XIV. 
   
    JUNE, 
   
    1763.
 
    
     [Emin 
    
     with 
    
     Heraclius 
    
     permission 
    
     goes 
    
     to 
    
     fight 
    
     the 
    
     Lezguis 
    
     with 
    
     24 
    
     Armenians 
    
     - 
    
     Encounter 
    
     with 
    
     52 
    
     of 
    
     the 
    
     enemy 
    
     - 
    
     The 
    
     Lezguis 
    
     cannot 
    
     overcome 
    
     them 
    
     and 
    
     finally 
    
     march 
    
     away 
    
     - 
    
     Heraclius 
    
     failing 
    
     to 
    
     send 
    
     supplies, 
    
     Emin 
    
     has 
    
     to 
    
     return 
    
     to 
    
     Tiflis 
    
     - 
    
     Heraclius 
    
     now 
    
     becomes 
    
     excessively 
    
     kind 
    
     on 
    
     account 
    
     of 
    
     Emin 
    
     having 
    
     held 
    
     up 
    
     the 
    
     Lezguis 
    
     - 
    
     "No 
    
     one 
    
     can 
    
     be 
    
     cheerful 
    
     in 
    
     Tiflis 
    
     for 
    
     half 
    
     an 
    
     hour" 
    
     - 
    
     Emin 
    
     goes 
    
     with 
    
     Heraclius 
    
     to 
    
     Kakhet, 
    
     where 
    
     he 
    
     is 
    
     well 
    
     treated 
    
     - 
    
     Mischief-making 
    
     priest 
    
     Phillipos 
    
     upsets 
    
     everything.
    
     ]
 
   
    About 
   
    the 
   
    month 
   
    of 
   
    June, 
   
    Emin 
   
    petitioned 
   
    the 
   
    prince, 
   
    that 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    be 
   
    pleased 
   
    to 
   
    grant 
   
    him 
   
    a 
   
    firman, 
   
    or 
   
    patent, 
   
    with 
   
    100 
   
    horse-load 
   
    of 
   
    flour, 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    go 
   
    with 
   
    his 
   
    twenty-four 
   
    men 
   
    just 
   
    taken 
   
    into 
   
    service 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    bishopric 
   
    of 
   
    Haghpat, 
   
    two 
   
    days 
   
    journey 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    south-west 
   
    of 
   
    Tifflis, 
   
    the 
   
    inhabitants 
   
    of 
   
    which 
   
    district 
   
    had 
   
    been 
   
    partly 
   
    carried 
   
    away 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    inroaders, 
   
    and 
   
    had 
   
    partly 
   
    emigrated 
   
    to 
   
    Kakhet, 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    hereditary 
   
    country, 
   
    to 
   
    live 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    monastery. 
   
    In 
   
    this 
   
    deserted 
   
    and 
   
    mountainous 
   
    country, 
   
    the 
   
    Lazguis 
   
    generally 
   
    hold 
   
    their 
   
    rendezvous. 
   
    The 
   
    prince 
   
    made 
   
    no 
   
    objection 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    proposal; 
   
    but 
   
    favoured 
   
    him 
   
    with 
   
    due 
   
    authority 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    following 
   
    commission: 
   
    "This 
   
    is 
   
    to 
   
    give 
   
    notice 
   
    and 
   
    certify, 
   
    that 
   
    I, 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    grace 
   
    of 
   
    God, 
   
    and 
   
    Christ 
   
    my 
   
    Saviour, 
   
    Heraclius, 
   
    king 
   
    of 
   
    Cartuel 
   
    and 
   
    Kakhet, 
   
    have, 
   
    by 
   
    my 
   
    pleasure 
   
    and 
   
    authority, 
   
    authorised 
   
    my 
   
    most 
   
    beloved 
   
    faithful 
   
    servant 
   
    Joseph 
   
    Emin, 
   
    with 
   
    commission 
   
    to 
   
    go 
   
    with 
   
    his 
   
    men 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    inhabited 
   
    bishopric 
   
    of 
   
    Haghpat, 
   
    to 
   
    take 
   
    possession 
   
    of, 
   
    and 
   
    to 
   
    live 
   
    in 
   
    it; 
   
    and 
   
    also 
   
    to 
   
    annoy, 
   
    kill, 
   
    and 
   
    destroy, 
   
    without 
   
    giving 
   
    quarters, 
   
    those 
   
    Lazguis 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    enemies 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    faith 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    country 
   
    of 
   
    Christians. 
   
    We 
   
    have 
   
    been 
   
    also 
   
    pleased 
   
    to 
   
    command, 
   
    that 
   
    if 
   
    any 
   
    Armenian 
   
    or 
   
    Armenians 
   
    should 
   
    go 
   
    to 
   
    him 
   
    from 
   
    any 
   
    part 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    country, 
   
    he 
   
    shall 
   
    receive 
   
    and 
   
    protect 
   
    them 
   
    as 
   
    he 
   
    shall 
   
    think 
   
    proper: 
   
    and 
   
    no 
   
    person 
   
    or 
   
    persons 
   
    shall 
   
    stand 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    way 
   
    to 
   
    prevent 
   
    him, 
   
    nor 
   
    take 
   
    them 
   
    by 
   
    force 
   
    from 
   
    him. 
   
    We 
   
    shall 
   
    hear 
   
    no 
   
    complaint 
   
    if 
   
    any 
   
    mans 
   
    subject 
   
    should 
   
    choose 
   
    to 
   
    go 
   
    and 
   
    put 
   
    himself 
   
    under 
   
    Emins 
   
    command: 
   
    and 
   
    such 
   
    complaint 
   
    shall 
   
    expect 
   
    no 
   
    kind 
   
    of 
   
    redress 
   
    from 
   
    us. 
   
    Given 
   
    under 
   
    my 
   
    hand 
   
    and 
   
    seal 
   
    &c. 
   
    Dated 
   
    at 
   
    Tiffliz, 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    month 
   
    of 
   
    June.
   
    "
 
   
    In 
   
    regard 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    hundred 
   
    horse-load 
   
    of 
   
    flour 
   
    he 
   
    told 
   
    Emin 
   
    to 
   
    go 
   
    to 
   
    Beydar, 
   
    about 
   
    sixteen 
   
    miles 
   
    or 
   
    more 
   
    from 
   
    Tiffliz; 
   
    and 
   
    that 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    few 
   
    days 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    send 
   
    an 
   
    order 
   
    for 
   
    it 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    given 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    Musulman 
   
    Cossack 
   
    clans, 
   
    in 
   
    his 
   
    way, 
   
    about 
   
    five 
   
    miles 
   
    from 
   
    the 
   
    place 
   
    above-mentioned. 
   
    The 
   
    prince 
   
    went 
   
    to 
   
    Kakhet, 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    next 
   
    day 
   
    Emin, 
   
    with 
   
    his 
   
    24 
   
    men, 
   
    marched 
   
    out; 
   
    but 
   
    were 
   
    not 
   
    gone 
   
    six 
   
    miles 
   
    from 
   
    Tiffliz, 
   
    when 
   
    they 
   
    discovered, 
   
    at 
   
    a 
   
    great 
   
    distance, 
   
    a 
   
    body 
   
    of 
   
    horse: 
   
    who 
   
    should 
   
    they 
   
    be, 
   
    but 
   
    fifty-two 
   
    stout 
   
    Lazguis. 
   
