Caucasian legends;

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GrOvtl bat*

CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

TRANSLATED FROM THE
RUSSIAN OF A. GO U LB AT

BY

SERGEI DE WESSELITSKY-BOJIDAROVITCH

HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE

31, 33, 35 West Fifteenth St. New York City

OR, LENOX
TILDE К FOUNDATI'
1906

/ YORK

BRARY

Щ \

Copyright, 1904, by
SERGEI DE WESSELITSKY-BOJIDAROVITCH

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. The Rain 9

II. Bakarr I., Tsar of Georgia 15

III. The Incombustible Tulip 18

IV. Saint Nina 37

V. The Diamond 82

VI. Happiness Is Within Us 95

VII. The Tribute of Roses 109

VIII. The Lot of the Holy Virgin . . . .118

IX. The Comet 128

X. The Jewel Necklace 139

XI. St. Mourvanoss 146

XII. Zesva 153

XIII. The Tale of Mikhian 156

PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR

Last year the Georgian people celebrated the one
hundredth anniversary of the annexation of its country
to the dominion of the Great White Tsar. These past
one hundred years have been an era of uninterrupted
and prosperous development of this nation of chivalry
and heroism as well as loyalty and devotion to a
great and good cause. In the third century A. D., the
Georgians were converted to Christianity by Saint Nina.
Ever since they have been a mighty fortress of Christen-
dom amidst wild and fanatic Mahometan tribes. Many
a time their loyalty to their faith was sorely tried by
the unparalleled cruelty of the Turks and Persians.
Their capital was destroyed again and again, their
churches ransacked and they commanded to tread upon
the holy images which they venerated from chiLdhood
upwards. But even in such a terrible moment the
Georgians showed themselves worthy of their all glorious
traditions and thousands found their death in the River
Koura at Tiflis, their chosen capital. For centuries this
little nation of heroes battled with the Infidels and great
was their distress, almost overcome by the gigantic forces
of savage enemies, when a protector appeared in the north
and re-established law and order, confidence and happi-
ness. Seeing that it was essential to assure a permanent
security, the ruler of Georgia asked in the name of his
people to be annexed to the Motherhood of Orthodox
Nations.

I here reproduce a translation from the Russian of
the reply of Alexander I. Parlovitch, Emperor of all the
Russias (1801) :

5

6 PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR

"Not to increase our forces, not for the gain and ex-
tension of ours, the mightiest empire in the world, do
we take upon ourselves the burden of the administration
of the Georgian kingdom. Worthiness, honor, and
humanity alone place on us the holy duty to establish
in Georgia a government which may found righteous-
ness, safety, and give every one protection of the law."

Those are the noble terms of one of Russia's noblest
rulers, and upon them is based the policy of the adminis-
tration in regard to the Georgians. The Georgians, being
of the same faith as the Russians, sympathize with the
latter and are nowadays both a bulwark of the orthodox
church and of the true Russian conservative govern-
mental spirit. In the wars of 1853-56 and 1877-78
they fully proved their perfect fidelity and chivalrous
readiness to assist their great deliverers against the
Turks. The men of Georgia are renowned for their
heroism, while the women of that country are the most
beautiful in the world. The chief occupations of the
Georgians are: pasturing, farming, jewelry work, silk-
manufacturing, and wine-growing. The Georgians,
taken as a whole, receive a considerable amount of educa-
tion, and their newspapers, several of which are published
at Tiflis, are very good. The leading paper is the
"Iveria" (i.e., Georgia). Tiflis, the traditional capital
of Georgia, is a city of 180,000 inhabitants, among
whom are 33,000 Georgians proper. A number of other
tribes or nationalities such as the Imeretians, Gourians,
Mingrelians, Wanetes, Khevsoures, etc., also belong to
what is called the Georgian family of nations. The
greatest poet of Georgia is Prince Kazbek. Among the
grand old families we find the Orbelians, who trace their
ancestry back to an emperor of China, the Chavchavad-
zes, the Growzinskys, Bgaration-Moukranskys, Amilak-
varis, Tsitsianovs, and many others, all of whom have
rendered their native land incomparable services and de-
serve the highest praise. The author of the legends which
I have attempted to translate, is a native Georgian, Mr.

PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR 7

A. Goulbat, now living in Central Russia and leading a
literary life. He is filled with enthusiasm for his native
land and its valiant inhabitants. I have tried as well as
I knew how to translate the legends in the same spirit
as the author wrote them in the original, which was
Russian.

Sergei de Wesselitsky-Bojidarovitch.

/

CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

I. The Rain

A LEGEND OF THE IITH CENTURY

At the time of Tsar George I (the rulers of Georgia
were called Tsars=kings), in the nth century, there lived
the famous general, Kaiours, belonging to the glorious
Orbeliani family. It is known that these princes trace
their ancestry from an emperor of China and more than
once intermarried with our rulers, in consequence of
which their position at the court of Georgia was an ex-
ceptionally pleasant one. It is necessary to add to this
that the submission and zeal of the princes Orbeliani fully
repaid this distinction. They occupied from generation
to generation the post of Sparapet, that is, of general in
chief of all the Georgian forces, and astonished the world
with their bravery. When George went to war with the
Greeks, Kaiours was taken prisoner, and as this took place
during the battle of Shirimna, where a great many
Georgian leaders, among them the generals Ratt and
Zovatt, brothers of Kaiours, were lost, the Tsar for a long
time thought that Kaiours had died together with them.
It was only when the negotiations for peace began, that
Emperor Vassilii the Second proposed to the Tsar to ex-
change Kaiours for fourteen fortresses, viz., for one in
Tao, one in Baisiana, one in Artana, one in Kola, one in
Djavaheta, in Shavhetta, and so on; and besides he de-
manded as hostage George's three-year-old son, the
Tsarevitch-successor Bagrat.

9

10 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"I am so much indebted to the princely family of the
Orbelianis that I would consent to give half my kingdom
for them," answered the Tsar.

At the end of the negotiations it was decided that the
Tsarevitch-successor should remain as hostage at Con-
stantinople until the Greeks had succeeded in introduc-
ing their administration in the above mentioned fortresses
and in no case longer than three years. There were
those who criticised the Tsar for giving away fourteen
of the best fortresses in exchange for one man, but the
people almost killed them. The general confidence in the
warlike capacities of the princes Orbeliani was so bound-
less that many openly said : "Let only Kaiours come back
and by him we shall not only regain possession of all our
fortresses, but with the help of God we shall obtain the
foreign ones!" There was no end to joy when he re-
turned home. More than all rejoiced his twelve-year-old
daughter Tamara. The captivity of the father was a
great grief to her, as in his absence her mother and
brother died. Seeing Tamara riding forth by herself to
meet him, accompanied by an old gamdela (nurse) and
several bitchos (young boys, servants), the hero Kaiours,
the very glance of whom turned whole regiments to flight,
cried like a child. Father and daughter tenderly em-
braced and for a long time could not speak.

The cries of joy among the people ceased, all remem-
bered the good princess and the pretty boy, who had ac-
companied her everywhere, and sadness darkened the
general joyousness. Kaiours was the first one to recover.
He addressed those who had come to meet him and in-
vited them to his house, to feast with him. "Tamara
tries by her courtesy to take the place of my princess,"
he said, "the Lord is not without mercy; during my cap-
tivity he gave me a son in exchange for the one whom he
took away. "Plinii," Kaiours says, turning to a hand-
some youth, standing behind him, "help thy sister and
me to serve the guests." All looks were now fixed on
Plinii ; tall, well-built, with fine, regular features, he bore

THE RAIN 1 1

an unmistakable stamp of aristocratic descent. Feeling
himself the object of general interest, he blushed and
drooped his eyes, like our bashful young ladies, and this
modesty at once disposed everybody in his favor.

The old nobleman Alexander, whom for his bravery
and warlike successes they all called "the Macedonian/'
sat down by Kaiours and began to speak thus : "Friend,
thou hast rightly said that the Lord compensated thee
for the loss of thy son by a fine youth, whose attach-
ment and filial respect to you we all see and which
dispose us in his favor, but we should also like to know
who he is and why thou didst adopt him?" "During my
captivity," answered Kaiours, "the Lord sent me a friend.
He was a well-known dignitary, a favorite of the Em-
peror and did not need the friendship of the prisoner,
nevertheless not a day went by that he did not visit me.
We related to each other our war reminiscences and soon
began to love each other like brothers. When I received
news of the death of my wife and son, his friendly sym-
pathy was my sole consolation. He told me about his
life and thus I found out that he had lost his loving com-
panion on the day of Plinii's birth. The boy is now
eighteen years old and healthy, but not strong, and must
be carefully looked after. Before my departure my
friend fell ill and called me to him. T am dying,' he said,
'and thank God that this happens before thy departure,
because I am going to hand over to your care my greatest
treasure. Adopt Plinii instead of that son whom God
took away from thee. The doctors think that his health
needs a much warmer climate than ours.' I swore to
love and treat him like my son and hope that the Lord
will help me to fulfill my vow!" continued Kaiours.

"Thou didst satisfy my curiosity on one point," said
Alexander — "now I want to find out something else, but
for this we must repair to some other place. My heart
also grieves about the son, who by the will of the monarch
is among the young men accompanying the Tsarevitch-
heir to Greece. Although our separation will not exceed

1 2 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

three years, yet it does seem an eternity to me." At these
words the old men retired, and when they returned they
were carrying bowls of horn, filled with wine. With a
gay countenance they addressed the feasting crowd.
"Friends," said Alexander, "congratulate me and help
me to thank Kaiours, who gives me the very best he
possesses : I asked the gift of the hand of his daughter
for my boy." Numberless people offered their congratu-
lations and the feasting continued far into the night.
Kaiours and Alexander saw each other often, the latter
always hastened to communicate any news about the son.
In the meantime it was discovered that the young men
who accompanied Bagrat were learning all European
languages and sciences.

Kaiours thought thus : "I gave my daughter an en-
tirely Georgian education, she knows neither European
languages nor those arts by which the women over there
so attract young men; would she not appear strange to
your son?"

Quite unexpectedly was heard Plinii's sweet voice.
"Allow me to say a word." The old men stared at him ;
he stood before them all red with emotion. "Speak!"
was their unanimous answer.

"My late father did not mind spending any sum for
my instruction, they taught me everything that is to be
learned in our country. I easily learned the sciences, and
if you permit me I shall be only too glad to educate my
sister, who herself has a great passion for learning."

Permission was given, and from then on the young
people were inseparable. Under Plinii's direction Tam-
ara soon acquired great perfection in Greek. They
studied together the poets, committing the finest parts to
memory. Tamara's wonderful voice grew still grander
when she learned from Plinii how to accustom it to the
rules of music. A harp was obtained, and for whole
hours at a time they rejoiced in song. To the young
people days, weeks, and months went by with extraor-
dinary rapidity, they were perfectly happy and for a long

THE RAIN 13

time could not imagine how they had become so dear to
each other. Being confident in Kaiours's affection, they
fearlessly announced to him their discovery. But as
Kaiours had once given his word to Alexander, he did
not consider it right to break it. The lessons were
stopped and Plinii forbidden to visit Tamara except in
the presence of her father.

The young people's happiness suddenly turned to deep
grief, which Kaiours, who loved them sincerely, secretly
shared. After a few days of such torture, Plinii could
not restrain his feelings and found occasion to have a
secret interview with Tamara. With tears in his eyes
he implored her to run away with him to Greece and
there be married, but neither prayers nor tears could per-
suade her to become disobedient to her father.

"As thy wife should be so superior to all others as thou
art the most beautiful man in the world," said Tamara,
"how canst thou wish to marry a runaway girl? No,
Plinii, let us wait! God is omnipotent! He knows,
sees and esteems everything in due measure. He knows
very well whether we find it easy not to be able to see
each other, and I am sure that if we do nothing to pro-
voke him, he himself will find means to stop our separa-
tion ; only this I pray thee, do not forget me and don't try
to find an occasion to see me secretly."

Morning and evening, day and night, Tamara prayed
to God to make an end to their separation, and the Lord
answered her prayer. Once upon a time, accompanied
by an old nurse and a bitcho (young boy servant), she
started on a pilgrimage to some distant monastery where
there lived an old man of ascetic life. To him Tamara
revealed her grief and the old man led her into his gar-
den. There in the presence of all he began to pray for
her, and suddenly a terrible cloud appeared, lightning
was seen and fearful strokes of thunder were heard.
Those who were present fell to the ground from fright.
At last the storm was over.

"Arise !" said the prior, "the Lord has heard us sinners
and comforted Tamara!"

1 4 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"But where is she?" they asked.

"There/' answered the old man, pointing to a magnify
cent fragrant lily, which had suddenly appeared in the
midst of his garden. "The Lord turned her into a
flower," he continued.

The people would not believe it. The nurse spread a
rumor that the crafty abbot had hidden Tamara. For-
getting godly fear and fearing Kaiours's wrath, she in-
sulted and cursed him. The boy servants, among whom
there were many Mahometans, searched the whole mon-
astery, all the surrounding woods and bushes, and not
finding Tamara anywhere, they killed the holy old man
and burned down the monastery. The ancient building
stood in flames, also the stone enclosure, many a hundred
year old tree, the huge library, in fact all the scanty good
of the images. Alone the church and the lily into which
Tamara had been transformed were spared.

Upon hearing of what had occurred, Kaiours and
Plinii hastened to the spot. In the church there was
nobody, everything else represented a field of coal and
ashes. Tamara was nowhere to be found. Only in the
midst of all these ashes there grew a splendid, fresh,
fragrant white lily.

Plinii was the first to approach her and began to cry.
Kaiours followed him and was very much startled. He
noticed that when Plinii's tears fell on the coal surround-
ing the lily, her tender leaves grew quite yellow from
jealousy; on the other hand when they dripped into the
lily she grew red from joy.

"Tamara, is it thou we see?" asked the father.

Just at that moment there came up a little breeze and
Kaiours and Plinii heard distinctly as though the leaves
spoke :

"It is I, father!"

The inconsolable father could not stand the loss of his
daughter and immediately died from grief, but poor Plinii
cried so much and so long and so fervently prayed to
God that he might be united with Tamara, that in the end

BAKARR THE FIRST 15

the Lord transformed him to rain. I have heard that in
bygone times whenever a dryness set in the inhabitants
of the surrounding villages hastened to the abandoned
church, around which lilies always grew in abundance,
and picked whole baskets of them. They scattered the
fragrant harvest in the fields and gardens and the young
maidens sang Tamara's song. The lovely melodious
composition was as fragrant and clean as the dear flower
which they glorified. This song, indeed, is Tamara's
very prayer, showing all her childish faith in God's
almightiness. It ends with an invocation of Plinii, who,
they say, always appears in the form of a warm, beneficial
rain. I heard even that these lilies preserved a rare capac-
ity, viz., sometimes to grow red, sometimes yellow, and
our maidens thus concluded that these flowers could tell
one's fortune. Each maiden notices one flower and after
the rain goes to look for it. Is the lily yellow, the young
girl entertains great fears as to the fidelity of her lover;
is it red, she never doubts his attachment to her.
Whether this quaint custom still prevails I don't know.
I am always sorry when some such tradition becomes
forgotten! In our ancient legends there was so much
of the truthful, honorable and elevated that these circum-
stances alone rendered them most instructive.

II. Bakarr the First, Tsar of Georgia

A STORY

Bakarr the First ascended the throne after the death
of his well-beloved and much-esteemed father, Mirian
the Converter. Remembering the counsels of his dear,
dear father, he turned all his glorious efforts towards
converting and instructing those mountain inhabitants
who had not submitted themselves to the peremptory
orders of Mirian and had thus not appeared to be bap-
tized with the rest of the grand old nation. Highly

1 6 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

honorable in every way, simple in his manners, the ever-
patient Bakarr finally succeeded in obtaining the long
desired baptism of the wild unbelievers, without applying
any forcible and dangerous measures. Having heard of
his peacefulness of character, the Armenian Tsar thought
it opportune to take the throne away from him and hand
it over to Irdat, the son of the deceased Tsarevitch Revv
and the Armenian Tsarevna Salomee. But Bakarr
united all the qualities of a brave and excellent general
with the greatest virtues of an earnest, peaceful Tsar.
He therefore arranged an alliance with his dear nephew,
the Persian King Kossrovve the Second, and jointly with
him, in a fearful and hard-fought battle in the province
of Djavakheta, completely defeated and destroyed the
wretched Armenian army and turned it to disgraceful
flight. The amply terrified Tsarevna Salomee begged
the Emperor of Greece to be kind enough to explain to
Bakarr that the Armenian Tsar had not acted upon her
advice or desire.

Willing to let each one of his loving subjects approach
and debate with him, Bakarr on the other hand did not
consider it in accordance with his sublime merit to have
the neighboring sovereigns mix in and begin to reason
about his own family affairs, and therefore he briefly re-
plied to the great Greek Emperor thus : "Until in the fam-
ily of the Georgian Tsar Bakarr the First there proveth
to be one who is unable and too weak to properly reign,
the throne will belong to it, and the children of Revv
ought not to bring forth the slightest pretensions. To
his ally, however, to Kossrovve the Second, he announced
that the attack of the Armenian Tsar forced him to seri-
ously look after the safety and education of the children
of his brother and sister, whom Mirian willingly permit-
ted to be married to Pkerose. Actually at the end of
the war, the first active deed of Bakarr was the exact
arrangement about the domains of Pkerose.

Instead of Rana from Bardave on, given to Pkerose
by Mirian, he begged Bakarr to give him Sammshvillde,

BAKARR THE FIRST 1 7

to which the Tsar fully consented, constructing a direct
line as far as the entrance of the Christavstvo (province)
of Abbots. Deeply moved by the great-heartedness of the
Tsar, Pkerose accepted Christianity and was baptized
with his whole nation, but Bakarr occupied himself with
thoroughly settling the widow and children of his brother
Revv.

He led them to Kouketka, and having made his way
into Roustava, he handed over this country to the admin-
istration of his nephews Irdat and Bakourious with the
title of kristaves, and under them their mother Salomee
quietly lived in their company. This sovereign sacrificed
his whole life to the betterment and thorough reforming
of his great monarchy and distinguished himself by pas-
sionate uprightness. He considerably increased the
churches and the church servants. By him was also
founded the perfectly magnificent cathedral of Tsill-
kanny.

He died in the year three hundred and sixty-four and
was buried by the side of his father Mirian. Before
dying he also, just like Mirian, hung his royal crown on
the marvellous cross of Saint Nina, touched his son and
successor Mirdat the Second with it, and afterwards
placed the crown on the head of his son and openly pro-
claimed him his rightful heir. This solemn custom was
strictly observed by all Georgian Tsars. Although
Bakarr made absolutely no new acquisitions, yet his short
but most wise administration had firmly united together
all decaying, poorer, and mutually inimical parts of his
government, and finally confirmed the actual preponder-
ance of Christianity over all other religions, and therefore
his reign was considered one of the very best and most
blissful.

1 8 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

III. The Incombustible Tulip

In the second century В. C, Armenia was governed
by Valarsass, the brother of the Persian Shah Arsass the
Great. At that period the countries to the north of the
Arabs were called Chaldea and Pontus. In the latter
lived a young hero, Morphiliziy, who at the head of his
followers could not only repel all attacks of Valarsass,
but even in a decisive battle completely defeated him;
thereupon he annexed also the Georgian frontier coun-
ties, among others Kaeounan, and was proclaimed Tsar
(King) by his grateful subjects.

It happened that just then Kaeounan was governed by
John, a native of the city of Damascus, whom they there-
fore called Damassk, i.e., the Damascian. He was a
widower and possessed but one daughter, a perfect
beauty, by the name of Nina. During the battle,
Damassk, through his personal bravery, attracted Mor-
philiziy's attention, who challenged him to a duel. For a
long time the old warrior's experience counterbalanced
the hero's strength of the Pontitian, but in the end his
old strength began to give way, his movements slack-
ened their usual rapidity and he could not escape from
Morphiliziy's horse, which transpierced him. Dripping
with blood, he fell from the faithful steed. At that
moment Morphiliziy jumped off his horse and tried to re-
vive him with all his strength. The dying man opened
his eyes.

"Ask whatever favor thou wishest, old hero !" the con-
queror exclaimed. "In thee I found the first man whose
military adroitness excelled mine !"

"Don't abandon my daughter," murmured John, and
thereupon died.

Entering Kaeounan, Morphiliziy first of all rushed to
John's house and was astounded by Nina's beauty.

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 19

"She shall be my wife!" he loudly broke out, and imme-
diately appointed a day for the wedding.

With fright the unhappy orphan heard of this decision.
How could she, who so dearly loved her father, become
the wife of his murderer.

"Not for anything in the world," she repeated a thou-
sand times in one hour, and upon pronouncing that sen-
tence, her magnificent eyes, which were usually a very
ocean of goodness and mildness, were filled with some
terrible fire.

We must notice that in those times it was customary
among our noblemen to choose gamdelis among the
Jewesses, for their daughters. John had of course fol-
lowed the general custom, and little Nina, who in early
childhood had lost her mother, loved her gamdela (nurse)
with all the enthusiasm of her daring soul. All of the
gamdela's tastes were Nina's. Her faith, her God were
the same faith and the same God as her pupil's. Thus
the nurse was the first person to come to hear of Nina's
decision and was asked for advice. The old woman
silently listened to her and long did not say a word, only
the features of her face took a painful expression.

"Why art thou so silent?" impatiently remarked Nina.

"I am reflecting whether I shall tell thee still another
cause for thy refusing Morphiliziy or whether it is better
to say no more about it." At last with a sad smile she
broke out and at the same time her piercing glance was
fixed on Nina, who flew into a passion and turned away.

"And so my supposition is true, thou dost love the
aznaoure of Cicero !"

Nina threw herself on the floor and hid her grieved
face between the knees of the gamdela. The old woman
caressingly touched her long hair with her wrinkled
hands and began to think; at last she decided to reveal
the result of her reflections.

"Thou art so young that I am afraid to advise thee
seriously. Could not a time well come when thou may-
est be sorry to have made him thy master, who might

20 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

be thy slave? Remember that Morphiliziy is a king, but
Cicero- does not even belong to the aristocracy. He is
a simple, poor nobleman of such as thy father had many ;
were he alive such a marriage would hardly suit him.
Besides thou art accustomed to luxury, while Cicero has
absolutely nothing, also whatever thou hast thou canst
never give away. The only means to unite you is for you
to run immediately into the country of his forefathers and
there be married. I tell thee openly : What disposes me
in favor of Cicero is his constant, endless and boundless
submission to thee. I noticed it long ago and have been
watching him, but notwithstanding my experience and
closest attention, I did not find a single instance in which
he might be blamed."

The hidden face of the young lady lit up with some
roguish smile. Perhaps she thought that the nurse es-
teemed her sagacity too highly. Whatever may have
been her feelings, the moment she raised her head from
the knees of the old woman, all traces of her smiles van-
ished. She sat upon the floor at the nurse's feet and for
a long time they silently glanced at each other ; each one
had her idea. Suddenly Nina quite unexpectedly threw
her white hands around the neck of the old woman, hid
her face on her shoulder and loudly cried.

"Gamdela," she passionately said, "arrange it as thou
didst just now propose, arrange it all if thou lovest me
and dost not wish that I should die! I don't want, I
cannot — no, I will not live without Cicero! For him I
will give up with joy and distinction my riches or even
the royal crown ! What is all that to me if I am not to
have him ? Dost thou understand, dear nurse, that I love
him more than I ever loved thee, or my father; that I
love him more than whosoever in the world ; that I love
him as fishes do water. And thou sayest that he could be
my slave — well, do I want such a thing? I myself de-
sire to be his slave and do all he commands! I love
him just because he is poor, unknown and a stranger to
every one here!" and Nina again became hysterical.

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 21

The poor gamdela did her best to quiet the young girl
with caressing movements of her aged hands, she herself
trembled from emotion, quietly cried and innerly prayed.
In the end she succeeded in putting Nina to bed and her-
self called for Cicero, and with her first glance at the
young man persuaded herself that she was not mistaken
as to his boundless devotion to Nina. Yesterday still all
fell in love with the handsome youth, in the best of health,
but now he stood before her with a rawboned pale face
and castdown eyes, even the lips grew white and their
edges nervously jerked.

The old woman with precaution informed him how
matters stood, and immediately tried with all her might
to restrain his boundless joy.

When he had reflected a little, she ordered to prepare
two riding horses for the hour of midnight and advised
Cicero to wait at the Western Gates, whither she prom-
ised to bring Nina, dressed in men's clothes.

Upon this occasion he was also given a belt, richly sewn
with gold. Having done there everything that was nec-
essary, the gamdela went to Nina and prepared her for
the hasty departure. Midnight came. With silent steps
two shades moved through the whole house and across
the court. At the Western Gates the impatient cavalier
was already waiting with an extra horse.

Nina quickly mounted it, with a happy smile motioned
to the dear old woman, and soon they disappeared in the
darkness.

However much the gamdela wished to remain at the
gates, as long as the trampling of the galloping hoofs
could be heard of those horses which took away with
them, perhaps forever, all that was dearest to her in the
whole world, common sense did not permit this and
the nurse returned home and passed the remainder of
the night in tears and prayer. At sunrise the house was
filled with her lamentations.

The frightened servants instantly answered her call
and found her in the garden on the bank of the river.

22 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

By her side lay Nina's dress and linen. Seeing people
run, she motioned to them, and wringing her hands she
explained to them that Nina was drowned. Old and
young rushed to the river, not only the people of the
household, but the whole town joined those seeking;
nevertheless all efforts proved to be in vain.

Morphiliziy's warriors upon hearing of what had taken
place immediately informed their lord, and were all with-
out exception ordered to go to search for Nina. Mor-
philiziy himself rushed to the garden and began to ques-
tion the grief-stricken old woman.

From her explanations, constantly interrupted by
moaning, he understood that Nina long ago asked to go
bathing, that the gamdela, fearing the swiftness of the
river, had not given her permission, and that this day at
sunrise the impatient girl had quietly slipped out into the
garden while the nurse was sleeping and got what she
desired. Awaking and beholding the empty bed, the
gamdela immediately ran to the banks of the river, but
found nothing but Nina's dress.

Morphiliziy himself went into the water, turned over
every bush and stone, swam beyond the town, but found
nothing at all. Everywhere he met people who were on
the same errand; the warriors searched, the men of
Damask, the citizens, yes, all who could swim, were out
working, but in vain. The grieved sovereign came up
on the bank and declared that he would grant any re-
ward to him who found Nina living or dead and brought
her to him. A clay went by — no news. And a second
day went by; many of those on the lookout returned
home with the discouraging news that they had not found
the girl. The town again took its usual look. Morphi-
liziy alone did not sleep and thoughtfully sat on the roof
of his house. The night was warm, with bright moon-
light, and acted quietingly upon the unhappy Tsar.
About midnight he beheld a shade approaching his house
and began to look at it with anxiety. Soon he discov-
ered that it was his favorite negro.

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 23

"Noy !" he cried out.

"It is I, sire/' replied the negro. "Let me immediately
report."

"Come up quickly!" and Morphiliziy's heart was sud-
denly bent and frosted and beat so hard that it caused
pain. The hero put his hand on his breast in the hope
of quieting its movements, but it went on most painfully
and his momentary joy turned to fearful worry.

In a moment Noy appeared before him. "Hast thou
found her alive or dead?" he quickly asked.

"Living," began Noy, "but . . . . "

"Well, where is she then ? .... a horse, let me
have a horse this very moment!" shouted Morphiliziy,
but the disappointed, almost terrified looks of Noy caused
him to think the matter over.

"Why art thou thus silent?" he impatiently asked the
slave.

"Sire .... she is not .... alone! She
lives with .... a young man!"

Morphiliziy turned his back upon the negro in order
to hide the impression which these words had produced
on him. He sat down on a stool and pointing to the
carpet lying at his feet ordered Noy to relate everything
in detail and without hurrying.

