not because he just +happened to be the son of a King, but on account of his bravery, +goodness and perfect honesty. That was why, notwithstanding exceedingly +powerful temptations, the soul of Poullkheria remained as neat, without +a sin and immaculate as when she had not had such notions; but +Martin’s soul daily lost its splendor and became covered all over +with dark, dark spots.</p> +<p>In the end Mtzkhet was bursting with joy, for a report spread from +one quarter to another that Aderbadaganne had been successfully taken +by storm. Triumphant receptions were now universally prepared for the +great victor, and young and old rushed into the street with colored +flags or flower branches in their hands. Poullkheria in her newest +attire, and by her very side Martin, stood on the steps of the church +of Stephen-Tsminda (<i>i.e.</i>, of Saint Stephen).</p> +<p>When the powerful procession came up to them, the Tsarevitch got off +his horse and went into the empty temple. Martin, unnoticed, followed +on after him and clearly beheld how he went straight to the finished +image of the most Holy Virgin and having fallen on his knees was +fervently praying. When, however, the prayer being over, the Tsarevitch +rose, Martin ran up to him and quickly whispered in his ear:</p> +<p>“This great day the Tsar, my master, will not refuse thee +anything.”</p> +<p>But the Tsarevitch, persuaded that he alone was in the church, was +evidently and most visibly struck and moved by this unexpected witness +of his all hearty and sincere prayer. He did not recognize Martin, did +not remember even his words, but hastened with all his might to go out +of the church, while Martin thought that his own affairs were taking an +unusually pleasant turn and greatly rejoiced. A few days went by, on +the large square of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb93" href="#pb93" +name="pb93">93</a>]</span>the city a glashatai (kind of herald) made +his appearance with a number of trumpeters, and having called together +the people, they formally announced to them the coming marriage of the +Tsarevitch-successor Mirdat to Sagdoukta, the daughter of the Persian +satrappe (probably district governor) Barzabode.</p> +<p>A slight noise was heard, and a moment thereafter a cry which was +sharp enough to tear one’s soul to pieces and which attracted +general attention. On the ground lay Poullkheria, not showing any signs +of life. A thin, pale colored rivulet of young boiling blood was slowly +coming out of her mouth. Kneeling before her was Martin, who, indeed, +was giving himself every possible trouble to stop the abundant flow of +blood. Somebody out of the crowd was desirous of running to help her, +but he looked back with a really terrified glance, and like a regular +madman, having seized her in his vigorous arms, rushed off with her to +Stephen Tsminda. Here he placed her at the foot of that wonderful +picture for the execution of which she had served as a model and +completely lost his senses. And, nay!—he actually saw how the +cupola moved and opened itself, and how two angels gradually approached +Poullkheria. In their hands there was just as grand a kind of a white +transparent, indescribably magnificent garment as the one which dazzled +their eyes.</p> +<p>Instantly they took off the costly robe and clothed her in the +attire which they had brought along. Poullkheria came back to life and +looked around with the greatest astonishment as the rays of the sun, +one after another, reflected upon the opening of the cupola, and +approaching slowly, the angels came down, who quickly and intelligently +drew out two wings from them, quite as beaming with light as their own, +and made them grow on to Poullkheria, and having manœuvred with +them several times, the new angel without the least trouble raised +herself from the earth and joyfully did the angels of the Almighty God +sing a marvellously, nay extraordinarily, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb94" href="#pb94" name="pb94">94</a>]</span>sweet greeting song to +their dear new companion in arms, inviting her to fly off with them to +the Throne of God.</p> +<p>The new angel departed from the house of worship with a last, tender +parting glance and having beheld her father, she began to implore the +angels to also take him with them into the World of Life Eternal. The +angelic song now stopped, their faces were darkened with sorrow, and +painfully they announced that willingly they would have prepared for +him at first a more desirable spot in the all glorious and all +wonderful domains of Heaven, but that he threw away his splendid chance +by wicked and useless vanity. The tears ran down in floods from the +eyes of the former Poullkheria, and these tears of hers, as clean and +fresh as the morning dew, dropped down unto the face of him who had +died and brought him again to life and this time to a happier one.</p> +<p>Martin jumped up, being fully aware of and perfectly ready to +acknowledge his sinfulness. Abundant tears of remorse came out of his +eyes and two more angels appeared on earth.</p> +<p>They gathered these tears and washed out with them the wicked, +sinful soul of Martin and the dark, dark spots of vanity on this most +precious of diamonds grew quite white. When, however, the diamond again +acquired its former harmless and utterly immaculate look, they +radiantly bore him up to the throne of God, where he is shining and +enlightens with a marvellous talent and adroitness those artists who +are working for the glory of God, but Poullkheria guards their shining, +clean souls from any sinful or irreligious infection. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb95" href="#pb95" name="pb95">95</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch6" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">VI. Happiness Is Within Us</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">In the fifth century (458 A. D.) the Ossians stole and +led off the sister of the Georgian Tsar Vachtang the First, known under +the name of Gourgasslan (the lion wolf). The then three-year-old +princess was called Mikrandoukta. When, however, Vachtang had conquered +and pacified the Ossians, killed their commander-in-chief, Great +Bagkatar, and seven of his brothers, and brought the sister safely +home, he also took with him as a captive the very youngest of the +Bagkatorian brothers, Mirian, whom he had left alive upon the repeated +prayers of Mikrandoukta. The boy, who had been a playmate of the +Tsarevna, was appointed page and grew up at the royal court.</p> +<p>As he grew older his attachment for Mikrandoukta constantly +increased, but he never so much as ventured to reveal to her his +thoughts and feelings, neither by his speech, nor his looks, but used +to go to an out of the way spot of the royal garden and there began to +bitterly cry. Gradually, however, as he became a man, his wooings took +a more refined form and were frequently put down in exquisite verses. A +large number of little pieces of poetry are in circulation among the +people under the name of “Wooing of the Knight,” for when +he reached his fourteenth year, the Tsar made him his body-knight. His +comrades were of course jealous of this exceptional distinction and +heartily congratulated him, but he, deeply grieved by the final +departure of the princess, went into his favorite resting place; there +a song came out of his lips, which for whole ages was known and went +down from generation unto generation. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb96" href="#pb96" name="pb96">96</a>]</span></p> +<div class="q"> +<div class="body"> +<div class="div1"> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">The Song of the Body-Knight</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">(Literal Translation)</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">“Why did they lead me into the high royal +palace,</p> +<p class="line">To thee as thy page,</p> +<p class="line">Thy most winning eyes</p> +<p class="line">Did fill my soul with burning fire.</p> +</div> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">“Although I descend from a powerful Vladyka</p> +<p class="line">And am now at least the Tsar’s favorite +knight,</p> +<p class="line">Nevertheless I cannot even testify my love to thee</p> +<p class="line">Nor exchange words with thee through sweet, sweet +glances.</p> +</div> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">“It is as though a mighty fortress was separating +us</p> +<p class="line">So fearfully high and immobile,</p> +<p class="line">And my humble glance does not dare to penetrate</p> +<p class="line">E’en to the grand old royal window.</p> +</div> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">“In love, however, I am thy slave, O dear +princess,</p> +<p class="line">I am quite able to pick up a quarrel with the king,</p> +<p class="line">For I do pride myself in having just as fiery a +soul,</p> +<p class="line">Nay, just as great a heart.</p> +</div> +<div class="lg"> +<p class="line">“Both of us are still in life’s early +stages</p> +<p class="line">And the same blood runs in our veins,</p> +<p class="line">And if I cannot boast of such great royal fame</p> +<p class="line">I may at least be proud of my strength and powerful +determination.”</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<p>And, as though wishing to give his powerful strength a fair trial, +the youth struck out with his fist against the stone and lo! the rock +began to shake and split. When he looked at his fist he noticed that +there was blood on it, and thereupon Mirian was more downcast and +depressed than ever before.</p> +<p>“What possible use can my hero prince’s strength be to +me when my heart is harder than stone?” he exclaimed, and again +tears flowed down his face.</p> +<p>And so from the mixture of tears with dripping hero-blood, a little +spring formed itself, which flows at the edge of a precipice—then +again it makes its way through high, high stone blocks, like a wild +animal and, having successfully <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb97" +href="#pb97" name="pb97">97</a>]</span>overcome them, it cries and hops +about like a child. Mikrandoukta did not at all share the intense +attachment of Mirian and took no notice of it. Attaining her growth she +married the Shah of Persia. On the day of her departure Mirian came to +his little spring, fixed the sword between two stones and threw himself +against it with such violence that the sharp blade went right through +him. His youthful body slipped into the water, but the burning blood +swelled the little rivulet and gave it a marvellous power of +resistance. To this well known spot from that time onward, all true +lovers streamed in, and if anybody has a really good chance over the +turbulent, fairy-like stream, he will take to writing excellent verses +and his love will be crowned with the most complete success; if, +however, he expects and awaits inspiration, he must certainly give up +all hope forever and his passion will, alas! slow down and come to +nothing.</p> +<p>The first man who experienced these strange feelings and went +through the whole thing was the negro Nebrotk. He fell deeply in love +with his mistress, and even went so far as to venture to open his +secret to her. The incensed and very frightened mistress immediately +ordered that he should be drowned. They threw the unhappy +“darky” in the stream of tears of the stremiannoy +(body-knight) and went off; he at first lost consciousness, but later +came back to his senses and came out on the opposite bank, completely +cured of his useless passion. As he still felt uneasy and could not +think of daring to return to his mistress, he built a little log house +for himself on the bank of that ghastly <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1331" title="Source: precipiece">precipice</span> near which +flowed the rivulet, and not knowing what to do with himself he wrote +down the whole history of his life, then investigated the source and +course of the remarkable stream and registered that too.</p> +<p>Having thoroughly established himself in this most interesting +region, he began to look after all those who happened to approach these +important domains of fate, invited the travellers and pilgrims to his +house, asked each <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb98" href="#pb98" +name="pb98">98</a>]</span>one the story of his or her life and +diligently and carefully recorded them. Soon a whole bouquet of most +varied and entertaining tales was gotten up, reminding one of the all +famous Arabian stories, and I can only regret that my memory prevented +me from remembering but very few of them. I can understand very well +all that Nebrotk relates about himself. Once upon a time, in the night +he was awakened by some sweet, sweet singing, and having hastened to +rise and go out, he smelt a strong and remarkable fragrance. He turned +and peeped right into the precipice.</p> +<p>The moon was lighting up its bottom; the enormous rocks glistened +like pure silver and gold, while the water shone like the finest +diamonds. With great satisfaction—nay, delight—he glanced +at this heavenly picture, and suddenly his eyes were fixed on and could +easily distinguish two human heads on the surface of the water. He +began to pay more attention; a very handsome youth—a +negro—and quite as beautiful and splendid a white girl were +standing in the water up to their throats, and having lifted their arms +high out of the water, they were playing with some wonderful, bright, +gleaming threads. Correctly these nets were fastened and refreshed with +clean, clear water, and they seemed to stay in the air without any sign +of motion.</p> +<p>Later he distinguished the following details: These nets of threads +were fastened to an immense leaf of some sea plant and in this massive, +fairy-like floor, which was all aglow with emeralds and gold, there +stood a figure exceeding all human beauty. The whole scene was wrapped +in a slight watery fog and a soft moonlight. The longer Nebrotk paid +attention and looked at the surprising spectacle the more easily he +succeeded in making out that all the charm of this extraordinary scene +was concentrated in the form of a perfectly magnificent woman. In her +hands there was some kind of a long feather, consisting entirely of sun +rays, with which in the course of her sweet swim she reached and +touched the different <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb99" href="#pb99" +name="pb99">99</a>]</span>plants and flowers, and indeed, as though +subjected to her peremptory commands, they gave out an indescribable +fragrance and each little flower united with the marvellous choir which +had gently awakened Nebrotk and sang softly, sweetly, beautifully.</p> +<p>Nebrotk got perfectly passionate, so anxious was he to understand +the contents and exact meaning of this fragrant, flowery little song, +and holding his breath, he began to take the greatest pains and was +enabled to hear: “Astkchicka! O Astkchicka! O Astkchicka! O +Astkchicka!”</p> +<p>That struck him as most peculiar, and having once more fixed his +eyes on the head of the woman, he beheld a glistening, darling little +star. This was exactly Astkchicka, <i>i.e.</i>, Venera, whom the Tsar +Vachtang the First had chased out of all his temples and houses of +worship, and her adorers as well as her sacrificers and those who had +been so benefited by her—all without exception had to abandon her +in the deepest grief and disappointment. Then, however, she found two +tender lovers. He was an adventurer, viz., a fisherman, but she the +daughter of a very wealthy gardener. The goddess promised them her +complete protection, and they without further reflections threw away +their only property, <i>i.e.</i>, their garments, and naked they went +into the water in order to construct something for their kind +benefactor. And see! the expelled goddess decided to rise and establish +herself near the interesting “rivulet of the tears of the +body-knight” (stremiannoy), and to that spot she directed her +numerous admirers.</p> +<p>Having seen Nebrotk, Astkchicka waved with her all shining feather, +and from the motions she made, a bridge really and truly formed itself. +She came down to earth, and having turned around to look, she again +waved with her feather. On one side there was a bush of yellow roses, +on the other side one of white roses. Their buds were instantly +transformed and actually turned out as garments for her loving servants +who were hastening <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb100" href="#pb100" +name="pb100">100</a>]</span>after her. Thereupon she slowly returned to +the hut of humble Nebrotk and with a new motion of her bewitching +feather changed it into a perfectly marvellous, brilliant, nay, most +elegant royal palace. Nebrotk stood like one struck by lightning. With +a clever but sly smile upon her beautiful face, Astkchicka ordered her +servants to lead him off to the stream and put him down on the estrade +abandoned by her. But hardly had these orders been complied with and +fulfilled when the pillars of the estrade gave way and broke down +together with the negro. The terrible, yes frightful, cry of the +drowning man perfectly silenced the sweet chorus of the flowers. The +servants were frightened and anxiously looked at the water, and after a +short time a half god came out of it; he was white with a golden crown +imperial, in which only the fiery black eyes reminded one of the +drowned negro.</p> +<p>All four settled down in the fairy-like palace and were blessed with +indescribable happiness. This was indeed a kingdom of love, unhindered +and unrestrained by any laws. Nebrotk perfectly adored Astkchicka, and +the fisherman Naboukodonozor the gardener woman Roussoudanna. The host +was quite in love with the goddess and the servant with the +gardenkeeper, although both were merely common negro slaves. But even +in the fairy-like palace under the protection of the very goddess of +love, there happened to be a spot especially designed for animated +secret conversations between lovers. In one of these unhappy moments +the conditions and peculiar qualities of the stream became known to +Naboukodonozor, and the fear that the magic force of the water should +influence Roussoudanna found a refuge in his soul<span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1361" title="Source: ,">.