    He 
   
    and 
   
    two 
   
    more 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    men 
   
    were 
   
    on 
   
    horseback; 
   
    the 
   
    rest 
   
    were 
   
    on 
   
    foot. 
   
    The 
   
    rogues 
   
    drew 
   
    nearer 
   
    and 
   
    nearer, 
   
    while 
   
    he 
   
    took 
   
    no 
   
    notice, 
   
    going 
   
    on 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    road 
   
    till 
   
    they 
   
    came 
   
    within 
   
    500 
   
    yards 
   
    of 
   
    him, 
   
    making 
   
    sure 
   
    of 
   
    Emins 
   
    party, 
   
    who 
   
    were 
   
    so 
   
    few, 
   
    and 
   
    their 
   
    charging 
   
    and 
   
    his 
   
    dismounting 
   
    happened 
   
    at 
   
    one 
   
    time. 
   
    He 
   
    facing 
   
    his 
   
    men 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    left, 
   
    checked 
   
    their 
   
    coming 
   
    to 
   
    close 
   
    quarter, 
   
    who, 
   
    firing 
   
    their 
   
    pieces 
   
    all 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    volley, 
   
    dismounted 
   
    directly, 
   
    and 
   
    led 
   
    their 
   
    horses 
   
    to 
   
    a 
   
    ditch 
   
    on 
   
    the 
   
    left 
   
    side 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    road, 
   
    deep 
   
    enough 
   
    to 
   
    cover 
   
    them, 
   
    leaving 
   
    the 
   
    horses 
   
    behind 
   
    it, 
   
    and 
   
    making 
   
    the 
   
    bridge 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    ditch 
   
    a 
   
    breast-work, 
   
    within 
   
    fifteen 
   
    yards 
   
    of 
   
    Emin, 
   
    who 
   
    stood 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    road 
   
    exposed 
   
    with 
   
    his 
   
    men 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    rogues 
   
    fire, 
   
    from 
   
    eight 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    morning 
   
    till 
   
    six 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    afternoon. 
   
    The 
   
    loss 
   
    on 
   
    his 
   
    side 
   
    were 
   
    only 
   
    three 
   
    wounded, 
   
    one 
   
    of 
   
    his 
   
    horses 
   
    killed, 
   
    and 
   
    another 
   
    one, 
   
    the 
   
    only 
   
    Georgian 
   
    among 
   
    them 
   
    not 
   
    belonging 
   
    to 
   
    Emin, 
   
    mounted 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    heat 
   
    of 
   
    action, 
   
    and 
   
    rode 
   
    away 
   
    to 
   
    save 
   
    himself; 
   
    but 
   
    two 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    Lazguis 
   
    horse 
   
    overtook 
   
    him, 
   
    and 
   
    made 
   
    him 
   
    a 
   
    slave. 
   
    The 
   
    enemy 
   
    had 
   
    none 
   
    killed 
   
    on 
   
    the 
   
    spot, 
   
    only 
   
    thirteen 
   
    of 
   
    them 
   
    wounded, 
   
    as 
   
    Emins 
   
    people 
   
    were 
   
    told. 
   
    Three 
   
    weeks 
   
    after, 
   
    they 
   
    went 
   
    home 
   
    and 
   
    all 
   
    died.
 
   
    The 
   
    Lazguis 
   
    finding 
   
    it 
   
    very 
   
    difficult 
   
    to 
   
    overcome 
   
    few 
   
    Armenian 
   
    boys, 
   
    when 
   
    both 
   
    parties 
   
    were 
   
    tired 
   
    of 
   
    fighting, 
   
    and 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    heat 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    sun, 
   
    without 
   
    a 
   
    drop 
   
    of 
   
    water, 
   
    they 
   
    spoke 
   
    to 
   
    one 
   
    another 
   
    and 
   
    asked 
   
    if 
   
    they 
   
    were 
   
    Russians 
   
    who 
   
    stood 
   
    the 
   
    brush 
   
    so 
   
    many 
   
    hours? 
   
    Emins 
   
    little 
   
    followers 
   
    answered, 
   
    "You, 
   
    Mahometans, 
   
    why 
   
    do 
   
    you 
   
    stand 
   
    asking 
   
    questions? 
   
    this 
   
    is 
   
    neither 
   
    a 
   
    hummum 
   
    to 
   
    wash, 
   
    nor 
   
    mejid 
   
    to 
   
    pray 
   
    in; 
   
    fight 
   
    away 
   
    till 
   
    you 
   
    bleed.
   
    " 
   
    At 
   
    that 
   
    very 
   
    time 
   
    a 
   
    big 
   
    headed 
   
    Lazguis 
   
    called 
   
    Emin 
   
    bad 
   
    names, 
   
    besides 
   
    Caffer, 
   
    as 
   
    is 
   
    common 
   
    with 
   
    that 
   
    nation, 
   
    and 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    same 
   
    time 
   
    aimed 
   
    his 
   
    piece 
   
    at 
   
    him; 
   
    he 
   
    missed 
   
    three 
   
    times; 
   
    and 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    same 
   
    instant 
   
    the 
   
    fellow 
   
    was 
   
    answered 
   
    by 
   
    an 
   
    English 
   
    piece, 
   
    the 
   
    gift 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    duke 
   
    of 
   
    Richmond, 
   
    the 
   
    ball 
   
    of 
   
    it 
   
    took 
   
    him 
   
    just 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    mouth, 
   
    carried 
   
    away 
   
    the 
   
    upper 
   
    teeth 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    jaw 
   
    with 
   
    half 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    face. 
   
    When 
   
    this 
   
    man 
   
    was 
   
    out 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    way, 
   
    they 
   
    retreated, 
   
    and 
   
    carried 
   
    their 
   
    wounded 
   
    about 
   
    half 
   
    a 
   
    mile 
   
    from 
   
    the 
   
    place 
   
    of 
   
    action. 
   
    Emin 
   
    perceiving 
   
    by 
   
    their 
   
    motions, 
   
    that 
   
    they 
   
    would 
   
    not 
   
    go 
   
    away, 
   
    easily 
   
    formed 
   
    his 
   
    men 
   
    all 
   
    in 
   
    one 
   
    rank, 
   
    charging 
   
    them 
   
    strictly 
   
    not 
   
    to 
   
    fire 
   
    at 
   
    random, 
   
    as 
   
    they 
   
    had 
   
    done 
   
    before; 
   
    then 
   
    having 
   
    marched 
   
    a 
   
    great 
   
    distance 
   
    from 
   
    the 
   
    place, 
   
    when 
   
    the 
   
    enemy 
   
    took 
   
    advantage 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    ditch, 
   
    they 
   
    stood 
   
    in 
   
    an 
   
    open 
   
    field 
   
    to 
   
    receive 
   
    them, 
   
    who 
   
    forming 
   
    their 
   
    body 
   
    into 
   
    a 
   
    deep 
   
    column, 
   
    cried 
   
    out, 
   
    "Glory 
   
    to 
   
    Mahomet, 
   
    and 
   
    destruction 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    Christians,
   
    " 
   
    charged, 
   
    and 
   
    halted 
   
    within 
   
    a 
   
    hundred 
   
    yards. 
   
