Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/248

 The Armenian monarch, without allies, and hated by his chiefs, saw that he had no other means of safety than flight. He retired there- fore to a fortress on a hill, where his enemies could not approach him. The Armenian chiefs, on the first appearance of the invaders, joined their ranks; and on the flight of the king, pursued him to the spot in which he had taken refuge, blocking up every pass by which ha could have escaped. Arsaces, observing this, became dreadfully agitated, and sent a secret message to Alanozan the Persian general, saying, ''art thou not of the same tribe as myself, a Pah- lavie.^ Thou brave Arsacian ! Why dost thou thus hem me about to take me prisoner? Give me but the means of passing into Greece, and behold I resign to thee the crown and sceptre of Arme- nia 1" Alanozan paying no attention to thi^, Arsaces came to the determination of delivering himself up to him, with the ultimate view of going to Shapuh. He obliged, however, the Pahlavie first to swear that he would commit no violence on him. This being done, Arsaces went over to the camp of his enemies, and surrendered himself. Many of the chiefs, on beholding the fallen condition of their monarch, could not help commiserating him. Some of .them determined to accompany him to Shapuh, ^mong whom wore Vasak the Mamicon^an, aiyl

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