Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/310

 the enemy like a lion, ke obliged them to retreat^^ after he had killed prince Vurk, the brother of the king of the Lupnies. He tben returned* and extricated his horse, from the slough ; when mounting, with undaunted courage he again sought the foe.

Inspired by his example, the other Armenian chiefs cut down the enemy with the greatest valour and spirit. The brave Vardan particularly distinguished himself. Wherever he presented himself, the enemy were mowed down by his •word as blades of grass by the sickle. The Persians^ disheartened by the dreadful slaughter committed in tiieir ranks by the valorous Ar* moiian chiefs, now took to flight. They were pursued by the victors as far as the banks of the river liobnas, where many of the fugitives perish* ed in endeavouring to cross^ The Armenians afterward returned, and took possession of much of the spoil left behind by the vanquished. The foUowmg day the Armenian army, passing the river Cur, entered the country of the Aluans, where they massacred all the Magi and Persians whom they discovered. They then purified all the places thait had been polluted by the sacri- fices of these heathens, and succeeded in deliver- ing the Aluans from the dreadful scourge with which they ihad been tormented. The success- ffA troops then advanced to the gate of Ghorah, beforementioned, wh^e they put to death every

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