    Being 
   
    taken 
   
    no 
   
    notice 
   
    of, 
   
    they 
   
    dispersed 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    right 
   
    and 
   
    left 
   
    about; 
   
    and 
   
    in 
   
    about 
   
    five 
   
    minutes 
   
    more, 
   
    gathered 
   
    again 
   
    together 
   
    to 
   
    complete 
   
    the 
   
    third 
   
    onset; 
   
    coming 
   
    a 
   
    little 
   
    nearer 
   
    than 
   
    they 
   
    did 
   
    the 
   
    second 
   
    time, 
   
    but 
   
    found 
   
    it 
   
    impossible 
   
    to 
   
    provoke 
   
    Emins 
   
    party 
   
    to 
   
    fire 
   
    at 
   
    that 
   
    distance, 
   
    as 
   
    it 
   
    was 
   
    their 
   
    wish 
   
    they 
   
    should, 
   
    in 
   
    hopes 
   
    to 
   
    frighten 
   
    them 
   
    into 
   
    disorder, 
   
    then 
   
    to 
   
    fall 
   
    on 
   
    them 
   
    sword 
   
    in 
   
    hand. 
   
    Emins 
   
    men 
   
    called 
   
    to 
   
    them 
   
    to 
   
    come 
   
    nearer, 
   
    and 
   
    not 
   
    be 
   
    afraid, 
   
    since 
   
    they 
   
    had 
   
    neither 
   
    powder 
   
    nor 
   
    ball 
   
    left; 
   
    and 
   
    there 
   
    were 
   
    with 
   
    them 
   
    half 
   
    a 
   
    dozen 
   
    pretty 
   
    Georgian 
   
    boys, 
   
    who 
   
    would 
   
    sell 
   
    for 
   
    two 
   
    hundred 
   
    tumans 
   
    each. 
   
    "O 
   
    ye 
   
    Caffers!" 
   
    said 
   
    the 
   
    Lazguis, 
   
    "you 
   
    want 
   
    in 
   
    that 
   
    way 
   
    to 
   
    kill 
   
    us 
   
    all 
   
    at 
   
    once. 
   
    We 
   
    know 
   
    you 
   
    reserve 
   
    your 
   
    fire; 
   
    but 
   
    not 
   
    because 
   
    you 
   
    have 
   
    no 
   
    powder; 
   
    you 
   
    are 
   
    neither 
   
    Georgians 
   
    nor 
   
    Armenians; 
   
    you 
   
    must 
   
    be 
   
    from 
   
    the 
   
    Caffers 
   
    country, 
   
    where 
   
    the 
   
    seven 
   
    carolls 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    rest 
   
    of 
   
    them 
   
    reside: 
   
    but 
   
    we 
   
    must 
   
    tell 
   
    you, 
   
    that 
   
    all 
   
    our 
   
    comrades 
   
    will 
   
    not 
   
    survive, 
   
    as 
   
    their 
   
    wounds 
   
    are 
   
    mortal; 
   
    once 
   
    more, 
    
     farewel!
   
    " 
   
    Then 
   
    each 
   
    party 
   
    marched 
   
    away, 
   
    after 
   
    a 
   
    ten 
   
    hours 
   
    skirmish; 
   
    since, 
   
    when 
   
    Emins 
   
    men 
   
    were 
   
    in 
   
    order, 
   
    the 
   
    enemy 
   
    thought 
   
    it 
   
    advisable 
   
    not 
   
    to 
   
    have 
   
    any 
   
    thing 
   
    to 
   
    say 
   
    to 
   
    them.
 
   
    About 
   
    nine 
   
    oclock 
   
    they 
   
    reached 
   
    the 
   
    place 
   
    mentioned 
   
    before, 
   
    the 
   
    Armenian 
   
    village 
   
    Baydar, 
   
    and 
   
    took 
   
    quarters 
   
    there; 
   
    but, 
   
    instead 
   
    of 
   
    forty-five 
   
    days, 
   
    the 
   
    time 
   
    limited 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    prince, 
   
    Emin 
   
    waited 
   
    five 
   
    months 
   
    for 
   
    an 
   
    order 
   
    from 
   
    him 
   
    to 
   
    get 
   
    the 
   
    promised 
   
    flour, 
   
    and 
   
    was 
   
    then 
   
    obliged 
   
    to 
   
    dismiss 
   
    the 
   
    men, 
   
    keeping 
   
    only 
   
    four 
   
    to 
   
    take 
   
    care 
   
    of 
   
    two 
   
    horses, 
   
    and 
   
    wait 
   
    upon 
   
    him. 
   
    At 
   
    the 
   
    latter 
   
    end 
   
    of 
   
    November 
   
    1763, 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    sent 
   
    him 
   
    an 
   
    order 
   
    in 
   
    writing 
   
    to 
   
    receive 
   
    one 
   
    months 
   
    provision 
   
    only, 
   
    to 
   
    maintain 
   
    twenty-four 
   
    men 
   
    and 
   
    himself, 
   
    with 
   
    forage 
   
    for 
   
    four 
   
    horses, 
   
    of 
   
    which 
   
    two 
   
    were 
   
    destroyed; 
   
    one 
   
    ran 
   
    away 
   
    with 
   
    the 
   
    Georgian, 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    other 
   
    was 
   
    killed 
   
    in 
   
    that 
   
    little 
   
    fight. 
   
    Emin 
   
    answered 
   
    and 
   
    thanked 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    for 
   
    his 
   
    liberality, 
   
    and 
   
    said, 
   
    "Great 
   
    Sir, 
   
    this 
   
    one 
   
    months 
   
    provision 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    just 
   
    enough 
   
    to 
   
    maintain 
   
    four 
   
    men 
   
    for 
   
    forty 
   
    months 
   
    to 
   
    come; 
   
    as 
   
    the 
   
    rest 
   
    are 
   
    gone 
   
    away, 
   
    there 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    no 
   
    more 
   
    need 
   
    of 
   
    it 
   
    till 
   
    then; 
   
    but, 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    country 
   
    like 
   
    this, 
   
    every 
   
    eatable 
   
    is 
   
    so 
   
    cheap, 
   
    it 
   
    surprizes 
   
    me 
   
    to 
   
    find 
   
    your 
   
    Highness 
   
    so 
   
    niggardly 
   
    as 
   
    to 
   
    disgrace 
   
    the 
   
    very 
   
    name 
   
    of 
   
    economy; 
   
    which 
   
    puts 
   
    me 
   
    in 
   
    mind 
   
    of 
   
    a 
   
    merchant 
   
    in 
   
    Ispahan, 
   
    who 
   
    almost 
   
    starved 
   
    his 
   
    own 
   
    children 
   
    to 
   
    save 
   
    his 
   
    money; 
   
    but 
   
    as 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    travelling 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    caravan, 
   
    a 
   
    highway-man, 
   
    with 
   
    fifty 
   
    companions, 
   
    robbed 
   
    him 
   
    of 
   
    all 
   
    his 
   
    riches, 
   
    and 
   
    left 
   
    him 
   
    on 
   
    the 
   
    road 
   
    starving. 
   
    He 
   
    was 
   
    sorry,
   
    " 
   
    he 
   
    added, 
   
    "that 
   
    he 
   
    did 
   
    not 
   
    hearken 
   
    to 
   
    count 
   
    Worronzoffs 
   
    friendly 
   
    hint, 
   
    when 
   
    he 
   
    said, 
   
    that 
   
    prince 
   
    Heraclius 
   
    was 
   
    not 
   
    the 
   
    man 
   
    to 
   
    satisfy 
   
    him: 
   
    sure 
   
    his 
   
    prophecy 
   
    was 
   
    nearly 
   
    coming 
   
    to 
   
    pass, 
   
    and 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    not 
   
    far 
   
    from 
   
    being 
   
    starved.
   