"Sire," said the negro — "I wished to deceive thee! I
wanted to escape bondage and return to the land of my
forefathers. I thought of taking advantage of the gen-
eral disorder, went into the stable, saddled thy horse, ex-
plaining that I was starting for the search, and while all
the people were looking for Nina along the banks of the
river, I started in the opposite direction — straight to the
sea, where I dreamt of finding a ship and sailing away.
At first I was unusually delighted, but little by little I
began to be overpowered by the fear of being pursued.
My horse flew like the wind and I induced it to go faster
and faster. In the meantime my fear grew stronger at
every step. It changed to terror — into some kind of de-
spair; I no longer let the horse catch breath, but chased

24 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

him like a crazy man. In the end his speed grew smaller.
I became furious, tore the cloth and beat him without
mercy. He still went on a little farther and beyond his
strength, and then rolled into the dust. This was in a
forest. I unsaddled and unbridled him, but he did not
raise himself and so I continued my way on foot. Sud-
denly I overheard human voices ; I stopped and began to
listen. Evidently these were two persons in love with
each other, and I had nothing to fear. I cautiously ap-
proached, continuing to hide myself in thick bushes and
trying to look at those conversing.

"To my surprise I beheld two young boys; they sat
together and were eating. 'Must we ride still farther?'
asked the younger one.

" T am very tired V

" Tt is no wonder you are tired, my little soul/ re-
plied the older boy, 'why, see ! we did not leave our horses
for about twenty-four hours ; I do think it would be more
sensible if we remained the night here; I shall light a fire
as a guard against wild beasts, put under thee my bourka
[a long black cape without sleeves commonly used all
over the Caucasus], and watch while thou art asleep V

" 'Ah ! but if we made for the village thou too couldst
rest?'

" 'No, my joy, I am more afraid for thee of Morphi-
liziy and his followers than of all the wild animals of this
slumbering thicket. From the latter I can always save
my bride, but from Morphiliziy it is only a wonder if we
escape alive Г

"I understood all, and impulsively retired. Why
should I then run away, knowing that thou wouldst give
me my freedom in any case. Returning to that spot
whence I had descended to overhear their conversation,
I suddenly came upon a little stream and sat down on its
bank. My crazy race had quite exhausted my strength. I
drew some bread from my pocket, picked off some wild
figs and began to eat, reflecting how I should come home
the quickest. Seeing where I was, there was no use of

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 2$

trying to return home on foot, but where should I find a
horse.

''Having- finished my meal, I arose and went to that
place where a few hours before I had abandoned your
horse; to my greatest pleasure he was munching grass.
I led him to the stream, let him drink, saddled him and
put on the bridle. To ride him would have had no sense.
After walking an hour he grew more lively, and I began
to hope that he was recovering, especially as he suddenly
joyfully raised his head and neighed. I imagined that in
the distance some other horse answered likewise. I hur-
ried in that direction ; after a little while the horses again
exchanged compliments, and guiding myself by their
voices, I soon met a young cavalier on a fine Persian
horse.

"By his fashionable costume it was easy to distinguish
him as one of the local aristocrats. I reverently bowed ;
he answered my salute and his eyes were fixed upon thy
horse, which he fell in love with, like a connoisseur.

"'Whither art thou, traveller?' he asked.

" 'I am from afar, sir, sent by my ruler upon a hasty
and important affair and must walk the rest of the way
for I am incapable of managing this horse.'

" 'It is the very best thoroughbred Arabian steed that
I have ever seen ; thou didst excessively tire it and thou
wilt certainly ruin this jewel for good if you do not give
him rest. I don't know thy master and don't wish to
know his name, but even on his own land I cannot allow
such a treasure to be ruined. Mount then my horse, gal-
lop away to thy lord and tell him that thou didst leave his
half-dead horse at the tavad of Bidandara's. If he
wishes to sell him I shall pay any price he may demand ;
if he does not want to part with him, why then let him
send back my horse and take back his own ; at Bidandara's
everybody finds hospitality — even animals,' and he got off
his horse, took hold of and led away mine without listen-
ing to my exclamations of gratitude.

"I gave him time to go a long way and then chased his

26 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

horse still more mercilessly than thine. I knew that thou
wilt give him the centuple, and therefore thought only
how I could reach thee the soonest. Upon entering the
town he fell and I ran the rest of the way on foot. What
doest thou command me to do now ?"

"This moment thou wilt choose two of the best horses
and lead them hither. We shall immediately start in pur-
suit; tell my lifeguards secretly to catch up with us. Let
them have pity upon the horses and take plenty of wine
and provisions with them, for thou must be quite
hungry !"

In a few minutes the two cavaliers rode out of town
and later on they were followed by a whole detachment
of warriors, trying to catch up with them. Morphiliziy
was not riding very fast, but thinking. He remembered
that still a short time before, when but a simple army
commander, he had no other wishes besides military
glory ; all his plans seemed to have been successfully car-
ried out when he was proclaimed King and his name
passed from mouth to mouth, surrounded with all the
glitter of the recent victory.

The triumph over Damask, the most glorious warrior
of his century, appeared to him as the height of blissful-
ness. He remembered also that unusual, up to this time
new to him, feeling which suddenly arose in him upon
beholding Nina.

The very glance at this young girl, hardly out of her
teens, drove out of his heart and imagination everything
in which he up to this moment had prided himself — mili-
tary glory and victories over Valarsass and the accession
to the throne — all vanished somewhere in the distance,
occupied some remote spot and was no longer of any in-
terest to him. And to think that this child had made fun
of him ! This child had managed her nurse and servants
and warriors and even him, Morphiliziy, the terrible,
powerful and invincible conqueror ! This little girl feared
not his anger, was not frightened by his forces, did not
tremble before his might. His warrior's renown, his

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 27

monarchy, his personal charms had not won her. She
was not at all excited or especially delighted over the im-
pression she had produced upon the hero, and in just the
same way she treated a little boy, whom he could knock
down with one blow like some piece of paper !

He resolved that Nina should be his wife however diffi-
cult it might be to obtain her hand. She did not wish his
love — she did not see the need of his caresses — "then,"
thought he, "let her feel my strength, my might, my power
— yes, my wrath I"

These reflections were interrupted by the approaching
warriors. Morphiliziy turned around ; the moon lit up his
pale face and sparkling eyes. The soldiers were fright-
ened, never yet had they seen him look thus.

"Give Noy wine and bread — he will eat on the way, but
to you, my comrades in battle, I shall now unfold the
secret of my soul. You know my whole life, you know
very well that there is not a man who could boast of
having conquered me ; you know too that my very glance
can put regiments to flight, that my name was sufficient
to make kings and nations tremble, and now, when I
reached the height of glory and power, I wanted to divide
them with an orphan, I wanted to place her upon that
throne for which I am indebted to your love and sub-
mission to me, I wished to proclaim her Tsaritsa and share
with her my glory, my happiness, and my power! But
she refused all these things, and me too, and ran off with
a boy. Now . . . . "

Morphiliziy's speech was interrupted, he sighed deeply
and continued :

"We are out to pursue them. Think up some punish-
ment worthy of their crime. What shall be done with
her?"

"Kill them both !" was the unanimous reply.

"That is insufficient !" answered the Tsar.

"Drown them in the river, where they betrayed their
deception !"

"Not enough!" ,

28 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"Have them burned alive !"

"Still too good for them!"

"Let them be torn to pieces by wild beasts I"

"All this is very little!" replied Morphiliziy. "All this
is quickly over and does not appease my desire for re-
venge. They must be captured alive and locked up one
opposite the other, so that through the open windows of
their dungeons they may see each other, and then I shall
prepare my rival a spectacle that will wound him worse
than fire, but afterwards I shall hand over to you Nina,
and then there will be time to cut off their proud heads
and throw them away to be eaten by the dogs!"

The Tsar grew silent, his face became still paler, his
eyes stared out worse than before; he was so terrible to
look at, that even the fearless warriors could not glance
at him and hardly approached his horse and Noy's, which
they were hurrying on at full speed. The sun rose —
they continued their ride, a whole day went by, the jour-
ney went on as before, and night overtook them again
when they entered a forest. Noy announced that it was
the same forest in which he had left the fugitives. The
moon shone poorly from behind the eternal trees, it
became necessary to get off the horses, which were left
to the care of several warriors, but the others went on
and soon found that little field of wild copse on which
Cicero and Nina had rested, they even found the place
where they had been sitting.

The grass was trodden down, it bore the traces of spilt
wine and crumbs of bread — one large shrub was cut
down — but there were no branches.

"They probably burned them in a wood-pile," re-
marked Noy.

"Well, where then are the traces of the wood-pile?" re-
plied Morphiliziy. Upon noticing that from the place
where they stood onward the grass was trodden down
and seemed to form a kind of road, all followed upon
this track. By sunrise they left the forest and spread
themselves out over a splendid meadow, which ended in a

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 29

field. The track went on across the meadow to the very
field, which was beginning to be worked by laborers.

Morphiliziy dispatched one of his warriors to ask to
whom this field belonged and whether they had not seen
two boys on horseback yesterday. The soldier returned
with a peasant.

"This is the field of the tavad Bidandari, we are his
men and did not work here yesterday, but we heard that
our master had brought home some two youths, one of
whom is ill, and to-day by the orders of the proprietor,
my brother went for the znabar (a kind of doctor) on
the seacoast."

"Why, is it far to the sea?" asked Morphiliziy.

"Six or seven agatches" (an agatche is a little more
than six and less than seven versts).

"What! is there no doctor nearer than that?" again
asked Morphiliziy.

"Why should there not be one? We have a doctor in
the village who is immediately at the side of the patient
when required, but the other one is cleverer because he
takes advantage of the sea tide in order to collect plants,
shells, insects, and little fishes, which our own doctors do
not get a chance to use for their medicine."

"Tell thy master that the owner of the Arab horse
came to thank him for his favor, to pay his debt, and asks
permission to come in."

The peasant went off, but Morphiliziy ordered his
warriors to return to the forest, and taking Noy with
him, followed from afar the running laborer. He was
very particular in explaining to Noy why he did not
wish his name to be disclosed before the right time.

Bidandari came out to meet his guest and led him to
some gorgeous apartments where a number of fashion-
ably attired servants surrounded the newcomer, offering
elegant clothes, aromatic soaps, and every kind of lux-
ury customary in those times. Having washed and
dressed, Morphiliziy came into an adjoining room where
a dinner was set. The host met him at the door with

3° CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

two large horns rilled with old wine, which, joining
hands, they drank at the same time, as a sign of friend-
ship. Notwithstanding that Morphiliziy had eaten
almost nothing for more than two days, the rare and
numerous dishes did not dazzle him. He had to make
an effort in order to pretend that he was eating. At the
end of the dinner the host offered him to take a rest, but
Morphiliziy said that before that he would like to talk
with him alone: then Bidandari, who had not even
looked as though he had recognized his sovereign, re-
spectfully fell down on one knee and kissed the edge of
the royal coat.

"You recognized me, tavad ?" said the surprised King.

"Yes, your Majesty, but I did not dare to say this
before the rest, because I did not know the reason you
had for not speaking openly."

"I came hither to carry out my revenge and I cannot
do it without your help."

"Pray tell, what is it you order?"

"But this is against the laws of hospitality, in which
your house has always glorified itself."

"If it be impossible to receive satisfaction for being in-
sulted otherwise — then give orders to kill me — in such a
way at least I fulfil my duty as to you, like a faithful sub-
ject, obliged to defend the honor of his sovereign even to
death and shall not be responsible for what occurs in my
house after my death."

"But, tavad, you forget that in such a case I fulfil my
duty neither like a Tsar, nor like a guest, but of this let
us speak later. The point of the affair is that in your
own house my bride is hiding, disguised as a boy, and I
want to take her immediately with me. It seems to me
that by handing her over to me you do nothing offensive
to the rules of hospitality; as to her companion, he has
insulted my royal honor, and it is only natural that every
true subject should himself chase him out of his house as
soon as he learns about his crime."

Bidandari sighed and his face took a sad expression.

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 31

"I ask a favor of you, sire; sooner order that I be
killed than that my guest receiveth the merited punish-
ment and let me now tell you all that weighs on me.
Before death one is permitted to put aside every eti-
quette and to speak with one's sovereign without the
customary court formalities, thereupon I take the liberty
of treating you like a brilliant warrior."

"You forget, tavad, that I am very much obliged to
you, and that you therefore have the right to demand
anything you like of me except to pardon my rival.
You yourself are a young and unmarried man," is it pos-
sible you do not understand my thoughts ?"

"Forgive me, sire, but I must again speak none but
the bare truth! My meeting with your negro you
already know about. Wishing to come home by the
very most direct way, I went on a trail which by chance
brought me up to two boys. The younger of them was
shaking from malaria, he was pale and lay upon a
bourka, but the older one sat by him in despair and
wrung his hands. On this same little meadow two sad-
dled and tired horses were feeding; by their exhausted
look it was perfectly clear that the travellers came a long
way. I came up from behind, and when I greeted them,
the elder brother quickly jumped up and seized a kin jail
(Caucasian knife or rather dagger), while the younger
boy simply sighed and looked at me in a terrified way;
he was evidently either too ill or too exhausted to make
any kind of a movement. Tear nothing,' I said, 'I came
to offer you my hospitality, which you hardly have a
right to refuse as you are on my lands/

" 'Excuse me,' suspiciously answered the older one —
'before I accept your kind offer, I should like to ask you
where you took this horse from, which yesterday was
still the property of the monarch?'

"I explained it. The boy reflected. 'What dost thou
think of, young man, accept quickly my offer, and
together we shall carry the sick brother into a warm
room, in which his illness will be over by morning, while
here he may die from taking cold.'

32 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"The boy got frightened.

" 'Promise me not to hand us out to Morphiliziy alive
or dead, and I will readily accept your invitation with
gratitude; otherwise we should both prefer to die/

"I glanced at the sick boy, he evidently made an effort
to smile and thus confirm his brother's words, but this
smile lit up his face with such an inexpressible magnifi-
cence that I began to be very much puzzled — after all
was it not a woman? I accorded the desired promise.
We made litters of the branches of a soft coppice. I
told them that I would send horses for their conveyance,
but thy horse tied itself to the girdle and we safely
brought our litter to the house. During the night the
patient began to groan and constantly repeated :

" 'Darling Cicero, if they discover us — kill me, I wish
to be neither a Tsaritsa nor anything else except thy
wife!'

"There was not the least doubt left by this time; this
was a woman who had run away from some detested
man together with her lover. Seeing that it was no
longer possible to hide anything, Cicero related the whole
story to me. They already loved each other, sire, when
thou didst first see her. Perhaps thou wilt say that
Cicero might perfectly well have conquered his attach-
ment; taking into account that Nina was the object of
this attachment — such a change was very improbable
indeed. I say further that I myself was overtaken by
such an extraordinary feeling of delight before this
utmost perfection of beauty that I felt as though it was
not worth living on earth if one could not possess Nina ;
and in consequence of all this, sire, thou dost partly ful-
fil my proper wish if thou dost order me to be executed
as one bending down before thy will. To hand them out
to you after my promise is beyond my powers."

Morphiliziy walked up and down the room with huge
steps and nervously twitching with his mouth.

"I wish to see her!" he said.

"Oh, monarch, be gracious! Before thy arrival here,

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP $$

a doctor had just attended upon her. She has a fever
from terror, she frequently cries, saying:

" 'I am so tired that I cannot ride any farther! They
pursue us— yes, they pursue us !' If she should see thee
now, death would surely set in. As a satisfaction to thy
offended pride, take away my life, which has become so
painful to me. I am more guilty before thee than
Cicero, because I dared to fall in love with thy bride,
while he just worshipped a free girl and was fervently
loved by her before thou didst enter the town and
becamest our ruler. Thou didst permit me to request
rewards for ordinary services; don't let Nina perish!
Don't deprive her of that happiness of which she de-
prived thee, and even me!" Bidandari wished to bend
a knee, but the Tsar did not allow him to take such a step.

"We shall converse like young men of equal rank,"
said he. "Leave me alone; in a few minutes I shall call
thee."

Bidandari went out, but Morphiliziy again paced the
floor. Within him a terrible combat was going on. On
one side his deceived love and wounded pride demanded
cruel revenge, on the other hand the elevated thoughts of
his soul, his well-known love of mercy and chivalrous
nobility of soul inclined him to follow Bidandari's advice.
After walking a whole hour his bad intentions went
away, and completely worn out from physical exhaustion
as well as spiritual disturbance, he threw himself down
upon the sofa and went to sleep with the firm resolution
to pardon Nina.

But alas! Ibliss (the devil) is always angered by any
noble intention, be it of a Christian, be it of a heathen,
and always exerts himself in finding ways of preventing
their being carried out. And thus it happened also this
time. He appeared to Morphiliziy in a dream under the
form of Nina; she was sitting at the feet of Bidandari
and gaily joked and laughed. Morphiliziy did his best to
overhear their conversation and understood that they
were laughing at his confidence. Bidandari boasted about
his cleverness, but Nina laughed aloud.

34 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"I assured him that thou lovest Cicero — that once I
came upon you by chance; and he believed it all like a
stupid child. He allows Cicero to marry and lets you go
to Rome, whither I shall soon follow you, and then only
will he find out the true state of affairs. Thou must
admit, my Nina, that I cleverly thought up all and am
worthy of a reward!"

Instead of answering, Nina threw herself on his neck
and Morphiliziy saw and heard how the mouths joined
together in kissing. He awoke trembling from furor.
"Noy," he cried. The negro appeared.

'Tell the warriors to bring me immediately, all
chained, Bidandari, Cicero, and her! I shall instantly
ride home alone! If I stay here but a minute longer I
shall choke them all, and this is little ! A horse, I say, a
horse!"

In a moment he was already riding off home, but at
sunrise on the following day they brought to his house
the three guilty ones. He came out on the roof, all
wicked, dark, terrible! All his former noble feelings
had disappeared for good, he gave himself up to the work
of pitiless revenge. Silently he pointed to Nina and his
house. The warriors understood and led her there.
Cicero made a desperate effort to run after her, but the
heavy chains and powerful arms of the soldiers held him
fast. Then the Tsar pointed to Cicero and to the house
situated opposite him. Cicero was led off there. Before
him there remained but Bidandari.

"Cut off his sly head !" shouted Morphiliziy, with such
anger that a flame came out of his mouth at these words.
The warriors fell upon Bidandari, but hardly had his
head been divided from his body, when a wonder oc-
curred. The day was bright and clear, without a single
cloud in the sky, but at this moment an immense black
cloud descended unto the corpse and hid him from the
eyes of those standing about. All stared with the great-
est attention. Little by little the cloud went off, but on
the spot where Bidandari stood a magnificent white tulip
grew up.

THE INCOMBUSTIBLE TULIP 35

"He is a witch!" cried Morphiliziy, and again the
flame was seen coming out of his mouth and nostrils.

"Bring the messenger of charms, the old gamdela, and
knock her down before this cursed tulip!"

When they cut off her head and the blood was spat-
tered unto the tulip, its centre grew strikingly red with
pale rosy stripes on the leaves, which rendered it still
more beautiful.

"Now," said Morphiliziy angrily, "drag Cicero to the
window, stand by his side and don't let him turn his head.
I should like him to see everything that is going to occur
opposite !"

And he roared like a madman, and the flame again
came out of his mouth, nostrils and ears. "Away with
the remaining people from here," he shouted in conclu-
sion. The square was instantly cleared.

"Hand me Nina over here!" was Morphiliziy's last
command as he entered the house and took a place at a
window opposite the one to which Cicero was lashed.
They brought up Nina, half dead from fear.

"God of Israel! save me!" she cried out.

"Nobody will save thee from me!" wickedly answered
Morphiliziy, and seizing Nina and embracing her he
brought her to the open window. Opposite, Cicero was
making astounding but futile efforts to free himself from
his chains.

"Call to my God — Cicero! He is stronger than that
man!" cried Nina. In this moment she glanced at her
feet and fainted from terror. Morphiliziy was also
astounded. He saw that her feet grew together and
formed one black mass. He rashly tore her clothes off
her body, but the transformation took place still faster;
her whole body burned and grew black, and in a few min-
utes from her hands there jumped out a splendid butter-
fly and joyfully flew across the square to meet another
one who had come out of Cicero's dungeon. Both of
them hurried to the gamdela's body and to the white tulip
and circled around them.

36 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

How could one describe Morphiliziy's wrath? To
express his anger he could no longer find any human
words. Some horrible, fearful sounds came out of his
mouth together with flames. With terror his warriors
looked on as he threw himself about on the square and
as his eyes flashed. Little by little he turned completely
into a flame. Fiery tongues began to climb out of the
window, slipped down to the square and everywhere rose
into the air, hoping to burn the poor butterflies. In vain
did they fly all over the place, everywhere the flame
chased them, at last they hid themselves in the tulip,
which hastened to shelter them with its leaves. The
whole fury of the fire was now fixed upon the unhappy
little flower. Just then the body of the gamdela was
transformed into a shower. As much as Morphi-
liziy harassed his enemy, the faithful gamdela fought
against him; thus, notwithstanding all the badness of
Morphiliziy, he did not succeed in burning the tulip, but
the white leaves only ornamented themselves with all the
colors of the flame. In the end the nurse finally con-
quered her enemy. He went down into the ground and
shows himself only when the Lord wishes to punish
sinners.

Oh, how dreadful he can then be! He shakes the
whole earth, he tears to pieces its interior and forms deep
precipices where formerly flourishing cities stood, lets
whole villages fall to ruins, destroys hundred-year-old
edifices, rips up gardens, fields, meadows, forests. In a
word, Morphiliziy became a perfect subterranean fire and
hourly curses new generations, while the good, faithful
gamdela daily renders thanks to Him who turned her
into a beneficent shower, without which men and beasts
and plants and everything tliat is good on earth would
perish.

When danger had vanished the leaves of the tulip
opened themselves, the butterflies hopped out and hast-
ened to Damassek's house. There they took again their
former aspect. They were married, sold off all of John's

SAINT NINA 37

wares, and with incalculable riches went away to Rome.
Before their departure they dug out the tulip and took it
along with them. Cicero's country is also favored by
heaven just like ours. There they purchased an elegant
house, a magnificent garden, and the very best spot of
this garden was reserved for the tulip. With their own
hands they planted and took care of it, and soon the whole
town delighted in the splendid flower, which, refreshed
by frequent showers, grew in size. In a few years the
whole garden became one field of tulips.

Cicero's and Nina's numerous children played around
them, while a shower refreshed them morning and even-
ing. Nina and Cicero always went into the garden at
that time, and with gratefulness kissed the bright leaves,
remembering their dear gamdela whom people now bless
the world over, as a reward for her faithfulness and love.

IV. Saint Nina

A TALE

The fourteenth of January is a day of great solemnity
throughout Georgia. This is the fete of Saint Nina,
who converted us to Christianity. Nina's father, Zavon-
lon, was, according to tradition, a relation of the great
and holy martyr, George, who married Sossanna, the sis-
ter of Yovenalii, patriarch of Jerusalem, whose family
came from Koloss. He and his sister became orphans in
early childhood and went to Jerusalem, where Yovenalii
accepted an appointment as secretary, while Sossanna
entered the service of Sarah, a woman of Vifleem. In the
meantime Zavonlon travelled from Kappadokia to Rome
to be presented to the Emperor, and reached there just at
the time when the Brand j is, who had revolted, appeared
in the valley of Patalania. Zavonlon did not let them
reach Rome, but turned them to flight, captured the Tsar
and leaders, and handed them over to the Emperor.

38 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

When, however, the monarch condemned them to death,
they began to cry and implore Zavonlon to convert them
to Christianity.

"Lead us to the temple of thy God," they said, "before
having us killed. Thou didst capture us and having sac-
rificed us to God thou wilt not be responsible for our
death, magnanimous hero!"

Then Zavonlon went to the patriarch and informed him
of all that had taken place. Without saying a word to
the Emperor, the patriarch, with the help of Zavonlon,
baptized them, let them partake of the Holy Communion,
and taught them the Christian faith. At sunrise on the
following day the Brand j is rose, attired themselves in
funeral robes and started for the place of execution.
They prayed, thanked God, who had saved them by bap-
tism, and said :

"We are immortal even after death, because the Lord
hath glorified us by giving us permission to partake of
the Holy Communion. Yes, let His name now be glori-
fied! now, henceforth, and evermore! Woe to our fa-
thers, who died in ignorance and remained in the dark, we
shall not taste the sorrowful, but the joyful fruit. Ap-
proach, executioner, and cut off our heads !"

At these words they willingly stretched their necks
under the sword. But Zavonlon, who could no longer
stand this spectacle, rushed to the Emperor in order to
implore his pardon for them.

"I give them to thee; do with them whatever thou
wilt!" said the sovereign. Zavonlon lost no time in re-
turning to the spot of execution and succeeded in saving
those sentenced.

Thereupon they began to beg him to lead them home
to their native land in order to preach there about the
Faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and convert those desir-
ous of leaving paganism. Zavonlon went to the patri-
arch, got some priests, and with the Emperor's permis-
sion departed, accompanied by the Brandjis. When they
had but one more day of travelling before them, a rumor

SAINT NINA 39

spread in their country that the Tsar was alive and meant
to return with his courtiers. The sections of Kkhozamo,
Kkhosa, Goakchladja or Gardadja, Kkhonebag, Kkhji-
rag or Kindt jag, Zadja, Zaza, Zarda, Zamra and Tkmoka
hurried to meet them, and were reached on the banks of a
great and deep river; the water was blessed and they
entered it and came out at one special spot where a priest
laid his hand on them.

Zavonlon stayed with them till they were baptized and
converted, put everything in perfect order, left the priests
and went away, overwhelmed with gorgeous presents.

"I shall take these treasures for the decoration of the
tomb of the Lord," thought Zavonlon, and started for
Jerusalem, where he gave everything to the poor. At
that time Yovenalii (in monkhood he had taken the name
of Zadass) was patriarch of Jerusalem, and made friends
with Zavonlon, while Sarah of Vavilon recognized him
and learned to cherish his capacities. Besides, she said
to the patriarch : "Zavonlon is the father of the Brand j is
(original inhabitants of Barcelona) whom he converted,
and to whom he gave the Holy Baptism; he carried out
the commands of God, and thinking the matter over, I
counsel thee to let him marry thy sister Sossanna" (prob-
ably Susanna). Sarah's counsel was carried out and the
young couple left for Colossus, Zavonlon's fatherland.

Soon the bride gave birth to a daughter, Nina. When
she was twelve years old her parents sold their whole
property and settled in Jerusalem. Here Zavonlon was
made a monk by the Patriarch German (because Sos-
sanna's brother had already died), and became divorced
from his wife. Pressing his daughter to his breast and
covering her face with tears, he said :

"My dear and only child, I leave thee an orphan, and
recommend thee to our Heavenly Father, God, who nour-
ishes all live beings, because He is the father of orphans
and the Judge of widows. Fear nothing, my daughter,
but try to imitate Mary Magdalen and the sisters of
Lazarus in their love to God. If thou lovest Him as

40 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

much as they did, He will also refuse nothing to thee."
Having embraced her once more, he crossed the Jordan
and started to preach the teachings of God among wild
nations, where the only God, creator of all beings, knew
that the time was ripe. Sossanna, on the other hand, by
order of the patriarch, looked after the poor women, but
was put in the service of Niapkhora, an Armenian woman
from Doroim.

