[Gutenberg 35577] • Caucasian Legends

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to [www.million-books.com](http://www.million-books.com) where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. The Incombustible Tulip 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. It happened that just then Kaeounan was governed by John, a native of the city of Damascus, whom they therefore called Damassk, i.e., 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 Mor- philiziy'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. Ask whatever favor thou wishest, old hero! the conqueror exclaimed. In thee I found the first man whose military adroitness excelled mine! Don't abandon my daughter, murmured John, and thereupon died. Entering Kaeounan, Morphiliziy first of all rushed to John's house and was astounded by Nina's beauty.She shall be my wife! he loudly broke out, and immediately appointed a day for the wedding. With fright the unhappy orpha...