    " 
   
    The 
   
    prince, 
   
    in 
   
    his 
   
    answer, 
   
    comforted 
   
    him, 
   
    and 
   
    desired 
   
    him 
   
    not 
   
    to 
   
    take 
   
    it 
   
    to 
   
    heart, 
   
    adding, 
   
    "Every 
   
    thing 
   
    in 
   
    good 
   
    time, 
   
    patience 
   
    will 
   
    conquer 
   
    all; 
   
    come 
   
    to 
   
    me, 
   
    my 
   
    dear 
   
    Emin 
   
    Aga! 
   
    I 
   
    will 
   
    do 
   
    all 
   
    in 
   
    my 
   
    power 
   
    to 
   
    make 
   
    you 
   
    happy. 
   
    Pater 
   
    Philipus, 
   
    your 
   
    only 
   
    friend 
   
    and 
   
    mine, 
   
    translated 
   
    every 
   
    letter 
   
    you 
   
    sent 
   
    into 
   
    the 
   
    Georgian 
   
    language; 
   
    when 
   
    I 
   
    read 
   
    them, 
   
    I 
   
    swear 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    grave 
   
    of 
   
    my 
   
    father, 
   
    it 
   
    would 
   
    be 
   
    infinite 
   
    pleasure 
   
    to 
   
    make 
   
    Emin 
   
    happy.
   
    " 
   
    So 
   
    it 
   
    might; 
   
    and 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    able, 
   
    at 
   
    that 
   
    time, 
   
    to 
   
    make 
   
    all 
   
    the 
   
    Armenians 
   
    both 
   
    free 
   
    and 
   
    happy, 
   
    if 
   
    the 
   
    dark 
   
    angels 
   
    had 
   
    not 
   
    stepped 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    way 
   
    with 
   
    their 
   
    black 
   
    hearts, 
   
    which 
   
    made 
   
    him 
   
    at 
   
    last 
   
    lose 
   
    his 
   
    poor 
   
    Emin 
   
    for 
   
    ever.
 
   
    In 
   
    obedience 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    order, 
   
    Emin 
   
    immediately 
   
    marched, 
   
    with 
   
    his 
   
    four 
   
    servants, 
   
    from 
   
    the 
   
    Cossack 
   
    clans, 
   
    two 
   
    days 
   
    journey 
   
    back 
   
    to 
   
    Tiffliz. 
   
    In 
   
    his 
   
    way 
   
    he 
   
    convoyed 
   
    a 
   
    caravan 
   
    to 
   
    Telave, 
   
    the 
   
    capital 
   
    of 
   
    Kakhet 
   
    Georgia, 
   
    a 
   
    pitiful 
   
    town, 
   
    containing 
   
    twelve 
   
    hundred 
   
    mud 
   
    houses. 
   
    When 
   
    he 
   
    waited 
   
    upon 
   
    the 
   
    prince, 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    received 
   
    with 
   
    extraordinary 
   
    kindness, 
   
    more 
   
    like 
   
    that 
   
    of 
   
    an 
   
    affectionate 
   
    father 
   
    than 
   
    a 
   
    prince. 
   
    Heraclius 
   
    thanked 
   
    him 
   
    for 
   
    his 
   
    behaviour 
   
    against 
   
    the 
   
    Lazguis, 
   
    expressing 
   
    great 
   
    surprize 
   
    how, 
   
    with 
   
    a 
   
    handful 
   
    of 
   
    boys, 
   
    he 
   
    could 
   
    stand 
   
    so 
   
    many 
   
    hours 
   
    under 
   
    so 
   
    hot 
   
    a 
   
    sun, 
   
    against 
   
    fifty-two 
   
    veteran 
   
    mountaineers; 
   
    and 
   
    he 
   
    added, 
   
    "after 
   
    your 
   
    engagement, 
   
    the 
   
    same 
   
    men 
   
    robbed 
   
    a 
   
    caravan 
   
    of 
   
    five 
   
    hundred 
   
    men, 
   
    well 
   
    armed 
   
    going 
   
    from 
   
    Tiffliz 
   
    to 
   
    Baydar, 
   
    on 
   
    the 
   
    very 
   
    same 
   
    ground, 
   
    killed 
   
    several 
   
    and 
   
    carried 
   
    away 
   
    above 
   
    a 
   
    hundred 
   
    of 
   
    them.
   
    " 
   
    Emin 
   
    said, 
   
    "If 
   
    your 
   
    Highness 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    ordered 
   
    the 
   
    promised 
   
    hundred 
   
    horse-load 
   
    of 
   
    flour 
   
    they 
   
    would 
   
    not 
   
    have 
   
    enslaved 
   
    away 
   
    an 
   
    hundred 
   
    good 
   
    subjects, 
   
    besides 
   
    taking 
   
    their 
   
    arms, 
   
    horses, 
   
    and 
   
    baggage, 
   
    while 
   
    their 
   
    miserable 
   
    families 
   
    are 
   
    groaning. 
   
    May 
   
    God 
   
    in 
   
    heaven 
   
    direct 
   
    your 
   
    Highnesss 
   
    heart 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    right 
   
    way 
   
    of 
   
    protecting 
   
    them!" 
   
    The 
   
    prince 
   
    said, 
   
    "I, 
   
    in 
   
    firm 
   
    belief, 
   
    agree 
   
    with 
   
    you, 
   
    that 
   
    nothing 
   
    can 
   
    be 
   
    done 
   
    without 
   
    Him: 
   
    they 
   
    deserve 
   
    it 
   
    very 
   
    justly: 
   
    if 
   
    you 
   
    knew 
   
    them 
   
    as 
   
    well 
   
    as 
   
    I 
   
    do, 
   
    you 
   
    would 
   
    not 
   
    be 
   
    so 
   
    great 
   
    an 
   
    advocate 
   
    for 
   
    them, 
   
    or 
   
    feel 
   
    so 
   
    much 
   
    for 
   
    their 
   
    misery. 
   
    I 
   
    do 
   
    all 
   
    I 
   
    can 
   
    to 
   
    defend 
   
    and 
   
    keep 
   
    them 
   
    happy; 
   
    but 
   
    go 
   
    yourself, 
   
    enter 
   
    into 
   
    them, 
   
    and 
   
    read 
   
    their 
   
    hearts, 
   
    what 
   
    is 
   
    there 
   
    written 
   
    will 
   
    soon 
   
    bring 
   
    you 
   
    back 
   
    to 
   
    my 
   
    way 
   
    of 
   
    thinking; 
   
    and 
   
    take 
   
    this 
   
    from 
   
    me, 
   
    it 
   
    will 
   
    not 
   
    be 
   
    long 
   
    before 
   
    they 
   
    will 
   
    do 
   
    their 
   
    utmost 
   
    to 
   
    divide 
   
    my 
   
    heart 
   
    from 
   
    you, 
   
    and 
   
    will 
   
    glory 
   
    in 
   
    their 
   
    wicked 
   
    minds, 
   
    as 
   
    if 
   
    they 
   
    had 
   
    effected 
   
    a 
   
    great 
   
    thing: 
   
    come, 
   
    sit 
   
    nearer 
   
    to 
   
    me, 
   
    let 
   
    us 
   
    enjoy 
   
    one 
   
    anothers 
   
    company, 
   
    while 
   
    we 
   
    are 
   
    in 
   
    Kakhet, 
   
    for 
   
    Tiffliz 
   
    is 
   
    not 
   
    a 
   
    place 
   
    in 
   
    which 
   
    we 
   
    can 
   
    remain 
   
    cheerful 
   
    for 
   
    half 
   
    an 
   
    hour.
   