She stayed two years at her house, learning the laws
of God, because at that time there was nobody in all
Jerusalem so well acquainted with the Old and New Con-
fession and who had such a broad and enlightened mind.
Niapkhora was honorable and truthful and imitated Abra-
ham in hospitality. Her house was always open to all
pilgrims coming to pray at the Tomb of the Lord.
More than once she happened to receive Christians who
had been Jews and had inhabited Georgia. From them
Nina heard a story how, at the time of the Babylonian
captivity, some Jews had settled down at Mtzkhet and
how they yearly sent some of their people to the Easter
celebrations at Jerusalem. They also told her that in
the second year of Aderka's reign in Georgia, they found
out about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ through
these very messengers. Within thirty years at Mtzkhet
delegates arrived from the preosviashtchennik (clerical
title) Anna with the following news:

"He to whom the wise men brought presents is now
grown up and teaches us a new faith; thereupon we are
sending word to the Jews in order to find among them
teachers of the law and to tell them : 'Come ye all, who
uphold the law of Moses and clear up our perplexity!
Let all those acquainted with law immediately leave the
foreign lands and hasten with all possible speed to the
fatherland, in order to confirm and guard the faith of our
forefathers, carry out the laws of Moses, save the common
folk from being dazzled by the new teaching, and further-
more, put the guilty one to death.' Elios, a man who was
no longer young, of the tribe of the Levites, decided to

SAINT NINA 41

go to Jerusalem, leaving his mother, a descendant of the
high priest Ilia, to the care of his sister Sidonia, because
the old woman herself said :

" 'Go, my beloved son, whither the Lord and his holy
law call thee, but mind my remarks : thou as a man well
instructed in law shouldst not allow them to have a god-
less intention. I beg thee — do not have a hand in spill-
ing the blood of this man. Thou knowest that this is the
carrying out of the ancient prophecies, believe this one
with all thy heart as I believe in him !' "

Together with Elios went a young Hebrew, Longinos,
a warrior from Karssan, and they reached Jerusalem just
at the time of the crucifixion of our Lord, as they arrived
on a Friday.

When they drew lots, a Greek tunic fell to the share
of Elios, but Longinos received the garment of the Lord,
which he carried back to Kontais (this garment used to
hang in the centre of the church in a crystal vessel up to
the time of Shah Abass, who sent it away to Russia).
When they began to crucify our Lord, by chance the
sound of the hammer and nails came to the mother of
Elios, and she exclaimed :

"Good-bye, kingdom of Israel! Unhappy ones — you
are lost forevermore! By your craziness you kill your
Vladyka and the Saviour of the world, and thus you
become the wilful murderers of your Creator! Woe ye
unhappy ones! There is no lamentation equal to your
distress ! Woe to me, because my ears have heard these
mournful sounds !" and with these words she gave up her
soul to God. When, however, Elios returned to Mtzkhet
bringing the robe, Sidonia came out to meet him, and
crying and weeping threw herself in his arms to tell him
of her mother's death ; and lo ! she came to glance at the
robe. She recognized it as having belonged to the Lord
Jesus Christ, and the thought that her brother had helped
along his death filled her heart with indescribable sorrow.
Having placed on her breast the invaluable holy relic, she
died.

42 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

The news of her death spread all over Mtzkhet and
reached the Tsar, who wished to see the dead woman.
Coming to her body he was struck by the beauty of the
robe, giving out a heavenly glow, and he wanted to put
it on, but no power under the sun could tear the relic out
of the arms of the deceased. Elios buried his sister
together with the robe, and thus saved it from further
attempts of the unbelieving.

These tales made a strong impression on Nina's soul,
she often and long reflected how she might seek out the
place where the robe was, and tried to obtain information
from her governess. "My child," said Niapkhora, "I see
that by thy strength thou are equal to a lioness, whose
roar hushes up the growling of all quadrupeds. Thy
capacity for penetration puts thee on a footing with the
female eagle, who by her flying exceeds the male eagles
and with her little eyes sees all creation; having beheld
the booty she inspects it with her piercing glances, just as
the fire experiments with the gold, and makes for it with
spread-out wings. Such will be thy life. Thy voice will be
heard all over the world and thy booty is to enrich God.
Now I will explain it all to thee. Thou knowest that the
immortal God had compassion for the mortal inhabitants
of this world and came to earth in order to assemble
around him the nations and save the whole world. His
first good deeds were applied to the Hebrews, among
whom he made the dead arise, made the blind see, and
healed the sick. Astounded, they sent out messengers
all over the world in order that the Hebrews might most
rapidly assemble at a great council.

" 'We are perishing,' exclaimed the messengers, 'hurry,
gather ye all !'

"Then from all countries there came together people,
educated in the laws of Moses — they came together to
openly oppose themselves to the Holy Ghost and, namely,
do what was necessary to the world. They crucified the
Lord Jesus and drew lots to get his robe. The robe was
handed over without quarreling to the Man of Mtzkhet.

SAINT NINA 43

Thou knowest also that upon the burial of our Lord they
placed guards at his tomb, but that he arose according
to prediction, and in the tomb there remained nothing but
the shroud, which the Apostle Luke took, but no one
knows to whom he gave it. As to the vesture of the
Lord, which was not found in the tomb, many conclude
that the Apostle Peter took it without telling anything
about its further fate. I in my turn am more inclined to
believe what we heard from the Hebrews of Mtzkhet.
The crosses are hidden here at Jerusalem, but this place is
unknown to everybody until the Lord doth open it in
times to come by his chosen messenger !"

Hearing these words, Nina raised herself and thanked
God and asked: "Well, where then is that land where
the robe was discovered ?"

"The town of Mtzkhet is in Georgia. This is a moun-
tainous land, the borderland of Armenia, and its inhabi-
tants still continue to practise idolatry. The Chaldean
magis have a strong influence over the people," replied
Niapkhora.

At that time there arrived from Ethesus a woman who
had come to visit and pay homage to the Holy Sepulchre
and who stopped at Niapkhora's.

"Is the Empress Helen still in the shade of unbelief ?"
asked Niapkhora of her.

"I am her servant," answered the newcomer, "and
know all her wishes, both open and hidden. She would
like to become a Christian and be baptized."

"Let me go to the sovereign," Nina began to ask of
her mistress, "perhaps our Lord Jesus Christ!"

"Let us first ask the blessing of our most holy Patriarch
German," answered Niapkhora, and went to him.

Soon they called in Nina and placed her on the steps of
the ambo; thereupon German put his hands upon her
shoulders and having sighed from the depth of his soul,
he said: "Vladyka, Immortal God! To Thee I commit
this orphan, the daughter of a sister of one of Thy ser-
vants, and send her to preach Thy faith and announce Thy

44 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

resurrection everywhere where Thou desirest it to be car-
ried out ! Heavenly Jesus ! be Thou her companion dur-
ing the journey, her protector in danger, a refuge, a
leader and a teacher as Thou hast been from century to
century to all those who feared Thy holy name!"

That very night the Virgin appeared to St. Nina in a
dream, to whose happy lot Iveria fell when she together
with the apostles drew lots to see who should go to preach
the faith of Christ in Georgia. In the hands of the
Heavenly Queen there was a vineyard cross, which by
her command was tied with some of Nina's hair. The
Most Holy Virgin handed the cross to the sleeping girl
and ordered her to go in her stead to convert the Iverian
people. The Saint awoke with the cross in her hands
and hastened to announce to her mother all that had oc-
curred. With happy emotion Sossanna listened to her,
kissed her, crossed herself, and blessing her, let her start
out, commending Nina to the care of God.

From her mother Nina went straight to the Ethesian
woman, whom she began to hurry up to start out, as her
heart was burning with impatience; and notwithstanding
the uncertainty and length of the journey, her readiness
to do everything to serve God was so great that she did
not have the least fear ; this ardor was not left unrewarded
by the Leader of Hearts. He Himself appeared to St.
Nina, quieted and strengthened her for the coming expe-
dition.

Having reached Ethesus, the Saint, in the house of her
companion, found the Tsarevna Ripsime fleeing from the
Diocletian torments together with fifty friends. Soon
they were joined by three hundred maidens and Saint
Gaiane, her nurse. Ripsime grew attached to Nina,
because the Ethesian woman told her the latter's story, and
the Saint took advantage of the kind feelings of the
Tsarevna in order to instruct her still more in the faith ;
and in the course of this year she baptized the Queen,
Gaiane, and seventy men of her suite.

They passed two years together at the monastery of

SAINT NINA 45

Poss-Rhoss. Just at that time Emperor Maximian sent
his eunuchs everywhere to seek out the beautiful and
good girls and bring them to him — without distinction of
rank, extraction, or even religious belief.

The messengers arrived at the monastery of Poss-
Rhoss, beheld Ripsime, and struck by her unusual beauty,
they did not yet decide to take her, but began to enquire
about her family. Having found out that she was of
royal rank, they considered her worthy of becoming
Maximian's wife, painted her portrait and went away.
Hardly had Maximian glanced at her portrait, when his
heart flamed up with some strong passion. He an-
nounced that in the whole world there was no equal per-
fection of beauty, that Ripsime was worthy of becoming
his wife, that their marriage should be celebrated with
unheard of till then solemnity, and he immediately sent
messengers to all parts of his immense monarchy so that
each subject might come to take part in the nuptial fes-
tivities. In the meantime the saints trembled from fear
because they knew that this Tsar was like a vessel of
anger, sly like a snake in heaven, also not clean, and idol-
atrous. They imagined that the Tsarevna's portrait
would cause them to be very much grieved, and having
fasted a long time, they prayed to God and decided to
rely on His holy mercy and secretly run away from this
place. And thus the seventy sisters set out for Armenia,
in the neighborhood of Vagkarshapat, and reached a
splendid town called New Dovin, where the Tsar himself
resided.

Here they took up their quarters in poor huts, which
surrounded the town from the north and west and were
used for pressing out the grapes. Here with laborious
work they earned their own living. Having, however,
discovered that the Tsarevna Ripsime with her nurse and
companions had disappeared in some unknown place,
Maximian became perfectly furious and sent messengers
to look everywhere for her.

His ambassadors arrived at the court of Trdat, Tsar of

46 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Armenia, with the following letter : "The autocratic
Emperor to his nearest brother, friend and comrade
Trdat — I salute thee. Thy friendship is our most faith-
ful ally ; I inform thee above all that the sinful Christian
nature is very harmful to us, because it forces the nations
to disregard our mightiness and not respect our Majesty.
Their religion consists of the following points : they serve
a dead and crucified man, adore wood and consider it
glorious to die for their Lord. Although they fear not
the Jews, they nevertheless fear Him, whom the Jews
killed and crucified. In their blindness they defame mon-
archs, scorn the gods, attribute absolutely nothing to the
powerful brightness of the sun, moon, and stars — saying
that these are the creations of the crucified. They anger
the whole world to such a degree that fathers and mothers
separate themselves one from another, not awaiting
death. In vain do our commands and terrible tortures
exterminate them, for they appear in still greater num-
bers ! Having by chance seen a young Christian maid, I
wished to marry her, but she, instead of desiring to be
united with a Tsar, rebuked me like a dirty being and
secretly ran off into thy lands. Investigate this affair,
my dear brother, order a search to be made, and as soon as
thou findest her with her companions, put to death the lat-
ter, but send splendid Ripsime hither, or if she pleases
thee, take her, for thou wilt not find such a perfect beauty
in all Greece. I hope that thou art in good health —
adieu, serve the gods!"

Having read the letter, Trdat began the search, and
soon found the saints. Ripsime produced on him exactly
the same impression as on Maximian and he also made
up his mind to have her become his wife. But the Saint
flatly refused him, and so he tortured her together with
thirteen companions on the fifth of October; and Saint
Gaiane and two others on the following day. The remain-
ing succeeding in hiding themselves ; among them was also
St. Nina, who by God's instructions hid herself in the
branches of a prickly rosebush, without flowers. Here

SAINT NINA 47

she beheld a bright star coming down from the clouds;
it served as a footstool to a deacon, in whose hands there
was a censer ; out of the latter there came such an abun-
dant perfume that the sky really darkened. The deacon
was accompanied by innumerable heavenly beings. This
was the instant when the martyrs breathed their last
breath, united themselves with the heavenly forces sent
out after their souls, and together with them rose to
heaven.

"Lord Jesus !" exclaimed the Saint, "why dost thou
abandon me with aspics and snakes?"

In answer to this lamentation, a voice was heard from
Heaven, saying: "Arise and start for the North, where
there is a great harvest, but few workers!"

And thus the fourteen-year-old child went out to con-
vert a whole country. She guided herself by the voice
of God and overcame all difficulties : the length of the
journey and physical exhaustion, and the fear of wild ani-
mals and wicked people and the cold and hunger and
want! She went as the apostles went; without a staff,
and just like them, she conquered kings, converted whole
nations, healed the sick and glorified the name of that
God who had called to her: "Arise and go!" Without
losing a moment's time she left for the North.

The dear one constantly reminded her of the following
words: "There is a great harvest but few workers!"
and in this she seemed to think there was an explanation
of the fact that on her fell the godly choice. Near Khert-
viss her strength began to fail. From continuous walk-
ing she had become quite lame and was forced to stop and
go into winter quarters — enduring innumerable priva-
tions. In time her health was so much restored that she
started again on her expedition.

Having reached the frontier of Djavakhetta she stop-
ped on the bank of Lake Pkaravno, known also under the
designations : Pkdrnav, Paraban, Pkanavar, and Tana-
ravan ; from this lake flows out a river called the Mtkouar
of Djavakhetta, from which are to be seen high moun-

48 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

tains covered with snow even during the summer months.
They are the cause of much cold weather in all the neigh-
boring towns and villages. Fear seized Saint Nina.

"O Lord!" she cried out, trembling, "accept my soul!"
and she fell to the ground. For two whole days she
could not master her fright nor continue her journey.
At last hunger forced her to ask for food of some poor
fishermen trading on the lake and of the shepherds who
guarded their herds on the banks of the lake.

The latter often used to invoke their gods at night.
These were called Armaz and Zaden, and the heathen in-
habitants of the lake districts promised them rich sacri-
fices if they only guarded the herds from any possible
evil. Hearing that their prayers were spoken in Arme-
nian, to which Saint Nina was somewhat accustomed as
she had served at Niapkhora's, she dared to ask them
whither they had come.

"I am an Akovanian from Elrbienik on the banks of
the Lopatsh-Tskan" (this is the left arm of the Alasana,
Plin calls the inhabitants of this region Loubienis), said
one of them.

"We are Kakhetines from Sapourtzle and Kindsar near
Mouknar," murmured two others.

"But I am a Touissian from Rabatt," added a third
one.

"Here is one from the great city of Mtzkhet, where
there lives a Tsar and where we have temples of our
gods ; in summer we all drive our herds to the banks of
the Pkarnav, thus saving ourselves from the unbearable
heat of our countries. The reason that the lake has so
many names is that each of us pronounces its name ac-
cording to his own language. In the autumn we dis-
perse to our many homes to escape the cold of this dis-
trict."

"Where is Mtzkhet?" asked Nina with a fainting
heart.

"This river unites itself with another one which comes
from Kola, changes its name to Mtkonar and flows to
Mtzkhet."

SAINT NINA 49

She looked at the sides of the river : it was an endless
plain. She became frightened upon beholding its bound-
less limits. Having sighed over the great length of the
coming journey, she put her head on a stone near the
source of the river and fell asleep.

In a dream there appeared to her a man of middle
height with flying hair, and handed her a written roll,
which ran as follows : "Carry this in all haste to the
idolatrous Tsar of Mtzkhet!" Saint Nina cried bitterly
and began to implore and pray: "O Lord! I am a
woman, an adventurer, uneducated, I am unable to say
much; now how in the world am I to go into a strange
land to heathen nations — to a mighty Tsar?"

Then the shining man unfolded the roll in which were
written ten commandments as on the tablets of Moses,
and gave them to St. Nina to read. She awoke with the
roll in her hands. The following were the contents of
the roll :

I : Amen — I say unto ye, go on then, for this testa-
ment will be proclaimed all over the world, will go from
mouth to mouth, and hardly will it be known when docu-
ments will appear to commemorate the event.

II : Make no difference between men or women. Ill :
As thou goest, instruct all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.
IV : The world is the language of enlightenment and
thy glory, О Israel ! V : This good deed of heaven will
be practised the world over. VI : He who accepts you,
accepts Me and he who accepts Me accepts Him who
glorified Me. VII : Mary loved the Lord exceedingly,
for she always obeyed his commandments. VIII : Not
cutting off the bodies of the murderers, the souls of those
who are powerful shall not linger. IX : The speech of
Jesus to Mary Magdalen : "Go, О woman, and announce
my fraternity!" X: "Teach them to promptly and rig-
idly observe all these commandments and then I shall be
with you, in all times and to the end of the world —
Amen !"

50 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Having read the roll, Saint Nina became convinced
that this apparition came directly from the Lord. She
ardently prayed that the Lord might soothe her, and com-
mitting herself to his will, she immediately followed the
course of the river. At first it flowed towards the West
through wild and sterile countries. The journey became
still more terrible through the number of wild animals
filling these deserts with their fearful roaring, but not
one of them attempted to approach and touch the protege
of God. Only when the river turned to the East did
they begin little by little to disappear. Driven on by fear
she forgot exhaustion and went rapidly ahead, hardly
stopping a minute to catch breath. Soon after the turn
of the river Saint Nina overtook some travellers going
to Ourbishi or Ouriat-Oubani (which means "Street of
the Hebrews"), and joyfully followed them, but at Our-
bishi a disappointment awaited her; instead of believers
of the real God she found people who bowed down and
adored fire, wood, and stone; her heart burned with in-
dignation, but the Lord comforted her by instructing
some Jews to give her a hospitable reception, which she
made use of for about one month, when the following
spectacle aroused her feelings :

She beheld a great crowd of people going towards
Mtzkhet, and as she heard from her host that there were
Hebrews there, she followed the people in the distance
and thus happened to reach her point of destination upon
the fete of Armaz. Before reaching the bridge near Mog-
ontka this large crowd stopped like one man to bow down
to the fire, and Saint Nina cried bitterly at the loss of
such a large, large number of human souls, ransomed by
the most precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. On
the sixth of August, 324 A. D., on the day of the Trans-
figuration of the Lord, Saint Nina, according to tradi-
tion, accomplished her first wonder. Upon that day ap-
pointed for the feting of the idol Armaz, it was the duty
of the Tsar and Tsaritsa to take part in the ceremonies.
From early in the morning numberless crowds of people,

SAINT NINA 51

like flowers in the field, filled the streets, shouting and
hurrying, each one trying to excel his neighbor in orna-
menting their respective houses with carpets, fine shawls
and other such articles, all along the road by which the
royal cortege was to pass. First there arrived the
Tsaritsa Nana, surrounded by the wives and daughters
of the aristocracy. She was followed by the Tsar with
a numerous suite. Songs of praises and blessings were
heard among the crowd of the nation. With great pomp
the procession ascended the mountain to adore their god,
who was cast of clean gold, while at his side there stood
two inferior gods of silver, who wore gold cuirasses and
in their aquamarine eyes had artifically made rolling
emerald pupils. These last idols were of human propor-
tions and inside of them a mechanism was hidden,
through which their hands (in which there were sharp
swords) cut down all those who dared to approach the
chief god without making a sacrifice, or all those who
adored other and foreign gods instead. On the Roman
bridge, Saint Nina joined the procession.

"What in the world does all this mean?" she asked
of a Jewess.

"This is the god of gods — Armaz, who calls the people
to do him homage. No other idol can compare with him,
because each of us puts on his best garment to-day and
holds a flag in his hand as a sign of joyousness."

In the meantime the procession had reached its destina-
tion. The Tsar bowed down to the ground, surrounded
by whole clouds of incense. The sacrificers offered their
victims. The Tsaritsa, the nobility, innumerable hordes
of people followed the example of their ruler to the great-
est displeasure of the Saint, who with all her heart prayed
to Him, who had made her glorious and lo! a short-
breathed West wind came up, at first softly, then always
stronger and stronger, and finally turned into an oragan.

Losing their breath and feeling choked, the Tsar ran
away and the sacrificers and the nation too, but the orcano
turned into a perfect rain of stones — not allowing even

52 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

half of those fleeing to seek shelter. Stones of such a
size poured clown that not every grown up man could raise
them with both arms, and they continued to ransack the
temple and idols, until all had been turned to ashes and
dust.

The heathens fled in terror; this mountain, such a short
time before so crowded with people, had now been totally
cleared of men and upon it sat only Nina, who was not
at all terrified by the fearful spectacle. She saw in this
a new proof of the all mightiness of her own God, and
under his powerful protection she quietly lay down and
peacefully fell asleep on a huge block of stone.

The next day, by the order of the Tsar, one of the
noblemen went to inspect the scene of the disaster of the
preceding day. He beheld Saint Nina, concluded by her
dress that she was a traveller from some distant land,
and with customary Georgian hospitality, invited her to
stop at his home. But his offer was by no means ac-
cepted by the Saint. She continued her journey along
the banks of the river and finding on the road an eye of
one of the gods, she took it along with her. Upon
reaching the junction of the Koura and Aragva, where
formerly there stood a town and a fortress, she resolved
to take a rest and pass the night at that point of the
cape, where till then there still remained the ruins of the
church of Favora.

At that time beautiful, well-shaped, high birches grew
there, with magnificent shady branches. They were
planted by Tsar Bartom, who often rested in their shade ;
this custom was long observed by the nobility and well-
known men and almost every sunny day some one from
the aristocracy passed the day under the branches of the
birches. On one of these trees Saint Nina painted a
cross and lived under it in constant prayer till the twelfth
of August. On that day came to refresh herself with
the coolness of the famous trees, the lady of the royal
court Krokhana with her servant, a Greek woman. The
latter by the order of her mistress asked the Saint who

SAINT NINA 53

she was, what she was undertaking, and whether she did
not need something. The Saint said that she was
"Tevee," i. е., a prisoner of war (which does not mean
that she was a servant, as some writers out of pure igno-
rance expressed themselves in describing her life) and did
not tell of her real extraction. Krokhana immediately
invited her to follow her to the palace, but the Saint
refused even this invitation.

Within three days, i. е., on the day of the Assumption
of the Holy Virgin, she crossed the Mtkovar and entered
the royal fruit gardens. Near the place where now
stands the church of the Katholikoss (Patriarch) and a
pillar erected by God, there lived in those times a guar-
dian, whose wife Anastasia hastened to come out to meet
the stranger. She embraced her like an old and dear
friend, kissed her, washed off her dusty feet, rubbed her
exhausted body with strengthening fragrant butter and
having offered her bread and wine, asked her to take a
rest and to recover after the long, long journey. Here
the Saint remained nine months, frequently visiting
Ourbishi, where some Hebrews lived, in the hope of find-
ing out something more about the Lord's robe; and in-
deed the Lord blessed her attempts. She made the
acquaintance of Abiatkar, the descendant of Elios, whom
she quickly converted to Christianity together with all his
family. "When she arrived," said Abiatkar in his tale,
remembered in Georgian History, "I received a letter
from Jewish priests in Antiochia, in which they expressed
themselves thus" :

"The Lord divided the kingdom of Israel into three
parts, which were owned by the Romans, Armenians, and'
Barbarians. There will be no more prophets; all that he
told us through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost was ful-
filled, we are scattered all over the world and our father-
land is occupied by the Romans. О Jews! let us now
weep with our nation, for we offended God, the Creator
of all beings."

Looking over now the books in which Moses teaches

54 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

us : "each one who on earth calls himself God shall be put
to death ! Why is it possible then that we sinned in kill-
ing Jesus of Nazareth ? We actually see that in ancient
times, when our forefathers sinned before God and for-
got Him, He lowered them to servitude and made them
experience all the horrors of captivity; but when they
turned again to Him and invoked Him, He saved them
from need. From the scriptures we know that this hap-
pened seven times in ancient history. Now, then, when
our fathers put their hands on the son of a poor woman,
God deprived us of his mercifulness and support and lo !
our government fell to pieces, we were separated from
our temples and our nationality was forgotten. That was
about three hundred years ago. The Lord does not hear
our prayers and does not send us help, from which we
conclude that perhaps this man was sent by God. Thus
did they write me several times and aroused doubts in my
soul, to explain which, I applied to Saint Nina. I asked
her who was Jesus and why the Son of God became a
simple man.

Then Saint Nina opened her mouth and from it flowed
out words of life as abundantly as the waves in the depth
of the sea. From her very mouth I found out everything
contained by the Christian books, and she explained to me
their profound meaning. I felt like a man aroused from
sleep, like a madman coming back to his senses. She
rilled my heart with pity for our forefathers, made me
convince myself in the truths of the New Testament, and
from her words I indeed recognized in him Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, crucified, resurrected, and having come
with glory; nay, I understood that He was the one who
had been promised to those believing. I saw many other
wonders yet, accomplished by Saint Nina at Mtzkhet in
my time, and together with my daughter Sidonia was
converted and received the Holy Baptism, being cleansed
of all wickedness. I received that which the prophet
David had vainly wished : I heard a choir of voices glori-
fying the New Testament, the object of his sighing; and

SAINT NINA 55

we were favored with the permission to partake of the
Holy Communion, of the body and blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lamb that perished for the sins of the
world, the best and most compound of victuals. О
Lord, strengthen this faith in my heart to my last breath !
All that I shall after this relate, I myself heard, with my
own ears from my mother, my father, or read in books,
recording the words spoken by our ancestors."

After this follows the story already known to us about
the robe. On the tomb of Sidonia under a huge cedar
grew up a fragrant bush loaded down by a numberless
quantity of flowers and leaves, and from its branches a
whole bush was formed, under which Saint Nina let her-
self down, not knowing how near she was to the aim of
her desires. All nights she passed here in prayer, and lo !
in one of these sleepless nights of prayer a shining man
appeared to her and, pointing to the fragrant bush, ordered
her to take up some earth under it to use for healing the
sick. The next morning as usual Anastasia came to her,
offering her wine, bread, fruits, and cheese. Having
noticed that her eyes were filled with tears, Nina asked
her the cause, and so found out that both she and her
husband were deeply grieved by the fact that they had no
children and attributed this misfortune to Anastasia's
illness. The Saint immediately applied holy earth and
Anastasia was cured.

Let us now return to Abiatkar's tale. During that
period Saint Nina saw one and the same dream three or
four times in those few minutes in which she used to rest.
A horde of blackbirds bathed itself in the river, came out
of the water whiter than snow, and rushed towards a
peach tree actually growing near her bush. In the ap-
parition it appeared covered with wonderful buds and
flowers. With great haste the birds gathered and all
rivalled one another in bringing them to the Saint as to
the owner of the garden; afterwards united around her
in a circle and sang most marvellously.

The Saint related all these events to my daughter

5 6 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Sidonia, who exclaiming very loud, expressed herself
thus : "O Prisoner ; thou that didst take off our chains !
I know that thou art the reason of all that hath now
taken place, that by thee we are made to discover and
acknowledge the past spilling of the blood of the Heav-
enly Man, for that deed the Hebrews and their kingdom
perished, they were deprived of their temples and a
strange people took the place of their greatness. Jeru-
salem, О Jerusalem! how thou dost spread thy wings in
order to protect under them nations from every part of
the world, thy children only remained without shelter
and are scattered one by one all over the earth! Now
there comes to us here a woman, born in a foreign land,
who makes over our whole kingdom !"

Then addressing the Saint, she said : "That, which
thou sawest, clearly predicts to us that this place has been
changed by thee into religious gardens, in which thy
pupils and followers whitened by thee like birds will
eternally gather heavenly fruits, singing praises and glori-
fying God!"

The Saint openly preached the message of Christ, tell-
ing the people that up till then they had been entirely
misled. She pointed to the grape cross which had already
accomplished many wonderful cures without applying
any medicine, simply by holding it to the sick people.
She was joined in her converting expedition by seven
Jewish women whom she had baptized. Among them
also my daughter Sidonia, and I myself helped them with
all my strength, trying to deserve the glorious name of
Paul, which the Saint had bestowed upon me upon my
baptism. Knowing well the Jewish law, and being in-
structed by the Saint, it was easier for me to convert the
unbelieving and some of them becoming rebellious, wished
to assault me with stones ; but Tsar Mirian sent out several
of his attendants to deliver me from their arms, because
the news of the glory of the wonders accomplished in
Greece and Armenia came to him and so he did not pre-
vent Saint Nina and her pupils from preaching the truth,
which he sympathized with.