</span> It is of course well known to +all of you that suspicion is the enemy of love. Naboukodonozor +seriously began to think that Roussoudanna had fallen in love with him. +Seeking the reason of this imaginary adoration he suddenly came upon +the idea that she was occupied in involuntarily comparing his black +skin with the most godly <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb101" href= +"#pb101" name="pb101">101</a>]</span>white complexion of Nebrotk, and +in consequence of this horrid supposition his heart began to be filled +with emotion and passion, while after passion came ungratefulness to +Astkchicka and a very revolutionary spirit; afterwards she transformed +Nebrotk, who had really done absolutely nothing for her, into a half +god, while the latter, who had successfully brought her to this +enchanting resort, she simply abandoned and left a negro and slave.</p> +<p>And during the night he walked along the bank of the stream and sang +a song of his great grief, and suddenly the old cedars, the high, high +peach trees, the grand old nut trees composed a beautiful chorus and an +all powerful song, blowing everything before it like a huge wave, +reached the palace and suddenly awakened the goddess—but Nebrotk +quietly went on sleeping and heard nothing. Stepping lightly, +Astkchicka softly and cautiously went out to the rivulet, where +Naboukodonozor, with his back turned towards her, was bitterly crying, +and blushing terribly, she knocked him over and sent him flying into +the water.</p> +<p>Without a word or motion did Naboukodonozor enter the water, and +just so he came out—more magnificent even than Nebrotk, and +throwing himself at the lovely feet of the goddess he covered them with +kisses. Astkchicka did not at all object to such proceedings, but did +not let him get out of sight, and it seemed very evident that she also +was in love with him. The slave, encouraged by the concessions of his +mistress, seized the godly hands and began to kiss them just so madly. +Suddenly, however, Astkchicka roughly pulled them away, passed them +around his neck and having given him a kiss on his lips, she instantly +disappeared. Some wonderful extraordinary fire ran over the whole body +of poor Naboukodonozor from this rare, but dangerous kiss. A new +feeling got hold of him, viz., a boundless desire inspired him to run +off to the goddess, but the very thought that she was able to treat, +nay, caress, Nebrotk in the same affectionate way, completely kept him +from making a fool of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb102" href= +"#pb102" name="pb102">102</a>]</span>himself. He threw himself on the +ground and tried with all his might and main to extinguish the burning +fire which was raging inside of him, rolling in the soft sweet grass +and mercilessly treading down the highly fragrant flowers, while the +moon seemed to be offended with its greatest favorite and bashfully hid +itself behind a massive cloud. The perfect and impenetrable darkness at +last forced the crank to come back to his senses; he then went home +exasperated, most dissatisfied, and wicked in his intentions.</p> +<p>Roussoudanna was quietly sleeping and knew of nothing that had taken +place in the night, and what must have been her astonishment, when in +the morning she beheld Naboukodonozor with a pure white complexion and +golden hair. Upon the question what had occurred to him, he +passionately replied that he had just gone to a stream, let himself +down into the water and had come out in the very state she saw him.</p> +<p>“Pay attention and be careful to remain faithful to me,” +she jokingly said, and went out to gather fruit for the +“déjeuner” of the goddess. After a while Nebrotk +also woke up and asked Naboukodonozor the same question.</p> +<p>“I followed in thy steps and see! the result has proved to be +the same,” was his short answer. Nebrotk looked at him rather +suspiciously, and unwilling to believe the truth of the story, he went +to the goddess to inquire about the affair and to see how matters were +getting on in general.</p> +<p>“I came to a decided conclusion that it was most unkind and +unjust not to do for my real savior what I had deigned to do for +thee,” was the godly reply, which made Nebrotk very uneasy and +filled his heart with renewed passion.</p> +<p>Roussoudanna wept and wept, Naboukodonozor got terribly provoked, +Nebrotk was deeply impressed and full of emotion, while Astkchicka +vainly exhausted all her eloquence in trying to explain that her palace +was a refuge <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb103" href="#pb103" name= +"pb103">103</a>]</span>for independent love, not subjected to any laws +whatsoever. General dissatisfaction, suspicion, grief, and tears were +alternately seen and heard in the fairy-like palace. Poor, poor +Roussoudanna could not dry her eyes. Once upon a time, going to look +for fruit, she went out of her way and got completely lost. The sun was +already quite red when she sat down to take a rest after such a hard, +steep walk. Her dark, undecided intentions and thoughts concerned again +Naboukodonozor and the magic conditions and qualities of the rushing +stream, and her grieved feelings turned against the goddess.</p> +<p>“Why under the sun do they call thee the benefactor of +men?” she passionately exclaimed. “Thou didst win and +encourage us with the promise of thy protection as long as thou didst +need us, but now that the situation has changed thou tookest my lover +Naboukodonozor away from me and thus why should we help thee to escape +and lighten the king’s terrible wrath?</p> +<p>“In all probability his God is far stronger than thou, when +thou runnest away from him.</p> +<p>“O Christian God, save me!” rang out from the grieved +soul of Roussoudanna.</p> +<p>“O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy upon us!” Such +was the exclamation of an old man’s voice, and indeed unhappy +Roussoudanna soon beheld an old man approaching her and making his way +among the trees and bushes.</p> +<p>“What is the matter with thee, my dear child?” he kindly +asked, coming up to her. Roussoudanna naturally said that she had lost +her way, that she was very much exhausted and did not know how to +continue her route.</p> +<p>Thereupon the old man led her to his home. He lived somewhere in the +immediate neighborhood, not at all far off, in the grotto of a high, +high rock where he nourished himself with the milk of wild goats and +with dates. With the greatest pleasure he placed before her his whole +stock of provisions, brought her a pitcher of water, carefully +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb104" href="#pb104" name= +"pb104">104</a>]</span>arranged the sofa of leaves and inviting her to +take a good rest, he went out. Having refreshed herself, Roussoudanna +began to watch him most attentively through the gate of the grotto and +there she saw that he had walked a little way off and then had fallen +on his knees and begun to pray. She witnessed how his good, kindly face +suddenly lit up with some marvellous, perfectly heavenly, happy, and +joyful expression, and she ardently desired to find out from the poor, +but grand old man, what this sudden, really indescribable joy meant in +the course of his long, laborious, honorable life.</p> +<p>At last the old man finished his fervent prayer and began to gather +dates; having got together a huge pile, he gayly carried them into the +grotto. The guest met him at the entrance.</p> +<p>“I thought that perhaps you would not have enough to eat with +just those dates which you found in my poor dwelling house,” said +the kind-hearted host, turning to her, “and see here, I am +bringing thee some more still,” and he put down the deliciously +sweet fruits right before her.</p> +<p>Roussoudanna, perfectly astounded by such unusual and unheard of +goodness and thoughtfulness, thanked the old man with tears in her +eyes.</p> +<p>“What does thy painful grief consist in?” he +asked—and continued thus: “It is possible that the needs of +life have been weighing down on thee?”</p> +<p>“Oh no, wise, dear old man, I have never known what it is to +be in need.”</p> +<p>“Well then, did not some severe illness pull thee down and +mercilessly deprive thee of thy strength?”</p> +<p>“I am in perfect health and have a strong +constitution.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps some dreadful worries did not give thee +rest.”</p> +<p>A (<i>the woman</i>). B (<i>the hermit</i>).</p> +<p>A: “I really have nothing to be worried about.”</p> +<p>B: “Then did not regularly and faithfully carried out duties +exhaust thee?”</p> +<p>A: “No, dear hermit, for I was living in a fairy-land +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb105" href="#pb105" name= +"pb105">105</a>]</span>palace from which the following torments were +entirely excluded: need, worry, work, and illness.”</p> +<p>B: “Worldly attractions and habits may have led thee off the +good track and restrained thy liberty?”</p> +<p>A: “We were by no means subjected to any such rules, nor even +to etiquette.”</p> +<p>B: “It is possible that the laws of your palace were extremely +severe and therefore made you feel very depressed?”</p> +<p>A: “But really, we acknowledged no laws.”</p> +<p>B: “Well then, perhaps the wealthy proprietor of the palace +abused his might and compelled you to do certain disagreeable things +which were unjustifiable?”</p> +<p>A: “Not in the least, for Astkchicka was sole mistress and +administrator of the palace.”</p> +<p>B: “There now remains but one supposition, viz., that she +united such people as would naturally perfectly hate one +another?”</p> +<p>A: “Why, not at all, we all gathered around her in the mighty +name of love.”</p> +<p>B: “Ah, aha, I understand the matter,” the old man +unexpectedly broke out, “you came together over there in the name +of love and it is most strikingly evident that there is some defect +about your love.”</p> +<p>A: “Thou art wrong, old man,” energetically rang out of +Roussoudanna’s mouth as she suddenly interrupted him. “I +can bear witness and prove that nobody ever and so strongly loved his +dear ones as I loved my excellent darling Naboukodonozor!”</p> +<p>The grave hermit glanced at her quite differently—yes, +suspiciously. “My child,” was his brief reply, “that +which the idol worshippers falsely call love, is by no means that holy +feeling which we understand under that term. Their love is one of those +innumerable examples of self-worship and vanity.”</p> +<p>Roussoudanna’s face was all red from blushing, while her eyes +were filled with tears.</p> +<p>“Oh no, that cannot be so,” she exclaimed with a +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb106" href="#pb106" name= +"pb106">106</a>]</span>trembling voice, “with the greatest joy +would I suffer any possible privations, every imaginable torture, in +order to give him pleasure and satisfy his desires.”</p> +<p>The hermit sighed deeply. “Is it possible then,” he said +with a doubtful, inquiring tone, “if thou dost indeed truly love +thy fellow men and women, that nobody in this wide world is either +capable or strong enough to put an end to thy unhappiness? Relate to me +now what the real source of thy misfortune came from and in what manner +it was able to assume such tremendous dimensions.”</p> +<p>“Naboukodonozor, whom I love more than anybody or anything in +the world, got to loving another woman!”</p> +<p>“Well, what of it?” quietly asked the old man, “is +this the only cause of thy great sorrow? How can one call it +unhappiness if this made his fortune and rendered him +contented?”</p> +<p>“Some would have thought that she might like such a course of +events instead of regretting it.”</p> +<p>“What is the matter with thee, O wise hermit?” She was +perfectly overwhelmed with joy!</p> +<p>“Now, my dear woman, rely ye simply on me, for I will +undertake to explain it all right to thee, as for me, it was a source +of sorrow and doubt.”</p> +<p>“O thou remarkable man, dost thou really not understand that +for me this circumstance was worse than all the tortures of +poison?”</p> +<p>“But thou only just a short time ago didst assure me that the +very height of happiness for thee was to stand every privation, nay, +all sufferings, simply in order to give him pleasure and act in +accordance with his wishes and aims.”</p> +<p>Thereupon the hermit again opened his mouth and sang songs of praise +and thankfulness unto God, the Almighty Master of Heaven and earth; and +see! his happiness was founded on love, but on love to a being, a being +which was perfect. He always submitted his love to the righteous laws +of God; this was not a senseless inspiration, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb107" href="#pb107" name="pb107">107</a>]</span>but +an action free of any earthly, foolish bonds, of elevated and religious +aims and seeking nothing but rest and comfort for the +moment—going always by the road of honesty, truth and veneration +of all that is upright and good!</p> +<p>His love was trying to perfect itself, approach if possible that +greatest example of utmost perfection which was shown to us by our Lord +Jesus Christ.</p> +<p>“Happiness is a sweet, sweet little flower,” said he, +“which is quite unable to grow among unrighteousness, unfairness +and wilfulness—only by the lawful way of Christian love to God, +veneration and love to his neighbors, can he strive to live properly +and give those magnificent fragrant flowers, for which you are all +constantly looking and which you are as yet unable to find. Following +out the orders of my God it will be easy to find happiness, for His +perfect and most merciful laws restrain the will of the individual man +only there, where it proves necessary for his thrift and condition in +general. Thou, it is true, didst live in a fairy-land palace, from +which all illnesses, needs, worries, and labors had been excluded. You +did not fear nor obey any legal authorities, nor laws, nor customs. It +was love that firmly united you all. Well, tell me then, were you +indeed happy and successful?”</p> +<p>“Oh! no, not at all!” answered Roussoudanna. And once +more the old man tenderly addressed her and convinced Roussoudanna, +baptized her, and taking a staff, at the top of which a cross was +reproduced, he went off with her to the fairy-land palace. Reaching the +rivulet they beheld Nebrotk gathering the necessary fruit. With despair +and terror did he inform them that Astkchicka now considered +Naboukodonozor her husband, while he was forced to serve his rival and +nobody paid any attention to—yes, had utterly forgotten the +existence of Roussoudanna. Then she asked him to sit down and told the +inhabitant of the castle all that had happened to her, and in her young +voice the speech about perfect endless and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb108" href="#pb108" name= +"pb108">108</a>]</span>eternal love sounded still more convincing. Love +is eternal when it is well planned and arranged, it is endless if free +of sin and perfect if subjected to the almighty laws of the eternal +God, Father of Heaven and earth.</p> +<p>All were deeply impressed, and now the hermit continued the speech +and told them about the all-powerful strength of God, before whose +serene appearance all false, worthless gods take to flight, and about +His extreme wisdom and knowledge, rapidity of decision, mercifulness +and righteousness, and see! Nebrotk immediately wished to be converted +and baptized. At the end of his powerful and persuasive discourse, the +old man simply touched the fairy-land palace with his staff and in a +few seconds it completely disappeared like an apparition. Then he +instructed Nebrotk and Roussoudanna in real Christian love and in the +obligations of married life and then performed for both the wedding +ceremony, and having fervently prayed to the Creator they all together +went to work erecting a perfectly new log house for the young married +couple, in which the happy mortals passed many blissful years, writing +down the stories and tales of the various travellers. Some of them I +shall perhaps tell you of another time. To my sorrow my memory did not +preserve that artistic, yes, clever way of relating, which this little +collection of legends more and more clearly explains to +one—bringing us over and over again to the great truth.</p> +<p>“Happiness is within us.” The imperfection of Nebrotk +and Roussoudanna came at first from the imperfection of their mutual +love, which loves itself as much as the beloved. Then, however, +gradually as they were taught to love their neighbor more than +themselves, yes to love him so much as not to offend each other and not +grumble and growl over little defects and mishaps which regarded their +personalities alone and from which the neighbors should not suffer, did +they teach themselves and conceive how well it was to rejoice over the +blissfulness of others, to think only about others, to wish to seek +pleasure and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb109" href="#pb109" name= +"pb109">109</a>]</span>happiness only for others and to put all their +energy and delight in the contentment and comfort of others; this great +happiness finally made its beneficent way into their souls and +admitting everything they said.</p> +<p>“Happiness is within us—” and then they needed no +more fairy-land castle, from which all cares, illnesses, needs, and +labors were banished. They found time and also strength to live an +actual and true life among all its turmoils and difficulties, to know +how to guarantee one’s shining happiness, and then they heard not +the fairy-land song of the flowers, the fragrant song of the youngsters +saved by them for a joyful, diligent, and Christian life, and they +rejoiced in the song of thankful young people, who by their example of +love, had been saved from many a sorrow and suffering. These young +people had thoroughly learned how to live a happy life and this chorus +did not stop as long as they lived on earth.