    " 
   
    It 
   
    had 
   
    in 
   
    fact 
   
    become 
   
    a 
   
    common 
   
    remark 
   
    in 
   
    every 
   
    bodys 
   
    mouth, 
   
    that 
   
    the 
   
    Valy 
   
    changed 
   
    his 
   
    temper 
   
    as 
   
    soon 
   
    as 
   
    he 
   
    went 
   
    out 
   
    of 
   
    town; 
   
    and 
   
    especially 
   
    when 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    in 
   
    Kakhet, 
   
    turned 
   
    entirely 
   
    to 
   
    an 
   
    angel, 
   
    with 
   
    good-nature, 
   
    politeness, 
   
    and 
   
    pleasure. 
   
    Emin 
   
    enjoyed 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    company 
   
    for 
   
    several 
   
    days, 
   
    which 
   
    was 
   
    really 
   
    very 
   
    improving, 
   
    as 
   
    if 
   
    it 
   
    had 
   
    been 
   
    the 
   
    conversation 
   
    of 
   
    a 
   
    learned 
   
    English 
   
    nobleman, 
   
    without 
   
    the 
   
    least 
   
    pride, 
   
    stiffness, 
   
    or 
   
    domineering 
   
    deportment, 
   
    which 
   
    are 
   
    so 
   
    common 
   
    to 
   
    Asiatic 
   
    princes; 
   
    and 
   
    with 
   
    such 
   
    a 
   
    quickness 
   
    of 
   
    apprehension, 
   
    that 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    opening 
   
    of 
   
    any 
   
    subject, 
   
    he 
   
    understood 
   
    the 
   
    whole 
   
    extent 
   
    of 
   
    it. 
   
    His 
   
    voice, 
   
    in 
   
    pronouncing 
   
    words, 
   
    conversing 
   
    or 
   
    treating 
   
    any 
   
    topic, 
   
    was 
   
    so 
   
    melodiously 
   
    sweet, 
   
    that 
   
    the 
   
    hearer, 
   
    without 
   
    seeing 
   
    his 
   
    greenish 
   
    brown 
   
    complexion 
   
    mentioned 
   
    before, 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    thought 
   
    an 
   
    angel 
   
    was 
   
    haranguing. 
   
    Of 
   
    pride 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    not 
   
    the 
   
    least 
   
    particle; 
   
    he 
   
    never 
   
    perhaps 
   
    boasted 
   
    in 
   
    his 
   
    life, 
   
    though 
   
    he 
   
    overthrew 
   
    in 
   
    many 
   
    battles 
   
    almost 
   
    every 
   
    competitor 
   
    since 
   
    Nadir 
   
    Shah; 
   
    and 
   
    it 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    been 
   
    all 
   
    the 
   
    same 
   
    to 
   
    him, 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    been 
   
    in 
   
    possession 
   
    of 
   
    all 
   
    the 
   
    kingdoms 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    East.
 
   
    One 
   
    evening 
   
    about 
   
    nine 
   
    oclock, 
   
    he 
   
    sent 
   
    for 
   
    Emin 
   
    and 
   
    Pater 
   
    Philipus; 
   
    when 
   
    they 
   
    came, 
   
    they 
   
    found 
   
    him 
   
    sitting 
   
    alone; 
   
    he 
   
    said, 
   
    "Come, 
   
    my 
   
    dear 
   
    Emin 
   
    Aga, 
   
    we 
   
    are 
   
    not 
   
    in 
   
    Tiffliz 
   
    now, 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    interrupted 
   
    by 
   
    any 
   
    one 
   
    of 
   
    those 
   
    great 
   
    fellows; 
   
    we 
   
    can 
   
    talk 
   
    at 
   
    our 
   
    own 
   
    pleasure.
   
    " 
   
    He 
   
    seemed 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    very 
   
    cheerful, 
   
    and 
   
    his 
   
    fine 
   
    eyes 
   
    sparkled. 
   
    The 
   
    conversation 
   
    turned 
   
    on 
   
    various 
   
    subjects, 
   
    till 
   
    it 
   
    rested 
   
    upon 
   
    religious 
   
    matters. 
   
    He 
   
    said 
   
    very 
   
    wisely, 
   
    that 
   
    ever 
   
    since 
   
    the 
   
    two 
   
    brothers, 
   
    meaning 
   
    the 
   
    Armenian 
   
    and 
   
    Georgian 
   
    nations, 
   
    differed 
   
    on 
   
    points 
   
    of 
   
    faith, 
   
    they 
   
    had 
   
    become 
   
    for 
   
    that 
   
    sole 
   
    reason 
   
    divided 
   
    from 
   
    each 
   
    other; 
   
    the 
   
    consequence 
   
    of 
   
    which 
   
    discord 
   
    was 
   
    so 
   
    apparently 
   
    effective, 
   
    as 
   
    to 
   
    make 
   
    them 
   
    both 
   
    fall 
   
    headlong 
   
    under 
   
    the 
   
    dominion 
   
    of 
   
    infidels; 
   
    that 
   
    unless 
   
    they 
   
    would 
   
    join 
   
    in 
   
    one 
   
    opinion, 
   
    and 
   
    unite 
   
    in 
   
    one 
   
    body, 
   
    like 
   
    two 
   
    hands 
   
    (opening 
   
    his 
   
    fingers, 
   
    and 
   
    clasping 
   
    them 
   
    close 
   
    into 
   
    one 
   
    another), 
   
    they 
   
    would 
   
    never 
   
    be 
   
    able 
   
    to 
   
    form 
   
    any 
   
    noble 
   
    design. 
   
    These 
   
    sentiments 
   
    made 
   
    Emin 
   
    rise, 
   
    lay 
   
    hold 
   
    of 
   
    both 
   
    his 
   
    hands, 
   
    which 
   
    he 
   
    kissed 
   
    seven 
   
    times. 
   
    Heraclius 
   
    returned 
   
    the 
   
    compliment, 
   
    kissing 
   
    his 
   
    forehead, 
   
    and 
   
    both 
   
    shed 
   
    tears 
   
    of 
   
    sympathy; 
   
    which 
   
    Philipus 
   
    seeing, 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    no 
   
    less 
   
    affected 
   
    with 
   
    sensibility: 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    sympathizing 
   
    prince 
   
    added, 
   
    "I 
   
    do 
   
    not 
   
    mean 
   
    that 
   
    your 
   
    countrymen 
   
    should 
   
    entirely 
   
    change 
   
    their 
   
    way 
   
    of 
   
    thinking, 
   
    which 
   
    is 
   
    morally 
   
    impossible; 
   
    it 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    only 
   
    necessary 
   
    to 
   
    cut 
   
    off 
   
    some 
   
    superfluous 
   
    and 
   
    useless 
   
    ceremony 
   
    on 
   
    our 
   
    side, 
   
    and 
   
    some 
   
    on 
   
    yours; 
   
    that 
   
    alone 
   
    can 
   
    make 
   
    the 
   
    two 
   
    nations 
   
    one: 
   
    what 
   
    do 
   
    you 
   
    say 
   
    to 
   
    that, 
   
    my 
   
    Emin 
   
    Aga?" 
   
