Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/235

 192 BISTORT OF ARMENIA*

" Go away from us, Shapuh I If you do not; many evils will attend . you and your troops, more severe than those you formerly expe* rienced from us!*' Shapuh replied to these taunts in this manner, '' Do you presume to call yourselves Armenian soldiers ? You speak in a very brave style, but act the part of cowards* The brave never hide themselves behind walls, and in security revile their foes! No ! they con- tend courageously in the open field. Tou act like women, whose principal weapons are their tongues L*' The citizens continued to return answers of a similarly contemptuojis nature. Shapuh, on this, feeling incensed, called the Grecian captives then with him, and told them that if they would fight with courage and good will with his army during the siege of the city, . he would set them all at liberty, and bestow on them large rewards on its reduction. The prisoners were exceedingly glad at the offer, accepted it with eagerness, and desired to be immediately led to the storm. Shapuh, then commanded his Persian troops to surround the walls, and commence discharging missiles at the men stationed on the battlements. He placed in the hands of his Greek prisoners com- bustibles of various descriptions, to set fire to the city, and stationed them near the battle- ments, with many huge wheeled machiaea.

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