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch7" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">VII. The Tribute of Roses</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">In our most blessed and favored country, where the sun +shines so brightly, where the flowers have such a sweet, sweet +fragrance, where the birds sing so melodiously, long ago in bygone +times, when neither I nor my father nor my forefathers had been born, +there lived a young and splendid couple in the Aule of Mokde [Note of +the Translator: Aule is the common term for a very small village or +rather mountain hamlet in the Caucasus.] They were always most +hospitable and everybody praised them, but the Lord, who always +delights in seeing the religious and the poor well treated, fully +rewarded them and abundantly furnished them with rich presents, thus +clearly showing them his appreciation for their good deeds. They had +everything that could be desired: youth, beauty, good health, riches, +and reputation, they <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb110" href="#pb110" +name="pb110">110</a>]</span>sincerely loved one another and their inner +happiness was as great as their outer appearance and great success. +Their children were healthy, clever, good and lovely to look at. Their +elder son, little Timitch, distinguished himself especially through his +strength and ability; he was endowed with most fiery eyes, once +sparkling like flashes of lightning, then again as soft and innocent as +the eyes of a young mountain goat.</p> +<p>For nine years the happy husband and wife lived thus, when suddenly +between the aules of Mokde and Khamki a very bloody strife ensued and +led to much destruction of life and property. During this strife, when +the father of Timitch was mercilessly killed as well as his brothers +and sisters, while the mother was taken prisoner and led off as a +captive, Timitch himself was saved by some inexplicable wonder and soon +became the favorite and greatest pride of the whole aule. In the +meantime his mother, who was still a beautiful and youthful woman [in +our country the women can be married at the early age of twelve] was +sold and taken away to Turkey, where her wonderful appearance was the +chief ornament of the Sultan’s harem. In this select collection +of beautiful and highly attractive women, her good looks and sweet +disposition cast a dark shadow over all the rest—just as our +bright sun dims all other planets.</p> +<p>The Sultan got perfectly wild with delight over her, and he +incessantly showered most precious weavings, gorgeous carpets and +splendid stones of one color and priceless shawls—in a word +everything that the rich, rich East could produce lay at her graceful +feet. Nevertheless in the midst of all these flatteries and endless +temptations she always remained faithful to her husband. It needed a +marvellous mind and character like hers, while utterly refusing to +fulfil the wishes of the Sultan, to still remain the governess of his +heart and the immediate object of his kind and thoughtful attention. In +these proceedings a lucky circumstance firmly assisted her—viz., +the fact that she had been preparing herself to become <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb111" href="#pb111" name="pb111">111</a>]</span>a +mother already four months before, when she happened to be taken +prisoner. The loving and enchanted Sultan decided to patiently await +the birth of the baby, which was foreign to him, and then marry his +unusual captive, who was of royal blood and thus fully had the right to +be an empress. The nearer she approached the time when a child should +be born, the gayer the future Sultana became, so that those surrounding +her really imagined that she had forgotten her husband. But oh, how +terribly mistaken they were! Indeed, the eventful day came and a +daughter Tousholi was born.</p> +<p>When they brought her the baby she long looked at it and tears came +in floods out of her magnificent eyes, afterwards she made the sign of +the cross on it and gave orders that it should be carried off.</p> +<p>“Call Samson to me,” she said. Samson was the eunuch, +given and attached to her personal service by the Sultan and who had +faithfully done his duty by her side. She knew how to win his esteem +and confidence, especially as he was himself a Christian (of course +quite secretly). When he arrived she ordered him to take up the opakalo +(probably a kind of Eastern fan) and protect her, while sleeping, from +uncomfortable and noisy flies; but she did not want to sleep—this +was simply a sly device to make everybody leave her apartment and get +out. She profited by this occasion to tell Samson the following +facts:</p> +<p>“Samson, to thee I trust the new-born daughter Tousholi, +promise me if possible secretly to make a Christian of her, as sincere +and earnest in her belief as thou thyself. Among all these unbelievers +thou wert not a slave to me, but a true and faithful friend and a +tender and thoughtful brother. By the almighty mercifulness of God I am +destined to live not much longer, for I hope to-day already to be able +to unite myself with my dear husband, while thee I ask to take the +place of this dear orphan’s parents. Thou knowest my whole +history, my strength does not enable me to speak to thee as freely as I +should like. For the sake of the outward appearance I shall leave +Tousholi <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb112" href="#pb112" name= +"pb112">112</a>]</span>nominally to the care of the Sultan, and I am +convinced that at first everything will go right with you. When, +however, your situation changes, I hope indeed that you may find means +to return to Mokde and look up my first-born child, whose natural +obligation it is to be the powerful protector of his defenceless sister +and her very aged educator, but now give me my little kindjall +(Caucasian dagger)—fear nothing, I shall not cut myself open, for +I have not even the strength to do that.”</p> +<p>Samson placed in her now feeble hands the handsomely ornamented +little kindjall, artistically decorated with precious stones and +fastened to a most gorgeous girdle. This was the wedding present of her +husband and she never left it out of her sight. The submissive old man, +through his tears beheld how the face of the sick woman suddenly lit up +and how, her eyes flashing with some extraordinary fire, she bravely +pulled the little kindjall out of the sheath and put its thin blade, +which was as sharp as the tongue of a snake, up to her lovely +mouth.</p> +<p>“She sincerely kisses it,” thought Samson, and quieted +himself; but the precious little kindjall had yet another resemblance +with the tongue of a snake, of which the faithful servant knew nothing. +It was indeed poisoned!</p> +<p>Having heroically swallowed the deadly poison, the sick woman +commanded Samson to instantly inform the Sultan that she desired to see +him. The all-powerful adorer of this Christian heroine immediately made +his appearance and was utterly distressed when he saw the signs of +approaching death already marked on her magnificent features. In his +anger against those standing about, he threatened them with perfectly +atrocious punishment if they did not that moment find doctors able to +bring his favorite back to life. In the meantime with a weak but +expressive and comprehensible movement of her hand, the patient showed +that she desired to be left alone with him. All the rest disappeared in +a second and she broke out thus:</p> +<p>“My minutes are counted, I am dying, not paying you +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb113" href="#pb113" name= +"pb113">113</a>]</span>back in any way for your innumerable marks of +kindness to me, and nevertheless I wish to ask yet another favor of +you: be a father to my new-born daughter! It is my firm and irrevocable +wish that my true and ever-faithful Samson shall stay by her and bring +her up in none but my own dear religion; when, however, you are tired +of her, simply send them to Mokde to my son Timitch, and even if he be +no longer living, I am fully convinced that the excellent daughter of +my loving husband will always find protectors and friends among the +good and kindly inhabitants of Mokde.” With these serene words +she breathed her last breath. The tremendous fury and utter despair of +the Sultan went beyond any description. The court body-doctor and the +arifa (<i>i.e.</i>, the lady who administrates the harem) were hung +without delay, but Samson and his sweet little pupil were given very +fine and expensive apartments with magnificent board.</p> +<p>Every ten days the old man was obliged to bring little Tousholi to +the Sultan, who having tenderly caressed her and given riches to the +faithful servant, let them retire, giving the strictest orders that +those who surrounded them should never hinder, trouble, or disturb them +in any way. Thus three long years easily went by. The childish features +of the face of Tousholi now acquired a most striking resemblance with +the marvellously beautiful features of her late mother. The courtiers +began to notice repeatedly that the Sultan after a time had fallen in +love with her, was earnestly reflecting about something and frequently +sighing. Thus the visits, which used to last but a few minutes, now +became very long indeed, while little Tousholi, with her childish +caresses, gained the affection of the Sultan more and more. Immediately +two parties sprang up: the first, wishing to make Tousholi their +excellent instrument in order to get the upper hand and overrule the +Sultan, and thus naturally, constantly and unceasingly chanting her +praises and flattering her to the skies; the second, which had resolved +to make her perish and from this reason never letting one <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb114" href="#pb114" name= +"pb114">114</a>]</span>occasion go by without trying to snap at her and +pull her down from her exalted position.</p> +<p>During the fearful struggle of these two desperate parties, +Tousholi’s childhood went by and she was already a grown-up +maiden, when the kind-hearted Sultan died. His successor by chance +belonged to the dangerous and inimical party, and so the sharp and +careful Samson began to energetically demand to be allowed to go away +to Mokde. The permission to start for the home journey was given with +great joy and satisfaction, and very soon they had already arrived at +Mokde. Here there was no difficulty in finding out Timitch. He was +known by young and old alike. The old servant silently took from +Tousholi’s baggage that precious girdle with the kindjall, which +he had handed to her mother just a few hours before her untimely death +and passed it to Timitch, drawing his attention to a splendid +all-sparkling round tablet. On it were inscribed the dear names of his +glorious parents.</p> +<p>“This is the remarkable girdle which was always around the +waist of my all-beloved mother!” cried out the youth.</p> +<p>“Well, say now I prythee where is she staying? How can I +possibly reward thee—oh, thou grand old man? Art thou sent by +her?”</p> +<p>“I verily came to this memorable village by her sacred +will,” reverently answered Samson. “While dying she ordered +me to lead thy sister to thee and hand her over to thy mighty care and +protection.”</p> +<p>“What, my sister? Well, well, is it possible that not all +sisters and brothers perished together with their splendid +father?”</p> +<p>Saying this he closely looked at the young girl and was evidently +struck and impressed by her perfectly unusual beauty.</p> +<p>“The resemblance with your mother ought to be sufficient to +convince you of the truth of my words.”</p> +<p>Afterwards innumerable questions and answers were <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb115" href="#pb115" name= +"pb115">115</a>]</span>mutually exchanged. The old man and Tousholi +settled down in the house of Timitch and Samson heartily rejoiced, +seeing soon how the youngsters became friends. But nevertheless there +was nothing to rejoice about! The twenty-year-old Timitch, fiery, not +given to reflections, unaccustomed to restrain himself in any way, was +entertaining such intentions as would make Samson’s hair stand on +end if he thoroughly understood their meaning. What is there strange in +the fact that the twelve-year-old Tousholi was unable to guess at the +thoughts of her brother and firmly trusted him in everything with all +her simple childish sincerity of soul. The passionate attraction of +Timitch grew not with days, but with hours, and once during a +promenade, without being at all disturbed by the presence of grave old +Samson, he actually went as far as to tell her of his peculiar +intentions.</p> +<p>Samson, astonished and disapproving the plan, threw himself in +between the young people and was stupefied when seeing a dagger pointed +towards him, but the terrified Tousholi speedily hid herself near a +precipice. Seeing the immediate danger, the dying faithful Samson +cursed the wicked and lawless boy, and lo! suddenly a great wonder took +place.</p> +<p>Timitch was transformed into a wind and began to crazily blow and +whistle over the precipice, but the submissive and ever loyal servant +was turned into a gigantic rose bush, in the midst of which a rose of +unusual size was growing and constantly blooming. By the will of God, +angels with marvellous, all-glorious singing slowly let themselves down +into the precipice, majestically lifted out from it the magnificent +body of Tousholi and carefully placed it in the very centre of the +superb rose, the all-fragrant leaves of which gradually closed up and +thus buried inside of them the deceased. Attracted by the all-glorious +angelic singing, the faithful inhabitants of Mokde ran together in +crowds to the rose and many of them clearly saw how the angels +gracefully interred Tousholi in the rose. But Timitch could by no means +quiet down; with <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb116" href="#pb116" +name="pb116">116</a>]</span>anger and greatest passion he threw himself +upon the rose bush and wished to break it down, but the more he shook +the lovely branches, the closer and firmer did they stick to the rose +and the better did they defend her from his unjustified attacks and +depredations. When, however, he finally succeeded in carrying off the +tender, tender leaves of the rose, Tousholi was no more to be seen, for +her body had completely evaporated in the marvellous fragrance.</p> +<p>The religious inhabitants of Mokde enclosed the beloved holy rose +with a very massive stone wall, called this spot Tousholi, and yearly +when the first beautiful rose came out they celebrated a fête, +which has quite a character of its own and is popularly known as +“the tribute of roses.”</p> +<p>The ceremony consists of the following points: Every young girl +gathers a tremendous full bunch of rose leaves and standing one behind +the other, they await the exit of the very oldest man in the village. +He comes out, dressed in a white suit and bearing in his hand a white +flag, the point of which is richly decorated with roses and covered +with sweet little bells, while at the end a large wax candle burns. +Putting himself at the head of the procession, the old man gives a +solemn signal and the procession duly and martially directs itself +towards Tousholi; behind it at a considerable distance followed young +people, leading sheep and bringing along with them the customary +offerings, <i>i.e.</i>, horns, balls, hatchets, silks, etc. The +procession winds around Tousholi three times with beautiful singing in +which is described in detail all that we have mentioned +above—then the girls in their turn enter through the great fence +and put down in a certain place their splendid fragrant offerings, +softly adding:</p> +<p>“Saint Tousholi, help and assist me! Holy Samson, shield and +protect me from the cursed Timitch and all of that kind!”</p> +<p>On the top of a pretty mound, formed by the magnificent rose leaves, +the old man solemnly fixes his standard, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb117" href="#pb117" name="pb117">117</a>]</span>saying: “Saint +Tousholi, make me wise, Holy Samson, help me to guard and defend all +these tender maids from the cursed and all-hated Timitch and all those +who follow his wicked example!”</p> +<p>After this earnest speech the old man sits down at the foot of the +graceful flag, while at his own feet the young girls settle down. Then +the young people enter the enclosure and kneeling on one knee pronounce +a most reverential greeting discourse to the hermit and the maidens and +then they turn about and face an opposite corner, where they curse +Timitch who hath wickedly cast a dark shadow over their beloved aule; +afterwards they cut up the sheep and gayly feast with all those +present. When I was but a very small boy I happened to be in this place +and was favored with seeing with my own eyes one or two roses inside +the enclosure, which it appears is existing even in our advanced and +enlightened days. These roses are really unusually large in size, but +nevertheless neither a grown-up girl nor even a new-born youngster can +possibly find place inside the flower. I understand that at that time +they used to say with regret, that the fête of “the tribute +of roses” did not repeat itself yearly! Thus little by little +ancient customs disappear and antique amusements are superseded by new +ones, which are not always successfully chosen; only grim Timitch never +changes, for he is quite as restless now as ever before, here moves and +weeps like a child, there makes a row, yes rebels like a robber and +lawlessly destroys whole buildings. His dislike for roses never ceases, +and as soon as he sees a sweet little flower he immediately begins to +blow around it with impatience and anger until he hath scattered the +beautifully fragrant leaves far and wide over the country. Now the +story of Tousholi is already forgotten, but her name, among the +Chechenzes, is given to all such interesting places, where they go to +make sacrifices and fervently pray. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb118" href="#pb118" name="pb118">118</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch8" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">VIII. The Lot of the Holy Virgin</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Tradition</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">When, by the special wish of the Lord, the apostles +drew lots to decide who was to go out into foreign lands and preach the +gospel of Christ, the enlightenment of Georgia fell to the share of the +Holy Virgin. The Lord appearing to her exclaimed: “My mother, +taking into account thy desires, I have come to the conclusion that +this nation is more worthy than all others to have a place in the list +of heavenly joys and blessings. Send thou then into this fine country, +which hath fallen to thy lot, Andrew the First and hand him thy +picture, which, from being placed against thee, represents thine holy +face!” Then the Most Holy Mother of God announced to the apostle: +“My dear pupil Andrew, I am very much grieved by the fact that +the faith of the name of my son is not being preached nor advanced in +the country, whose enlightenment hath fallen to my lot. When, however, +I desired to start out for the journey my son and my God appeared to me +and ordered that I should send to my separate province with thee my +image and His, so that I should be the real cause of the conversion of +these people and be their everlasting and ever tender helper and +protector.” “Most holy one, yes, let at all times the will +of thy Godly son and thine be carried out and fulfilled to the +satisfaction of all the world.” Then the most Holy Virgin washed +her face and having pressed it well against a platter, she left on it +her reproduction with her predicted son in her arms. Having handed the +image to Saint Andrew, she said: “Yes, may the mercifulness and +the overwhelming help of Him who was born of me be with thee everywhere +where thou choosest to go. I myself will invisibly help to increase the +complete success of thy preaching tour and my province of future +enlightenment will always remain <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb119" +href="#pb119" name="pb119">119</a>]</span>under my constant, nay, never +ceasing care and protection.” The holy apostle, having thereupon +fallen at the feet of the most Holy Virgin, thanked her with tears in +his eyes and joy in his heart, went to preach the faith at Trebizond, +taking along with him Simon the Canonite. But here they did not remain +long and continued their journey to Edjis. Seeing the perfect craziness +of those stupid inhabitants, who were more like entirely senseless +animals, the apostle directed himself towards Georgia, and arriving in +Great Adtchara, began his holy work; for even here the inhabitants did +not profess the faith of the only true and real God and committed deeds +which were so shameful that it is unsuitable even to refer to them in +any imaginable way. They showered many indignant insults upon the +apostle, who simply and most patiently bore them all with the help of +God and by being occupied in constant prayer before the image of the +most Holy Virgin—and lo! the Lord fulfilled the ardent desire of +his heart and brought the inhabitants upon the righteous way, but on +the spot where the reproduction of the mother of our God was standing, +there appeared an abundant and truly splendid fountain flowing to this +day, and in which the saintly apostle baptized the inhabitants, who had +gathered there from all the surrounding towns and villages.</p> +<p>He blessed and ordained the deacons and priests, explained to them +in detail the holy principles of the faith as well as the church laws +and successfully constructed there a church in honor of the Holy Virgin +Mary. When, however, he wished to leave, the adoring people stopped him +with the following remarkable words: “If thou art actually going +away, leave us at least the image of the Mother of our God as a place +of refuge and protection in case of trouble and need.” Then the +Saint ordered made a platter of just the same size as the image and put +them together.</p> +<p>Immediately the reproduction was transferred to the new slab without +any injury to the former image. Immediately <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb120" href="#pb120" name= +"pb120">120</a>]</span>afterwards, the apostle handed the newly made +image to the inhabitants, who, having received it with joy, placed it +with great honors in their fine church, where it hath remained to the +present day. Then they said good-bye to the splendid apostle, thanking +him for his many good deeds, kissing him with true love and affection, +and with him they sent one of the newly converted by the name of +Matata. Going through the valley of Kkeniss-Tskall he led Saint Andrew +up to the summit of a mountain, on which the Saint formally erected a +cross in honor of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and that was the reason +why this exceptionally favored mountain began to be universally called +“Rouiss-Djouar,” which means, “the iron +cross.”</p> +<p>After that they went down into the valley of Odzrche and soon +reached the frontiers of Samtske, where they took up their headquarters +in the village of Mount Zaden. Seeing that the inhabitants over there +bowed down to and wickedly worshipped idols, they sincerely prayed to +the image, which had triumphantly accompanied them everywhere and +instantly all idols fell and were broken to pieces. Then they continued +their route to Astbour, which was formerly called Tchoukall-tchett (the +river of lilies) in Armenian and really lies just opposite Sakrisse, +and arranging themselves, they settled down to rest near an idolatrous +temple, nowadays Dzvel-Eklesia. At that time this country was +administrated by a widow by the name of <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1598" title="Source: Samsgrari">Samsgvari</span>, which means +“frontier,” who had but one son and he too had just died +among the depressed and mourning subjects of his mother. That same +night from the guarding fortress a powerful light was seen over that +spot where the image of the Mother of our God was placed, and at +sunrise people were immediately sent to find out who was there and what +their business was. Returning to the city, the envoys announced to +Samsgvari, that it was the light from the reproduction of some +wonderful Virgin, whom two foreigners had evidently brought with them; +that they knelt and prayed before <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb121" +href="#pb121" name="pb121">121</a>]</span>this strange image and that +they preached the faith of a new God, who could make the dead rise.</p> +<p>The widow immediately sent for the saints and questioned Andrew: +“Who are thou, whence didst thou come and what in the world is +the new faith about which thou speakest so much, for verily I say unto +you, up to this time nothing approaching it in the very least has ever +been heard of?”</p> +<p>“I arrived from Jerusalem,” energetically answered the +apostle, “and am the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, who doth +make the dead rise again. I preach about Him as about God and the King +of all kings. Know ye then that He who believeth in Him and lets +himself be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy +Ghost will receive all he asketh for with true faith and will be healed +of every illness.” Upon hearing these sounding words, Samsgvari +fell at his feet with tears in her eyes and cried out:</p> +<p>“Oh, have thou pity for my widowhood and terrible unhappiness +and with the strength of thy God bring back my only son to life. I will +duly carry out and fulfill to general satisfaction everything that thou +commandest me to do, without uttering the slightest objection, only in +order that I may behold again my dear son alive, for he is the only +descendant of our great family, for I have really no other +children.”</p> +<p>“Well, if thou believest in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the +only true God, He will certainly give thee all that thou dost ask of +Him with faith.<span class="corr" id="xd20e1611" title= +"Not in source">”</span> Then the widow with tears of joy said to +the Saint: “O servant of the only real and true God, I do +sincerely believe in Jesus Christ, of whom thou preachest and whose +holy name thou announcest to the world at large. I, however, beg thee +to increase my strength of belief in Him, the Saviour of the +world.” Having heard these sincere words with pleasure, the +apostle chased away the musicians and the curious, leaving only +Samsgvari and her relations, and taking the image of the most Holy +Virgin, he placed it on the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb122" href= +"#pb122" name="pb122">122</a>]</span>corpse of the little child and +falling on the ground he began to pray, the tears abundantly streaming +down the fine features of his fervent face, and with many sighs he +stretched out his arms towards the image and then rose, took the little +boy by the hand, and truly! the boy seemed to awake as though from +sweet slumber, and Saint Andrew handed him over to his mother.</p> +<p>All those present were silent—so struck were they with +surprise, while the widow, seeing her beloved son restored to life, was +filled with utmost joy, jumped up and threw herself at the feet of the +Saint, gratefully thanking him and covering his knees with tears. She, +with all her heart, believed in the Lord Jesus and was baptized with +her son and all his household. Afterwards she sent out her servants to +all the Samtsetskian mtavares with official letters, containing the +following passages:</p> +<p>“I, Samsgvari, the widow of your kristav, do joyfully announce +to you, my brethren, a most happy event for all nations, for there +arrived from a strange land, a man who preacheth the faith of a new +God, the reproduction of whom made my blessed son arise from the dead; +hasten ye therefore, so that we may choose the only true and sincere +faith and decide whom it becomes us to obey and adore.” Having +heard of this wonder, the Meskhians rushed in from every spot of the +monarchy in such numberless crowds that they actually filled the whole +valley of Sakriss, and they all stared with perfect astonishment at the +risen son of Samsgvari. But the sacrificers of Artemis and Apollo, the +temple of which was situated in that part of the country, firmly +resolved to oppose themselves to the Saint and cried out:</p> +<p>“Artemis and Apollo are great gods,” and after them many +of the people shouted the same, while others nevertheless exclaimed: +“We must all necessarily submit before such an unusual +wonder!” Rebelling and quarrelling in every way began to make +itself felt. In the end it was decided to open the gates of the temple, +to solemnly place the holy image between the idols, to set <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb123" href="#pb123" name="pb123">123</a>]</span>up +proclamations on both sides of the gates, place guardians and pass the +night in religious prayers. “Pray all you want to your false +gods,” said the faithful followers of Him whose religion +conquereth all others, “we, however, will pray to our only real +and true God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and at sunrise we shall see: if +your gods get the upper hand and are victorious, we will follow your +example. If, however, they are defeated by our God, then let all +present give praises unto Him the Only one.”</p> +<p>Having carried out everything according to the agreement, at very +sunrise they opened the doors of the temple and beheld the idols, +fallen and broken to pieces in the dust, while the image of the Mother +of our God was surrounded with glitter and light like the sun. Then +they understood the importance of the new religion and the whole nation +unanimously exclaimed: “Great is the God of Christians, preached +about by the holy apostle Andrew,” but the sacrificers begged the +Saint to forgive them their sin of unbelief, and all having assured him +of their repentance, were baptized in the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Ghost and loudly sang praises unto God, who had +safely saved them from the deadly grasp of the merciless devil.</p> +<p>Then Saint Andrew made up his mind to go into other wild countries +and preach the principles of the New Testament, but the widow and the +nation implored him not to go away from them until he had successfully +taught them all the laws of the faith. Every single day the nation +gathered in tremendous crowds and the apostle carefully explained to +them the rules and details of the religion and all the necessary church +rules, consecrated for their service a bishop, many priests and deacons +and again started for his great and dangerous mission. Samsgvari and +the nation renewed their ardent entreaties, but the Saint tenderly +replied to them:</p> +<p>“My dear children, do not lead me into temptation, for my duty +calls me and prescribes to me to render also other <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb124" href="#pb124" name= +"pb124">124</a>]</span>cities and villages happy.” “Well, +if thou must absolutely abandon us,” they mournfully answered, +“so leave us at least the image of the most Holy Virgin to +strengthen our never-ceasing confidence in the new faith and as a means +of mutual protection.” <span class="corr" id="xd20e1633" title= +"Not in source">“</span>This image,” said Saint Andrew, +“formed itself from simply being touched by the body of the +Mother of our God,” and he went on explaining to them how by the +extreme condescension of the Lord the apostles drew lots to find out +where each one should go to preach and that Samtsketia fell to the +share of the Virgin Mary. He joyfully related how instead of herself +she had sent her portrait into the provinces belonging to her sphere of +enlightenment as a means of confirmation and protection to the true +believers and promised that she would always be with them in spirit and +soul now, henceforth and evermore. Messkhi and Samsgvari, having found +out that they were under the spiritual regency of the Heavenly +Tsaritsa, were filled with indescribable joy, but the desire to be able +to possess her image made them still more radiant.</p> +<p>With tears of emotion in their eyes they solemnly placed it in a +small church, which had been speedily constructed and consecrated in +the name of the Holy Atskourian Virgin. Nowadays they usually call this +church “Dzvelle-Ekletsia,” that is “ancient +church,” as the present edifice is built of stones which had +served to construct the first church and stands on exactly the same +spot. Then Saint Andrew went to preach the Holy Gospel in Nigalia, +Djavakhetia, Artakanna and Kola, where he remained very long, +enlightening the depraved unbelievers. From there he directed himself +to Klardjetta, then to the land of Parthia, Armenia, and for the +fête of Easter safely arrived at Jerusalem.</p> +<p>When, however, Tsar Aderke discovered that the Kartlians and +Messkhians had finally abandoned the faith of their forefathers, he +sent several kristaves to them, who by force officially obliged many to +return to a régime of darkness and falseness. Nevertheless some +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb125" href="#pb125" name= +"pb125">125</a>]</span>true and faithful followers succeeded in +concealing images and crosses and loudly praised God that the apostle +was no longer in their presence. The Tsar, however, grew very angry +against the kristave of Klardjette for his not having held up the +Saint, who, passing Easter Day together with the remaining apostles, +again bravely started on a large preaching tour in Georgia. Crossing +the lands lying near Fao as the Choroke, he thoroughly inspected the +villages, preaching everywhere and to everyone the Holy Gospel of +Christ, and soon reached Svanetia.</p> +<p>Here at that time a woman reigned, who accepted the apostle’s +saintly blessing with false and pretended good feelings. Matata with +the remaining pupils stayed in these domains, but Saint Andrew and +Saint Simon went farther to Ossetia, where they got to the town of +Posstaphore and from there they soon successfully arrived at the +Bosphorus, where with the almighty and conquering help of God they were +favored with the gift of being able to accomplish many wonders, and +converted to the only real and true faith and baptized tremendous +numbers of people. Afterwards they went back to Abkhazetia and farther +to the city of Sebasst, the present Tikkoum, where many more +unbelievers were also converted to the religion of Christ. Here Saint +Andrew left Simon the Canaanite with several good pupils and continued +his route to Djivetta, peopled by a wild vile nation, filled to +overflowing with disgraceful sinfulness, love of cruelty and without +any religious feeling whatever. They actually did not want to listen to +him and unanimously made up their minds to kill him, but lo! the Lord +protected his faithful servant, ordering him to instantly depart from +the wretched creatures. But this nation remained in unbelief to this +day. The tomb of Simon the Canaanite is in Nikopsia, between Abkhezethe +and Djikerk, on the frontier of Greece. Having confirmed the Abkhazians +and Megroes in the new faith, Saint Andrew left entirely for Skythia. +Soon afterwards Tsar Aderke died and the kingdom of Georgia was divided +among his two sons Bartomme and Kartamme. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb126" href="#pb126" name="pb126">126</a>]</span></p> +<p>During their rigid administration in the year 70 A. D., a rumor +began to gain ground that the inhabitants, who were under the supreme +authority of Rome, absolutely refused to submit themselves to the +Emperor Vespasian and energetically rebelled. The Emperor ordered his +son Fitt to persuade the Jews to quiet down, but they did not cease to +make a fearful row and locked themselves up with their army in +Jerusalem. Then the Romans surrounded this town and began to +mercilessly besiege it. The besieged were suffering from terrible +hunger and diseases and the nation from despair began a terrific civil +war. In a short time there perished such a quantity of Hebrews, that +they threw one hundred thousand corpses out of the town; besides that +the streets and houses were filled to overflowing with dead people. In +the end the Romans made their way to Jerusalem, ruined it completely +and destroyed the temple, so that according to the holy words of the +Saviour, not one stone remained on top of another.