    He 
   
    answered, 
   
    "I 
   
    have 
   
    already 
   
    approved 
   
    it 
   
    by 
   
    kissing 
   
    your 
   
    hands; 
   
    and 
   
    it 
   
    is 
   
    my 
   
    humble 
   
    opinion, 
   
    that 
   
    none 
   
    but 
   
    your 
   
    Highness 
   
    can 
   
    effect 
   
    that 
   
    great 
   
    design, 
   
    being 
   
    by 
   
    God 
   
    established 
   
    both 
   
    in 
   
    fame 
   
    and 
   
    power; 
   
    provided 
   
    you 
   
    will 
   
    not 
   
    hear 
   
    the 
   
    tales 
   
    of 
   
    those 
   
    who 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    ready 
   
    to 
   
    sacrifice 
   
    your 
   
    good 
   
    mind, 
   
    and 
   
    make 
   
    your 
   
    sublime 
   
    councils 
   
    fall 
   
    victims 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    hostile 
   
    ambition 
   
    of 
   
    men, 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    entirely 
   
    strangers 
   
    to 
   
    unity 
   
    or 
   
    peace 
   
    between 
   
    the 
   
    two 
   
    churches: 
   
    the 
   
    best 
   
    way 
   
    will 
   
    be, 
   
    to 
   
    take 
   
    no 
   
    notice 
   
    to 
   
    them 
   
    of 
   
    so 
   
    grand 
   
    an 
   
    enterprize.
   
    " 
   
    The 
   
    prince 
   
    asked 
   
    Emin, 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    could 
   
    give 
   
    advice 
   
    how 
   
    to 
   
    go 
   
    about 
   
    it? 
   
    He 
   
    said, 
   
    "This 
   
    moment 
   
    give 
   
    orders 
   
    to 
   
    6000 
   
    horse 
   
    and 
   
    10,
   
    000 
   
    foot, 
   
    which 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    ready 
   
    in 
   
    five 
   
    days 
   
    time; 
   
    put 
   
    yourself 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    head 
   
    of 
   
    them; 
   
    march 
   
    directly 
   
    to 
   
    Bujazid, 
   
    the 
   
    country 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    Curds, 
   
    without 
   
    seeing 
   
    Tiffliz; 
   
    it 
   
    is 
   
    but 
   
    a 
   
    march 
   
    of 
   
    six 
   
    days; 
   
    invade 
   
    that 
   
    country 
   
    first, 
   
    where, 
   
    see 
   
    by 
   
    this 
   
    very 
   
    letter, 
   
    4000 
   
    Armenians 
   
    are 
   
    ready 
   
    to 
   
    join 
   
    you: 
   
    pass 
   
    thence 
   
    to 
   
    Arzerum, 
   
    in 
   
    three 
   
    days: 
   
    the 
   
    next 
   
    countries 
   
    are 
   
    Bassan, 
   
    Susan, 
   
    and 
   
    Betlis; 
   
    there 
   
    you 
   
    will 
   
    have 
   
    12,
   
    000 
   
    foot, 
   
    before 
   
    the 
   
    Turks 
   
    will 
   
    rise 
   
    from 
   
    their 
   
    everlasting 
   
    drowsiness. 
   
    The 
   
    Armenians 
   
    of 
   
    Mush, 
   
    with 
   
    10,
   
    000 
   
    horse, 
   
    will 
   
    join 
   
    you; 
   
    the 
   
    whole 
   
    making 
   
    40,
   
    000. 
   
    Then 
   
    issue 
   
    a 
   
    proclamation, 
   
    that 
   
    you 
   
    are 
   
    come 
   
    to 
   
    claim 
   
    Armenia 
   
    by 
   
    hereditary 
   
    right, 
   
    as 
   
    lawful 
   
    heir 
   
    to 
   
    that 
   
    kingdom; 
   
    and 
   
    that 
   
    your 
   
    ancestors 
   
    in 
   
    former 
   
    days 
   
    reigned 
   
    300 
   
    years 
   
    over 
   
    it. 
   
    Do 
   
    this, 
   
    you 
   
    will 
   
    succeed; 
   
    but 
   
    your 
   
    Highness 
   
    will 
   
    do 
   
    nothing. 
   
    This 
   
    letter 
   
    of 
   
    bishop 
   
    Jonas 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    monastery 
   
    of 
   
    St. 
   
    John 
   
    the 
   
    Baptist, 
   
    will 
   
    tell 
   
    you, 
   
    that 
   
    the 
   
    Armenian 
   
    nation 
   
    do 
   
    acknowledge, 
   
    and 
   
    have 
   
    acknowledged 
   
    for 
   
    these 
   
    twenty 
   
    years 
   
    last 
   
    past, 
   
    that 
   
    you 
   
    are 
   
    their 
   
    sovereign; 
   
    it 
   
    was 
   
    through 
   
    necessity 
   
    that 
   
    they 
   
    invited 
   
    your 
   
    Highnesss 
   
    humble 
   
    slave 
   
    to 
   
    enter 
   
    into 
   
    those 
   
    parts; 
   
    for 
   
    by 
   
    writing 
   
    only 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    awaked 
   
    them 
   
    to 
   
    a 
   
    noble 
   
    zeal, 
   
    and 
   
    that 
   
    not 
   
    without 
   
    your 
   
    consent 
   
    and 
   
    permission; 
   
    and 
   
    that 
   
    it 
   
    is 
   
    not 
   
    possible 
   
    for 
   
    a 
   
    layman 
   
    like 
   
    him 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    their 
   
    king. 
   
    When 
   
    you 
   
    were 
   
    angry 
   
    last 
   
    year 
   
    at 
   
    their 
   
    calling 
   
    him 
   
    prince, 
   
    who 
   
    is 
   
    the 
   
    son 
   
    of 
   
    Hovsep 
   
    the 
   
    Armenian 
   
    now 
   
    in 
   
    Calcutta; 
   
    can 
   
    he 
   
    pretend 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    sovereignty 
   
    of 
   
    Armenia, 
   
    whose 
   
    real 
   
    sovereign 
   
    (whom 
   
    God 
   
    preserve) 
   
    is 
   
    living, 
   
    with 
   
    seven 
   
    princely 
   
    sons, 
   
    and 
   
    five 
   
    angelic 
   
    daughters?"
 
   
    By 
   
    these 
   
    words 
   
    of 
   
    Emin 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    was 
   
    so 
   
    roused, 
   
    that 
   
    his 
   
    inward 
   
    emotions 
   
    made 
   
    him, 
   
    from 
   
    sitting 
   
    cross-legged 
   
    like 
   
    a 
    
     taylor, 
   
    change 
   
    his 
   
    position, 
   
    and 
   
    sit 
   
    upon 
   
    his 
   
    knees. 
   
    He 
   
    began 
   
    to 
   
    twist 
   
    his 
   
    whiskers, 
   
    resembling 
   
    a 
   
    fierce 
   
    lion, 
   
    and 
   
    said 
   
    to 
   
    Philipus, 
   
    "Christis 
   
    madlema 
   
    zalisuy 
   
    utkhar;
   
    " 
   
    that 
   
    is, 
   
    "By 
   
    Christ, 
   
    he 
   
    speaks 
   
    very 
   
    strongly.
   