SAINT NINA 57

But the devil, who had for a long time raged against
the true believers, won the heart of the Tsaritsa Nana,
who kept her husband from becoming a Christian. The
fasts, vigilance, and prayers of the Saint astounded the
heathens and they frequently asked her the cause of such
actions.

Filled with joy, she naturally took advantage of such
moments to unceasingly preach to them the religion of
Christ, and Anastasia and her husband zealously assisted
her in such a time. Once they brought to the Saint a
dying infant, whom all physicians considered absolutely
incurable. The mother of the baby was a fierce adorer
of idols and did not cease to injure the faith of Christ,
and even prevented others from accepting the teachings
of Saint Nina. Only the complete hopelessness forced
her to apply to the wonderful girl.

"I am not educated in human science," said the Saint,
"but the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I serve is strong
enough to heal him."

And with these words she placed him on her foliage
couch, on which, having knelt, she usually pronounced
her long prayers and kept her almighty vigilance, and
having crossed him with the vineyard crucifix, she sent
him away, healthy and happy. But his mother, who now
fervently believed in the Christian faith, loudly glorified
the Lord Jesus Christ. A little later the Tsaritsa fell ill
and they sent for the marvellous doctor to the palace.

"I cannot go into a heathen house and therefore re-
quest the Queen to come to me," was the answer of the
Saint. Nana submitted. Her son Revv and some ladies
of the court were obliged to carry her in their arms.
Numerous crowds of people accompanied the procession
with visible curiosity and concealed their dissatisfaction ;
but this dissatisfaction turned to excessive joy when she
was cured and with tremendous attention did the crowds
of heathens listen to Sidonia, who had educated the
Tsaritsa in the true faith ; after that she was bapthed by
Abiatkar and returned to her husband, a fervent Chris-
tian.

58 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Here it will be opportune to tell why Tsar Mirian once
upon a time was so much in favor of Christianity.
Hardly any other monarch in the world could boast of
such great success in war as Mirian ; he conquered much
and always had good luck, nowhere and never did he lose
a single battle, and he justly deserved the term "the in-
vincible." But that which seemed to all mere luck, was
nothing less than the intention of God, leading him this
road to learn the truth.

In the year 312 the Persian Tsar Sapor sent a mes-
senger to Mirian with a proposal to unite their forces and
jointly attack Greece. Mirian consented, and soon their
army, the number of which the contemporaries compare
with grass in the fields or the leaves of the trees, fell upon
the Emperor Constantine, who did not dare to oppose
himself, and with sorrow saw how they ravaged one
Greek province after another.

The clergy encouraged its sovereign, assuring that the
Lord would not let the unbelievers possess a Christian
kingdom. A dream convinced Constantine still more in
this idea. He hastened to become baptized and led his
army by a flag on which was represented a cross of stars,
surrounded, according to the apparition, with the words :
"By this I conquer !"

Soon the handful of Christians conquered the hordes
of heathens at Andriansora. Both tsars with the re-
mainder of their troops were turned to flight and pur-
sued by Constantine who, following them on their heels,
invaded their dominions. The Persian Tsar, having
abandoned his ally, ingloriously fled, but Mirian defended
the towns and fortresses in Georgia until all his generals
had perished; then he sent an embassy to Constantine
with peace proposals.

Constantine, who feared a second invasion of the
Persians, consented to peace only with the imperative con-
dition that in case of a war with the Persians, Mirian
should assist him with an army, but to make sure of the
observance of this condition, he took Mirian's son Bakour

SAINT NINA 59

as a hostage. Mirian's failure in the war with Constan-
tine, the incomprehensible fear which had forced him to
turn to flight, him, Mirian, whom all considered fearless
and invincible and who up to this time had known no fear,
gave him an exalted opinion of that God whom Con-
stantine worshipped, and he frequently thought about His
incomparable mightiness. The wars in which he was
allied with Trdat, had led him astray, although, after the
Avar with Constantine and the disaster at the fete of
Armaz his faith in the religion of the false gods was
very much shaken, but the furious opposition of the
Tsaritsa Nana made also this second deep impression
vanish.

Now, however, when the newly converted woman
wished to bring him to the light of truth, she was met
with indifferent curiosity and cold inquisitiveness, instead
of the former hearty interest. Mirian had already suc-
ceeded in forgetting that impression, which the victory
of Constantine and complete fall of Armaz had produced
upon him, he interrupted her fiery, persuasive speeches
with the question how he came to see her healthy once
more. The Tsaritsa spoke the truth. Her husband
knew very well what a tremendous contrast there was
between her experience and all then known means of cur-
ing, and he would not believe at all that the simple ap-
pliance of a cross could have as consequence a complete
restoration to health. The court ladies, witnesses of the
wonder, were then summoned to appear, and very
naturally confirmed the words of the Tsaritsa. But the
Tsar was not yet convinced.

It was then ordered that any one of the eye-witnesses
should be called up, and lo! a whole crowd of people
came to testify the truth of what had taken place.
Among others there was also Abiatkar, to whose tale we
shall now return : "The sovereign noticed me and began
to inquire about the Christian teachings. He knew much
in the Old and New Testament, and thus I had to explain
rather than merely relate, and so it was easier to converse

6o CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

with him than with the uneducated heathens. After that
time he often sent for me.

"Once he told me that in the Book of Nebrotk the fol-
lowing version was written : 'During the construction of
the tower of Kaskinie in the city of Khagkan (Babylon),
Nebrotk heard a heavenly voice, which said to him : "I
am Michael, to whom the Lord confided the administra-
tion of the East, go thou out of this town, for the Lord
does not wish that thou shouldst see that which He hid
from human eyes. Leave the building, for otherwise God
will certainly destroy it. In the future there will come
a Heavenly King, whom thou dost want to see, and
although He will be hated by the cursed nation, the fear
of His name will cleanse the earth of all sins, kings will
renounce their thrones in order to live in poverty. He
will look upon thee with mercy in disastrous times and
will save thee V "

I did my best to convince the sovereign that this is the
confirmation of that which we have already read many a
time in the Old and New Testaments. He agreed with
me, but continued to adore the idols and the fire, notwith-
standing the prayers of the Tsaritsa, who constantly per-
suaded him to be baptized. The devil held him still
another year in his claws after Nana had been converted.
On that account I could not convert even a single heathen,
while Saint Nina daily converted dozens of people, un-
tiringly preaching to the people the truth. She continued
to pretend that she was a prisoner of war, not telling any-
one whence she came and whither she intended to go.
Much time went by, the Tsar interfered with the Saint
and remained deaf and dumb to the prayers of the Queen ;
and the visits of Abiatkar did not lead to the desired
result. He conversed whole hours with him and every
time let him depart unpersuaded in the truth.

Once there arrived from Khorossan a courier of the
Sossanid family, with messages from the Shah of Per-
sia who suddenly fell ill. The Tsaritsa Nana sent for
Saint Nina, who again refused to come to the house

SAINT NINA

6l

of the idolatrous Tsar and requested the sick man to re-
pair to her house. King Mirian, who was not yet fully
convinced of the mightiness of the Christian God and had
not entirely renounced his former religion, wished himself
to accompany his dying guest, whom they bore in their
arms.

"Through what power dost thou effect thy cures?" said
the Tsar, turning to the Saint. "Art thou not a daugh-
ter of Armaz, dost thou not belong to the number of the
descendants of Zaden, notwithstanding that thou callest
thyself a stranger? Dost thou not secretly bow down
before them and seek their moral support ? And do they
not give thee the power of healing, which nourishes thee
wherever thou art ? I know that thou didst convert peo-
ple to the faith of a foreign God for the sole sake of trying
their fidelity afterwards. Glory to our gods, who have
disclosed the truth to me! I shall respect thee as I do
the governess of my children and cover thee with honors
in this mighty city, where thou didst hide thyself under
the pretense of being a prisoner, but display no more
before me and do not speak about the Christian faith.

"Our great gods only are the actual healers of the
world ! The sun shines because they illuminate it, they
send down rain, give fertility to the earth and nourish
blessed Georgia. Armaz and Zaden know all secrets.
Gatz and Gaim, the ancient gods of our forefathers are
worthy of the confidence of all mortals ! If thou wilt cure
this mtvar I will shower riches upon thee, make thee a
citizen of Mtzkhet and a servant (mere priest) of Armaz.
Although they (the idols) were destroyed by an unusual
storm and hail of stones, yet the spot where we adored
them did not perish. Ytkrondjan — the Chaldean God
and our Armaz are constantly fighting. It is known that
our god once directed the sea against his enemies and
that is the reason why they now revenge themselves by
letting this disaster occur just as the rulers of the earth
constantly do. Carry thou out then, my order I"

"O King!" answered Saint Nina, "as the representa-

62 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

tive of our Lord Jesus Christ and the prayers of His All-
holy Mother and all saints existing, I am sent by God, the
Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Father of all great and
small beings, from man down to the last degrees of in-
sects, through His indescribable mercy, like a piece of coal
out of the stove of His goodness in order that thou
shouldst learn to believe in and reach heavenly heights,
the sunny world, the depths of the sea, earthly magnitude !
Find out and acknowledge now thou, О Tsar, Him who
covers the sky with clouds, who fills the air with the sound
of thunder and shakes all creation, who lights up the sky
with lightning, makes the tops of mountains slip off or
turns them into volcanoes ! Before His voice the founda-
tions of earth tremble and mountains disappear like sea-
waves ! Know thou all this and admit thou the invisible
God, living in heaven, who has sent His Son begotten of
Him, to earth in the form of a mortal man, who having
accomplished everything His Father wished Him to do,
rose to Heaven in sublime glory. Dost thou not see that
this, the eternal, only and true God looks after the needs of
the humble and turns His face away from the proud ? О
Tsar ! the time is already approaching when even thou shalt
know and recognize God and verily shalt behold the won-
der of light, which there is in this town. I am speaking
of the Lord's robe ; and the sheepskin of Illina, and many
other treasures indeed, are hidden here, which God will
point out to thee. I shall cure thy archimage just as I
healed thy wife in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ and
by the strength of His honest cross. The Tsaritsa
already informed thee that she recovered from her illness
only after she had sincerely renounced the idol-worship.
Now her mind has broadened out and with ardor she does
everything that is ordered in the Christian law — nay, that
other people may learn from her righteous way of living !"
Then, upon the command of the Saint, they placed the
image facing the East. The Tsaritsa fell down on her
knees and began a prayer under the cedar while the
Saint raised the hands of the sick man towards Heaven
and ordered him to loudly repeat thrice :

SAINT NINA 63

"Renounce thou Satan! Bow thou down before my
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God !"

But from great weakness the sick man could not speak.
Then the Saint began to implore God to restore him to
health, with tears and great lamentations, and her pupils
stood by her side.

One day and two nights she continued her prayers, and
when at last the invalid had repeated the holy words for
the third time, the badness of his soul suddenly aban-
doned him, he became a healthy man and a Christian,
together with his family and servants and glorified the
Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost ! Mirian began
to fear the wrath and revenge of the Persian Tsar and
wanted to have the Saint immediately executed — alone
the desperate lamentations and tearful supplications of his
beloved wife could cut short his anger, and dissatisfied,
he decided to seek distraction in hunting. This is how
Sidonia, daughter to Abiatkar, and pupil to Nina, relates
the event :

"On Saturday, July the twentieth, a royal hunt was
appointed in the direction of Mouknar. The devil dis-
turbed the royal heart, awakening in him the old love for
idols and fire, and so he firmly resolved to exterminate all
Christians with the sword. Four of his nearest council-
lors accompanied him upon the hunt, and to them he
turned and made the following speech :

" 'We are worthy to be punished by our gods for for-
getting their glory and permitting Christian witches to
preach their law and teachings in our country. Through
their witchcraft they accomplish wonders, but not at all
by the might of their God. I have now made up my mind
that all those who pay homage to and adore the Crucified
shall perish by the sword, and furthermore, I insist that
an effort shall be made to increase the love of serving the
gods, the real rulers of Kartla (the native word for
Georgia). I shall propose to my wife to abandon the
faith of the Crucified, and if she doth not fulfil my
order, I shall forget her love for me and have her

64 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

put to death with the rest!'" With joyfulness the
heathens listened — it seemed to them as though the mon-
arch's speech had come out of their own hearts. They
had long reflected about such an event, but did not dare to
express their thoughts, knowing the attachment of the
sovereign for his wife. Now they strongly supported his
views and encouraged him in his actions.

In the meantime they had already passed Moukkvar
and Mirian ascended the high mountain Tekkhotk (in
Armenian Tkakoutk) in order to look at Kaspii and Oup-
lis Tzikke. When, however, he reached the tiptop,
although this was just at noon, the sun suddenly disap-
peared before his eyes and day turned to night. An im-
penetrable fog covered all the surroundings and the Tsar
himself not noticing this, rode a long way off from his
followers. An unusual thought weighed upon him.

Surprised, he wished to ask whether all the rest were
also in the fog or whether he alone was dazzled, but no-
body answered his questions. In vain he rode over the
mountains covered with bushes, his horse constantly
stumbled and fell, the trees scratched his face and tore his
clothes, the Tsar was involuntarily trembling, while his
exhausted and tortured horse at last succumbed to fatigue
and rose no more, thus depriving its reckless rider of any
hope of saving his life. Then he remembered his former
doubts and understood Whose hands were pushing him
down.

"I called to the gods, but they did not help me!" he ex-
claimed. "Now I shall turn to Him who was crucified
on the cross, whom Nina preached about and with whose
help she succeeds in healing men. Is He not strong
enough to deliver me from this disaster? I am already
fully in the darkness of terrible sin and do not know
whether this darkness has come for all, or whether I alone
am punished with blindness.

"If Thou wilt save me, God of Nina, then I pray to
Thee, lighten up darkness and show me where my palace
stands! I will accept the religion of Thy name, I will

SAINT NINA 65

erect and glorify the wooden cross, I will build a temple
of prayer, following the teachings of Saint Nina, and
become a true Christian."

With hearty and sincere repentance in his heart, he
swore to become a Christian, and hardly had he succeeded
in closing his lips when his eyes opened. The sun shone
for him with all its gloriousness, he climbed off the fallen
horse and stopping at the place where he had had the vis-
ion, he raised his hands towards the East and exclaimed :

"Thou art the King of kings and the God of gods an-
nounced and proclaimed by Saint Nina ! Let Thy name
be glorified by all people in Heaven and on earth. Thou
didst deliver me from peril and didst open my eyes ; now
I found out that Thou wishest to save, comfort and draw
me towards Thee, according to the words of Thine arch-
angel. Blessed be the Lord ! On this spot I shall erect
a cross, yes, I will glorify Thy holy name and let the re-
membrance of this marvellous event be kept upright for
centuries and centuries to come." Having taken precise
notice of the spot he went away, but in the meantime his
attendants, who had been everywhere vainly looking for
him, came together to discuss what was to be undertaken
next.

"Yes, let all my nation glorify the God of Nina !" sud-
denly rang out the Tsar's voice, "for He is the Eternal
God and to Him alone is due glory from century to
century !"

They gave a fresh horse to the King and he rode home
very happy, and best of all — both mentally and physically
cured !

In the meantime the Tsaritsa had already heard the
report that Mirian had disappeared and a little later she
received news that he was already returning. With
great haste she rushed out to meet her beloved husband
and an innumerable crowd of people followed after her.
They arrived together at Kindsa, which lies in Gkartk.

As to Saint Nina, she was pronouncing her usual
prayer in the rose bush, and several of us were there

66 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

with her. Gradually as the Tsar approached the whole
nation began to be greatly moved and excited, because
he shouted in a loud voice:

"Where is the stranger, who, from now on, will be
my mother, because her God saved me from death?"

Having found out already that she was praying, the
Tsar branched off on a side road and his suite followed
him. Before reaching the rose bush Mirian left his horse
and coming up to the Saint, he humbly bowed to her,
saying :

"Now make me worthy of invoking thy God, who has
indeed been my saviour!"

Having taught him a little, Nina on the very spot
ordered him to bow down towards the East and adore
the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the people, who did not understand the point of
the whole affair, began to be rebellious, seeing the Tsar
and Tsaritsa humbly kneeling.

On the next day Mirian dispatched ambassadors to
Rome to the Emperor Constantine, with a request to
speedily send some priests to baptize the nation, and with
a letter from Saint Nina to the Empress Helena, inform-
ing her of the wonders which had been performed on
Tsar Mirian near Mtzkhet, through the strength of our
Lord Jesus Christ. The day the Tsar was converted the
Saint sent to Saint Gregory Nansien asking for instruc-
tions as to what she should do next. By his advice she
personally destroyed the new idol Armaz, which they
had already succeeded in placing on a mountain beyond
the Koura, and to which the people daily bowed at sun-
rise, climbing up to the roofs of their houses and turning
their faces towards the sun. In its place she erected a
cross on a hill near Mtzkhet, beyond the river Aragva.
But as this cross was roughly made, the people kept away
from it until the Lord had glorified it. While expecting
the arrival of priests, the Saint and her followers preached
the word of God day and night, untiringly preparing the
nation before being baptized, and they went from Klard-

SAINT NINA 67

jet to the land of the Alanes and from the Caspian gates
to the land of the Massajettians, while the remaining
pupils of the Saint spread all over Georgia.

The Tsar had already become an active and energetic
Christian before the return of the ambassadors. He said
to the Saint : "I am burning to construct a house of God,
let us now choose the site !"

"Let thy mtavares (provincial governors) solve that
question and have it arranged so that thou and the nation
will draw the utmost profit out of it," replied Saint Nina.

"No!" said the King, "I love thy rose bush and wish
to sacrifice everything in order to erect a temple on that
spot. I shall have my vineyards, great cedars, fruit trees,
and fragrant flowers cut down. Dost thou not remem-
ber how in thy vision the black birds became so white
that it was blinding, and having perched themselves on
the vineyard trees, filled the air with heavenly songs?
Now we will turn this visible vineyard into an invisible
one, giving us eternal life, and let us build in it a house
of worship and prayer before the arrival of the Greek
priests!"

Immediately they began to get the materials together.
For the church seven pillars were necessary. Thereupon
a great cedar was cut down which furnished six pillars,
while the seventh was made out of a large pine. When
the wooden walls had been erected they fixed the six pil-
lars, each one in a place specially prepared for it, while
the seventh, which was unusually large and was meant
for the cupola, they could by no means lift from the
ground. They hastened to report this to the Tsar, who
ordered all the people to make for the building, and he
himself went there too. In this affair all then known
means of raising weights were used, but neither the num-
berless arms, nor any possible art could succeed in obtain-
ing the desired result. And Tsar and people asked each
other with the greatest surprise: "What can this
mean?" And having labored till night they went back
to their houses in great sorrow. Saint Nina, however,

68 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

with twelve of her followers, remained by the pillar,
washing it with her tears and praying and groaning.
About midnight a terrifying vision began ; we saw how
the mountains of Armaz and Zaden were trembling as
though somebody were shaking them in order to block
up the course of both rivers. Mtkouar returned and in-
undated the town, by reason of which the air was filled
with cries, lamentations and groaning, while the Aragva
flowed towards the fortress and its waves dashing
against the fortress walls, made such a fearful noise that
we ran away in terror, but the Saint shouted :

"Do not be afraid, sisters, the mountains still stand in
their places and the rivers have not altered their course,
and the nation quietly sleeps. Although that which you
beheld did not happen in reality, yet this was not a mere
dream, for the mountains of unbelief were thoroughly
shaken up in Georgia, for the rivers of innocent chil-
dren's blood, which flowed in honor of the idols, dried up,
for legions of demons, chased out of this region by the
mightiness of the Cross are pitifully combatting, seeing
how their waves of wrath cannot carry out anything nor
harm the fortress of Christ's faith. Come back and let
us pray!"

Then all these sounds quieted down and everywhere
one could distinguish silence once more. The Saint
stood up with raised hands and prayed that what had
been begun by the Tsar should not be destroyed. But
before dawn the vision repeated itself, and this time more
terrifying than ever : it seemed as though an immense
and terrible army had attacked the city from three dif-
ferent sides.

Having forced the gates open it completely filled the
streets. Everywhere a fearful emotion had spread,
shrieking and murdering took place. Pools of blood
flowed at every corner. In some places the people threw
themselves upon the enemy with arms in their hands;
some of them from terror and confusion turned against
their own countrymen. Here one was killing the other

SAINT NINA 69

— there a second one was expiring, a third one's heart
was perfectly broken by the lamentations of his family.
Suddenly a loud, loud voice was heard :

"The Persian Tsar Kkhouara ! The king of kings
Kkhouaran Kkhouara has ordered that the sharpness of
the sword should spare the Jews !" Only upon hearing
this cry did I begin to come back to my senses, but just
like ten of my companions, I could not exactly remem-
ber how affairs stood. We were still imagining war-
riors turning around us with swords in their hands, who
knocked down and killed everybody and everything.
And once more a cry was heard : "Tsar Mirian is taken!"

Then the brave worker of Christ's vineyard said : "I
know that he who is shouting is in great distress. Give
thanks unto God, for the enemy is overcome and Georgia
saved, and this very place too!" She cheered us up like
an experienced doctor, like a sincere teacher, like a great
apostle! Afterwards fearlessly throwing herself upon
this regiment of robbers and destroyers, she angrily asked
them :

"Where then is the Persian King Kkhoua and Kkhoua-
ran-Kkhonafa ? Only yesterday you left the land of
Sab and hurried hither with a terrible and most numer-
ous army in order to destroy the city and exterminate the
inhabitants. Ye Northern and Western winds, chase
them away into the dark mountains and bottomless preci-
pices, for He arrived before whom you turn to flight!"

With these words she raised her hand and made the
sign of the cross.

Instantly all fell to pieces and were swept off, great
silence set in and we all began to congratulate her upon
the glorious victory and thank God for the happy and
favorable end of such a terrible vision and for His re-
vealing to the Saint through this event the future flourish-
ing state of the country. When, however, it began to
grow light, the other women fell asleep, while I, Sidonia,
could see how the Saint continued praying, raising her
hands to Heaven. Suddenly there stood before her a

70 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

youth, shining with indescribable brightness, dressed in
a fiery-blazing garment and said three words to her, from
which the Saint fell down with her face on the ground.
The youth stretched out his hands towards the pillar,
raised it and put it in the right place. In my astonish-
ment I approached and asked : "Why, mistress, what
is this?"

"Bow down thy head!" she replied, and wept from
fear. A little later she rose, ordered me to get up too,
and we left this place together.

In the meantime our sisters had waked up and actually
saw that the pillar, which had seemed to them enveloped
in flames, was coming down from Heaven and was ap-
proaching its destination. W^hen it was within twenty
loktays of the ground it stopped. Hardly had daylight
appeared when the Tsar, tortured with impatience and
anxiety, hastened to the building which he was burning
to see finished. From a distance it seemed to him that
the strokes of lightning were rising to Heaven. He hur-
ried on. In the end, unable to conquer his curiosity, he
actually ran. His whole suite and innumerable hordes
of people rushed after him, doing their best to speedily
reach and help to put out the fire in the burning edifice,
and lo! a wonderful spectacle now presented itself to the
eyes of all present.

The extraordinary illumination was not caused by a
fire as supposed : it came from the pillar, blazing with
light. Softly did it come down from Heaven, supported
by the arms of two angels, placed itself in the right spot,
and was firmly fixed without the help of human hands.
O, how great was the general delight! Happiness and
emotion spread all over Mtzkhet.

The Tsar, Tsaritsa, dignitaries, and people without dis-
tinction of rank or class, shed tears of emotion, all glori-
fied God and praised Saint Nina, for great wonders were
accomplished on that day. In the first place a blind-born
Hebrew, who approached the pillar, which had been
placed by God, began to see. Secondly, the sepetsouli

SAINT NINA 71

(i.e., page) Kha Mazaepouki had been entirely para-
lyzed for eight years. His mother took him in his bed
and had it carried to the shining pillar, afterwards turn-
ing to Saint Nina, she said in an imploring voice : ''Look,
О mistress, at my dying baby, I know that He about
whom thou dost preach is the God of gods !"

Then the Saint moved up to the pillar and having put
her hand on the boy, said to him : ''Thou dost believe in
Jesus Christ the Son of God, who hath come to save the
world? Be healthy and from this very day on glorify
God, who hath cured thee!" And the boy got up in per-
fect health, and Tsar and nation were seized with fear.
All the sick hastened to the spot and were healed, but as
many could not stand the wonderful light coming out of
the pillar, the Tsar ordered to have it covered with wood,
which, nevertheless, of course did not prevent the people
from approaching the pillar and getting cured.

The work of completing the church was immediately
taken in hand, and it was arranged so that the pillar
should be left in its above mentioned place. In the mean-
time the ambassadors of Tsar Mirian had already related
to the Emperor Constantine and the Empress Helen, his
mother, about the conversion of their sovereign to the
faith of the true God, and this filled their hearts with
joy, for Mirian offered them his friendship and help in
conquering and destroying the Persians.

They hastened to send Bishop John (upon the advice
given by the Antiochian patriarch Evstafn) and with him
two priests and three deacons. Upon this occasion
Constantine wrote a letter of congratulation to Mirian,
filled with blessings and expressions of thankfulness to
God, and sent him some gorgeous presents, but above all
an invaluable gift — namely : the image of Rouiz with five
hundred pieces of holy relics. The Empress Helen also
wrote a letter in which she highly praised the resolution
of Mirian and encouraged him. The arrival of the
bishop, priests, and deacons at Mtzkhet was a day of gen-
eral feasting, for Tsar as well as people were equally
thirsting to be baptized.

72 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Immediately a proclamation was sent to all the kris-
tavs, military commanders, and dignitaries of the mon-
archy to gather around the Tsar, and all started for
Mtzkhet. Thereupon began the general baptizing:
Saint Nina baptized the Tsar and the priests the Tsaritsa
and princes.

Bishop John on the other hand blessed the Mtkouar,
and together with the deacons having found a place near
the bridge Mogoutka, opposite the house of the priest
Elios, he baptized in these waters all dignitaries and cour-
tiers; that is the reason why this spot is called Mtka-
vartka-Sanatklavi, i. е., "the place where the Mtkavares
were baptized."

Farther down the river, both priests, the deacon and
the bishop, after having baptized the nobility and digni-
taries, baptized the people, who hurried towards them as
much as possible — begging to quickly receive the great
favor. Just so the prophecies of St. Nina, who was con-
stantly and uninterruptedly repeating to them that he who
does not let himself be baptized, would never behold the
real light, awakening in them the greatest enthusiasm.
Thus nearly all Georgians and fifty Hebrew families from
the house of Varrava were christened.

To the Hebrew-Christians the Tsar granted the sub-
urb of Tsikhe Dide. This was in the year 327.

Alone the mountain inhabitants and Mirian's brother-
in-law, Pkeros, who had received the province of Ran as
a dowry from his bride, beginning from Bard, did not
pay attention to the Tsar's summons and remained
heathens, having respectfully remarked to the Tsar that
his power over them could not be extended to their form
of religion. When, through His great mercifulness, the
Lord deigned to show to the holy Tsaritsa His living
cross, Tsar Mirian hastened to send to the Emperor Con-
stantine the Bishop John, asking him for a piece of the
wood of the holy living cross. To this request he
joined the wish to have many priests, in order to send
them out not only into all provinces, but also to each

SAINT NINA 73

single city of his government to educate, enlighten, and
baptize the people all over Georgia.

At that time an invitation was also sent to architects,
for it took a great many to erect and establish churches
throughout the kingdom. The Emperor received the
ambassador with great rejoicing and handed him the
pieces of the holy living wood on which had lain the holi-
est legs of the Saviour of the world, and two nails
from the Lord's hands. The pieces of the holy living
wood are called Nerkveli in Georgian. Emperor Con-
stantine handed great riches to Bishop John, ordering
him to erect a church with this money in the newly con-
verted country, but to divide up the remaining treasures
among the other Georgian churches. He also sent with
him many priests and architects and having flattered and
complimented the envoy and bishop, allowed them to
start for home.