</p> +<p>Ever since then the Jews have overrun every part of the world and no +longer have any own fatherland. Many of them arrived at Mtzkhet and +settled down with their compatriots, among whom were also the sons of +Varrava, delivered by the Hebrews instead of Jesus Christ, when they +were invited to let one of their prisoners free. During the reign of +the grandsons of Bartome and Kartaume the kings Azork and Armazeli, the +latter found out about the existence in his monarchy of the miloti of +the prophet Ilia and instantly gave orders to look for it among the +Jews, but the Lord did not allow this extreme treasure to fall into the +hands of the ruthless pagans, his searchings finally turned out to be +vain attempts and to all questions the Hebrews simply answered that it +was concealed in the earth near a magnificent cedar, which had grown +over the tomb of Sidonia. Consequently Saint Nina more than once +commanded Abiatkar to question his father where it indeed was situated, +but the old man every time gave one and the same answer: <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb127" href="#pb127" name="pb127">127</a>]</span></p> +<p>“The spot, where is hidden this holy garment, about which in +its time the true believers will sing praises unto God, is like the +place on which Jacob beheld the staircase leading up to +Heaven.”</p> +<p>This was the only occasion when they seriously disturbed the +Hebrews, all the remaining time, however, before and afterwards, they +constantly received and treated them exactly according to the rules of +true Eastern hospitality and made them feel quite at home in their new +fatherland. In the year one hundred and eighty-six <span class= +"sc">A.D.</span>, Revv ascended the Georgian throne. The word +“reva” signifies “conqueror,” but the nation +gave this serene sovereign a designation still more suited to him and +still more honorable, for they rightly named him “the just +sovereign,” for his very first great public act was the +repression of privateering and robbing in the army and the prohibition +to bring children to be offered to the gods.</p> +<p>Although Revv the Just was himself an idolator, yet he did have some +kind of a vague idea of the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, +highly esteemed His true followers and even strictly forbade to chase +the Christians, who had held their own in small numbers among the +worthy descendants of the most enlightened apostles. These little marks +of attention were sufficient to support Christianity, which stood high +in the eyes of many men in the country. From this bright moment onwards +the number of Christians began undoubtedly to increase, although of +course slowly, but every year so that by the arrival of Saint Nina they +were already forming a considerable and by no means to be despised +class. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb128" href="#pb128" name= +"pb128">128</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch9" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">IX. The Comet</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">On a steep, steep mountain path, leading directly to +the monastery of John of Zadenne, a young girl was slowly walking. Her +lovely sweet hands were all covered with blood as she was holding on +with all her might and main to the prickly bushes; it being absolutely +necessary to stick to them, so as not to fall into a deep abyss. Having +safely reached a little square she stopped in order to quiet down and +catch her breath; for in front of her another just as difficult ascent +was awaiting her and she felt that it was her duty to rest and save her +remaining strength. Having stood a while, she cautiously sat down and +began to look at the path by which she had dared to come. Far in the +distance one could see a horseman. The well trained horse like a cat +hung on to the mountain, taking advantage of the most insignificant +little trail or plateau and of every imaginable hardly noticeable +highland road. Small stones rolled away from under its feet, the dry +old branches of many a bush trembled and broke with a sharp cracking +sound while the horse galloped—approaching always nearer and +nearer the terribly exhausted woman-traveller.</p> +<p>Coming up with her, the rider reverently bowed. He also intended to +let his faithful horse have a good rest on the little plateau and +naturally he began a conversation with the sitting maid. From what she +told him, he found out that she was called Salougvari and that she +undertook this pilgrimage, wishing to pray at the sacred tomb of a most +holy, saintly hermit for the restoration of her dying mother’s +health. The young people went on talking for some time and the gallant +rider offered her to continue her journey, holding on to the tail of +his horse. This means of mountaineering is considered by us in +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb129" href="#pb129" name= +"pb129">129</a>]</span>Georgia the very safest and far less exhausting +than all others. When they reached the summit he rode into a deep +thicket, growing on the edge of the mountain, on which stood a +monastery; the horseman’s way of treating her changed completely +and his extraordinary speeches terrified Salougvari. She, having +abandoned the tail of the horse, in an instant ran off to the monastery +and like a frightened little bird made her way into the church.</p> +<p>The glances of all those praying turned with astonishment to the +runaway wanderer and this unusual surprise grew still greater, when +after her a horseman bounced in on a foaming steed and with his hat on +his head and not paying the slightest attention to the solemn church +service simply began to search with his piercing looks for poor, poor +Salougvari, who had taken refuge at the very tomb of the famous saint. +Having beheld his fellow-sojourner, he rashly knocked against his horse +and with one bold bound, he arrived close by her side.</p> +<p>In that memorable moment, the ground suddenly shook and actually +opened itself, swallowed up the fiery and insulting horseman and again +majestically closed itself up with such marvellous rapidity that those +present were struck as though by lightning and could not utter a +word.</p> +<p>It is of course well known that somewhat below the monastery in the +very mountain the temple of Zadenne was cut out, which soon became the +permanent residence of demons, and indeed these latter rogues, daily +coming out of their horrid dwelling places, very much disturbed Saint +John and his numerous scholars until he gave orders that the entrance +into the vast abandoned cave-region should be firmly barred and closely +blocked up. Our bold horseman had the most peculiar—yes wonderful +feeling in the neighborhood of this whole temple or house of worship. +Upon a height there stood the gigantic reproduction of a handsome old +man sitting on a massive throne, between his feet lay a ring-formed +snake—the true symbol of eternity—while in his hand he held +lightning. This was all artistically cut out in marble. The +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb130" href="#pb130" name= +"pb130">130</a>]</span>elegant crown, which decorated the wise brow of +the old man, had still preserved some signs of pure gold; here and +there precious stones were shining. This was decidedly the kingdom of +coldness and of some secret magic-like half-darkness. The light was +able to shine in only through the opening holes of the mountain and +through the holes yet left between the perfectly immense stones with +which the entrance was surely and safely barred.</p> +<p>Having thoroughly recovered after his strange incident and quite +unexpected fall, Aderke (it was thus they called the horseman) began to +carefully inspect and search the cave. His attention was especially +drawn by one spot, shining like a diamond. It appeared that this was a +tremendous piece of mountain salt, on which a ray of light which had +managed to get through one of the mountain holes was gayly playing. +Other such pieces were falling down in long, long divisions from the +cupola-like, vaulted ceiling. Thirst was torturing Aderke. Thinking +that this was simply ice, he began to direct all his efforts towards +successfully breaking off a respectable piece, but notwithstanding his +most desperate jumps, he could not accomplish anything. Then he +naturally imagined that from the sides of the cave much lower down he +might be able to get something and began to go around it in a circle, +trying to find here or there some possible opening, on which he might +firmly stand and make his way. Passing close by a great piece of salt, +he overheard some very distant voice which was singing a soft, +marvellous song. Aderke began to listen most attentively.</p> +<p>“Powerful sire,” called out the extraordinary secret +voice, “I have been awaiting thee for many years, dispel thou as +quickly as possible this darkness and lead me forth into the region of +freedom. Oh! have pity upon me!—I implore to be given freedom +only with the exalted aim of submitting to thee, to serve and wait upon +thee, to love thee tenderly, yes, to be thine ever obedient slave. Thou +didst happen to come hither, pursuing a most handsome mortal being; +look now at my features; <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb131" href= +"#pb131" name="pb131">131</a>]</span>you can plainly distinguish them +through my dark prison. The more the extreme brilliancy of my +subterranean dwelling darkens her dreadfully poor saklia (hut) the more +the glitter of my beauty darkens her exceptional charms. She did not +even venture to look at thee, for she feared thy caresses. I, however, +did not take my eyes off from thee from the time that thou didst fall +to the feet of mighty Zadenne, I constantly admire thee with a +perfectly passionate glance, I love thee, I call thee to my side: come, +oh come thou quicker!”</p> +<p>Wild with excitement and deeply impressed by that most passionate +song, Aderke entirely forgot his unhappiness, forgot also the thirst +which was torturing him, he began to stare more closely at the salt +masses and through their transparent grim old walls he began to be able +to distinguish the tender outlines of a young and pretty woman. He +knocked with his vigorous fist against the cold, cold mineral wall, but +the powerful blow did not leave the slightest trace; then he pulled out +his kindjall and thrust out his arm still stronger against the salt +shapes, which were almost turning to stone. It slightly trembled; +Aderke now turned to the pedestal of the idol, detached from it a large +piece of fine marble and using it instead of a vigorous hammer, began +to diligently knock it as hard as possible against the long handle of +the kindjall. The opening evidently made considerable progress.</p> +<p>In the meantime, through the little opening which had been made in +the pedestal, there slipped out a lizard, after it a snake, then a +flying mouse and finally a little devil. Coming out of their wonderful +ambuscade, they were all of exceedingly small proportions, but these +proportions grew larger and larger every minute. The lizard seemed to +possess a perfectly formless human face, the snake had wings grown on +to its body, the mouse seemed to have the head of an owl with a +tremendous beak and fiery sparkling eyes. The little devil, far smaller +in size than the rest, cleverly jumped at the mass of marble which +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb132" href="#pb132" name= +"pb132">132</a>]</span>was nearest to Aderke and by a well known signal +ordered them to begin the furious attack. First the lizard moved and +trumpeted with some kind of an awful, not human voice.</p> +<p>“Let thou go my prisoner, insolent adventurer, or else we +shall jointly cut thee up in pieces!”</p> +<p>Aderke, astonished by such reasoning, turned around. The unusually +enormous lizard stood on its hind legs and seemed to be all prepared to +attack and swallow him up. The flying mouse made a noise and waved with +her big wings, howling out some terrific metallic sound; the snake +stretched out and slipped up to him with perfectly awful hissing, while +the beastly little devil joked and insulted him above his head and +filled the air with unbearable, bad odors. Aderke, seeing what was +coming, bravely pulled out the sword and daringly struck at the snake, +who was just making ready to spring at and wind itself around his +feet.</p> +<p>The excellent sword cut it right through, but unfortunately without +doing it the very least harm. It quickly set to gathering together its +fearful rings and went back to the idol. Aderke energetically rushed +after it and fainted from terror. From the pedestal sprang out one +after another innumerable and varied poisonous monsters, one more +terrific—yes, fearful, than the next. Then there were also people +with snakes’ heads and snakes with birds’ wings and birds +with fishes’ tails and fishes with heads of living people. All +these awful monsters hastened to abandon their ambuscade, crowded and +pushed each other, slipped over each other, quarrelled in a most +undignified manner, bit each other, struck and scolded each other; here +one monster was hissing, there a second one was making a violent +speech, a third one let out from his mouth such a horribly disturbing +whistle that the cold ran over one’s whole body. In the midst of +this tremendous row a human cry of distress reached Aderke; he turned +around. The lizard was doing his best to widen out the opening which he +had forced through, while the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb133" +href="#pb133" name="pb133">133</a>]</span>snake with an evil meaning +and aggressive hissing hastened to occupy each newly opened little +crack. Aderke wanted to run and help the poor, poor woman-prisoner, but +the flying mouse threw itself towards the entrance and having spread +out its wings guarded with its own body its outrageous comrades. In the +meantime the remaining monsters seized Aderke by the legs and would not +allow him to budge a step from the place where he stood. Thereupon he +bravely drew out his pistol and with a sharp and rare shot smashed to +pieces the salt block. At this moment the monsters unanimously took +hold of him and he of course lost consciousness, so that he did not see +how out of the blazing brilliant niche formed by his pistol shot, a +splendid young woman rushed forth to meet him.</p> +<p>Before her the monsters reverently stepped aside. “Away with +you!” she cried out in a most commanding voice. “Take him +up cautiously and carry him after me,” pointing to Aderke, she +ordered some strange bear with birds’ legs and with a +crane’s beak to carry out her commands. The monster instantly +submitted to the explicit instructions and, continuing to respectfully +follow her imperious commands, he went in with his burden, up the steps +of the pedestal to the very idol and placed Aderke at its feet. +“Now,” said the young woman, “your power over me has +ended, having got back all my former freedom, I have also regained all +my past influence and power. Tram, tram——tara, all to your +respective places!” she continued in a most decisive tone, and +the horrible monsters one after another rushed back to the high +pedestal. When they had taken up their proper positions, she bent down +and raised the piece of marble thrown away by Aderke and +cleverly——yes, powerfully, barred the entrance. After that +she again went up to the idol, fell down on her knees and said: +“Great Zaden! Here you have a gift fully worthy of you as a +grateful reward for my happy deliverance. If it pleases your serene +majesty that I should not go away from this, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb134" href="#pb134" name= +"pb134">134</a>]</span>thine abandoned temple, trying with all my +energy to be equal to the task of replacing your former most numerous +servants, so for my sake give me back this dead man, call him back to +life, start up in his heart a sincere attachment to me and we shall +both be your constant, loyal and ever watchful servants. The heavy +stone eyelids of the idol opened themselves, its eyes sparkled, and +from this momentary sparkling Aderke instantly came back to life and +was able to stand on his feet. At the same time the idol with a +terrific crash and shaking fell to pieces and disappeared in the +dust.</p> +<p>“Who art thou—magnificent creature?” was his first +question.</p> +<p>“Let us go into my transparent dwelling place,” she +replied, “I shall place thee on my exquisite crystal sofa and +quietly entertain thee with my interesting stories and dear +caresses.”</p> +<p>They jointly went into the niche. Through the sweet little opening a +small, small ray of light streamed in and perfectly marvellously played +upon a smooth, salty ceiling, showering down millions of beautiful +sparks and blazing with all the colors of the rainbow. The beauty sat +down, put Aderke’s head on her lovely knees and while he was +endeavoring to fall asleep, she told him her whole history.</p> +<p>“I am the daughter of the Moon and of Zaden, they call me +Aipina. My father actually decided that I should appear to the glance +of people only to prophesy some peaceful event, the rest of the time I +am ordered to remain secretly hidden in the grim walls of his temple, +which at that time was a place of general worship and sacrifice. The +people used to crowd about here from morning till night with very rich +offerings. Numerous sacrificers burnt their offerings, while their +female companions in long white garments sitting on golden seats +prophesied the future. But notwithstanding all this excitement it was +stupid for me, and one fine night, when my mother had covered +everything with her soft, magic, fairy-like <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb135" href="#pb135" name= +"pb135">135</a>]</span>light, I wilfully managed to get out of the +temple and flew into the sky, blazing with my highly brilliant tail. +Mother became frightened by my daring to commit such an act and +hastened to hide herself. Then <span class="corr" id="xd20e1715" title= +"Source: Ialone">I alone</span> began to gayly run up and down on the +horizon, busily chasing the many stars and pushing them on with my +tail. Among the heavenly lighters a most astounding and terrific plot +came up and they hurried to get me out of the way as quickly as +possible, and my father angrily informed me that my perfectly crazy +undertaking had made him fail.