    " 
   
    The 
   
    priest 
   
    said, 
   
    "May 
   
    it 
   
    please 
   
    your 
   
    Highness, 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    not 
   
    been 
   
    extraordinary 
   
    in 
   
    every 
   
    respect, 
   
    how 
   
    could 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    in 
   
    Frankestan 
   
    have 
   
    esteemed 
   
    him 
   
    worthy 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    recommended 
   
    to 
   
    your 
   
    Highnesss 
   
    favour: 
   
    by 
   
    what 
   
    I 
   
    can 
   
    judge, 
   
    without 
   
    being 
   
    partial 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    Armenian 
   
    nation, 
   
    your 
   
    Highness 
   
    will 
   
    never 
   
    find 
   
    another 
   
    like 
   
    him, 
   
    even 
   
    among 
   
    your 
   
    own 
   
    people. 
   
    I 
   
    am 
   
    told 
   
    by 
   
    Armenian 
   
    merchants, 
   
    that 
   
    his 
   
    father 
   
    is 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    good 
   
    way, 
   
    and 
   
    himself 
   
    might 
   
    have 
   
    lived 
   
    very 
   
    happy 
   
    with 
   
    great 
   
    credit 
   
    in 
   
    England, 
   
    but 
   
    he 
   
    must 
   
    be 
   
    inspired 
   
    with 
   
    love 
   
    for 
   
    your 
   
    name 
   
    and 
   
    glorious 
   
    actions; 
   
    otherwise 
   
    how 
   
    could 
   
    it 
   
    have 
   
    been 
   
    possible 
   
    for 
   
    him, 
   
    without 
   
    seeing 
   
    your 
   
    person, 
   
    to 
   
    have 
   
    so 
   
    great 
   
    an 
   
    attachment 
   
    for 
   
    your 
   
    Highness, 
   
    whose 
   
    life 
   
    may 
   
    the 
   
    great 
   
    God 
   
    prolong, 
   
    for 
   
    the 
   
    happiness 
   
    of 
   
    your 
   
    subjects!" 
   
    Then 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    said 
   
    again, 
   
    "My 
   
    Emin 
   
    Aga, 
   
    every 
   
    word 
   
    you 
   
    have 
   
    spoken 
   
    is 
   
    a 
   
    gun 
   
    in 
   
    my 
   
    ears, 
   
    and 
   
    I 
   
    hope 
   
    we 
   
    shall 
   
    act 
   
    with 
   
    great 
   
    satisfaction 
   
    and 
   
    success, 
   
    provided 
   
    God 
   
    himself 
   
    will 
   
    be 
   
    our 
   
    conductor. 
   
    I 
   
    only 
   
    wish 
   
    my 
   
    eldest 
   
    son 
   
    had 
   
    been 
   
    alive, 
   
    whom 
   
    the 
   
    small-pox 
   
    snatched 
   
    away 
   
    from 
   
    my 
   
    arms 
   
    two 
   
    or 
   
    three 
   
    years 
   
    ago, 
   
    and 
   
    that 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    age 
   
    of 
   
    twenty 
   
    (saying 
   
    this, 
   
    he 
   
    burst 
   
    into 
   
    tears); 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    joined 
   
    you 
   
    with 
   
    hand 
   
    and 
   
    heart, 
   
    and 
   
    with 
   
    all 
   
    his 
   
    might, 
   
    to 
   
    ease 
   
    me 
   
    of 
   
    my 
   
    troubles, 
   
    which 
   
    have 
   
    almost 
   
    worn 
   
    me 
   
    out 
   
    for 
   
    the 
   
    last 
   
    twenty 
   
    years; 
   
    I 
   
    should 
   
    then 
   
    have 
   
    lived 
   
    at 
   
    my 
   
    ease. 
   
    Can 
   
    you 
   
    recollect 
   
    a 
   
    letter, 
   
    when 
   
    you 
   
    were 
   
    last 
   
    at 
   
    Travan, 
   
    sent 
   
    by 
   
    the 
   
    archbishop 
   
    Zachariah 
   
    of 
   
    Tiffliz, 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    advice 
   
    of 
   
    your 
   
    wise 
   
    father, 
   
    in 
   
    regard 
   
    to 
   
    matrimony?" 
   
    He 
   
    was 
   
    just 
   
    going 
   
    to 
   
    complete 
   
    the 
   
    sentence, 
   
    and 
   
    to 
   
    say 
   
    that 
   
    Emin 
   
    had 
   
    demanded 
   
    his 
   
    daughter, 
   
    when 
   
    Philipus 
   
    thinking 
   
    to 
   
    do 
   
    Emin 
   
    service 
   
    or 
   
    honour, 
   
    and 
   
    well 
   
    understanding 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    meaning, 
   
    interrupted 
   
    him, 
   
    saying, 
   
    "He 
   
    has 
   
    made 
   
    an 
   
    engagement 
   
    already 
   
    at 
   
    Astrakan, 
   
    to 
   
    marry 
   
    Avankhans 
   
    rich 
   
    grand-daughter, 
   
    named 
   
    princess 
   
    Marian.
   
    " 
   
    At 
   
    this 
   
    rapid, 
   
    violent, 
   
    and 
   
    most 
   
    imprudent 
   
    speech 
   
    of 
   
    Philipus, 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    stopped, 
   
    and 
   
    never 
   
    said 
   
    a 
   
    single 
   
    syllable 
   
    of 
   
    what 
   
    he 
   
    with 
   
    cheerfulness 
   
    had 
   
    begun, 
   
    which 
   
    brought 
   
    on 
   
    a 
   
    profound 
   
    silence 
   
    of 
   
    all 
   
    three, 
   
    like 
   
    persons 
   
    thunder-struck, 
   
    looking 
   
    down 
   
    without 
   
    speaking 
   
    a 
   
    word 
   
    almost 
   
    half 
   
    an 
   
    hour. 
   
    This 
   
    forwardness 
   
    of 
   
    a 
   
    priest 
   
    knocked 
   
    on 
   
    the 
   
    head 
   
    all 
   
    his 
   
    project 
   
    of 
   
    friendship 
   
    and 
   
    union; 
   
    after 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    taken 
   
    so 
   
    much 
   
    pains, 
   
    and 
   
    gone 
   
    through 
   
    so 
   
    many 
   
    hardships, 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    reduced 
   
    at 
   
    last 
   
    to 
   
    nothing 
   
    by 
   
    this 
   
    over-hasty 
   
    interruption 
   
    of 
   
    a 
   
    man 
   
    for 
   
    being 
   
    honoured 
   
    with 
   
    being 
   
    admitted 
   
    interpreter 
   
    between 
   
    prince 
   
    Heraclius 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    rough 
   
    soldier 
   
    Emin. 
   
    The 
   
    rejoicing 
   
    prince 
   
    was 
   
    most 
   
    bitterly 
   
    dejected, 
   
    and 
   
    lifting 
   
    up 
   
    his 
   
    head 
   
    from 
   
    deep 
   
    thoughts, 
   
    asked 
   
    what 
   
    hour 
   
    it 
   
    was? 
   