Having reached the province of Eroushatk, they left
there one architect and a priest, ordering them to establish.
and erect a church, and giving them the necessary sum
for that undertaking. The priest besides was given
charge of the most holy nails, which were to be kept in
this temple. When they again arrived at Mangliss,
they did the same thing, leaving the holy Nerkvelis, and
then soon reached Mtzkhet. But Mirian, who had been
awaiting their arrival with such impatience, was deeply
grieved by the fact that they had been staying out longer
on the way than he had expected them to do, and besides
— had left in the provinces both invaluable holy relics;
but Saint Nina comforted him by the following words :
"Quiet down, О Tsar! It was necessary that every-
where on their route they should proclaim and firmly
establish the name of the Lord — while thou in the grand
capital art in possession of quite as great a treasure, viz.,
the robe of the Lord I"

Then the Tsar sent for Abiatkar, and with him came
quite a large number of Jews. When, however, he asked
them questions about the robe they related how it was

74 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

under the wonder-working pillar and added to this the
whole report of Sidonia, which we have already told.

"Blessed be Thou, О Lord Jesus Christ, son of the
living God !" exclaimed the Tsar, raising his hands
toward Heaven, "merciful and charitable in saving us
from the devil and the land of darkness and having built
this church, nay, having brought Thy robe hither from
the most holy city of Jerusalem to spare it from the hands
of the Jews, who hath not acknowledged Thee and to
hand it over to our care, to a foreign and strange nation,
honoring and fearing Thee with all their heart !"

Immediately the church was begun, first commencing
with the court. "Let the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
be blessed," said then Saint Nina, "and of God the
Father, who hath sent His son, who leaving the all-shin-
ing heavenly regions, came down to earth, was without
doubt born of the seed of David, of the branch of Joachim,
of the most holy and most pure Virgin and her thou didst
make the cause of our salvation, earthly enlightenment
and glory of Thy people О Israel ! Of her was born
the God man, the light of all believing, the image of God,
baptized with water and with the Holy Ghost, was cruci-
fied and interred, rose on the third day — going up to His
Father, whither he comes with glory, for He is worthy
of all glory, honor, and adoration, together with the
Father and the Holy Ghost now, henceforth and ever-
more! Amen."

When all were really and successfully baptized, the
royal son Revv reminded them about the famous tree,
which grew in the court and had a marvellous power to
heal even the most desperate mortal wounds. It was
noticed more than once that even the snakes, when
wounded by mortal shots, if they ate the leaves of this
tree or the buds falling from it, immediately were healed.

Having found out about this, Bishop John said :
"This land was really and truly destined by God to have
the holy faith introduced in it, and by His godly atten-
tion this marvellous tree grew up and was preserved to

SAINT NINA 75

our days. Now, however, when the might of Christ had
been spread all over Georgia, it does seem advisable to
make a cross out of it, which will be an object of venera-
tion for the whole country !"

And so, on Friday the twenty-fifth of March, three
hundred and thirty A. D., the Tsarevitch Revv, together
with the bishop and masses of people, set forth to cut
down the tree, the branches of which, notwithstanding
that it was in the winter season, were quite green. This
tree was so beautiful that having cut it only slightly, one
hundred men took it up in their arms together with its
branches and leaves and carried it into the town, where
they placed it near the church.

To the general astonishment it really kept its freshness
and beauty during thirty-seven days, as though it had been
replanted with a root or been constantly refreshed by
living water. When, however, all the bushes were cov-
ered with leaves and the fruit trees with flowers, on the
first of May, a Saturday, Tsar and people entered the
church and with ardor and joy fulness made crosses out
of it. The following day at sunrise a cross of stars de-
scended from Heaven, and having let itself down to the
church, seemed to have turned itself into a crown of stars
which remained visible to the whole nation until sunset.
Then two stars started forth from it : one flew towards
the East and the other towards the West, while the cross,
keeping its heavenly glitter and beauty, quietly directed
itself to the spring which had been created by the tears
of Saint Nina, and having gone up by the river Aragva
to a stony plateau, rose to Heaven. As this vision re-
peated itself daily and was seen by all the people, the
Tsar asked the Saint to explain its reason.

"Send thou," she said, "into the highest mountains in
the East and West, to follow up and watch the direction
which the stars take and, there where they stop we shall
each time erect a cross to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ!"

The Tsar lost no time in ordering guards placed on
the summits of the mountains. This was on Friday, and

7 6 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Saturday, according to custom, at sunrise the wonder
again repeated itself. The next day arrived the men who
had been keeping guard on the Kvobtka-Tkavv, and said
to the Tsar:

"The star stopped just above the mountain Tkkot and
then went down into the Caspian Sea and disappeared."
But others who had also kept guard on the Keretk, said :

"We beheld a star which came straight to us and
stopped in the village of Bode." Thereupon Saint Nina
said :

"Take both these crosses and establish one on the
mountain Tkkot as God hath instructed ye, while the
other ye shall give to the servant of God — Salome, who
will plant it in the town of Oudjarmo, because Bode or
Bondi is a simple hamlet with few inhabitants and thus
should not be put on a footing with a capital, which has a
large population, and so Bondi, too, will soon see that it
is a place pleasing to God." The words of the Saint
were most punctually and correctly carried out on the
seventh of May.

In consequence of the marvellous heavenly apparition,
a third cross, taken up by men and preceded by Saint
Nina, was solemnly carried to the foot of the stony
pleateau.

There the Saint, the King, and the people passed a
whole night praying at the spring which had been created
by the tears of Saint Nina. At that spot many wonders
and cases of healing took place too. The day following
they ascended the mountain to the top of the rocky pla-
teau (now known by the designation Djouar), the Saint
gave the example and after her Tsar and people, rich and
poor, the prominent and religious fell down with their
face resting on the ground and prayed to God with many
tears and great lamentations, so that the mountains were
rilled with the sounds of crowds praying. Then the
Saint, having put her hand upon the stone, said to the
bishop :

"Come thou and make the sign of the cross on this
stone."

SAINT NINA 77

As soon as the Saint's command had been executed,
the holy cross was well fastened to a rock by the
hands of the Tsar and his family. Innumerable crowds
of people bowed down before the cross, praising and
blessing the Son of God and believing with all their hearts
and souls in Him and in the Holy Trinity. Even the
most distinguished Mtavares did not leave the holy
church, the fiery pillar and the holy cross, and were wit-
nesses of the perfectly unusual wonders and most mar-
vellous cures.

The Sunday of the Easter Full-moon was chosen by
Mirian for celebrating the holy cross, and this custom
was observed all over Georgia up to the governor-general-
ship of Yermolow.

On the first Wednesday after the fete of the Holy Trin-
ity, a new wonder occurred. A fiery cross showed itself
above the cross on Mount Djuarr, while above it there
seemed to be a crown, consisting of twelve stars.
Besides, the mountain gave out an indiscribable fra-
grance. This vision was seen by everybody, and many
of the unbelieving were baptized on that memorable day,
while the faith of the Christians was very much strength-
ened, and they loudly glorified God. At the cross still
another wonder took place. A light seven times brighter
than the sun was lowered from Heaven unto the cross
and angels went up and down this apparently fiery road —
as the sparks fly from the bursting crater. Even the
very mountain was shaken as though a strong earthquake
were taking place during the wonderful apparition.

This wonder called forth general surprise, and all
those present praised God more and more, and as such
wonders repeated themselves daily before the eyes of the
whole nation, people from every town and village of the
kingdom streamed in to bow to the cross. At that time
the Tsarevitch, a grandson of Mirian and the only son
of the crown prince Revv, was taken with a hopeless
illness, but his father placed him in front of the cross and
with tears in his eyes, said :

7 8 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

''If thou, О holy cross, wilt heal my son, I will erect
a shrine for thee!"

And the child came back to life and was taken home
by his father — restored to perfect health. The Tsare-
vitch immediately returned with the greatest joy in
order to thank God and begin to carry out his sol-
emn promise. Soon a marble chapel was built, into
which Revv daily came to give thanks unto God, and
used to bring rich gifts. Ever since that moment a still
greater number of the weak and sick were attracted by
the holy cross, and having been cured, they joyfully glori-
fied our Lord Jesus Christ and the strength of His honor-
able cross. A blind youth who had fasted for fully seven
days and had been praying as long before the cross, got
back his sight and glorified God.

A woman who had the misfortune of having the devil
in her for eight whole years, was deprived of the power
of reasoning and here tore her clothes to pieces and
became idiotic — there became greatly weakened. For
twelve days they held her in front of the cross; in the
end the Lord healed her and she returned home, healthy
in body and soul, lauding God and honoring His holy
cross. It happened that a little baby fell from a certain
height and was instantly killed. His mother put the
breathless corpse near the foot of the cross and from
morning till evening unceasingly prayed with tears con-
stantly in her eyes.

"Woman !" they said to her, "take him away and bury
him, for he is dead, and thy prayers will be of no use!"

But she continued praying and loudly lamenting
without giving up hope throughout the night, the next
day and a third day, and lo ! to the seventh day.

On this seventh day, however, in the evening, the baby
came back to life and was carried off living and healthy
by his mother, who did not cease to praise and thank
God. Such great wonders persuaded many fruitless
husbands to resort to the strength of the holy cross, and
having begged with real faith, they became the fathers

SAINT NINA 79

of numerous families and daily came to adore the cross
and bring gorgeous presents. Not only the sick who
personally came to pray at the foot of the cross were
successfully cured, but also the warriors combatting far,
far away from Djouar, if they only implored the help of
the cross, became able to defeat their enemies and un-
harmed returned to Mtzkhet to justly glorify God. Many
infidels, when in great need, addressed the cross with
prayers and receiving salvation from destruction, has-
tened to Djouar to give thanks unto God and be baptized.
Besides these already mentioned, masses of other suffer-
ing people were healed and the unhappy comforted by
invoking the holy cross, created by the almightiness of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and to them
is due all glory, honor, and veneration, now, henceforth,
and evermore. Amen.

At that time Saint Nina, the Tsar, and the nation re-
ceived a message from the patriarch from Rome. Just
then, too, arrived a deacon from the land of the Brand jees
in order to congratulate Saint Nina and ask her to pray
for them. He also brought a letter from his Tsar to
Saint Nina, whose father had baptized all Brand jees.
At Jerusalem and Constantinople a report was spread that
the sun of truth was now shining in Georgia and Jee —
from all possible regions they sent letters asking to give
precise details of the wonders which had happened at
the pillar and the rose bush and of the extraordinary
cases of cures. Having carefully inquired about all this,
the brand ja-deacon glorified God and went home with
numerous letters containing the longed for statements.
Then the Tsar spoke thus to the Saint and the bishop :

"It is my wish with the power of the sword to force
the mountain inhabitants as well as my brother-in-law
Pkheros to serve the Son of God and to oblige them to
venerate and respect the honest cross !"

"God doth not order thee to convert them with the
sword !" was their unanimous answer. It is thy duty to
convert them after having pointed out to them with the

80 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

help of the New Testament and the cross — the road of
truth leading to life eternal and how to be thankful to
the Lord, who lightens up the terrible darkness of their
souls.

Saint Nina, together with the bishop, left for the
mountain regions, and the Tsar ordered the kristav (most
likely district governor) to accompany them. Upon ar-
riving at Tsorbanne, they called together the mountain-
eers, inspected Dsrbin, Tchartal, Tkkhela, Tsilkammy,
and Gorangor. They assembled the Tchartalians, who
were almost like wild beasts, the Fkholians, the Gonda-
makavians, and to all these tribes they preached about the
holy cross of Christ. But they did not want to listen,
and so the royal kristav drew his sword and destroyed
their idols and subjected them.

From there they went into Yaletia (the present
Mtaletka) and taught the nations of Tionet and Ertso
(in Armenian Erdzoitk), who received them well and
were baptized, but the Fkholis (nowadays the Pchaves),
settled over to Doushet. The remaining mountain in-
habitants also refused to become Christians, for which
the Tsar doubled their taxes and thus forced them to
emigrate. It is true later on, Saint Avive, bishop of
Nekretsa, converted several of them to Christianity, while
the rest are even to this day infidels. Saint Nina started
for Ranne in order to enlighten Pkeros, but as she ap-
proached Kouket and reached Bondi, she was obliged to
make a longer stop. Kakhetians streamed there in great
number, questioned her and many became persuaded in
the correctness and truthfulness of her teachings. At
Bondi, however, she fell ill. Hardly had the news of
this deplorable event reached Revv and Salome, who lived
at Oudjarmo, when they hastened to the Saint and also
informed the Tsar and Tsaritsa. The sovereign gave
orders that Bishop John should bring over the Saint, but
she really preferred to remain where she was, and so the
Tsar set out for Bondi with a numerous suite.

The whole nation rushed to the invalid, whose glance

SAINT NINA 8 1

was illuminated with true heavenly brilliancy. With
love and veneration did the true believers cut off little
bits of pieces from her garment and covered their sou-
venir with kisses. The Tsaritsa and the princesses
crowded around her, showering blessings upon her, and
with tears and sorrow they looked forward to their
separation from their teacher, protector, and healer.
The Princess Salome, Kherosh Avrizounelle (in Arme-
nian Perojavr Sounetsi), the kristaves and mtavares
began to implore the Saint to relate her life to them,
saying :

"Who art thou? How didst thou come into our king-
dom to save us? Who was thy instructor? О mis-
tress, do let us know the history of thy life! Why
shouldst thou speak of captivity — О thou happy, happy
Tsaritsa, who hast delivered us from the burdens of
captivity? For through thee we found out that the Son
of God had been predicted by prophets, that after Him
the work of spreading the new faith was carried out by
twelve apostles, and as many as seventy-two pupils.
But of all this immense number, thou alone wert given
and sent unto us by God. Why in the world dost thou
then call thyself a prisoner and foreigner?" Then
the Saint continued :

"Children of the Faith, Tsaritsa and princesses — all
ye who are surrounding me, I now see that you may be
compared with the ancient women in their faith and love
to Christ. You desire to know the biography of His
insignificant servant. I consent, for I feel that my end
is approaching and I shall sleep the eternal sleep in
which she who gave birth to me is already resting.
Take ye then the inkstand and write up the history of
my life, so that your children shall discover how great
your faith in God was, how constant and unchangeable
your love to me and what wonders you were allowed to
be witnesses of."

Then the Princess Salomee and Kherosh Avrizounelle
began to record the events, while the Saint related to

82 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

them all that we have here undertaken to describe. She
advised the Tsar to replace Bishop John by the priest
Jacob when the time should come. John held a final
mass, and Nina received from his hands the Holy Com-
munion, after which she gave up her most righteous soul
to the Lord of Heaven and earth, in the fifteenth year
after her arrival in Georgia, in the year of our Lord three
hundred and thirty-nine. Her death caused great sor-
row and mourning in Mtzkhet and Oudjarmo. They
buried her at Bondi (the present Sidjack) in accordance
with the sworn oath which she had received from the
Tsar. As this was at that period a little known and un-
important village, the Saint had evidently chosen it from
extreme humility. The Tsar and his noblemen were
deeply grieved by this choice, but of course did not ven-
ture to oppose her last will.

V. The Diamond

A LEGEND

At the time of Tsar Artchill the First, who was mar-
ried to Marion, the daughter of the Greek Emperor
Julian (363 A. D.), many Greeks settled over into
Georgia, among them the painter Martin. To his care
the inner ornamentation of the church of Stephan
Tsminda (i.e., of Saint Stephen) was left. This great
house of worship had been planned and constructed at
Mtzkhet by the all honorable Artchill, near the gates of
the Aragva, near the towers and bastions erected in its
neighborhood for national defence. Martin was a per-
fectly honorable and reliable man and very clever and
gifted in the execution of his orders. The paints which
were at his disposal assumed such a marvellous, nay
overwhelming resemblance with reality, that several of
the saints represented by them appeared as though they
were alive, and astounded faithful and esteemed believers

THE DIAMOND 83

many hundred years after his death. On one of the
walls he had undertaken to reproduce the apparition of
the most Holy Virgin to Saint Nina. The latter was
seen down on her knees stretching out her arms and re-
ceiving a holy cross made of fine vineyard branches.
The fear, happiness, love to God and perfectly boundless
submission to His holy will were expressed not only in
the character features of the Saint, but in every move-
ment, nay, in every fold of her garment. The union of
all these various thoughts was above picturesque sciences
and naturally called forth the amply justified astonish-
ment of the contemporaries of Martin and of the very
latest visitors to the temple. Yes, indeed, the Greek
Martin was a great, great artist. And therefore he
loved his art so much that it seemed dearer to him than
all the world put together, with the exception of his
daughter Poullkheria.

At the period when our tale begins, the portrait of
Saint Nina was already carefully finished off, and the
artist was applying himself over the figure of the most
Holy Virgin. As humble as he was clever and ingen-
ious, he alone, it appeared, did not notice the beauty of
his productions, and while just then all those standing
about were filled with amazement and extreme delight,
he sighed while comparing his master works with those
shining, marvellous, indescribable, and exceptionally ex-
traordinary pictures which his poetic imagination seemed
to behold moving as it were in the air, and which were
so dear to his elevated soul. How in the world should
he represent the features of the most Holy Virgin ?

That was a question which tortured him day and
night. Every time he reflected about them he thought
he could see the sweet, short, dear face of his daughter,
and with terror in his heart he attempted to drive away
this imaginary apparition. It seemed to him like some
wicked, harsh, impossible insult. Again he did his best
to find a proper type which would have nothing earthly
about it, and once more that same loving and beloved

84 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

little face of Poullkheria presented itself to him. At last
in perfect despair he went to the Katholikoss (this fully
corresponds to the rank of a patriarch), John the Second,
imploring counsel and prayer. One day and two nights
they fervently prayed together near the holy djouar
(thus was named the place near the fountain of tears of
Saint Nina, not far from the cross erected in that very
vicinity; djouar in reality means cross). On the sec-
ond morning the Katholikoss ordered the painter to im-
mediately return to his home.

"Lay thyself down at the feet of our great converter,"
said he, "and go to sleep, for I do heartily believe that
in a dream thou art destined to see namely those features
in which the most Holy Virgin must be represented !"

Martin went to the place appointed, fulfilled the com-
mand of John, and a third time saw the features of
Poullkheria; she appeared to him with some especially
magnificent heavenly radiance.

"But how shall I reproduce this astonishing light?"
murmured the painter, and began to strictly observe the
fasts and pray like the ancient prophets and other true
servants of the Lord. For a whole week he constantly
went through all the different religious services and ate
nothing, nor did he drink anything. On Saturday, after
partaking Communion, he took a meal and lay down with
the intention of sleeping under the portrait.

In the dream he beheld already the heavenly Tsaritsa,
viz., just as it was customary and necessary to reproduce
her. Hastily he jumped up and drew out on the wall
with charcoal the all glorious and all impressive picture.
This was the very first representation of the kind, and it
completely satisfied and pleased the artist himself! The
worry which had long been weighing down on him was
changed into inexpressible happiness and good fortune,
and he hurried to the holy djouar (cross) where with
tears he thanked and sang praises unto God. The fol-
lowing day just at sunrise Martin rose, awoke Poull-
kheria and led her off with him. Hardly had he arranged

THE DIAMOND 85

her as was his desire, when an unknown youth came up
to them.

"Old man !" he said, respectfully bowing, "I also want
to work on the image of the Heavenly Queen, instruct
me how it is necessary to dispose of thy colors." With
great incredulity Martin stared at him. The gorgeous
garment, the graceful movements showed plainly that
he was a man not accustomed to hard labors. "It is not
at all easy to teach how to apply the colors," he answered.
"Take off thy expensive and most elegant robe and thy
delicate hands will not stand difficult, exhausting work."
The youth nevertheless insisted, and Martin having rap-
idly explained to him what to do, began the work and
soon forgot him and Poullkheria and all creation, and
was utterly absorbed in his magnificent inner world. In
the meantime Poullkheria followed the newcomer. He
was a tall, well-built, handsome youth, broad-shouldered
with a slender waist, which was pinched in by a fine gold
belt with decorations of highly precious stones, and how
these various-colored stones played and shone and re-
flected! when he had placed it on a huge marble piece
and he easily and quickly arranged on it a heavy stone,
which her father moved from place to place — very slowly
and only gradually. The youth did not pay the very
least attention to her — he was evidently worried and pulled
down by some outside event. Deep sighs from time to
time came out of his breast, and in the end Poullkheria
remarked that a tear fell unto the edge of the marble
slab. It now really seemed as though he as well as Mar-
tin had wandered off into some unknown world and had
forgotten everything earthly. Martin painted without
interruption for seven hours ; and in a like manner, with-
out taking any rest, worked the sweet newcomer. Glanc-
ing at their indefatigable application, Poullkheria became
frightened and feared that her posing might never come
to an end, and so began to weep most bitterly. The fea-
tures of her face suddenly assumed another look and thus
her father began to be thoughtful and remember all that
had taken place.

86

CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"Enough, my poor darling child!" he said with deli-
cacy, and addressed the youth. Immense spots of paint
and butter were now to be seen on various parts of his
costly attire, his hair was indeed in the greatest disorder
and his face red from exhaustion. Martin really did
not know how he should thank and reward him.

"Tell me at least thy name, thou good youth !" he said,
turning to the boy.

"Mirdat."

"Why— is it possible?"

"Be silent!" interrupted the youth and went out, but
Martin looked after him with inexpressible astonish-
ment. Only in this moment did he recognize in him the
Tsarevitch-successor, the great and famous victories of
whom the whole East was talking. Yesterday only he
had returned from a victorious expedition to Rome, and
they were convinced that he would soon start out again.
How was it possible that during these very few days of
rest he wished to take upon himself such a tiresome and
dry work ? Afterwards he thoroughly inspected what he
had achieved and was perfectly overcome by the number
and variety of colors and shades arranged and used by
him.

"If he accomplishes his new war as rapidly as the first,
I shall have enough colors left up to the time of his re-
turn," reflected Martin, and gayly and joyfully went home
with his dear little daughter, who all along the route ques-
tioned him about Mirdat. Having dined in haste and
slept a little, Martin once more continued his labors and
was steadily busy until sunset.

Thus the undertaking went on day after day with the
difference only that Mirdat no more appeared. It seems
that he had left for Movakanne and soon after had paci-
fied it for his father. It is not useless to relate what
happened to Mirdat upon his first expedition.

The provinces of Ranna, Movakanne and Aderbada-
ganne since the most remote times belonged to Georgia,
and only during the reign of Tsar Mirdat the Fourth,

THE DIAMOND 87

grandfather of our hero, they came under the control of
the Persians. Satrappe Barzabode administrated them.
Having taken Ranna, the Tsarevitch-successor Mirdat
wished to call out Barzabode in a duel. Barzabode took
up his quarters in an abandoned tower beyond the city,
but Mirdat surrounded it from evening on — supposing
that during the night it would be impossible for him to
slip out and escape, and so he resolved to give rest to his
exhausted and wornout warriors till morning. In the
night he made an inspection tour of his brave camp, and
passing quite close to the tower on the grassy slopes, he
overheard a sweet conversation. He stood still and paid
close attention. The sweet voice, hardly hearable, pro-
nounced the word : "Batono!" ("Sir.")

He raised his head and almost fainted from extreme
astonishment and delight : on the roof there stood a girl
of indescribable beauty. The moon was shining on her
and gave her long, regular features some secret myste-
riousness and unusual charm. And suddenly her coral
mouth opened, and from it poured out a low, inspiring
and enchanting speech. She implored the young military
commander to save her from the clutches of her very old
father.

"Who and what can dare to oppose itself to thee?
Thou dost conquer towns and provinces. Thy powerful
army defeats and submits even hero princes. Whomso-
ever or whatsoever thou mayest look at in this world, thou
canst always consider it thine own, for it doth not come
within thy reach only when thou dost not wish it so.
Thou hast wonderful beauty, common sense, mind,
strength, and bravery, while I never had anything except
a dear father. He prided himself in his warlike glory —
thou didst darken it ! He had won for himself the entire
confidence of the Shah, thou didst destroy it. He
boasted about the invincibility of his warriors, while thou
didst conquer and baffle them. Thou above all didst have
my way of looking at things and my imagination. Thy
all powerful type did victoriously enter my soul and doth

88

CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

drive out from it the poor, terribly degraded character
of my old father!"

And at these solemn words the beauty fell down on
her knees. "O do not tear him away from me!" she
murmured, reproachingly, stretching out her arms tow-
ards him.

"There will be no duel!" unexpectedly said Mirdat; he
turned around and quickly went to his tent. This young
lady was the daughter of Barzabode, Sagdoukta. From
that moment onwards Mirdat loved her with all the
mightiness and emotion of his hero-prince's heart, and
there was deep, deep grief and depression in his soul.
Was it possible to suppose that the Tsar would permit
him to marry the daughter of that satrame, to whose care
certain provinces had been intrusted and who of late had
been deprived of the right of administrating them?

Having reflected a little he made up his mind to leave
a comparatively small number of warriors in the places
which he had but just successfully conquered, while with
the remaining soldiers he returned to his father in order
to ask for fresh instructions. Everywhere they met and
received the young conqueror with great ceremony and
delight; radiant faces were surrounding him, the joyful
cries of the people filled his ears, while in his heart it was
all dark and heavy. With unbelievable effort he finally
forced himself to answer the general and most hearty
greetings constantly showered on him with a caressing
smile, and on the following day, when he safely reached
his beloved home, he immediately went to continue and
work for the glorification of the most Holy Virgin, in-
voking her assistance and protection. The same was his
object when he reached his native town after his second
great victorious campaign in Movakanne. But this time
Martin, who had already succeeded in finishing the ex-
pression of the face of the Heavenly Queen and having
spent some time in reproducing her garment, now took
the matter more easily, and indeed, frequently watched
and glanced at his busy assistant. Having noticed the

THE DIAMOND 89

running tears of his daughter, he let Poullkheria go home,
and turning to him, asked him what might be the cause
of his great sorrow.

"Thou hast helped me so much," said Martin, "that
I should really like to render thee some good service,
good youth ; perhaps my old age makes me fit and enables
me to give thee some highly useful counsel."

"Thy grey hair testifies that already long, long ago
the time went by when thou wert excited and moved by
those thoughts and plans which called forth my tears.
Nobody except the most Holy Virgin is strong enough
to make my terrible grief go by, viz., because I love with
all my heart a splendid girl to whom the sovereign will
never give me his consent to be married."

Saying these words Mirdat went, with a painful ex-
pression on his face, but Martin understood this most
simple clear explanation quite differently, and through
this mistake he let his most honest and loyal soul almost
perish. This soul was perfectly clean, enlightened, free
of sin, and shining like the most costly diamond.

And so once upon a time, during a dream, some heav-
enly angels cut out the soul and brought it to the Lord.
"O, Vladyka!" they said, "look thou at this brilliant dia-
mond— this is the soul of the Greek man Martin, who hath
given up his whole life to the glorification of Thy name.
There is not one vice which can possibly obtain admis-
sion to or seek refuge in it, for it doth entirely belong to
Thee ! Looking at it and admiring it, we are frequently
thinking that upon the death of Martin this diamond will
be fully worthy of ornamenting Thy holy throne."

The sweet, sweet angel voices quieted down, while
from the depths of the earth the devilish laughing and
ridiculing were heard. "Why dost thou so rejoice — mis-
erable Satan?" asked the guarding angel by order of the
Eternal God.

"Very soon this diamond will be spoiled, darkened,
and I shall become the happy possessor of it!" replied
the devil. Thereupon the good angels began to bitterly

90 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

cry, but the Lord comforted them. He gave commands
that the soul should again be placed and fixed in the
body of the sleeping painter, and also informed the angels
that in case Martin should ever happen to listen to and
obey the sly devilish instructions and thus have his soul
darkened, that they should find means to bring it back
to God, although it be by the heavy, nay distressing, road
of worldly grief and tears.

