Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/231

 )88 HISTORT OF ARlt£KIA>

who, with a secret design of killing Gneluft^

wrote to him to meet him on the mountain

Above mentioned^ in order that they might hunt

together. Immediately after the dispatch of

his letter, the king set out for the appointed

spot, in hopes of coming upon his nephew un*

prepared ; in which event he might easily gratify

his cruel disposition. On his arrival, his envy

was excited to the highest possible degree by

seeing the beauty of the fields, the abundance of

game, and the splendid preparations that Gne-

lus's servants were making for the hunting

match. Arsaces, then privately directed the

envious and malignant Vardan to shoot Gnelus

as if undesignedly, with an arrow, during the

thase. Following the order he had received,

the miscreant shot the unfortunate leader of

the hunt in the bade. He dropped from his

horse and immediately expired. On the com*

pletion of their abominable project, Arsaces,

Tirithus, and the detestable instrument of their

xrime, began to lament and express every

external mark of sorrow for the unfortunate

accident, as it was termed. They removed the

body to Zarishat, where it was interred with

solemn pomp. The real circumstances, how*

ever, soon became known, and reaching the ears

A. D. 369. of Nierses, he pronouuced an anathema upon

the whole three, and put on mourning for

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