</p> +<p>“It came to pass just so, for on that day a poor, poor monk +arrived and settled on the mountain. Zaden of course ordered the +monsters to instantly chase him out of the dwelling which he had +chosen, but the hermit by some marvellous sign of his hand deprived +them entirely of any strength. Many pilgrims, who had arrived from afar +with offerings to pay their sincere respects to Zaden, upon seeing the +newcomer on a height, peacefully sitting between wild snakes, naturally +went up to him in a wide circle and spared no time or strength in order +to satisfy his intense curiosity. He, however, took full advantage of +this to make them give up the faith of their forefathers and instruct +them in some religion, the chief peculiarity of which was hatred of our +old, old gods.</p> +<p>“In the end the unceasing attacks of the monsters began to +bore the monk: he therefore gathered all his hearers and together with +them strongly barred the grand entrance of the temple and quietly left +the place. Through inexperience I had at first wickedly laughed at his +great efforts: what use was it when Zaden, at his own will guiding and +directing thunder and lightning, used to smash their edifices to pieces +in no time at all, while the old man in going away touched the hard +stones with the same marvellous movement of the hand which had +destroyed the power and strength of the monsters, and Zaden immediately +felt that his godly qualities and peculiarities began to abandon him +forever. As a punishment <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb136" href= +"#pb136" name="pb136">136</a>]</span>for my most stupid volunteering, +he deprived me of the shining form of a comet and transformed me into a +woman, whom he commanded to guard the poisonous monsters. They hastened +to fix me in this salt wall, but Zaden, who grew weaker every minute, +in a last, but tremendous, outbreak of wrath worked out the following +decision:</p> +<p>“‘Thou wilt be entirely in the power of these awful +monsters until thou art able to find a mortal man who delivereth thee, +and then they will again fully obey thee!’ This was the last +sign, not only of his power, but also of the life of my father; ever +since then he turned himself into a breathless idol and sat immovably +on his marble throne for several centuries. Through the holes of the +fallen house of public worship the water flowed unto his most royal +crown and meanly washed away from it the highly precious ornaments. +Lizards climbed over his face, the flying mice quite fearlessly sat +down on his powerful shoulders and hands, the snakes wound around his +legs! He remained insensible to everything and not strong enough to +protect and defend himself. I must say I had an awfully stupid, dull +time. Days, months, years, even centuries went by and actually nobody +appeared. I had already quite given up all hope when kind fate led thee +hither. Now we must absolutely find means to get out of this place. I +for my part know that from this temple there leads a subterranean +passage to the numerous catacombs with which this mountain is +overfilled and from them we can go wherever it pleases us.”</p> +<p>“But who will show us this passage?” asked Aderke.</p> +<p>“I have a good friend among the monsters; it is the bear with +the crane’s nose. During all the long and dreary years of my +unjust confinement he daily nourished me. With his long, long beak he +managed to make a little opening in my dark dwelling, looked for and +gathered the hives of wild bees, who had taken refuge in the holes +around here, and fed me with their honey. He was at first a man of the +same faith as our enemy the hermit <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb137" +href="#pb137" name="pb137">137</a>]</span>and chanced to be banished +hither for having ridiculed some servant of his God.”</p> +<p>At these words Aipina struck the palm of her hand; the bear took +away a stone and climbed out; then she informed him of the object of +the whole undertaking and he, having warned them that the way would be +long and exceedingly tiresome, hastily entered their cave and +attentively and vigorously began to try with his beak where the mass of +salt was thinnest. When, however, such a place had been successfully +found, he and Aderke pushed against it with their whole weight and +after long and repeated attempts they pierced a rather small hole, +through which it was very evident that they should have to go.</p> +<p>First the bear slipped through, after him Aipina and Aderke. The +passage was cut out in the rocky part of the mountain and was so close +and small that it was necessary to go one behind the other and to stoop +over. Having advanced a little farther they joyfully came out on a +small square with a much higher cupola-like ceiling. Through a little +crack a dim ray of light was seen. They sat down to rest and having +looked about somewhat they came to notice something gleaming, yes, +burning like gold. This turned out to be a fine glass vessel with four +pretty handles. It was of gold color with thin white patterns and +filled to overflowing with ancient Greek silver coins.</p> +<p>“The first thing found is naturally due to thee,” said +Aipina in a very gracious tone. And the bear having taken up the vessel +on his long thin beak again set forth on his journey. It was necessary +to follow on by just so narrow and low a passage—only fully twice +as long—as the first. It led them into a large round cave, which +was exceedingly high. At the very top there was a rather large opening, +through which the light could easily penetrate. At the side of one wall +stood a wooden grave without a roof, and in front of it an old, old +candlestick of red clay. To the tremendous surprise of our travellers, +the whole room was illuminated by the fine blue flame of a very rare +wick. They went nearer and saw <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb138" +href="#pb138" name="pb138">138</a>]</span>that in the tomb there lay a +hermit, very likely a saint, because his body was splendidly preserved. +“Let us take a rest,” said the exhausted Aipina, sitting +down on the floor. The bear slowly lowered his vessel to her feet, but +Aderke did not let his eyes lose sight of the deceased, as though he +was trying hard to remember some familiar features, and suddenly he +succeeded in his mental researches and with awful screeching and +jumping threw himself on the bare floor in front of the grave.</p> +<p>“Forgive me, oh, Holy God,” he cried out, “forgive +me that severe insult which I inflicted upon thee in my state of +craziness and for which I have been so cruelly punished.” And +with most sincere and hearty repenting he prayed to God and the Saint +to pardon his terrible sin. Aipina heard him with eyes and mouth wide +open, but on her the words of Aderke produced quite a different +impression. He understood how fearfully he had offended God and his +proud heart was filled with perfect remorse.</p> +<p>He fell down on his knees by the side of the monster and wept +bitterly and long over his wicked actions and earnestly implored to be +pardoned. The all-merciful God accepted the tears of both great sinners +and sent them a deliverance which was quite as marvellous as the +punishment. An unusual light was shining into the cave and in a second +blinded the praying men; when, however, they again began to be able to +distinguish the different things, Aipina was no longer to be seen, but +on the spot where she stood there shone a blindingly magnificent +comet.</p> +<p>Aderke glanced at the bear—he had been transformed into a very +handsome youth, in his hands, under the rays of the comet, burned and +played with various colored fires the remarkable, ancient glass vessel. +In an instant the comet began gradually to draw nearer to the opening +in the vaulted ceiling. The gleaming windings of her long, long tail +safely guided both the astonished persons and attracted them after her. +Soon they had successfully completed <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb139" href="#pb139" name="pb139">139</a>]</span>the march through the +long and narrow entrance road of the cave and began to rise higher and +higher until they had triumphantly reached the summit of the mountain. +Then the comet let herself down to the doors of that same temple, in +which Aderke had so terribly misbehaved on his arrival in the said +region. Aipina was again transformed into a simple woman and began to +request Aderke that he should make her a slave and servant of the +omnipotent God who had accomplished such great deeds of creation.</p> +<p>In the meantime the sunrise service was just beginning and the monks +began to come out of their cells to celebrate their morning devotions. +The first stroke of the bell was then heard. Aderke and his faithful +companion took off their caps and reverently made the sign of the +cross. In this minute to them came up the monk who usually stood at the +tomb of the Saint, when poor Salougvari had taken speedy refuge near +it. He found out Aderke and furiously looked at him. But the most +humble and submissive speech of the really repenting man quickly +quieted his anxious feelings. Aipina was converted and really and truly +became the wife of Aderke, while his comrade in the hour of trial, who +had made use of his fortune in order to buy up a very extensive +vineyard near the poor saklia (hut) of Salougvari, happily married her +and took over into his house her widowed mother. All three lived long +and happily and very frequently visited Aderke and Aipina, who were by +no means behind them in sincerity of love and perfect harmony.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">X. The Jewel Necklace</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">It was the twenty-second of December, the day of our +holy “Fate-decider” Anne. In a poor saklia (native hut) not +far from the road leading into town there sat a very young, beautiful +girl, surrounded by a number of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb140" +href="#pb140" name="pb140">140</a>]</span>children. She was bitterly +crying. On this day the father of this unhappy family died in jail; and +that same terrible day, when he was taken away from his home and locked +up against his will, the poor mother breathed her last breath. For what +reason they had imprisoned him, the children did not know. They +tenderly loved their father and in their true childish imagination it +seemed to them as though he could not be wrong in any department of +life whatever. The last time that they had seen him, he informed them +that people would come and punish him even before the fête, and +so they diligently prayed for his deliverance and salvation to the holy +martyr Anastasia—and, behold! on the day of her celebration, she +cut the cords and bands which prevented him from enjoying the blessings +of home life and delivered him forever from prison as well as from the +terrible punishment.</p> +<p>“Zenobi!” remarked one of the children, “I want to +eat.” “Sit ye all down,” replied the young girl, +rising and drying her mournful tears. She covered the table with a +simple blue cloth with white flowers and placed on it a star-formed +vessel, on which a whole mountain of rice was seen.</p> +<p>“Pray ye first and then eat to your hearts’ +content,” she said.</p> +<p>“But thou, darling, wilt thou not join our company?” +asked the older boy.</p> +<p>“I will eat afterwards; just now I have no time, but I will +readily eat up all you leave!”</p> +<p>Zenobi forced herself to smile although tears were really choking +her; this was all the food which remained in their house, they had no +money whatever—how and with what were the children to be fed the +next day? That was the question which constantly came into her mind and +kept her from being quiet. Wishing to conceal her worry, she went +out—but her brother took advantage of her absence in order to +somewhat restrain the appetite of the children.</p> +<p>“Leave something for Zenobi,” said he, “for I +believe <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb141" href="#pb141" name= +"pb141">141</a>]</span>she has eaten nothing since morning; all the +bread which was left she divided among us without keeping a single +piece for herself.”</p> +<p>Noticing also that the quantity of rice was constantly diminishing, +he assumed a more decided tone:</p> +<p>“Enough!” he suddenly broke out, rising from his chair. +“Pray ye to God and go out to play in the street, the sun is +shining in all its wonderful glory—lose no time while it is warm +and comfortable!” and taking the smallest of the children by the +hand, he read aloud the after-dinner prayer and went out.</p> +<p>“Zenobi!” he cried, coming out, “we have all +finished.” The young girl entered the room, hastily crossed +herself and with anxiety sat down and began to eat the rice, but she +had not succeeded in swallowing the first morsel, when the door of the +saklia opened itself and a poor, poor hermit came in.</p> +<p>“In the name of the Infant Jesus let me get rested, refresh +myself and have something to eat!<span class="corr" id="xd20e1781" +title="Not in source">”</span> said he. Zenobi immediately rose; +hunger was torturing her, but she did not hesitate for a moment to +offer him her forlorn repast.</p> +<p>“Yes, may God be blessed, who hath sent a guest even to our +poor saklia for such a great celebration!” she answered; +“eat—while I prepare thee a comfortable bed,” and +having done everything to make the foreign traveller feel as much at +home as possible, she went out into the street, in order to keep the +children quiet during the sleep of the wise old man.</p> +<p>After two hours he came out, sat down along by the saklia on a huge +stone which took the place of a bench, and pleasantly called the +children. His touching, caressing voice and his great good eyes +instantly won him forever the sincere love of the dear children, they +gayly ran up to him, while he pulled a small apple from his pocket and +a Sitzevian handkerchief.</p> +<p>“If you bring me four quills from this fine thorn-bush,” +said he, pointing to a very large bush growing within a few steps from +the saklia, “I will arrange a very nice and amusing toy for +you.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb142" href="#pb142" name= +"pb142">142</a>]</span></p> +<p>Within a minute the children stood again before him—this time +their hands full of quills. The hermit thereupon took up four of them +and fastened with their help the corners of the large handkerchief to +the apple—afterwards wound a handkerchief around the whole +concern and threw it so high into the air that it really looked like an +insignificant little dark point. The children in amazement did not lose +sight of this point and soon beheld a small balloon lowering itself in +their direction; the air filled out the handkerchief, giving it thus +the look of a small air balloon, which, gracefully flying between earth +and sky, gradually descended to their poor home. There was no end to +the children’s delight, each one of them wished to toss the dear +toy higher than the first.</p> +<p>While they were going through various exercises, running and making +a lot of noise, Zenobi sat down at the side of her delightful guest and +began to ask him from what place he came.</p> +<p>“I, my child, come from the capital,” he said; +“to-day there is an unusual commotion over there. The heralds +proclaimed on all the city squares that the sovereign would spare no +reward to him who would bring the best imaginable necklace into the +palace and that by the Fête of Circumcision of the Lord.</p> +<p>“In the nation a report is being spread that the only daughter +of the widower-Tsar took some kind of a most terrible disease which not +even the most experienced or energetic doctor is able to define or heal +in any way. Something extraordinary, unseen, unheard of! Heavy bands +were tying down the young Tsarevna by the hands and legs and deprived +her of free movements, so that she actually resembled a corpse much +more than a live being.</p> +<p>“In this night she had had a very remarkable dream—as +though some powerful voice had promised her to cut the bands which kept +her down, upon the Day of the Circumcision of the Lord, if by that day +she had succeeded in finding a necklace for her magnificent neck which +by its splendor exceeded all ornaments of the kind until then +known.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb143" href="#pb143" name= +"pb143">143</a>]</span></p> +<p>Saying this, the old man rose. “I should like to reach that +house to-day,” he said, “it is high time to set forth for +the journey; but how can I express my gratitude to thee, my dear child, +for thy wonderful hospitality?</p> +<p>“Well, do not despise these lavashees (little breads), and may +the Lord increase every kind of food in your most hospitable +house.”</p> +<p>“Amen,” said Zenobi with all her heart, taking up the +lavashees and looking back at the departing hermit. A little later she +began to assemble the children around the house.</p> +<p>“Thanks to our guest you will have very dainty lavashees for +supper this evening,” she said to them, entering the saklia.</p> +<p>But what must have been her complete surprise when she saw her +star-formed vessel standing on the table and filled to overflowing with +rice. There was so little of it left when she had offered her dinner to +the stranger; where then had this veritable mountain of rice come from? +She stared at her older brother and their astonished eyes soon met each +other.