And quickly the angels descended into the church of
Stephen Tsminda (that is of Saint Stephen) and put
the blinding diamond back into the slumbering Martin,
but after them Satan came up and began to persuade the
Greek that his daughter had completely won the heart
of the Tsarevitch and that he himself would become a
royal father-in-law. And thus at last vanity stained the
diamond with dark and dirty spots, its shining lightness
began to go out more and more, while the perfectly ex-
traordinary and marvellous beauty seemed to be cover-
ing itself with a dark skin, and Martin daily continued
to give himself up to worthless vain thoughts. And see,
the diamond was decaying and would soon lose all of its
unusual qualities. In the meantime Mirdat conquered
and pacified Aderbadaganne.

"What dost thou wish me to give you as a reward for
thy highly valuable services ?" asked the delighted, en-
thusiastic Artchill. Mirdat reverently fell down on one
knee and kissing the lower end of the royal garment,
asked for permission to be married to the daughter of
the conquered satrappe. The loving father replied with
an amused smile: "As long as thou didst administrate
Ranna, Movakanne, and Aderbadaganne, Sagdoukta
seemed to have hold of thy heart, and it seems to me that
the very best way for thee to get out of this dangerous
position is to claim the honor of obtaining her hand !"

Immediately an embassy was dispatched to Barzabo-
dus, who received it with indescribable joy and delight.
Sagdoukta, supplied with a most gorgeous trousseau
and dowry, was conducted to Mtzkhet where the mar-

THE DIAMOND 9 1

riage ceremony was performed and the innumerable
fetes connected with it continued for many days. The
Tsar gave his son the city of Samshrilde with the prov-
ince surrounding it. Besides through her beauty, Sag-
doukta distinguished herself still more by her very re-
markable mind and, which was in those times rare, a
general education.

Mirdat sent for the very wisest and most learned men
of his age, living in Samshvillede and intrusted them
with translating into Georgian the holy New Testament,
and thoroughly explaining it to the Tsarevna Sagdoukta,
who already fully believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and
having gone through and accepted the holy baptism, in-
tended to have a cathedral of Zion erected at Samsh-
villede. For the planning of the inner walls a most pre-
cise and talented artist was necessary.

Mirdat just then remembered his old friend Martin,
and sent some attendants to look for him. But when
their point of destination was reached, he was no longer
among the living. He had succeeded in finishing his
work in the church of Stephen-Tsminda at the time of
the last campaign of the Tsarevitch in Aderbadaganne,
received a right royal reward from Artchill, but instead
of returning to Greece as would have seemed natural, he
remained at Mtzkhet, hoping to bring them to a favor-
able issue.

He daily went to the merchants of gorgeous weavings,
chose the most precious objects, and composed of them
a most valuable and rich costume for his Poullkheria.

The very most talented and experienced tailors under
his personal direction were employed in ornamenting with
and sewing on these garments precious stones of one ex-
quisite color, and besides that jewels. Trying first one
thing, then another on his beloved Poullkheria, for whole
hours at a time he watched and interested himself in
her superhuman beauty, and with full confidence dis-
played before her the pictures of her future greatness.
On hearing all these compliments and glorious prophecies

92 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

the shining eyes of Poullkheria lit up with still greater
joy fulness. Her clean heart could not understand or
appreciate the many foolishly vain thoughts and inten-
tions of her father. She loved Mirdat, indeed, not
because he just happened to be the son of a King, but
on account of his bravery, goodness and perfect honesty.
That was why, notwithstanding exceedingly powerful
temptations, the soul of Poullkheria remained as neat,
without a sin and immaculate as when she had not had
such notions; but Martin's soul daily lost its splendor and
became covered all over with dark, dark spots.

In the end Mtzkhet was bursting with joy, for a report
spread from one quarter to another that Aderbadaganne
had been successfully taken by storm. Triumphant re-
ceptions were now universally prepared for the great
victor, and young and old rushed into the street with
colored flags or flower branches in their hands. Poull-
kheria in her newest attire, and by her very side Martin,
stood on the steps of the church of Stephen-Tsminda (i.e.,
of Saint Stephen).

When the powerful procession came up to them, the
Tsarevitch got off his horse and went into the empty
temple. Martin, unnoticed, followed on after him and
clearly beheld how he went straight to the finished image
of the most Holy Virgin and having fallen on his knees
was fervently praying. When, however, the prayer
being over, the Tsarevitch rose, Martin ran up to him
and quickly whispered in his ear:

"This great day the Tsar, my master, will not refuse
thee anything."

But the Tsarevitch, persuaded that he alone was in the
church, was evidently and most visibly struck and moved
by this unexpected witness of his all hearty and sincere
prayer. He did not recognize Martin, did not remem-
ber even his words, but hastened with all his might to
go out of the church, while Martin thought that his own
affairs were taking an unusually pleasant turn and greatly
rejoiced. A few days went by, on the large square of

THE DIAMOND 93

the city a glashatai (kind of herald) made his appearance
with a number of trumpeters, and having called together
the people, they formally announced to them the coming
marriage of the Tsarevitch-successor Mirdat to Sag-
doukta, the daughter of the Persian satrappe (probably
district governor) Barzabode.

A slight noise was heard, and a moment thereafter a
cry which was sharp enough to tear one's soul to pieces
and which attracted general attention. On the ground
lay Poullkheria, not showing any signs of life. A thin,
pale colored rivulet of young boiling blood was slowly
coming out of her mouth. Kneeling before her was Mar-
tin, who, indeed, wras giving himself every possible
trouble to stop the abundant flow of blood. Somebody
out of the crowd was desirous of running to help her,
but he looked back with a really terrified glance, and
like a regular madman, having seized her in his vigorous
arms, rushed off with her to Stephen Tsminda. Here
he placed her at the foot of that wonderful picture for
the execution of which she had served as a model and
completely lost his senses. And, nay! — he actually saw
how the cupola moved and opened itself, and how two
angels gradually approached Poullkheria. In their
hands there was just as grand a kind of a white trans-
parent, indescribably magnificent garment as the one
which dazzled their eyes.

Instantly they took off the costly robe and clothed her
in the attire which they had brought along. Poullkheria
came back to life and looked around with the greatest
astonishment as the rays of the sun, one after another, re-
flected upon the opening of the cupola, and approaching
slowly, the angels came down, who quickly and intelli-
gently drew out two wings from them, quite as beaming
with light as their own, and made them grow on to
Poullkheria, and having manoeuvred with them several
times, the new angel without the least trouble raised her-
self from the earth and joyfully did the angels of the
Almighty God sing a marvellously, nay extraordinarily,

94 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

sweet greeting song to their dear new companion in
arms, inviting her to fly off with them to the Throne of
God.

The new angel departed from the house of worship
with a last, tender parting glance and having beheld her
father, she began to implore the angels to also take him
with them into the World of Life Eternal. The angelic
song now stopped, their faces were darkened with sor-
row, and painfully they announced that willingly they
would have prepared for him at first a more desirable
spot in the all glorious and all wonderful domains of
Heaven, but that he threw away his splendid chance by
wicked and useless vanity. The tears ran down in
floods from the eyes of the former Poullkheria, and these
tears of hers, as clean and fresh as the morning dew,
dropped down unto the face of him who had died and
brought him again to life and this time to a happier one.

Martin jumped up, being fully aware of and perfectly
ready to acknowledge his sinfulness. Abundant tears of
remorse came out of his eyes and two more angels ap-
peared on earth.

They gathered these tears and washed out with them
the wicked, sinful soul of Martin and the dark, dark
spots of vanity on this most precious of diamonds grew
quite white. When, however, the diamond again ac-
quired its former harmless and utterly immaculate look,
they radiantly bore him up to the throne of God, where
he is shining and enlightens with a marvellous talent and
adroitness those artists who are working for the glory of
God, but Poullkheria guards their shining, clean souls
from any sinful or irreligious infection.

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US 95

VI. Happiness Is Within Us

A LEGEND

In the fifth century (458 A. D.) the Ossians stole and
led off the sister of the Georgian Tsar Vachtang the
First, known under the name of Gourgasslan (the lion
wolf). The then three-year-old princess was called
Mikrandoukta. When, however, Vachtang had con-
quered and pacified the Ossians, killed their commander-
in-chief, Great Bagkatar, and seven of his brothers, and
brought the sister safely home, he also took with him as
a captive the very youngest of the Bagkatorian brothers,
Mirian, whom he had left alive upon the repeated prayers
of Mikrandoukta. The boy, who had been a playmate of
the Tsarevna, was appointed page and grew up at the
royal court.

As he grew older his attachment for Mikrandoukta
constantly increased, but he never so much as ventured
to reveal to her his thoughts and feelings, neither by
his speech, nor his looks, but used to go to an out of the
way spot of the royal garden and there began to bitterly
cry. Gradually, however, as he became a man, his
wooings took a more refined form and were frequently
put down in exquisite verses. A large number of little
pieces of poetry are in circulation among the people under
the name of "Wooing of the Knight/' for when he
reached his fourteenth year, the Tsar made him his body-
knight. His comrades were of course jealous of this ex-
ceptional distinction and heartily congratulated him, but
he, deeply grieved by the final departure of the princess,
went into his favorite resting place; there a song came
out of his lips, which for whole ages was known and
went down from generation unto generation.

96 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

THE SONG OF THE BODY-KNIGHT
(Literal Translation)

" Why did they lead me into the high royal palace,
To thee as thy page,
Thy most winning eyes
Did fill my soul with burning fire.

" Although I descend from a powerful Vladyka
And am now at least the Tsar's favorite knight,
Nevertheless I cannot even testify my love to thee
Nor exchange words with thee through sweet, sweet glances.

" It is as though a mighty fortress was separating us
So fearfully high and immobile,
And my humble glance does not dare to penetrate
E'en to the grand old royal window.

" In love, however, I am thy slave, О dear princess,
I am quite able to pick up a quarrel with the king,
For I do pride myself in having just as fiery a soul,
Nay, just as great a heart.

" Both of us are still in life's early stages
And the same blood runs in our veins,
And if I cannot boast of such great royal fame
I may at least be proud of my strength and powerful determination."

And, as though wishing to give his powerful strength
a fair trial, the youth struck out with his fist against the
stone and lo! the rock began to shake and split. When
he looked at his fist he noticed that there was blood on
it, and thereupon Mirian was more downcast and de-
pressed than ever before.

"What possible use can my hero prince's strength be
to me when my heart is harder than stone ?" he exclaimed,
and again tears flowed down his face.

And so from the mixture of tears with dripping hero-
blood, a little spring formed itself, which flows at the edge
of a precipice — then again it makes its way through high,
high stone blocks, like a wild animal and, having success-

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US 97

fully overcome them, it cries and hops about like a child.
Mikrandoukta did not at all share the intense attachment
of Mirian and took no notice of it. Attaining her
growth she married the Shah of Persia. On the day of
her departure Mirian came to his little spring, fixed the
sword between two stones and threw himself against it
with such violence that the sharp blade went right through
him. His youthful body slipped into the water, but the
burning blood swelled the little rivulet and gave it a mar-
vellous power of resistance. To this well known spot
from that time onward, all true lovers streamed in, and
if anybody has a really good chance over the turbulent,
fairy-like stream, he will take to writing excellent verses
and his love will be crowned with the most complete suc-
cess; if, however, he expects and awaits inspiration, he
must certainly give up all hope forever and his passion
will, alas ! slow down and come to nothing.

The first man who experienced these strange feelings
and went through the whole thing was the negro Nebrotk.
He fell deeply in love with his mistress, and even
went so far as to venture to open his secret to her. The
incensed and very frightened mistress immediately or-
dered that he should be drowned. They threw the un-
happy "darky" in the stream of tears of the stremiannoy
(body-knight) and went off; he at first lost conscious-
ness, but later came back to his senses and came out on
the opposite bank, completely cured of his useless passion.
As he still felt uneasy and could not think of daring to
return to his mistress, he built a little log house for him-
self on the bank of that ghastly precipiece near which
flowed the rivulet, and not knowing what to do with him-
self he wrote down the whole history of his life, then in-
vestigated the source and course of the remarkable stream
and registered that too.

Having thoroughly established himself in this most in-
teresting region, he began to look after all those who hap-
pened to approach these important domains of fate, in-
vited the travellers and pilgrims to his house, asked each

9^ CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

one the story of his or her life and diligently and carefully
recorded them. Soon a whole bouquet of most varied
and entertaining tales was gotten up, reminding one of
the all famous Arabian stories, and I can only regret that
my memory prevented me from remembering but very few
of them. I can understand very well all that Nebrotk re-
lates about himself. Once upon a time, in the night he
was awakened by some sweet, sweet singing, and having
hastened to rise and go out, he smelt a strong and remark-
able fragrance. He turned and peeped right into the
precipice.

The moon was lighting up its bottom; the enormous
rocks glistened like pure silver and gold, while the water
shone like the finest diamonds. With great satisfaction
— nay, delight — he glanced at this heavenly picture, and
suddenly his eyes were fixed on and could easily distin-
guish two human heads on the surface of the water. He
began to pay more attention ; a very handsome youth — a
negro — and quite as beautiful and splendid a white girl
were standing in the water up to their throats, and hav-
ing lifted their arms high out of the water, they were
playing with some wonderful, bright, gleaming threads.
Correctly these nets were fastened and refreshed with
clean, clear water, and they seemed to stay in the air
without any sign of motion.

Later he distinguished the following details : These
nets of threads were fastened to an immense leaf of some
sea plant and in this massive, fairy-like floor, which was
all aglow with emeralds and gold, there stood a figure
exceeding all human beauty. The whole scene was
wrapped in a slight watery fog and a soft moonlight.
The longer Nebrotk paid attention and looked at the sur-
prising spectacle the more easily he succeeded in making
out that all the charm of this extraordinary scene was con-
centrated in the form of a perfectly magnificent woman.
In her hands there was some kind of a long feather, con-
sisting entirely of sun rays, with which in the course of
her sweet swim she reached and touched the different

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US 99

plants and flowers, and indeed, as though subjected to
her peremptory commands, they gave out an indescrib-
able fragrance and each little flower united with the mar-
vellous choir which had gently awakened Nebrotk and
sang softly, sweetly, beautifully.

Nebrotk got perfectly passionate, so anxious was he
to understand the contents and exact meaning of this
fragrant, flowery little song, and holding his breath, he
began to take the greatest pains and was enabled to
hear: "Astkchicka ! О Astkchicka! О Astkchicka!
О Astkchicka !"

That struck him as most peculiar, and having once
more fixed his eyes on the head of the woman, he beheld
a glistening, darling little star. This was exactly Ast-
kchicka, i.e., Venera, whom the Tsar Vachtang the First
had chased out of all his temples and houses of worship,
and her adorers as well as her sacrificers and those who
had been so benefited by her — all without exception had
to abandon her in the deepest grief and disappointment.
Then, however, she found two tender lovers. He was
an adventurer, viz., a fisherman, but she the daughter of
a very wealthy gardener. The goddess promised them
her complete protection, and they without further reflec-
tions threw away their only property, i.e., their gar-
ments, and naked they went into the water in order to
construct something for their kind benefactor. And
see! the expelled goddess decided to rise and establish
herself near the interesting "rivulet of the tears of the
body-knight" (stremiannoy), and to that spot she di-
rected her numerous admirers.

Having seen Nebrotk, Astkchicka waved with her all
shining feather, and from the motions she made, a bridge
really and truly formed itself. She came down to earth,
and having turned around to look, she again waved with
her feather. On one side there was a bush of yellow
roses, on the other side one of white roses. Their buds
were instantly transformed and actually turned out as
garments for her loving servants who were hastening

100 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

after her. Thereupon she slowly returned to the hut of
humble Nebrotk and with a new motion of her bewitch-
ing feather changed it into a perfectly marvellous, bril-
liant, nay, most elegant royal palace. Nebrotk stood
like one struck by lightning. With a clever but sly smile
upon her beautiful face, Astkchicka ordered her servants
to lead him off to the stream and put him down on the
estrade abandoned by her. But hardly had these orders
been complied with and fulfilled when the pillars of the
estrade gave way and broke down together with the
negro. The terrible, yes frightful, cry of the drowning
man perfectly silenced the sweet chorus of the flowers.
The servants were frightened and anxiously looked at
the water, and after a short time a half god came out of
it; he was white with a golden crown imperial, in which
only the fiery black eyes reminded one of the drowned
negro.

All four settled down in the fairy-like palace and were
blessed with indescribable happiness. This was indeed a
kingdom of love, unhindered and unrestrained by any
laws. Nebrotk perfectly adored Astkchicka, and the
fisherman Naboukodonozor the gardener woman Rous-
soudanna. The host was quite in love with the god-
dess and the servant with the gardenkeeper, although
both were merely common negro slaves. But even in the
fairy like palace under the protection of the very goddess
of love, there happened to be a spot especially designed
for animated secret conversations between lovers. In
one of these unhappy moments the conditions and pecul-
iar qualities of the stream became known to Nabouko-
donozor, and the fear that the magic force of the water
should influence Roussoudanna found a refuge in his soul,
It is of course well known to all of you that suspicion is
the enemy of love. Naboukodonozor seriously began to
think that Roussoudanna had fallen in love with him.
Seeking the reason of this imaginary adoration he sud-
denly came upon the idea that she was occupied in in-
voluntarily comparing his black skin with the most godly

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US Ю1

white complexion of Nebrotk, and in consequence of this
horrid supposition his heart began to be filled with emo-
tion and passion, while after passion came ungrateful-
ness to Astkchicka and a very revolutionary spirit ; after-
wards she transformed Nebrotk, who had really done
absolutely nothing for her, into a half god, while the lat-
ter, who had successfully brought her to this enchanting
resort, she simply abandoned and left a negro and slave.

And during the night he walked along the bank of the
stream and sang a song of his great grief, and suddenly
the old cedars, the high, high peach trees, the grand old
nut trees composed a beautiful chorus and an all powerful
song, blowing everything before it like a huge wave,
reached the palace and suddenly awakened the goddess —
but Nebrotk quietly went on sleeping and heard nothing.
Stepping lightly, Astkchicka softly and cautiously went
out to the rivulet, where Naboukodonozor, with his back
turned towards her, was bitterly crying, and blushing ter-
ribly, she knocked him over and sent him flying into the
water.

Without a word or motion did Naboukodonozor enter
the water, and just so he came out — more magnificent
even than Nebrotk, and throwing himself at the lovely
feet of the goddess he covered them with kisses. Ast-
kchicka did not at all object to such proceedings, but did
not let him get out of sight, and it seemed very evident
that she also was in love with him. The slave, encour-
aged by the concessions of his mistress, seized the godly
hands and began to kiss them just so madly. Suddenly,
however, Astkchicka roughly pulled them away, passed
them around his neck and having given him a kiss on his
lips, she instantly disappeared. Some wonderful extra-
ordinary fire ran over the whole body of poor Nabouko-
donozor from this rare, but dangerous kiss. A new feel-
ing got hold of him, viz., a boundless desire inspired him
to run off to the goddess, but the very thought that she
was able to treat, nay, caress, Nebrotk in the same affec-
tionate way, completely kept him from making a fool of

102 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

himself. He threw himself on the ground and tried with
all his might and main to extinguish the burning fire
which was raging inside of him, rolling in the soft sweet
grass and mercilessly treading down the highly fragrant
flowers, while the moon seemed to be offended with its
greatest favorite and bashfully hid itself behind a massive
cloud. The perfect and impenetrable darkness at last
forced the crank to come back to his senses ; he then went
home exasperated, most dissatisfied, and wicked in his
intentions.

Roussoudanna was quietly sleeping and knew of noth-
ing that had taken place in the night, and what must
have been her astonishment, when in the morning she
beheld Naboukodonozor with a pure white complexion
and golden hair. Upon the question what had occurred
to him, he passionately replied that he had just gone to
a stream, let himself down into the water and had come
out in the very state she saw him.

"Pay attention and be careful to remain faithful to
me," she jokingly said, and went out to gather fruit for
the "dejeuner" of the goddess. After a while Nebrotk
also woke up and asked Naboukodonozor the same ques-
tion.

"I followed in thy steps and see! the result has proved
to be the same," was his short answer. Nebrotk looked
at him rather suspiciously, and unwilling to believe the
truth of the story, he went to the goddess to inquire about
the affair and to see how matters were getting on in gen-
eral.

"I came to a decided conclusion that it was most un-
kind and unjust not to do for my real savior what I had
deigned to do for thee," was the godly reply, which made
Nebrotk very uneasy and filled his heart with renewed
passion.

Roussoudanna wept and wept, Naboukodonozor got
terribly provoked, Nebrotk was deeply impressed and full
of emotion, while Astkchicka vainly exhausted all her elo-
quence in trying to explain that her palace was a refuge

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US Ю3

for independent love, not subjected to any laws whatso-
ever. General dissatisfaction, suspicion, grief, and tears
were alternately seen and heard in the fairy-like palace.
Poor, poor Roussoudanna could not dry her eyes. Once
upon a time, going to look for fruit, she went out of her
way and got completely lost. The sun was already quite
red when she sat down to take a rest after such a
hard, steep walk. Her dark, undecided intentions and
thoughts concerned again Naboukodonozor and the magic
conditions and qualities of the rushing stream, and her
grieved feelings turned against the goddess.

"Why under the sun do they call thee the benefactor
of men?" she passionately exclaimed. "Thou didst win
and encourage us with the promise of thy protection as
long as thou didst need us, but now that the situation has
changed thou tookest my lover Naboukodonozor away
from me and thus why should we help thee to escape and
lighten the king's terrible wrath ?

"In all probability his God is far stronger than thou,
when thou runnest away from him.

"O Christian God, save me!" rang out from the grieved
soul of Roussoudanna.

"O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy upon us !"
Such was the exclamation of an old man's voice, and in-
deed unhappy Roussoudanna soon beheld an old man ap-
proaching her and making his way among the trees and
bushes.

"What is the matter with thee, my dear child?" he
kindly asked, coming up to her. Roussoudanna natu-
rally said that she had lost her way, that she was very
much exhausted and did not know how to continue her
route.

Thereupon the old man led her to his home. He lived
somewhere in the immediate neighborhood, not at all far
off, in the grotto of a high, high rock where he nourished
himself with the milk of wild goats and with dates.
With the greatest pleasure he placed before her his whole
stock of provisions, brought her a pitcher of water, care-

104 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

fully arranged the sofa of leaves and inviting her to take
a good rest, he went out. Having refreshed herself,
Roussoudanna began to watch him most attentively
through the gate of the grotto and there she saw that he
had walked a little way off and then had fallen on his
knees and begun to pray. She witnessed how his good,
kindly face suddenly lit up with some marvellous, per-
fectly heavenly, happy, and joyful expression, and she
ardently desired to find out from the poor, but grand old
man, what this sudden, really indescribable joy meant in
the course of his long, laborious, honorable life.

At last the old man finished his fervent prayer and
began to gather dates; having got together a huge pile,
he gayly carried them into the grotto. The guest met him
at the entrance.

"I thought that perhaps you would not have enough to
eat with just those dates which you found in my poor
dwelling house," said the kind-hearted host, turning to
her, "and see here, I am bringing thee some more still,"
and he put down the deliciously sweet fruits right before
her.

Roussoudanna, perfectly astounded by such unusual
and unheard of goodness and thoughtfulness, thanked
the old man with tears in her eyes.

"What does thy painful grief consist in?" he asked —
and continued thus : "It is possible that the needs of life
have been weighing down on thee?"

"Oh no, wise, dear old man, I have never known what
it is to be in need."

"Well then, did not some severe illness pull thee down
and mercilessly deprive thee of thy strength?"

"I am in perfect health and have a strong constitution."

"Perhaps some dreadful worries did not give thee rest."

A (the woman). В (the hermit).

A : "I really have nothing to be worried about."

В : "Then did not regularly and faithfully carried out
duties exhaust thee?"

A : "No, dear hermit, for I was living in a fairy-land

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US Ю5

palace from which the following torments were entirely
excluded : need, worry, work, and illness."

В : ' 'Worldly attractions and habits may have led thee
off the good track and restrained thy liberty?"

A : "We were by no means subjected to any such rules,
nor even to etiquette."

В : "It is possible that the laws of your palace were
extremely severe and therefore made you feel very de-
pressed ?"

A : "But really, we acknowledged no laws."

В : "Well then, perhaps the wealthy proprietor of the
palace abused his might and compelled you to do certain
disagreeable things which were unjustifiable?"

A : "Not in the least, for Astkchicka was sole mistress
and administrator of the palace."

В : "There now remains but one supposition, viz., that
she united such people as would naturally perfectly hate
one another?"

A : "Why, not at all, we all gathered around her in
the mighty name of love."

В : "Ah, aha, I understand the matter," the old man
unexpectedly broke out, "you came together over there
in the name of love and it is most strikingly evident that
there is some defect about your love."

A : "Thou art wrong, old man," energetically rang out
of Roussoudanna's mouth as she suddenly interrupted
him. "I can bear witness and prove that nobody ever
and so strongly loved his dear ones as I loved my excel-
lent darling Naboukodonozor !"

The grave hermit glanced at her quite differently — yes,
suspiciously. "My child," was his brief reply, "that
which the idol worshippers falsely call love, is by no
means that holy feeling which we understand under that
term. Their love is one of those innumerable examples
of self-worship and vanity."

Roussoudanna's face was all red from blushing, while
her eyes were filled with tears.

"Oh no, that cannot be so," she exclaimed with a

I Об CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

trembling voice, "with the greatest joy would I suffer any
possible privations, every imaginable torture, in order to
give him pleasure and satisfy his desires."

The hermit sighed deeply. "Is it possible then," he
said with a doubtful, inquiring tone, "if thou dost indeed
truly love thy fellow men and women, that nobody in this
wide world is either capable or strong enough to put an
end to thy unhappiness? Relate to me now what the
real source of thy misfortune came from and in what
manner it was able to assume such tremendous dimen-
sions."

"Naboukodonozor, whom I love more than anybody or
anything in the world, got to loving another woman !"

"Well, what of it?" quietly asked the old man, "is this
the only cause of thy great sorrow? How can one call
it unhappiness if this made his fortune and rendered him
contented ?"

"Some would have thought that she might like such a
course of events instead of regretting it."

"What is the matter with thee, О wise hermit ?" She
was perfectly overwhelmed with joy!

"Now, my dear woman, rely ye simply on me, for I will
undertake to explain it all right to thee, as for me, it was
a source of sorrow and doubt."

"O thou remarkable man, dost thou really not under-
stand that for me this circumstance was worse than all the
tortures of poison ?"

"But thou only just a short time ago didst assure me
that the very height of happiness for thee was to stand
every privation, nay, all sufferings, simply in order to
give him pleasure and act in accordance with his wishes
and aims."

Thereupon the hermit again opened his mouth and
sang songs of praise and thankfulness unto God, the Al-
mighty Master of Heaven and earth; and see! his hap-
piness was founded on love, but on love to a being, a
being which was perfect. He always submitted his love
to the righteous laws of God ; this was not a senseless in-

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN US Ю7

spi ration, but an action free of any earthly, foolish bonds,
of elevated and religious aims and seeking nothing but
rest and comfort for the moment — going always by the
road of honesty, truth and veneration of all that is upright
and good!

His love was trying to perfect itself, approach if pos-
sible that greatest example of utmost perfection which
was shown to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Happiness is a sweet, sweet little flower," said he,
"which is quite unable to grow among unrighteousness,
unfairness and wilfulness — only by the lawful way of
Christian love to God, veneration and love to his neigh-
bors, can he strive to live properly and give those magnifi-
cent fragrant flowers, for which you are all constantly
looking and which you are as yet unable to find. Fol-
lowing out the orders of my God it will be easy to find
happiness, for His perfect and most merciful laws re-
strain the will of the individual man only there, where it
proves necessary for his thrift and condition in general.
Thou, it is true, didst live in a fairy-land palace, from
which all illnesses, needs, worries, and labors had been
excluded. You did not fear nor obey any legal authori-
ties, nor laws, nor customs. It was love that firmly
united you all. Well, tell me then, were you indeed
happy and successful?"