    Then 
   
    looking 
   
    at 
   
    his 
   
    watch, 
   
    he 
   
    saw 
   
    it 
   
    was 
   
    past 
   
    three 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    morning; 
   
    and 
   
    said 
   
    to 
   
    Emin, 
   
    "I 
   
    wish 
   
    the 
   
    old 
   
    priest 
   
    had 
   
    not 
   
    been 
   
    here 
   
    this 
   
    night, 
   
    he 
   
    spoiled 
   
    our 
   
    council; 
   
    I 
   
    am 
   
    very 
   
    sleepy, 
   
    are 
   
    not 
   
    you 
   
    so, 
   
    Emin 
   
    Aga?" 
   
    This 
   
    was 
   
    exactly 
   
    twenty-four 
   
    years 
   
    ago, 
   
    and 
   
    no 
   
    soul 
   
    knew 
   
    this 
   
    secret, 
   
    except 
   
    Heraclius, 
   
    Emin, 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    priest. 
   
    Emin 
   
    cannot 
   
    help 
   
    thinking, 
   
    that 
   
    many 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    not 
   
    well 
   
    acquainted 
   
    with 
   
    him, 
   
    nor 
   
    have 
   
    seen 
   
    him 
   
    in 
   
    that 
   
    country, 
   
    will 
   
    suspect 
   
    what 
   
    passed 
   
    between 
   
    him 
   
    and 
   
    the 
   
    prince 
   
    to 
   
    be 
   
    fabulous; 
   
    such 
   
    a 
   
    suspicion 
   
    may 
   
    be 
   
    excusable 
   
    in 
   
    those 
   
    who 
   
    consider 
   
    his 
   
    present 
   
    situation 
   
    in 
   
    life, 
   
    which, 
   
    though 
   
    honourable, 
   
    is 
   
    not 
   
    equal 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    dignity 
   
    he 
   
    aspired 
   
    to; 
   
    or 
   
    in 
   
    those 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    not 
   
    well 
   
    versed 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    disposition 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    Georgian 
   
    nation, 
   
    whose 
   
    nobles 
   
    sell 
   
    their 
   
    own 
   
    children 
   
    to 
   
    the 
   
    Turks; 
   
    so 
   
    that 
   
    it 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    been 
   
    no 
   
    great 
   
    wonder 
   
    if 
   
    prince 
   
    Heraclius 
   
    had 
   
    given 
   
    his 
   
    daughter 
   
    in 
   
    marriage 
   
    to 
   
    an 
   
    Armenian 
   
    Christian 
   
    soldier, 
   
    to 
   
    fight 
   
    and 
   
    bleed 
   
    for 
   
    him. 
   
    He 
   
    remembers 
   
    one 
   
    day 
   
    in 
   
    Petersburgh, 
   
    at 
   
    the 
   
    princes 
   
    fathers 
   
    house, 
   
    the 
   
    late 
   
    king 
   
    Tahmuras 
   
    asked 
   
    Emin, 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    married? 
   
    He 
   
    answered, 
   
    "No.
   
    " 
   
    The 
   
    king 
   
    said, 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    take 
   
    care 
   
    to 
   
    marry 
   
    him 
   
    to 
   
    a 
   
    handsome 
   
    daughter 
   
    of 
   
    one 
   
    of 
   
    his 
   
    Armenian 
   
    merchants 
   
    in 
   
    Tiffliz. 
   
    Emin 
   
    said, 
   
    his 
   
    choice 
   
    was 
   
    to 
   
    have 
   
    a 
   
    Georgian 
   
    tavats 
   
    (or 
   
    nobles) 
   
    daughter, 
   
    who 
   
    would 
   
    be 
   
    handsomer. 
   
    One 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    tavats 
   
    standing 
   
    by, 
   
    said 
   
    in 
   
    a 
   
    tone 
   
    of 
   
    anger, 
   
    "Do 
   
    not 
   
    you 
   
    know 
   
    that 
   
    you 
   
    are 
   
    an 
   
    Armenian; 
   
    that 
   
    our 
   
    law 
   
    abominates 
   
    the 
   
    very 
   
    name 
   
    of 
   
    those 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    as 
   
    bad 
   
    as 
   
    heathens?" 
   
    He 
   
    said, 
   
    "Yes, 
   
    Sir, 
   
    you 
   
    would 
   
    rather 
   
    give 
   
    away 
   
    your 
   
    daughters 
   
    to 
   
    circumcised 
   
    Persian 
   
    dogs, 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    worse 
   
    than 
   
    heathens. 
   
    For 
   
    my 
   
    part, 
   
    if 
   
    I 
   
    were 
   
    a 
   
    king, 
   
    and 
   
    had 
   
    an 
   
    only 
   
    daughter, 
   
    and 
   
    if 
   
    the 
   
    sultan 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    Turks 
   
    and 
   
    a 
   
    Christian 
   
    young 
   
    Georgian 
   
    were 
   
    rivals 
   
    in 
   
    her 
   
    love, 
   
    the 
   
    Christian 
   
    should 
   
    have 
   
    her 
   
    sooner 
   
    than 
   
    that 
   
    powerful 
   
    Mahometan.
   
    " 
   
    This 
   
    shews 
   
    the 
   
    difference 
   
    between 
   
    Armenian 
   
    Christians 
   
    and 
   
    those 
   
    of 
   
    the 
   
    Greek 
   
    church, 
   
    who 
   
    are 
   
    full 
   
    of 
   
    malice. 
   
    The 
   
    good 
   
    king, 
   
    not 
   
    understanding 
   
    their 
   
    conversation, 
   
    as 
   
    they 
   
    spoke 
   
    in 
   
    Turkish, 
   
    when 
   
    it 
   
    was 
   
    explained 
   
    to 
   
    him, 
   
    put 
   
    his 
   
    hand 
   
    on 
   
    his 
   
    breast, 
   
    and 
   
    swore 
   
    by 
   
    Jesus 
   
    Christ 
   
    that 
   
    Emin 
   
    was 
   
    in 
   
    the 
   
    right. 
   
    He 
   
    then 
   
    added, 
   
    "Never 
   
    mind 
   
    what 
   
    he 
   
    says, 
   
    you 
   
    shall 
   
    have 
   
    my 
   
    daughter;
   
    " 
   
    and 
   
    if 
   
    he 
   
    had 
   
    lived 
   
    he 
   
    would 
   
    have 
   
    been 
   
    as 
   
    good 
   
    as 
   
    his 
   
    word, 
   
    for 
   
    he 
   
    was 
   
    the 
   
    most 
   
    pious 
   
    king 
   
    Georgia 
   
    produced; 
   
    but 
   
    hard-hearted 
   
    fortune 
   
    was 
   
    too 
   
    cruel 
   
    to 
   
    let 
   
    him 
   
    succeed 
   
    in 
   
    either 
   
    of 
   
    his 
   
    views. 
   
    The 
   
    late 
   
    duke, 
   
    his 
   
    patron, 
   
    hearing 
   
    all 
   
    this 
   
    from 
   
    his 
   
    letters, 
   
    comforted 
   
    him 
   
    in 
   
    his 
   
    answers, 
   
    saying, 
   
    "My 
   
    dear 
   
    Emin, 
   
    fortune 
   
    sports 
   
    with 
   
    you; 
   
    go 
   
    on, 
   
    never 
   
    mind 
   
    her 
    
     crossness, 
   
    for 
   
    one 
   
    day 
   
    or 
   
    other 
   
    she 
   
    will 
   
    favour 
   
    you 
   
    fully 
   
    to 
   
    your 
   
    hearts 
   
    satisfaction.
   
    "