</p> +<p>“Isn’t all this wonderful! How quickly the saintly +blessing of the wise hermit was fulfilled,” said he, and, falling +down on their knees, the whole family began to pray most ardently and +afterwards joyfully sat down to their well deserved and this time +plentiful supper. In front of each child lay a fresh lavash (roll), on +which Zenobi had thoughtfully piled up a large amount of rice. Having +eaten the rice, each one ate a lavash too and all were perfectly +satisfied, but there yet remained some rice and lavashees. Zenobi +gathered the remains and the next morning the dish was again as full as +ever and there were enough lavashees for all. Thus the wonder repeated +itself for eight days in succession, but on the Eve of the Circumcision +of the Lord, the dish looked just the way it did when they took it off +the table, neither rice nor lavashees had increased. Zenobi decided to +lay up what was left for dinner and let the children go to walk +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb144" href="#pb144" name= +"pb144">144</a>]</span>without a breakfast. In order to induce them not +to think of melancholy events, she wisely reminded them of the +excellent toy which the dear old traveller had left with them. They +immediately ran off to find the handkerchief and indeed had a very hard +time; in the end Zenobi herself started out for the search and managed +to find it in some remote, dark corner.</p> +<p>It was filled with something heavy and she naturally imagined that +it must be rice. Delighted by this thought, she quickly placed the +handkerchief on the table and untied it; inside of it there was a +magnificent, blindingly beautiful jewel necklace! The children stood +around in a circle, their little mouths opened as wide as possible.</p> +<p>“Let us run this minute to the town,” exclaimed the +older boy, “I say, let us run, Zenobi, dear, we will still +succeed to get the necklace to the palace before midnight!” And +taking each other’s hand, brother and sister ran on the road with +what they had found by accident. The town was not very far; by noon +they were already on the palace square, in the very centre of which a +long, long table was erected.</p> +<p>On it they opened and inspected the necklaces which various people +brought and the Royal officials carefully put down in a large book the +names of the strangers interested. These were extremely numerous and +our poor little acquaintances hardly had the patience to wait for their +turn to come. The official unbelievingly looked at their humble attire +and the poor, insignificant handkerchief. Having placed the object on +the table, he nevertheless untied the handkerchief.</p> +<p>A cry of complete astonishment rang out from the mouths of all those +present, and before the poor orphans had time to think the matter over, +they were already standing in the bedroom of the suffering Tsarevna and +saw how the Tsar, her father, with a trembling hand placed the necklace +on his invalid daughter’s neck. Then turning to them, he +naturally asked who they were and where under the sky they had found +such an unheard of and extraordinary treasure. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb145" href="#pb145" name="pb145">145</a>]</span></p> +<p>Zenobi with true childlike straightforwardness related all that had +taken place to the Tsar, who patiently listened to her simple, yet most +pathetic speech, in which one could clearly make out her warmest faith +in God and her thankfulness and gratitude to the holy martyr Anastasia; +he actually felt very much moved and sweet tears were to be seen in his +great eyes.</p> +<p>“Take my guests,” he said to those near him, pointing to +Zenobi and her brother, “feed them, let them drink and appease +their aroused feeling and great anxiety, but when they are rested, +clothe them in the finest costumes and bring them hither.”</p> +<p>Then he ordered his aides-de-camp to bring the image of the all-holy +Fate-decider and having placed it on the pillow of the little princess, +he gave orders that the prayers for her speedy recovery and +convalescence should begin.</p> +<p>By order of the King, the doors of the palace were solemnly thrown +open and all who desired to pray were allowed to enter the enormous +precincts of the bedroom. The number of those praying increased hourly; +not long before midnight the chamberlains and ladies of honor of His +Majesty the King conducted our dear little acquaintances, attired in +gorgeous costumes, which gave still greater charm and beauty to their +natural handsomeness and grace. The grieved Tsar made a sign, +indicating his wish that they should stand in a line with him; all eyes +were fixed on Zenobi, who, not noticing anything special, quietly fell +down on her knees and instantly began to pray with all her heart and +soul.</p> +<p>Exactly at midnight the Tsarevna raised her head and happily looked +at the loyal people who had been praying for her; then made the holy +sign of the cross—then actually sat up in bed! The King rushed +towards her and took her up in his arms. The child put her arms around +her father’s neck and sweet, sweet tears flowed out of the eyes +of both, and how open-heartedly and sincerely they sang, together with +the people present, a true song of praise to the holy martyr Anastasia! +At the end of the prayer, the Tsar led the Tsarevna to Zenobi and said: +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb146" href="#pb146" name= +"pb146">146</a>]</span></p> +<p>“After God and His holy servant thou must certainly thank her, +whom He chose to be the instrument of thy precious recovery, yes, may +she take the place of thine all-beloved late mother!”</p> +<p>All present naturally hastened to bring their loyal and dutiful +congratulations to the Tsar and his bride, but the little Tsarevna +quite overwhelmed Zenobi with caresses and kisses.</p> +<p>Immediately some noblemen were sent after her brothers and sisters, +who from that time onwards lived at the palace and were educated +together with the dear little princess.</p> +<p>Zenobi, however, having become Queen never forgot the poor, the +religious and the queer, and the Lord blessed her with the birth of a +son, who immediately became heir-presumptive to the throne. The reign +of her husband was most peaceful and happy, and having lived to an +advanced age in model mutual accord, the reigning sovereigns died both +on the same day, reminding their son never to forget the Only Real and +True Faith, the Faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch11" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">XI. Saint Mourvanoss</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Story</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Mourvanoss was the first saint in our highly honorable +royal family, later on so abundant in holy martyrs, preachers and +leaders. In the year three hundred and ninety-three <span class= +"sc">A.D.</span> the Georgian King Varaz (ovenne)-Bakarr was favored +with the birth of a son Mourvanoss, the birth of whom had been +predicted to his mother by angels. This mother was namely the +grand-daughter of Revv, the son of Mirian and daughter of Trdat, that +is to say third cousin of her husband the Tsar Varaze-Bakarr, the +grandson of Bakarr the First and son to <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb147" href="#pb147" name="pb147">147</a>]</span>Mirdat the Third. +Bakarr the First loved very much his dear nephews, especially the +younger of them, Bakourious. The son of Bakarr the First, Mirdat was +almost the same age as Trdat and the cousins frequently passed the time +together, their children grew up under the shelter of this friendship +and did not notice how their childish friendship went over into love. +Although the parents had absolutely nothing against the marriage, yet +the youthful Tsarevna was always tormented by the thought that they +were not acting in accordance with the holy laws of the church, which +strictly forbade marriage between two third cousins. Most honorable, +good, simple, merciful, helping everybody in case of need or +unhappiness, she as Tsaritsa still went on tormenting herself with the +acknowledgment of her sin and, see! the Lord really wished to quiet and +comfort her and as a sign of forgiveness sent angels, who announced to +her that He blessed her marriage by the birth <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e1858" title="Source: af">of</span> a saintly baby.</p> +<p>While still at his mother’s breast, Mourvanoss regularly +observed the fasts, refusing to suck the breast on Wednesdays and +Fridays. Hardly had he learned to talk when he earnestly began to +commit to memory what he had heard in the church and gradually as he +grew older instructed himself always more and more in the holy +scriptures.</p> +<p>When Varaze-Bakarr died, Mourvanoss and his brothers and sisters +were children, and as guardian over them they chose the uncle Trdat, +having also handed over to his administration the kingdom until the +coming of age of the children of Varaze-Bakarr and his daughter, who +had already died, while, however, the younger son of Varaze-Bakarr, +Faremanne, from his second wife, was being educated at the home of the +kristav of Sammeshvillde. Notwithstanding his very advanced age Trdat +reigned most wisely; he was a thoroughly God-fearing, sensible and +cautious man. Thanks to his extreme wisdom the Persians were completely +conquered, the righteous <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb148" href= +"#pb148" name="pb148">148</a>]</span>state of affairs again introduced +into the country and many churches restored and newly erected.</p> +<p>Under him died the well-known Bishop Yovv and was superseded by +Tlia. Although he of course paid tribute to the Persians, yet he +understood how to get back from them Rousstave where he then +triumphantly built a church. He also finely restored Nekreziy.</p> +<p>Mourvanoss was already fifteen years old, when the Greek Emperor, +Theodosius the Younger, came upon the throne and the relations between +Greece and Persia became worse and worse.</p> +<p>The new Emperor fearing that other nations might unite and make +common cause with his enemies, offered Trdat an alliance, to assure +which he demanded some one of the children of Varaze-Bakarr as hostage. +Good Trdat, who equally loved all his grandsons, was in the greatest +confusion, while reflecting whom he should select, when to him appeared +Mourvanoss and energetically announced that he was going to Greece, +where he had long desired to be, as it was the centre and capital of +the whole Christian world, and with general consent and approbation he +started off for Constantinople. There he devoted himself to fasting, +praying and preaching, rebuking the tremendous worldly splendor with +which the Emperor constantly surrounded him.</p> +<p>To drown unnecessary gossip he clothed himself in a vlassianitsa of +most ordinary goat wool. To the general astonishment of the people he +soon acquired a complete and perfect knowledge of the Greek and Syrian +languages and ardently studied philosophy. The Lord now rewarded him +with the exceptional gift of being capable of healing the sick. Thanks +to his petition the remains of the martyrs, who had suffered torment +and death in Persia, were safely transported into old Georgia. Once +upon a time, on the eve of the Most Holy Baptism of the Lord, intending +to pass the whole night in devotion and prayer, Mourvanoss ordered his +servant to bring him some butter for the little lamp. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb149" href="#pb149" name="pb149">149</a>]</span></p> +<p>But he brusquely answered him: “Thou art a royal son and, +instead of reigning as it becomes one of thy rank, thou livest as a +monk without eating a morsel from one Sunday to another,” and he +did not go for the desired butter. But the Tsarevitch filled the little +lamp with water instead of butter, and, lighting it, accomplished with +this marvellous light his holy, holy prayers. Seven whole days and +nights the wonderful light did not once go out, and during that period +our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the Saint to invisibly accompany and +protect him everywhere. With the help and favor of God the Tsarevitch +carried out many wonders, healing the sick with the water of his little +lamp. The Emperor namely had a eunuch who used to like to come and pray +together with the Saint.</p> +<p>The Tsarevitch thought of leaving the Imperial Court accompanied by +the eunuch, but Theodosius, having heard of the plan, sent a guard to +watch them. Nevertheless through the almighty mercy of God they +succeeded in avoiding being closely observed by them and during the +night ran away. An all-shining holy pillar went in front of them, +guiding them and illuminating their road.</p> +<p>Upon the appearance of the pillar the following words were heard +coming out of it: “He who doth follow me will never fall into the +region of darkness and unbelief!”</p> +<p>Finding a respectable vessel, they after a few days arrived in a +port then unknown to them, where they were immediately locked up in the +local prison. But that same night a terrific earthquake with perfectly +awful noise took place there and many, many people perished through it. +To the commandant of the city appeared a perfectly unknown man, the +very voice of whom reminded one of tremendous rolls of thunder.</p> +<p>“Deliver thou this minute the true servants of God!” he +called out, “otherwise this wicked town will be turned to +ashes.”</p> +<p>The frightened official immediately had the prisoners <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb150" href="#pb150" name="pb150">150</a>]</span>led +out and freed and they started off for Jerusalem, where at that time +there lived the runaway from Rome captive, Tsar Pipinoss, with his wife +Malienoss. They were very religiously inclined, had entirely given up +all <span class="corr" id="xd20e1891" title= +"Source: wordly">worldly</span> habits and pretensions, became monks +and lived at Jerusalem in two different monasteries, which they +themselves had erected. They caressingly received the newcomers. Having +rested a little, the saints went to the tomb of the Lord, where they +also became monks. Mourvanoss was named Peter and the eunuch John.</p> +<p>Who can possibly describe their charitable deeds! They shone like +illuminators, instructing and converting all and everything simply by +the splendid example of their own lives! They constructed two +monasteries and connected with these a house of refuge of strangers for +Georgians and Greeks, where the Tsarevitch humbly waited upon +travellers, and while occupied with such actions he reached his +twenty-fifth year. This monastery was named after the most Holy Virgin. +At this time the devil suddenly pounced down upon him in the disguise +of a stranger and began to argue with and insult the Saint for having +renounced all his rights to the crown and for having humbly served his +own servants, but the righteous hermit Peter soon found out with whom +he had to do and angrily chased him out of the hospice of strangers. +Then our Lord Jesus Christ for a second time appeared to him and drew +his attention towards the sky, where the Saint now beheld a temple, in +which fully fifty tsars of indescribable beauty were singing hymns unto +God and glorifying His Holy Name. In the number of these select +Christian worshippers the Lord also promised to add the Tsarevitch +Mourvanoss.</p> +<p>He was sixty-five years old when the patriarch of Jerusalem, +Anastasius, made him a full priest. He went off into a desert, where on +the banks of the Jordan he founded yet another monastery.</p> +<p>John accompanied him everywhere. Here he successfully healed a man +possessed with the devil, and delivered <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb151" href="#pb151" name="pb151">151</a>]</span>John from a tumor +which had formed itself on his face and threatened to deprive him of +his sight. When, however, John once more fell ill and suffered from +some deadly disease, the Saint implored that his life might be +prolonged for still twelve years.</p> +<p>He then visited and inspected all the Egyptian and Skithian +monasteries and returned to his own monastery with a hospice for +travelling strangers. At the time of hunger, he by the strength of his +righteous prayers filled the monastery dwellings with bread and berries +and the cellars with butter and wine.</p> +<p>In that year good John peacefully died and he was solemnly interred +in the monastery of the most Holy Virgin, which is to this day known +under the designation of “the monastery of the Georgians.” +Soon afterwards the Bishop of Mayum died and the inhabitants having +called together a meeting, unanimously chose Peter the Georgian to be +bishop in the place of the deceased, and the patriarch fully approved +their choice, but the most humble Peter, not knowing how to avoid such +a high honor, thought of throwing himself down from an elevated spot in +order to break either a hand or a leg and so appear disqualified for +the election unless he should possibly succeed in hiding himself by +flight.</p> +<p>Then the Lord appeared to him a third time with a quantity of angels +and ordered him to accept the bishopric. Many a time the good and +God-fearing people in Mayrounne heard the voice, which before had +announced various news to the Saint. At the time of a great dryness the +holy prayers of the Bishop brought down innumerable wonders. Fruitless +parents were comforted by the birth of children; the sick were healed +and recuperated, fruitless trees were instantly covered with fruit; +fishermen who until then had always been unsuccessful in their +attempts, now pulled out of the water laden nets. The Lord besides all +this favored him with the <span class="corr" id="xd20e1908" title= +"Source: exhalted">exalted</span> gift of becoming a prophet and +enabled him thus to see the saintly souls in Heaven. Bishop Peter was +already <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb152" href="#pb152" name= +"pb152">152</a>]</span>eighty-one years old, when the all-holy fathers +Tsaya and Zenomme died and the ever-fortunate Bishop saw their sacred +souls rising to Heaven. The all-reverent Peter had been obliged to +stand much in the course of his life from the monophysites, through +whose sly proceedings he was for a short time deprived of his righteous +pulpit, to the great grief of the true believers. Emperor Leo Frakiisky +had hardly ascended the throne, when he hastened to restore the Mayioun +bishop in his rightful position. But he did not long keep his throne, +for he soon felt the approach of his death and announced these solemn +news to all those who belonged to his parish.