"Oh! no, not at all!" answered Roussoudanna. And
once more the old man tenderly addressed her and con-
vinced Roussoudanna, baptized her, and taking a staff,
at the top of which a cross was reproduced, he went off
with her to the fairy-land palace. Reaching the rivulet
they beheld Nebrotk gathering the necessary fruit. With
despair and terror did he inform them that Astkchicka
now considered Naboukodonozor her husband, while he
was forced to serve his rival and nobody paid any atten-
tion to — yes, had utterly forgotten the existence of Rous-
soudanna. Then she asked him to sit down and told the
inhabitant of the castle all that had happened to her, and
in her young voice the speech about perfect endless and

Ю8 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

eternal love sounded still more convincing. Love is eter-
nal when it is well planned and arranged, it is endless if
free of sin and perfect if subjected to the almighty laws
of the eternal God, Father of Heaven and earth.

All were deeply impressed, and now the hermit con-
tinued the speech and told them about the all-powerful
strength of God, before whose serene appearance all false,
worthless gods take to flight, and about His extreme wis-
dom and knowledge, rapidity of decision, mercifulness
and righteousness, and see! Nebrotk immediately wished
to be converted and baptized. At the end of his powerful
and persuasive discourse, the old man simply touched the
fairy-land palace with his staff and in a few seconds it
completely disappeared like an apparition. Then he in-
structed Nebrotk and Roussoudanna in real Christian
love and in the obligations of married life and then per-
formed for both the wedding ceremony, and having fer-
vently prayed to the Creator they all together went to
work erecting a perfectly new log house for the young
married couple, in which the happy mortals passed many
blissful years, writing down the stories and tales of the
various travellers. Some of them I shall perhaps tell you
of another time. To my sorrow my memory did not
preserve that artistic, yes, clever way of relating, which
this little collection of legends more and more clearly
explains to one — bringing us over and over again to the
great truth.

"Happiness is within us." The imperfection of Neb-
rotk and Roussoudanna came at first from the imperfection
of their mutual love, which loves itself as much as the be-
loved. Then, however, gradually as they were taught to
love their neighbor more than themselves, yes to love him
so much as not to offend each other and not grumble and
growl over little defects and mishaps which regarded
their personalities alone and from which the neighbors
should not suffer, did they teach themselves and conceive
how well it was to rejoice over the blissfulness of others,
to think only about others, to wish to seek pleasure and

THE TRIBUTE OF ROSES Ю9

happiness only for others and to put all their energy and
delight in the contentment and comfort of others; this
great happiness finally made its beneficent way into their
souls and admitting everything they said.

"Happiness is within us — " and then they needed no
more fairy-land castle, from which all cares, illnesses,
needs, and labors were banished. They found time and
also strength to live an actual and true life among all its
turmoils and difficulties, to know how to guarantee one's
shining happiness, and then they heard not the fairy-land
song of the flowers, the fragrant song of the youngsters
saved by them for a joyful, diligent, and Christian life,
and they rejoiced in the song of thankful young people,
who by their example of love, had been saved from many
a sorrow and suffering. These young people had thor-
oughly learned how to live a happy life and this chorus
did not stop as long as they lived on earth.

VII. The Tribute of Roses

A LEGEND

In our most blessed and favored country, where the
sun shines so brightly, where the flowers have such a
sweet, sweet fragrance, where the birds sing so melo-
diously, long ago in bygone times, when neither I nor my
father nor my forefathers had been born, there lived a
young and splendid couple in the Aule of Mokde [Note
of the Translator: Aule is the common term for a very
small village or rather mountain hamlet in the Caucasus.]
They were always most hospitable and everybody praised
them, but the Lord, who always delights in seeing the
religious and the poor well treated, fully rewarded them
and abundantly furnished them with rich presents, thus
clearly showing them his appreciation for their good
deeds. They had everything that could be desired :
youth, beauty, good health, riches, and reputation, they

HO CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

sincerely loved one another and their inner happiness was
as great as their outer appearance and great success.
Their children were healthy, clever, good and lovely to
look at. Their elder son, little Timitch, distinguished
himself especially through his strength and ability; he
was endowed with most fiery eyes, once sparkling like
flashes of lightning, then again as soft and innocent as
the eyes of a young mountain goat.

For nine years the happy husband and wife lived thus,
when suddenly between the aules of Mokde and Khamki
a very bloody strife ensued and led to much destruction
of life and property. During this strife, when the father
of Timitch was mercilessly killed as well as his brothers
and sisters, while the mother was taken prisoner and led
off as a captive, Timitch himself was saved by some in-
explicable wonder and soon became the favorite and
greatest pride of the whole aule. In the meantime his
mother, who was still a beautiful and youthful woman
[in our country the women can be married at the early
age of twelve] was sold and taken away to Turkey,
where her wonderful appearance was the chief ornament
of the Sultan's harem. In this select collection of beau-
tiful and highly attractive women, her good looks and
sweet disposition cast a dark shadow over all the rest —
just as our bright sun dims all other planets.

The Sultan got perfectly wild with delight over her,
and he incessantly showered most precious weavings,
gorgeous carpets and splendid stones of one color and
priceless shawls — in a word everything that the rich, rich
East could produce lay at her graceful feet. Neverthe-
less in the midst of all these flatteries and endless tempta-
tions she always remained faithful to her husband. It
needed a marvellous mind and character like hers, while
utterly refusing to fulfil the wishes of the Sultan, to still
remain the governess of his heart and the immediate
object of his kind and thoughtful attention. In these
proceedings a lucky circumstance firmly assisted her —
viz., the fact that she had been preparing herself to become

THE TRIBUTE OF ROSES I II

a mother already four months before, when she hap-
pened to be taken prisoner. The loving and enchanted
Sultan decided to patiently await the birth of the baby,
which was foreign to him, and then marry his unusual
captive, who was of royal blood and thus fully had the
right to be an empress. The nearer she approached the
time when a child should be born, the gayer the future
Sultana became, so that those surrounding her really
imagined that she had forgotten her husband. But oh,
how terribly mistaken they were! Indeed, the eventful
day came and a daughter Tousholi was born.

When they brought her the baby she long looked at it
and tears came in floods out of her magnificent eyes,
afterwards she made the sign of the cross on it and gave
orders that it should be carried off.

"Call Samson to me," she said. Samson was the
eunuch, given and attached to her personal service by the
Sultan and who had faithfully done his duty by her side.
She knew how to win his esteem and confidence, especially
as he was himself a Christian (of course quite secretly).
When he arrived she ordered him to take up the opakalo
(probably a kind of Eastern fan) and protect her, while
sleeping, from uncomfortable and noisy flies ; but she did
not want to sleep — this was simply a sly device to make
everybody leave her apartment and get out. She profited
by this occasion to tell Samson the following facts :

"Samson, to thee I trust the new-born daughter Tou-
sholi, promise me if possible secretly to make a Christian
of her, as sincere and earnest in her belief as thou thyself.
Among all these unbelievers thou wert not a slave to me,
but a true and faithful friend and a tender and thought-
ful brother. By the almighty mercifulness of God I am
destined to live not much longer, for I hope to-day already
to be able to unite myself with my dear husband, while
thee I ask to take the place of this dear orphan's parents.
Thou knowest my whole history, my strength does not
enable me to speak to thee as freely as I should like. For
the sake of the outward appearance I shall leave Tousholi

112 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

nominally to the care of the Sultan, and I am convinced
that at first everything will go right with you. When,
however, your situation changes, I hope indeed that you
may find means to return to Mokde and look up my first-
born child, whose natural obligation it is to be the power-
ful protector of his defenceless sister and her very aged
educator, but now give me my little kind jail (Caucasian
dagger) — fear nothing, I shall not cut myself open, for
I have not even the strength to do that."

Samson placed in her now feeble hands the handsomely
ornamented little kind jail, artistically decorated with
precious stones and fastened to a most gorgeous girdle.
This was the wedding present of her husband and she
never left it out of her sight. The submissive old man,
through his tears beheld how the face of the sick woman
suddenly lit up and how, her eyes flashing with some ex-
traordinary fire, she bravely pulled the little kind jail out
of the sheath and put its thin blade, which was as sharp
as the tongue of a snake, up to her lovely mouth.

"She sincerely kisses it," thought Samson, and quieted
himself; but the precious little kind jail had yet another
resemblance with the tongue of a snake, of which the
faithful servant knew nothing. It was indeed poisoned!

Having heroically swallowed the deadly poison, the sick
woman commanded Samson to instantly inform the Sul-
tan that she desired to see him. The all-powerful adorer
of this Christian heroine immediately made his appear-
ance and was utterly distressed when he saw the signs of
approaching death already marked on her magnificent
features. In his anger against those standing about, he
threatened them with perfectly atrocious punishment if
they did not that moment find doctors able to bring his
favorite back to life. In the meantime with a weak but
expressive and comprehensible movement of her hand,
the patient showed that she desired to be left alone with
him. All the rest disappeared in a second and she broke
out thus :

"My minutes are counted, I am dying, not paying you

THE TRIBUTE OF ROSES "3

back in any way for your innumerable marks of kindness
to me, and nevertheless I wish to ask yet another favor of
you: be a father to my new-born daughter! It is my
firm and irrevocable wish that my true and ever-faithful
Samson shall stay by her and bring her up in none but
my own dear religion ; when, however, you are tired of her,
simply send them to Mokde to my son Timitch, and even
if he be no longer living, I am fully convinced that the
excellent daughter of my loving husband will always find
protectors and friends among the good and kindly in-
habitants of Mokde." With these serene words she
breathed her last breath. The tremendous fury and utter
despair of the Sultan went beyond any description. The
court body-doctor and the arifa (i.e., the lady who admin-
istrates the harem) were hung without delay, but Samson
and his sweet little pupil were given very fine and
expensive apartments with magnificent board.

Every ten days the old man was obliged to bring little
Tousholi to the Sultan, who having tenderly caressed her
and given riches to the faithful servant, let them retire,
giving the strictest orders that those who surrounded
them should never hinder, trouble, or disturb them in any
way. Thus three long years easily went by. The child-
ish features of the face of Tousholi now acquired a most
striking resemblance with the marvellously beautiful fea-
tures of her late mother. The courtiers began to notice
repeatedly that the Sultan after a time had fallen in love
with her, was earnestly reflecting about something and
frequently sighing. Thus the visits, which used to last
but a few minutes, now became very long indeed, while
little Tousholi, with her childish caresses, gained the
affection of the Sultan more and more. Immediately
two parties sprang up: the first, wishing to make Tou-
sholi their excellent instrument in order to get the upper
hand and overrule the Sultan, and thus naturally, con-
stantly and unceasingly chanting her praises and flatter-
ing her to the skies; the second, which had resolved to
make her perish and from this reason never letting one

1 14 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

occasion go by without trying to snap at her and pull her
down from her exalted position.

During the fearful struggle of these two desperate par-
ties, Tousholi's childhood went by and she was already a
grown-up maiden, when the kind-hearted Sultan died.
His successor by chance belonged to the dangerous and
inimical party, and so the sharp and careful Samson
began to energetically demand to be allowed to go away
to Mokde. The permission to start for the home journey
was given with great joy and satisfaction, and very soon
they had already arrived at Mokde. Here there was no
difficulty in finding out Timitch. He was known by
young and old alike. The old servant silently took from
Tousholi's baggage that precious girdle with the kindjall,
which he had handed to her mother just a few hours
before her untimely death and passed it to Timitch, draw-
ing his attention to a splendid all-sparkling round tablet.
On it were inscribed the dear names of his glorious
parents.

"This is the remarkable girdle which was always
around the waist of my all-beloved mother!" cried out
the youth.

"Well, say now I prythee where is she staying? How
can I possibly reward thee — oh, thou grand old man?
Art thou sent by her?"

"I verily came to this memorable village by her sacred
will," reverently answered Samson. "While dying she
ordered me to lead thy sister to thee and hand her over
to thy mighty care and protection."

"What, my sister? Well, well, is it possible that not
all sisters and brothers perished together with their
splendid father?"

Saying this he closely looked at the young girl and was
evidently struck and impressed by her perfectly unusual
beauty.

"The resemblance with your mother ought to be suffi-
cient to convince you of the truth of my words."

Afterwards innumerable questions and answers were

THE TRIBUTE OF ROSES 1 15

mutually exchanged. The old man and Tousholi settled
down in the house of Timitch and Samson heartily re-
joiced, seeing soon how the youngsters became friends.
But nevertheless there was nothing to rejoice about!
The twenty-year-old Timitch, fiery, not given to reflec-
tions, unaccustomed to restrain himself in any way, was
entertaining such intentions as would make Samson's hair
stand on end if he thoroughly understood their meaning.
What is there strange in the fact that the twelve-year-old
Tousholi was unable to guess at the thoughts of her
brother and firmly trusted him in everything with all her
simple childish sincerity of soul. The passionate attrac-
tion of Timitch grew not with days, but with hours, and
once during a promenade, without being at all disturbed
by the presence of grave old Samson, he actually went as
far as to tell her of his peculiar intentions.

Samson, astonished and disapproving the plan, threw
himself in between the young people and was stupefied
when seeing a dagger pointed towards him, but the ter-
rified Tousholi speedily hid herself near a precipice.
Seeing the immediate danger, the dying faithful Samson
cursed the wicked and lawless boy, and lo! suddenly a
great wonder took place.

Timitch was transformed into a wind and began to
crazily blow and whistle over the precipice, but the sub-
missive and ever loyal servant was turned into a gigantic
rose bush, in the midst of which a rose of unusual size
was growing and constantly blooming. By the will of
God, angels with marvellous, all-glorious singing slowly
let themselves down into the precipice, majestically lifted
out from it the magnificent body of Tousholi and carefully
placed it in the very centre of the superb rose, the all-fra-
grant leaves of which gradually closed up and thus buried
inside of them the deceased. Attracted by the all-glorious
angelic singing, the faithful inhabitants of Mokde ran
together in crowds to the rose and many of them clearly
saw how the angels gracefully interred Tousholi in the
rose. But Timitch could by no means quiet down; with

Il6 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

anger and greatest passion he threw himself upon the rose
bush and wished to break it down, but the more he shook
the lovely branches, the closer and firmer did they stick
to the rose and the better did they defend her from his
unjustified attacks and depredations. When, however,
he finally succeeded in carrying off the tender, tender
leaves of the rose, Tousholi was no more to be seen, for
her body had completely evaporated in the marvellous
fragrance.

The religious inhabitants of Mokde enclosed the
beloved holy rose with a very massive stone wall, called
this spot Tousholi, and yearly when the first beautiful
rose came out they celebrated a fete, which has quite a
character of its own and is popularly known as "the
tribute of roses."

The ceremony consists of the following points : Every
young girl gathers a tremendous full bunch of rose
leaves and standing one behind the other, they await the
exit of the very oldest man in the village. He comes out,
dressed in a white suit and bearing in his hand a white
flag, the point of which is richly decorated with roses and
covered with sweet little bells, while at the end a large
wax candle burns. Putting himself at the head of the
procession, the old man gives a solemn signal and the
procession duly and martially directs itself towards Tou-
sholi ; behind it at a considerable distance followed young
people, leading sheep and bringing along with them the
customary offerings, i.e., horns, balls, hatchets, silks, etc.
The procession winds around Tousholi three times with
beautiful singing in which is described in detail all that
we have mentioned above — then the girls in their turn
enter through the great fence and put down in a certain
place their splendid fragrant offerings, softly adding:

"Saint Tousholi, help and assist me! Holy Samson,
shield and protect me from the cursed Timitch and all of
that kind !"

On the top of a pretty mound, formed by the magnifi-
cent rose leaves, the old man solemnly fixes his standard,

THE TRIBUTE OF ROSES 117

saying: "Saint Tousholi, make me wise, Holy Samson,
help me to guard and defend all these tender maids from
the cursed and all-hated Timitch and all those who follow
his wicked example!"

After this earnest speech the old man sits down at the
foot of the graceful flag, while at his own feet the young
girls settle down. Then the young people enter the en-
closure and kneeling on one knee pronounce a most rev-
erential greeting discourse to the hermit and the maidens
and then they turn about and face an opposite corner,
where they curse Timitch who hath wickedly cast a dark
shadow over their beloved aule; afterwards they cut up
the sheep and gayly feast with all those present. When
I was but a very small boy I happened to be in this place
and was favored with seeing with my own eyes one or
two roses inside the enclosure, which it appears is exist-
ing even in our advanced and enlightened days. These
roses are really unusually large in size, but nevertheless
neither a grown-up girl nor even a new-born youngster
can possibly find place inside the flower. I understand
that at that time they used to say with regret, that the
fete of "the tribute of roses" did not repeat itself yearly !
Thus little by little ancient customs disappear and antique
amusements are superseded by new ones, which are not
always successfully chosen; only grim Timitch never
changes, for he is quite as restless now as ever before,
here moves and weeps like a child, there makes a
row, yes rebels like a robber and lawlessly destroys
whole buildings. His dislike for roses never ceases, and
as soon as he sees a sweet little flower he immediately
begins to blow around it with impatience and anger until
he hath scattered the beautifully fragrant leaves far and
wide over the country. Now the story of Tousholi is
already forgotten, but her name, among the Chechenzes,
is given to all such interesting places, where they go to
make sacrifices and fervently pray.

Il8 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

VIII. The Lot of the Holy Virgin

A TRADITION

When, by the special wish of the Lord, the apostles drew
lots to decide who was to go out into foreign lands and
preach the gospel of Christ, the enlightenment of Georgia
fell to the share of the Holy Virgin. The Lord appear-
ing to her exclaimed : "My mother, taking into account
thy desires, I have come to the conclusion that this nation
is more worthy than all others to have a place in the list
of heavenly joys and blessings. Send thou then into this
fine country, which hath fallen to thy lot, Andrew the
First and hand him thy picture, which, from being placed
against thee, represents thine holy face 1" Then the Most
Holy Mother of God announced to the apostle: "My
dear pupil Andrew, I am very much grieved by the fact
that the faith of the name of my son is not being preached
nor advanced in the country, whose enlightenment hath
fallen to my lot. When, however, I desired to start out
for the journey my son and my God appeared to me and
ordered that I should send to my separate province with
thee my image and His, so that I should be the real cause
of the conversion of these people and be their everlasting
and ever tender helper and protector.', "Most holy one,
yes, let at all times the will of thy Godly son and thine be
carried out and fulfilled to the satisfaction of all the
world." Then the most Holy Virgin washed her face
and having pressed it well against a platter, she left on it
her reproduction with her predicted son in her arms.
Having handed the image to Saint Andrew, she said :
"Yes, may the mercifulness and the overwhelming help
of Him who was born of me be with thee everywhere
where thou choosest to go. I myself will invisibly help
to increase the complete success of thy preaching tour and
my province of future enlightenment will always remain

THE LOT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN "9

under my constant, nay, never ceasing care and protec-
tion. " The holy apostle, having thereupon fallen at the
feet of the most Holy Virgin, thanked her with tears in
his eyes and joy in his heart, went to preach the faith at
Trebizond, taking along with him Simon the Canonite.
But here they did not remain long and continued their
journey to Edjis. Seeing the perfect craziness of those
stupid inhabitants, who were more like entirely senseless
animals, the apostle directed himself towards Georgia,
and arriving in Great Adtchara, began his holy work ; for
even here the inhabitants did not profess the faith of the
only true and real God and committed deeds which were
so shameful that it is unsuitable even to refer to them in
any imaginable way. They showered many indignant
insults upon the apostle, who simply and most patiently
bore them all with the help of God and by being occupied
in constant prayer before the image of the most Holy Vir-
gin— and lo! the Lord fulfilled the ardent desire of his
heart and brought the inhabitants upon the righteous
way, but on the spot where the reproduction of the mother
of our God was standing, there appeared an abundant
and truly splendid fountain flowing to this day, and in
which the saintly apostle baptized the inhabitants, who
had gathered there from all the surrounding towns and
villages.

He blessed and ordained the deacons and priests, ex-
plained to them in detail the holy principles of the faith
as well as the church laws and successfully constructed
there a church in honor of the Holy Virgin Mary.
When, however, he wished to leave, the adoring people
stopped him with the following remarkable words: "If
thou art actually going away, leave us at least the image
of the Mother of our God as a place of refuge and pro-
tection in case of trouble and need." Then the Saint
ordered made a platter of just the same size as the image
and put them together.

Immediately the reproduction was transferred to the
new slab without any injury to the former image. Im-

120 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

mediately afterwards, the apostle handed the newly made
image to the inhabitants, who, having- received it with
joy, placed it with great honors in their fine church, where
it hath remained to the present day. Then they said
guod-bye to the splendid apostle, thanking him for his
many good deeds, kissing him with true love and affec-
tion, and with him they sent one of the newly converted
by the name of Matata. Going through the valley of
Kkeniss-Tskall he led Saint Andrew up to the summit of
a mountain, on which the Saint formally erected a cross
in honor of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and that was
the reason why this exceptionally favored mountain
began to be universally called "Rouiss-Djouar," which
means, "the iron cross."

After that they went down into the valley of Odzrche
and soon reached the frontiers of Samtske, where they
took up their headquarters in the village of Mount Zaden.
Seeing that the inhabitants over there bowed down to
and wickedly worshipped idols, they sincerely prayed to
the image, which had triumphantly accompanied them
everywhere and instantly all idols fell and were broken
to pieces. Then they continued their route to Astbour,
which was formerly called Tchoukall-tchett (the river of
lilies) in Armenian and really lies just opposite Sakrisse,
and arranging themselves, they settled down to rest near
an idolatrous temple, nowadays Dzvel-Eklesia. At that
time this country was administrated by a widow by the
name of Samsgrari, which means "frontier," who had
but one son and he too had just died among the depressed
and mourning subjects of his mother. That same night
from the guarding fortress a powerful light was seen
over that spot where the image of the Mother of our God
was placed, and at sunrise people were immediately sent
to find out who was there and what their business was.
Returning to the city, the envoys announced to Sams-
gvari, that it was the light from the reproduction of some
wonderful Virgin, whom two foreigners had evidently
brought with them; that they knelt and prayed before

THE LOT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN 121

this strange image and that they preached the faith of a
new God, who could make the dead rise.

The widow immediately sent for the saints and ques-
tioned Andrew : "Who are thou, whence didst thou come
and what in the world is the new faith about which thou
speakest so much, for verily I say unto you, up to this
time nothing approaching it in the very least has ever
been heard of?"

"I arrived from Jerusalem," energetically answered
the apostle, "and am the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who doth make the dead rise again. I preach about Him
as about God and the King of all kings. Know ye then
that He who believeth in Him and lets himself be bap-
tized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Ghost will receive all he asketh for with true faith and
will be healed of every illness." Upon hearing these
sounding words, Samsgvari fell at his feet with tears in
her eyes and cried out :

"Oh, have thou pity for my widowhood and terrible un-
happiness and with the strength of thy God bring back
my only son to life. I will duly carry out and fulfill to
general satisfaction everything that thou commandest me
to do, without uttering the slightest objection, only in
order that I may behold again my dear son alive, for he
is the only descendant of our great family, for I have
really no other children."

"Well, if thou believest in Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
the only true God, He will certainly give thee all that
thou dost ask of Him with faith. Then the widow with
tears of joy said to the Saint : "O servant of the only
real and true God, I do sincerely believe in Jesus Christ,
of whom thou preachest and whose holy name thou an-
nouncest to the world at large. I, however, beg thee to
increase my strength of belief in Him, the Saviour of the
world." Having heard these sincere words with pleas-
ure, the apostle chased away the musicians and the curi-
ous, leaving only Samsgvari and her relations, and taking
the image of the most Holy Virgin, he placed it on the

122 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

corpse of the little child and falling on the ground he
began to pray, the tears abundantly streaming down the
fine features of his fervent face, and with many sighs he
stretched out his arms towards the image and then rose,
took the little boy by the hand, and truly ! the boy seemed
to awake as though from sweet slumber, and Saint An-
drew handed him over to his mother.

All those present were silent — so struck were they with
surprise, while the widow, seeing her beloved son restored
to life, was filled with utmost joy, jumped up and threw
herself at the feet of the Saint, gratefully thanking him
and covering his knees with tears. She, with all her
heart, believed in the Lord Jesus and was baptized with
her son and all his household. Afterwards she sent out
her servants to all the Samtsetskian mtavares with official
letters, containing the following passages:

"I, Samsgvari, the widow of your kristav, do joyfully
announce to you, my brethren, a most happy event for
all nations, for there arrived from a strange land, a man
who preacheth the faith of a new God, the reproduction
of whom made my blessed son arise from the dead;
hasten ye therefore, so that we may choose the only true
and sincere faith and decide whom it becomes us to obey
and adore.,, Having heard of this wonder, the Mes-
khians rushed in from every spot of the monarchy in such
numberless crowds that they actually filled the whole val-
ley of Sakriss, and they all stared with perfect astonish-
ment at the risen son of Samsgvari. But the sacrificers
of Artemis and Apollo, the temple of which was situated
in that part of the country, firmly resolved to oppose
themselves to the Saint and cried out:

" Artemis and Apollo are great gods," and after them
many of the people shouted the same, while others
nevertheless exclaimed: "We must all necessarily submit
before such an unusual wonder!" Rebelling and quar-
relling in every way began to make itself felt. In the
end it was decided to open the gates of the temple, to
solemnly place the holy image between the idols, to set

THE LOT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN 123

up proclamations on both sides of the gates, place guar-
dians and pass the night in religious prayers. "Pray all
you want to your false gods," said the faithful follow-
ers of Him whose religion conquereth all others, "we,
however, will pray to our only real and true God, the
Lord Jesus Christ, and at sunrise we shall see: if your
gods get the upper hand and are victorious, we will fol-
low your example. If, however, they are defeated by our
God, then let all present give praises unto Him the Only
one."

Having carried out everything according to the agree-
ment, at very sunrise they opened the doors of the tem-
ple and beheld the idols, fallen and broken to pieces in
the dust, while the image of the Mother of our God was
surrounded with glitter and light like the sun. Then
they understood the importance of the new religion and
the whole nation unanimously exclaimed : "Great is the
God of Christians, preached about by the holy apostle
Andrew," but the sacrincers begged the Saint to forgive
them their sin of unbelief, and all having assured him of
their repentance, were baptized in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and loudly sang
praises unto God, who had safely saved them from the
deadly grasp of the merciless devil.

Then Saint Andrew made up his mind to go into other
wild countries and preach the principles of the New Tes-
tament, but the widow and the nation implored him not
to go away from them until he had successfully taught
them all the laws of the faith. Every single day the
nation gathered in tremendous crowds and the apostle
carefully explained to them the rules and details of the
religion and all the necessary church rules, consecrated
for their service a bishop, many priests and deacons and
again started for his great and dangerous mission.
Samsgvari and the nation renewed their ardent entreaties,
but the Saint tenderly replied to them :

"My dear children, do not lead me into temptation, for
my duty calls me and prescribes to me to render also other

1 24 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

cities and villages happy." "Well, if thou must abso-
lutely abandon us," they mournfully answered, "so leave
us at least the image of the most Holy Virgin to
strengthen our never-ceasing confidence in the new faith
and as a means of mutual protection." This image," said
Saint Andrew, "formed itself from simply being touched
by the body of the Mother of our God," and he went on
explaining to them how by the extreme condescension of
the Lord the apostles drew lots to find out where each one
should go to preach and that Samtsketia fell to the share
of the Virgin Mary. He joyfully related how instead
of herself she had sent her portrait into the provinces
belonging to her sphere of enlightenment as a means of
confirmation and protection to the true believers and
promised that she would always be with them in spirit
and soul now, henceforth and evermore. Messkhi and
Samsgvari, having found out that they were under the
spiritual regency of the Heavenly Tsaritsa, were filled
with indescribable joy, but the desire to be able to possess
her image made them still more radiant.

