Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/104

 HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 59

Chaldeans, Lazicians, the people of Pontus, Cappadocians, Phrygians, and others, the constant allies of the Seleucians, to repel the invader at whatever point he should commence attack. The brave Morpheulices was appointed the leader of the combined forces. The hostile armies at length met. The onset was made by the troops of Valarsaces. Morpheulices, clad in armour, in the meantime selected a number of brave men, daringly rushed into the enemy's camp, and penetrated as far as the tent of the king, killing numbers of the enemy who had presented themselves to stop his progress. Here the valiant Morpheulices, finding himself before Valarsaces his foe, with prodigious strength hurled his spear at him, but the surrounding warriors of the race of Haicus, and that of Sennacherib, interposed and stopped the progress of the weapon, thereby preserving the life of their master. The unfortunate, but gallant Morpheulices, surrounded by foes, baffled in his object, and attacked on every side, was at length unhorsed, and became an easy victim to the numbers of his opposers. He was slain on the spot. His army, disheartened by the loss of its leader, was speedily put to flight. The fugitives were pursued with such slaughter that their blood covered the plain like an inundation. Valarsaces afterward subdued Cap-