</p> +<p>At that time Father Athanasius was favored with a superb vision: the +saints were praying to the Lord that he should order them to bring up +to their heavenly abode the all-holy bishop Peter, who had done so +exceedingly much in converting thousands and thousands of unbelievers +to the one True and Holy Faith!</p> +<p>Within ten days the wish of the saints was carried out. The Saint +passed these ten days in constant prayer, on the tenth day he conducted +a communion service, communed himself and also many true followers, +blessed the enthusiastic crowd and having tenderly parted with all his +dear folks he returned to his cell, where he serenely died and was +borne to Heaven by the mercy of the Almighty God on the second day of +December.</p> +<p>Many righteous and holy followers saw his soul carried by saints +preceded by the holy martyr Peter of Alexandria, and heard their +praises and songs of “Glory to God.” Many till then +incurable were healed simply by being brought up to and placed against +his holy body. The holy Roman Pope Gregory Diologue dedicated a +magnificent funeral oration to his precious memory in his all-famous +book. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb153" href="#pb153" name= +"pb153">153</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch12" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">XII. Zesva</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Two horsemen were giving chase to some wild goats. +Quickly did their most daring horses run, but still faster did the +light little goats save themselves by flight, jumping across narrow +gorges with one bound, springing on small plateaus, and in a word as +though favored with having wings they seemed to fly through bushes and +low shrubs. Now, however, they made for a very high mountain covered +with bushes and forests and rapidly found their way among green +branches and blooming trees, ascending higher and higher. The pace of +the pursuit of the horsemen considerably slowed down as the various +plants were every now and then the cause of unexpected delays, while +their victims, the goats, were able to catch breath between each long +jump and thus got on rather well and without much difficulty.</p> +<p>The comparatively large horses were of course forced to go out of +their way in order to avoid knocking up against trees, which barred the +trail, and even where the grass had been smoothed out the animals went +rather quietly and the energetic horsemen saw themselves more than once +obliged to cut and bend down massive branches which formed the chief +impediment in the whole undertaking. When after long and renewed +attempts they safely reached the summit of the mountain, the goats had +completely disappeared, and looking in various directions in order to +discover the hiding place of the fugitives, the plucky horsemen cast +their glances at that part of the mountain at the foot of which spread +itself out like a fairy-land the perfectly magnificent valley of +Alazana. And how beautiful she looked on this rare sunny day, all +shining with soft sweet rays, separated from each other by a large +number of various colored shades, one more perfect and exquisite than +the other.</p> +<p>Now she would seem to take a bath in some pale, rosy <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb154" href="#pb154" name= +"pb154">154</a>]</span>waves, produced by an unknown marvellous battery +of light, then again she so dazzled in precious gold and finally blazed +with emeralds and the branches of its quite innumerable vineyards. +There was also the sea of clusters, which could be distinguished +through its little fruit garden, and like gigantic flower bushes they +concentrated in themselves an amazing variety of flowers from the very +most conspicuous to the darkest and palest. In astonishment did the +hunters stop. Till then none of the Toushines had known about the +existence of the highly blessed and favored Kakhitia. Being illuminated +and showing all of her blinding beauty, she indeed seemed to them a +perfect paradise and attracted forever their exultant glances. And the +hunt and goats and everything else was forgotten. They stood there in +perfect adoration of this unusual perfection of beauty and being unable +to resist any longer the force which drew them nearer and nearer to the +happy land, they descended into the gorge of Pankisse. On the River +Bazzarisse-Tskali they chanced to come upon a detachment of Tartar +frontier guards, who immediately surrounded the newcomers, and having +dealt with them in the most insulting and truly shameful manner, again +chased them into the mountains from which they had come. Arriving at +home, the indignant Toushines made a halt near that river, where the +nation usually assembled when it was necessary to decide some important +affairs. Here did they also announce the facts of their perilous +adventure and demand a revenge. Soon by the summons of the Elder there +came together not only the Toushines, but also the Pchaves and +<span class="corr" id="xd20e1933" title= +"Source: Kersourians">Khevsourians</span>, called in to give their +advice.</p> +<p>They all unanimously decided to take terrible revenge for the insult +inflicted on their countrymen. The Pchaves and Khevsourians promised +their assistance and with general consent the whole army was divided +into two parts. One division was to conceal itself in the gorge of +<span class="corr" id="xd20e1938" title= +"Source: Pankiss">Pankisse</span>, while the other should direct itself +towards the Baktrionan fortress, which was situated to the east of +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb155" href="#pb155" name= +"pb155">155</a>]</span>Alazana and was in those remote times considered +a very powerful fortification. Nowadays we can judge of it only by its +ruins, which, however, all testify its past grandeur and mightiness. It +was impossible to cross the river otherwise than over the bridge, which +the sly Tartars covered with ashes in order to always find out the +exact number and direction of new arrivals. But this ingenious slyness +was not long hidden from the searching eye of Zesva, the valiant leader +of the detachment. He ordered to stop the horses near the outer gates +and, riding at full speed across the bridge, he succeeded in hiding +himself in a valley before the Tartars found time to appear. The +latter, guiding themselves by the direction of the traces, started in +pursuit of their antagonists, but with every step getting farther and +farther away from those to capture which was their intense desire. In +the meantime the night came on and, profiting by the darkness, the +Toushines reached the foot of the very fortress without being noticed +by anyone. Having ordered his warriors to rest, Zesva, without breaking +the silence, took up a hammer, covered it with cow-hair felt, unloaded +from his horse a very large maprasha (<i>i.e.</i>, a pair of sacks tied +unto the steed) filled with strong iron tusks and knocked the first +great nail into the battlements of the fortress, and standing upon it +and reaching as high as possible he made a second one stick, and thus +he continued until he had made himself a kind of ladder of iron hooks +to the tip-top of the high rampart wall, whence he jumped down and in a +flash threw open the heavy gates.</p> +<p>Like a rushing stream did the Toushines make their way into the +fortress, while the first rays of the rising sun were falling upon the +grim old fortifications. The Tartars, half asleep, ran out into a +field, but in vain for now they were met by the Pchaves and Khevsoures, +who had ventured out from the gorge of Pankisse. The Tartars, +surrounded on all sides, were exterminated to the last one and the +field of honor of Allavanne, on which the glorious fight had taken +place, was from now on <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb156" href= +"#pb156" name="pb156">156</a>]</span>known under the name of +“Gatzvetila” (from the word +“gatsveta”—“they are killing”).</p> +<p>The magnanimous and lion-hearted Zesva handed out all the rich booty +of this ever-memorable day to his faithful allies, <i>i.e.</i>, the +Pchaves and Khevsoures, while Gatzvetila became the common property of +all Toushines. Nowadays this historic spot is known under the +designation, “Field of Allavanna.” Some people pretend that +this name comes from the Georgian word “ali,” <i>i.e.</i>, +“flame,” as on this field, after the fire of the battle, +the Tartar blood went on smoking for a long time; others say this name +originates from the Kshtinskian words “al” = vladyka and +“va” = here. This latter supposition, it seems to me, must +be nearer in approaching the truth, as Allvani was one of the country +palaces of Tamara, the ruins of which were not kept, although +traditions confirm the existence of a palace on the above-mentioned +field.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch13" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">XIII. The Tale of Mikhian</h2> +<h2 class="sub">A Legend</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">A wonderfully gorgeous reception was being prepared at +the Turkish Court. The Sultan had taken it into his head to brilliantly +celebrate and entertain the all-famous hero-prince Solagge, a Mikhian +by descent, who had just arrived in his domains. At the door the Vizir +met the guest with open arms and explained to him what a fortunate +concurrence of circumstances it had been that had granted Turkey the +chance of beholding him within their borders. Solagge wanted to reply, +but the Vizir, without listening to him, continued his pompous speech +and thus obliged his guest to hold his tongue. The Vizir had received +instructions from the Sultan to seek out means under pretense of +friendship and veneration in <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb157" href= +"#pb157" name="pb157">157</a>]</span>order to have the famous hero +perish, and so the sly Ottoman official proposed that he should fight a +duel with an Arab giant and boxer, promising in reward for victory the +position of a Pasha of Achaltsisk. Solagge refused the reward, not +wishing to abandon little Mikhia, to serve which he had devoted his +whole life, but the duel he accepted, and so the Vizir personally +brought him a rare and expensive horse with a golden saddle, gold +stirrups, etc., saying: “Here you have a steed worthy of a future +Pasha of Achaltsisk.” On a Friday the whole town came together on +a well-known square. Proudly did the Arab rival parade on his foaming +horse. Solagge reverently bowed to him, but the former, instead of +replying, simply rushed at his antagonist with a hatchet in his +hand.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the perfectly unexpected attack, Solagge all the +same succeeded in repelling him, but a second and even a third hatchet +came flying after the first. The clever Mikhian missed their aim and +without trouble succeeded in protecting himself against all of them and +was soon on the point of attacking his enemy. Like a regular tornado he +pounced down upon his rival and at full gallop let his own hatchet fall +on him. He cut the Arab through and through and threw him off his horse +to the ground. Wishing to speedily arouse the dissatisfaction of the +people, the moullahs (<i>i.e.</i>, priests) surrounded the corpse, read +aloud the Khoran and filled the air with their hideous mournful +lamentations and cries. But the nation, greatly delighted over the +daring exploit of Solagge, remained perfectly insensible to their +never-ceasing weeping and howling.</p> +<p>With great signs of distinction was Solagge conducted into the +palace, where the Sultan, after a most friendly and hearty reception +and pleasant congratulations, rewarded his excessive chivalry with gold +and precious stones and again offered him the position of a Pasha of +Achaltsisk, but Solagge refused even a second time.</p> +<p>“Remember thy wonderful strength and the extraordinary +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb158" href="#pb158" name= +"pb158">158</a>]</span>mightiness which thou wilt be able to dispose +of!” said the Sultan.</p> +<p>“O Sovereign!” replied the famous hero, “I +sincerely thank thee for the honor thou bestowest upon me and the +extreme confidence which thou hast in me, but know thou then that being +inspired by the mercy of God with that serene strength which hath drawn +unto me thine elevated attention, I nevertheless do not feel the least +need in obtaining any other power, whatever it may be, besides the one +which gives me the love of my fellow-citizens.”</p> +<p>And Solagge remained true to his word and passed his whole life in +poor Mikhia, protecting the slighted, punishing the lawless, and never +died, for even down to our days he lives with boundless glory in +national songs and legends, blessed and adored by every generation, as +a shining example of courage and uncorrupted and sincere love for his +native land.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2 class="main">Colophon</h2> +<h3 class="main">Availability</h3> +<p class="first">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no +cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give +it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License +included with this eBook or online at <a class="exlink" title= +"External link" href= +"http://www.gutenberg.org/">www.gutenberg.org</a>.</p> +<p>This eBook is produced by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at <a class="exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.pgdp.net/">www.pgdp.net</a>.</p> +<p>Scans of this work are available on the Internet Archive: <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029936022">1</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/caucasianlegends00gulb">2</a> <a class= +"exlink" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/caucasianlegends00gulbrich">3</a>.</p> +<p>Related Open Library catalog page: <a class="catlink" href= +"http://openlibrary.org/b/OL23285166M">OL23285166M</a>.</p> +<h3 class="main">Encoding</h3> +<p class="first">Obvious typos in this book have been corrected, but +the inconsistent transliteration of Georgian names and words has been +left as is.</p> +<h3 class="main">Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2011-03-11 Started.</li> +</ul> +<h3 class="main">External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These +links may not work for you.</p> +<h3 class="main">Corrections</h3> +<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p> +<table width="75%" summary= +"Overview of corrections applied to the text."> +<tr> +<th>Page</th> +<th>Source</th> +<th>Correction</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e284">10</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e888">60</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e346">16</a>, <a class="pageref" href="#xd20e837">54</a>, +<a class="pageref" href="#xd20e1611">121</a>, <a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1781">141</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e567">31</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">”</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Deleted</i>]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e766">48</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Alasana</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Alazana</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e769">48</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Plin</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Plinii</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e801">51</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">artifically</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">artificially</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e890">60</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">‘</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e893">60</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">‘</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1070">76</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">pleateau</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">plateau</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1085">77</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">indiscribable</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">indescribable</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1331">97</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">precipiece</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">precipice</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1361">100</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">,</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1598">120</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Samsgrari</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Samsgvari</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1633">124</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">[<i>Not in source</i>]</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">“</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1715">135</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Ialone</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">I alone</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1858">147</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">af</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">of</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1891">150</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">wordly</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">worldly</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1908">151</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">exhalted</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">exalted</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1933">154</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Kersourians</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Khevsourians</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1938">154</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Pankiss</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Pankisse</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Caucasian Legends, by A. 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