With tears of emotion in their eyes they solemnly placed
it in a small church, which had been speedily constructed
and consecrated in the name of the Holy Atskourian Vir-
gin. Nowadays they usually call this church "Dzvelle-
Ekletsia," that is "ancient church," as the present edifice
is built of stones which had served to construct the first
church and stands on exactly the same spot. Then Saint
Andrew went to preach the Holy Gospel in Nigalia, Dja-
vakhetia, Artakanna and Kola, where he remained very
long, enlightening the depraved unbelievers. From there
he directed himself to Klardjetta, then to the land of Par-
thia, Armenia, and for the fete of Easter safely arrived
at Jerusalem.

When, however, Tsar Aderke discovered that the
Kartlians and Messkhians had finally abandoned the
faith of their forefathers, he sent several kristaves to
them, who by force officially obliged many to return to a
regime of darkness and falseness. Nevertheless some

THE LOT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN 1 25

true and faithful followers succeeded in concealing
images and crosses and loudly praised God that the
apostle was no longer in their presence. The Tsar, how-
ever, grew very angry against the kristave of Klardjette
for his not having held up the Saint, who, passing Easter
Day together with the remaining apostles, again bravely
started on a large preaching tour in Georgia. Crossing
the lands lying near Fao as the Choroke, he thoroughly
inspected the villages, preaching everywhere and to every-
one the Holy Gospel of Christ, and soon reached Svanetia.
Here at that time a woman reigned, who accepted the
apostle's saintly blessing with false and pretended good
feelings. Matata with the remaining pupils stayed in
these domains, but Saint Andrew and Saint Simon went
farther to Ossetia, where they got to the town of Poss-
taphore and from there they soon successfully arrived at
the Bosphorus, where with the almighty and conquering
help of God they were favored with the gift of being
able to accomplish many wonders, and converted to the
only real and true faith and baptized tremendous numbers
of people. Afterwards they went back to Abkhazetia
and farther to the city of Sebasst, the present Tikkoum,
where many more unbelievers were also converted to the
religion of Christ. Here Saint Andrew left Simon the
Canaanite with several good pupils and continued his
route to Djivetta, peopled by a wild vile nation, filled to
overflowing with disgraceful sinfulness, love of cruelty
and without any religious feeling whatever. They
actually did not want to listen to him and unanimously
made up their minds to kill him, but lo! the Lord pro-
tected his faithful servant, ordering him to instantly de-
part from the wretched creatures. But this nation re-
mained in unbelief to this day. The tomb of Simon the
Canaanite is in Nikopsia, between Abkhezethe and
Djikerk, on the frontier of Greece. Having confirmed
the Abkhazians and Megroes in the new faith, Saint An-
drew left entirely for Skythia. Soon afterwards Tsar
Aderke died and the kingdom of Georgia was divided
among his two sons Bartomme and Kartamme.

126 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

During their rigid administration in the year 70 A. D.,
a rumor began to gain ground that the inhabitants, who
were under the supreme authority of Rome, absolutely
refused to submit themselves to the Emperor Vespasian
and energetically rebelled. The Emperor ordered his son
Fitt to persuade the Jews to quiet down, but they did not
cease to make a fearful row and locked themselves up
with their army in Jerusalem. Then the Romans sur-
rounded this town and began to mercilessly besiege it.
The besieged were suffering from terrible hunger and dis-
eases and the nation from despair began a terrific civil
war. In a short time there perished such a quantity of
Hebrews, that they threw one hundred thousand corpses
out of the town ; besides that the streets and houses were
filled to overflowing with dead people. In the end the
Romans made their way to Jerusalem, ruined it com-
pletely and destroyed the temple, so that according to the
holy words of the Saviour, not one stone remained on
top of another.

Ever since then the Jews have overrun every part of
the world and no longer have any own fatherland. Many
of them arrived at Mtzkhet and settled down with their
compatriots, among whom were also the sons of Varrava,
delivered by the Hebrews instead of Jesus Christ, when
they were invited to let one of their prisoners free. Dur-
ing the reign of the grandsons of Bartome and Kartaume
the kings Azork and Armazeli, the latter found out about
the existence in his monarchy of the miloti of the prophet
Ilia and instantly gave orders to look for it among the
Jews, but the Lord did not allow this extreme treasure
to fall into the hands of the ruthless pagans, his search-
ings finally turned out to be vain attempts and to all ques-
tions the Hebrews simply answered that it was concealed
in the earth near a magnificent cedar, which had grown
over the tomb of Sidonia. Consequently Saint Nina
more than once commanded Abiatkar to question his
father where it indeed was situated, but the old man
every time gave one and the same answer:

THE LOT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN 1 27

"The spot, where is hidden this holy garment, about
which in its time the true believers will sing praises unto
God, is like the place on which Jacob beheld the staircase
leading up to Heaven."

This was the only occasion when they seriously dis-
turbed the Hebrews, all the remaining time, however,
before and afterwards, they constantly received and
treated them exactly according to the rules of true East-
ern hospitality and made them feel quite at home in their
new fatherland. In the year one hundred and eighty-six
a.d., Revv ascended the Georgian throne. The word
"reva" signifies "conqueror," but the nation gave this
serene sovereign a designation still more suited to him
and still more honorable, for they rightly named him
"the just sovereign," for his very first great public act
was the repression of privateering and robbing in the
army and the prohibition to bring children to be offered
to the gods.

Although Revv the Just was himself an idolator,
yet he did have some kind of a vague idea of the New
Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, highly esteemed
His true followers and even strictly forbade to chase the
Christians, who had held their own in small numbers
among the worthy descendants of the most enlightened
apostles. These little marks of attention were sufficient
to support Christianity, which stood high in the eyes of
many men in the country. From this bright moment
onwards the number of Christians began undoubtedly to
increase, although of course slowly, but every year so that
by the arrival of Saint Nina they were already forming
a considerable and by no means to be despised class.

128 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

IX. The Comet

A LEGEND

On a steep, steep mountain path, leading directly to
the monastery of John of Zadenne, a young girl was
slowly walking. Her lovely sweet hands were all cov-
ered with blood as she was holding on with all her might
and main to the prickly bushes ; it being absolutely neces-
sary to stick to them, so as not to fall into a deep abyss.
Having safely reached a little square she stopped in order
to quiet down and catch her breath ; for in front of her
another just as difficult ascent was awaiting her and she
felt that it was her duty to rest and save her remaining
strength. Having stood a while, she cautiously sat down
and began to look at the path by which she had dared to
come. Far in the distance one could see a horseman.
The well trained horse like a cat hung on to the moun-
tain, taking advantage of the most insignificant lit-
tle trail or plateau and of every imaginable hardly notice-
able highland road. Small stones rolled away from under
its feet, the dry old branches of many a bush trembled
and broke with a sharp cracking sound while the horse
galloped — approaching always nearer and nearer the ter-
ribly exhausted woman-traveller.

Coming up with her, the rider reverently bowed. He
also intended to let his faithful horse have a good rest on
the little plateau and naturally he began a conversation
with the sitting maid. From what she told him, he found
out that she was called Salougvari and that she under-
took this pilgrimage, wishing to pray at the sacred tomb
of a most holy, saintly hermit for the restoration of her
dying mother's health. The young people went on talk-
ing for some time and the gallant rider offered her to
continue her journey, holding on to the tail of his horse.
This means of mountaineering is considered by us in

THE COMET 129

Georgia the very safest and far less exhausting than all
others. When they reached the summit he rode into a deep
thicket, growing on the edge of the mountain, on which
stood a monastery; the horseman's way of treating her
changed completely and his extraordinary speeches ter-
rified Salougvari. She, having abandoned the tail of the
horse, in an instant ran off to the monastery and like a
frightened little bird made her way into the church.

The glances of all those praying turned with astonish-
ment to the runaway wanderer and this unusual surprise
grew still greater, when after her a horseman bounced in
on a foaming steed and with his hat on his head and not
paying the slightest attention to the solemn church ser-
vice simply began to search with his piercing looks for
poor, poor Salougvari, who had taken refuge at the very
tomb of the famous saint. Having beheld his fellow-
sojourner, he rashly knocked against his horse and with
one bold bound, he arrived close by her side.

In that memorable moment, the ground suddenly shook
and actually opened itself, swallowed up the fiery and in-
sulting horseman and again majestically closed itself
up with such marvellous rapidity that those present were
struck as though by lightning and could not utter a word.

It is of course well known that somewhat below the
monastery in the very mountain the temple of Zadenne
was cut out, which soon became the permanent residence
of demons, and indeed these latter rogues, daily coming
out of their horrid dwelling places, very much disturbed
Saint John and his numerous scholars until he gave
orders that the entrance into the vast abandoned cave-
region should be firmly barred and closely blocked up.
Our bold horseman had the most peculiar — yes wonder-
ful feeling in the neighborhood of this whole temple or
house of worship. Upon a height there stood the gigan-
tic reproduction of a handsome old man sitting on a mas-
sive throne, between his feet lay a ring-formed snake — the
true symbol of eternity — while in his hand he held light-
ning. This was all artistically cut out in marble. The

130 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

elegant crown, which decorated the wise brow of the old
man, had still preserved some signs of pure gold; here
and there precious stones were shining. This was de-
cidedly the kingdom of coldness and of some secret magic-
like half-darkness. The light was able to shine in only
through the opening holes of the mountain and through
the holes yet left between the perfectly immense stones
with which the entrance was surely and safely barred.

Having thoroughly recovered after his strange inci-
dent and quite unexpected fall, Aderke (it was thus they
called the horseman) began to carefully inspect and search
the cave. His attention was especially drawn by one
spot, shining like a diamond. It appeared that this was
a tremendous piece of mountain salt, on which a ray of
light which had managed to get through one of the moun-
tain holes was gayly playing. Other such pieces were
falling down in long, long divisions from the cupola-like,
vaulted ceiling. Thirst was torturing Aderke. Think-
ing that this was simply ice, he began to direct all his
efforts towards successfully breaking off a respectable
piece, but notwithstanding his most desperate jumps, he
could not accomplish anything. Then he naturally im-
agined that from the sides of the cave much lower down
he might be able to get something and began to go around
it in a circle, trying to find here or there some possible
opening, on which he might firmly stand and make his
way. Passing close by a great piece of salt, he overheard
some very distant voice which was singing a soft, mar-
vellous song. Aderke began to listen most attentively.

"Powerful sire," called out the extraordinary secret
voice, "I have been awaiting thee for many years, dispel
thou as quickly as possible this darkness and lead me
forth into the region of freedom. Oh! have pity upon
me! — I implore to be given freedom only with the ex-
alted aim of submitting to thee, to serve and wait upon
thee, to love thee tenderly, yes, to be thine ever obedient
slave. Thou didst happen to come hither, pursuing a
most handsome mortal being ; look now at my features ;

THE COMET 13 l

you can plainly distinguish them through my dark
prison. The more the extreme brilliancy of my subter-
ranean dwelling darkens her dreadfully poor saklia (hut)
the more the glitter of my beauty darkens her exceptional
charms. She did not even venture to look at thee, for
she feared thy caresses. I, however, did not take my
eyes off from thee from the time that thou didst fall to
the feet of mighty Zadenne, I constantly admire thee with
a perfectly passionate glance, I love thee, I call thee to
my side : come, oh come thou quicker 1"

Wild with excitement and deeply impressed by that
most passionate song, Aderke entirely forgot his unhap-
piness, forgot also the thirst which was torturing him,
he began to stare more closely at the salt masses and
through their transparent grim old walls he began to be
able to distinguish the tender outlines of a young and
pretty woman. He knocked with his vigorous fist
against the cold, cold mineral wall, but the powerful blow
did not leave the slightest trace; then he pulled out his
kind jail and thrust out his arm still stronger against the
salt shapes, which were almost turning to stone. It
slightly trembled ; Aderke now turned to the pedestal of
the idol, detached from it a large piece of fine marble and
using it instead of a vigorous hammer, began to dili-
gently knock it as hard as possible against the long
handle of the kind jail. The opening evidently made
considerable progress.

In the meantime, through the little opening which had
been made in the pedestal, there slipped out a lizard, after
it a snake, then a flying mouse and finally a little devil.
Coming out of their wonderful ambuscade, they were all
of exceedingly small proportions, but these proportions
grew larger and larger every minute. The lizard seemed
to possess a perfectly formless human face, the snake had
wings grown on to its body, the mouse seemed to have
the head of an owl with a tremendous beak and fiery
sparkling eyes. The little devil, far smaller in size than
the rest, cleverly jumped at the mass of marble which

132 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

was nearest to Aderke and by a well known signal ordered
them to begin the furious attack. First the lizard moved
and trumpeted with some kind of an awful, not human
voice.

"Let thou go my prisoner, insolent adventurer, or else
we shall jointly cut thee up in pieces!"

Aderke, astonished by such reasoning, turned around.
The unusually enormous lizard stood on its hind legs
and seemed to be all prepared to attack and swallow him
up. The flying mouse made a noise and waved with her
big wings, howling out some terrific metallic sound; the
snake stretched out and slipped up to him with perfectly
awful hissing, while the beastly little devil joked and in-
sulted him above his head and filled the air with unbear-
able, bad odors. Aderke, seeing what was coming, bravely
pulled out the sword and daringly struck at the snake,
who was just making ready to spring at and wind itself
around his feet.

The excellent sword cut it right through, but unfor-
tunately without doing it the very least harm. It quickly
set to gathering together its fearful rings and went back
to the idol. Aderke energetically rushed after it and
fainted from terror. From the pedestal sprang out one
after another innumerable and varied poisonous mon-
sters, one more terrific — yes, fearful, than the next. Then
there were also people with snakes' heads and snakes with
birds' wings and birds with fishes' tails and fishes with
heads of living people. All these awful monsters hastened
to abandon their ambuscade, crowded and pushed each
other, slipped over each other, quarrelled in a most undig-
nified manner, bit each other, struck and scolded .each
other; here one monster was hissing, there a second one
was making a violent speech, a third one let out from his
mouth such a horribly disturbing whistle that the cold
ran over one's whole body. In the midst of this tremen-
dous row a human cry of distress reached Aderke; he
turned around. The lizard was doing his best to widen
out the opening which he had forced through, while the

THE COMET 133

snake with an evil meaning and aggressive hissing has-
tened to occupy each newly opened little crack. Aderke
wanted to run and help the poor, poor woman-prisoner,
but the flying mouse threw itself towards the entrance
and having spread out its wings guarded with its own
body its outrageous comrades. In the meantime the re-
maining monsters seized Aderke by the legs and would
not allow him to budge a step from the place where he
stood. Thereupon he bravely drew out his pistol and
with a sharp and rare shot smashed to pieces the salt
block. At this moment the monsters unanimously took
hold of him and he of course lost consciousness, so that
he did not see how out of the blazing brilliant niche
formed by his pistol shot, a splendid young woman rushed
forth to meet him.

Before her the monsters reverently stepped aside.
"Away with you !" she cried out in a most commanding
voice. "Take him up cautiously and carry him after
me," pointing to Aderke, she ordered some strange bear
with birds' legs and with a crane's beak to carry out her
commands. The monster instantly submitted to the ex-
plicit instructions and, continuing to respectfully follow
her imperious commands, he went in with his burden, up
the steps of the pedestal to the very idol and placed
Aderke at its feet. "Now," said the young woman,
"your power over me has ended, having got back all my
former freedom, I have also regained all my past in-
fluence and power. Tram, tram — tara, all to your re-
spective places !" she continued in a most decisive tone,
and the horrible monsters one after another rushed back
to the high pedestal. When they had taken up their
proper positions, she bent down and raised the piece of
marble thrown away by Aderke and cleverly — yes, power-
fully, barred the entrance. After that she again went up
to the idol, fell down on her knees and said : "Great
Zaden ! Here you have a gift fully worthy of you as a
grateful reward for my happy deliverance. If it pleases
your serene majesty that I should not go away from this,

1 34 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

thine abandoned temple, trying with all my energy to
be equal to the task of replacing your former most numer-
ous servants, so for my sake give me back this dead man,
call him back to life, start up in his heart a sincere attach-
ment to me and we shall both be your constant, loyal and
ever watchful servants. The heavy stone eyelids of the
idol opened themselves, its eyes sparkled, and from this
momentary sparkling Aderke instantly came back to life
and was able to stand on his feet. At the same time the
idol with a terrific crash and shaking fell to pieces and
disappeared in the dust.

"Who art thou — magnificent creature?" was his first
question.

"Let us go into my transparent dwelling place," she
replied, "I shall place thee on my exquisite crystal sofa
and quietly entertain thee with my interesting stories and
dear caresses."

They jointly went into the niche. Through the sweet
little opening a small, small ray of light streamed in and
perfectly marvellously played upon a smooth, salty ceil-
ing, showering down millions of beautiful sparks and
blazing with all the colors of the rainbow. The beauty
sat down, put Aderke's head on her lovely knees and while
he was endeavoring to fall asleep, she told him her whole
history.

"I am the daughter of the Moon and of Zaden, they call
me Aipina. My father actually decided that I should
appear to the glance of people only to prophesy some
peaceful event, the rest of the time I am ordered to remain
secretly hidden in the grim walls of his temple, which at
that time was a place of general worship and sacrifice.
The people used to crowd about here from morning till
night with very rich offerings. Numerous sacrificers
burnt their offerings, while their female companions in
long white garments sitting on golden seats prophesied
the future. But notwithstanding all this excitement it
was stupid for me, and one fine night, when my mother
had covered everything with her soft, magic, fairy-like

THE COMET 135

light, I wilfully managed to get out of the temple and
flew into the sky, blazing with my highly brilliant tail.
Mother became frightened by my daring to commit such
an act and hastened to hide herself. Then Ialone began
to gayly run up and down on the horizon, busily chasing
the many stars and pushing them on with my tail.
Among the heavenly lighters a most astounding and ter-
rific plot came up and they hurried to get me out of the
way as quickly as possible, and my father angrily informed
me that my perfectly crazy undertaking had made him
fail.

"It came to pass just so, for on that day a poor, poor
monk arrived and settled on the mountain. Zaden of
course ordered the monsters to instantly chase him out of
the dwelling which he had chosen, but the hermit by some
marvellous sign of his hand deprived them entirely of any
strength. Many pilgrims, who had arrived from afar
with offerings to pay their sincere respects to Zaden, upon
seeing the newcomer on a height, peacefully sitting
between wild snakes, naturally went up to him in a wide
circle and spared no time or strength in order to satisfy
his intense curiosity. He, however, took full advantage
of this to make them give up the faith of their forefathers
and instruct them in some religion, the chief peculiarity
of which was hatred of our old, old gods.

"In the end the unceasing attacks of the monsters
began to bore the monk : he therefore gathered all his
hearers and together with them strongly barred the grand
entrance of the temple and quietly left the place.
Through inexperience I had at first wickedly laughed at
his great efforts : what use was it when Zaden, at his own
will guiding and directing thunder and lightning, used
to smash their edifices to pieces in no time at all, while
the old man in going away touched the hard stones with
the same marvellous movement of the hand which had
destroyed the power and strength of the monsters, and
Zaden immediately felt that his godly qualities and pecu-
liarities began to abandon him forever. As a punish-

13^ CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

ment for my most stupid volunteering, he deprived me
of the shining form of a comet and transformed me into
a woman, whom he commanded to guard the poisonous
monsters. They hastened to fix me in this salt wall, but
Zaden, who grew weaker every minute, in a last, but tre-
mendous, outbreak of wrath worked out the following
decision :

" 'Thou wilt be entirely in the power of these awful
monsters until thou art able to find a mortal man who de-
livereth thee, and then they will again fully obey thee!'
This was the last sign, not only of his power, but also of
the life of my father; ever since then he turned himself
into a breathless idol and sat immovably on his marble
throne for several centuries. Through the holes of the
fallen house of public worship the water flowed unto
his most royal crown and meanly washed away from
it the highly precious ornaments. Lizards climbed over
his face, the flying mice quite fearlessly sat down on his
powerful shoulders and hands, the snakes wound around
his legs ! He remained insensible to everything and not
strong enough to protect and defend himself. I must say
I had an awfully stupid, dull time. Days, months, years,
even centuries went by and actually nobody appeared. I
had already quite given up all hope when kind fate led
thee hither. Now we must absolutely find means to get
out of this place. I for my part know that from this
temple there leads a subterranean passage to the numer-
ous catacombs with which this mountain is overfilled and
from them we can go wherever it pleases us."

"But who will show us this passage?" asked Aderke.

"I have a good friend among the monsters; it is the
bear with the crane's nose. During all the long and
dreary years of my unjust confinement he daily nour-
ished me. With his long, long beak he managed to make
a little opening in my dark dwelling, looked for and gath-
ered the hives of wild bees, who had taken refuge in the
holes around here, and fed me with their honey. He was
at first a man of the same faith as our enemy the hermit

THE COMET 137

and chanced to be banished hither for having ridiculed
some servant of his God."

At these words Aipina struck the palm of her hand;
the bear took away a stone and climbed out ; then she in-
formed him of the object of the whole undertaking- and
he, having warned them that the way would be long and
exceedingly tiresome, hastily entered their cave and at-
tentively and vigorously began to try with his beak where
the mass of salt was thinnest. When, however, such a
place had been successfully found, he and Aderke pushed
against it with their whole weight and after long and
repeated attempts they pierced a rather small hole, through
which it was very evident that they should have to go.

First the bear slipped through, after him Aipina and
Aderke. The passage was cut out in the rocky part of
the mountain and was so close and small that it was nec-
essary to go one behind the other and to stoop over.
Having advanced a little farther they joyfully came out
on a small square with a much higher cupola-like ceiling.
Through a little crack a dim ray of light was seen. They
sat down to rest and having looked about somewhat they
came to notice something gleaming, yes, burning like gold.
This turned out to be a fine glass vessel with four pretty
handles. It was of gold color with thin white patterns
and filled to overflowing with ancient Greek silver coins.

"The first thing found is naturally due to thee," said
Aipina in a very gracious tone. And the bear having
taken up the vessel on his long thin beak again set forth
on his journey. It was necessary to follow on by just so
narrow and low a passage — only fully twice as long — as
the first. It led them into a large round cave, which was
exceedingly high. At the very top there was a rather
large opening, through which the light could easily pene-
trate. At the side of one wall stood a wooden grave
without a roof, and in front of it an old, old candlestick
of red clay. To the tremendous surprise of our travel-
lers, the whole room was illuminated by the fine blue
flame of a very rare wick. They went nearer and saw

138 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

that in the tomb there lay a hermit, very likely a saint,
because his body was splendidly preserved. ''Let us take
a rest," said the exhausted Aipina, sitting down on the
floor. The bear slowly lowered his vessel to her feet, but
Aderke did not let his eyes lose sight of the deceased,
as though he was trying hard to remember some familiar
features, and suddenly he succeeded in his mental re-
searches and with awful screeching and jumping threw
himself on the bare floor in front of the grave.

"Forgive me, oh, Holy God," he cried out, "forgive me
that severe insult which I inflicted upon thee in my state
of craziness and for which I have been so cruelly pun-
ished." And with most sincere and hearty repenting he
prayed to God and the Saint to pardon his terrible sin.
Aipina heard him with eyes and mouth wide open, but
on her the words of Aderke produced quite a differ-
ent impression. He understood how fearfully he had
offended God and his proud heart was filled with perfect
remorse.

He fell down on his knees by the side of the monster
and wept bitterly and long over his wicked actions and
earnestly implored to be pardoned. The all-merciful
God accepted the tears of both great sinners and sent
them a deliverance which was quite as marvellous as the
punishment. An unusual light was shining into the cave
and in a second blinded the praying men; when, how-
ever, they again began to be able to distinguish the dif-
ferent things, Aipina was no longer to be seen, but on the
spot where she stood there shone a blindingly magnificent
comet.

Aderke glanced at the bear — he had been transformed
into a very handsome youth, in his hands, under the rays
of the comet, burned and played with various colored
fires the remarkable, ancient glass vessel. In an instant
the comet began gradually to draw nearer to the opening
in the vaulted ceiling. The gleaming windings of her long,
long tail safely guided both the astonished persons and at-
tracted them after her. Soon they had successfully com-

THE JEWEL NECKLACE 139

pleted the march through the long and narrow entrance
road of the cave and began to rise higher and higher until
they had triumphantly reached the summit of the moun-
tain. Then the comet let herself down to the doors of that
same temple, in which Aderke had so terribly misbehaved
on his arrival in the said region. Aipina was again trans-
formed into a simple woman and began to request Aderke
that he should make her a slave and servant of the om-
nipotent God who had accomplished such great deeds of
creation.

In the meantime the sunrise service was just begin-
ning and the monks began to come out of their cells to
celebrate their morning devotions. The first stroke of
the bell was then heard. Aderke and his faithful com-
panion took off their caps and reverently made the sign
of the cross. In this minute to them came up the monk
who usually stood at the tomb of the Saint, when poor
Salougvari had taken speedy refuge near it. He found
out Aderke and furiously looked at him. But the most
humble and submissive speech of the really repenting man
quickly quieted his anxious feelings. Aipina was con-
verted and really and truly became the wife of Aderke,
while his comrade in the hour of trial, who had made use
of his fortune in order to buy up a very extensive vine-
yard near the poor saklia (hut) of Salougvari, happily
married her and took over into his house her widowed
mother. All three lived long and happily and very fre-
quently visited Aderke and Aipina, who were by no means
behind them in sincerity of love and perfect harmony.

X, The Jewel Necklace

It was the twenty-second of December, the day of our
holy "Fate-decider" Anne. In a poor saklia (native
hut) not far from the road leading into town there sat
a very young, beautiful girl, surrounded by a number of

14° CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

children. She was bitterly crying. On this day the
father of this unhappy family died in jail ; and that same
terrible day, when he was taken away from his home and
locked up against his will, the poor mother breathed her
last breath. For what reason they had imprisoned him,
the children did not know. They tenderly loved their
father and in their true childish imagination it seemed to
them as though he could not be wrong in any department
of life whatever. The last time that they had seen him,
he informed them that people would come and punish
him even before the fete, and so they diligently prayed for
his deliverance and salvation to the holy martyr Anas-
tasia — and, behold! on the day of her celebration, she
cut the cords and bands which prevented him from en-
joying the blessings of home life and delivered him for-
ever from prison as well as from the terrible punishment.

"Zenobi!" remarked one of the children, "I want to
eat." "Sit ye all down," replied the young girl, rising
and drying her mournful tears. She covered the table
with a simple blue cloth with white flowers and placed on
it a star-formed vessel, on which a whole mountain of rice
was seen.

"Pray ye first and then eat to your hearts' content,"
she said.

"But thou, darling, wilt thou not join our company?"
asked the older boy.

"I will eat afterwards ; just now I have no time, but I
will readily eat up all you leave!"

Zenobi forced herself to smile although tears were
really choking her; this was all the food which remained
in their house, they had no money whatever — how and
with what were the children to be fed the next day?
That was the question which constantly came into her
mind and kept her from being quiet. Wishing to con-
ceal her worry, she went out — but her brother took ad-
vantage of her absence in order to somewhat restrain
the appetite of the children.

"Leave something for Zenobi," said he, "for I believe

THE JEWEL NECKLACE 141

she has eaten nothing since morning ; all the bread which
was left she divided among us without keeping a single
piece for herself.''

Noticing also that the quantity of rice was constantly
diminishing, he assumed a more decided tone :

"Enough!" he suddenly broke out, rising from his
chair. "Pray ye to God and go out to play in the street,
the sun is shining in all its wonderful glory — lose no
time while it is warm and comfortable!" and taking the
smallest of the children by the hand, he read aloud the
after-dinner prayer and went out.

"Zenobi !" he cried, coining out, "we have all finished."
The young girl entered the room, hastily crossed herself
and with anxiety sat down and began to eat the rice,
but she had not succeeded in swallowing the first morsel,
when the door of the saklia opened itself and a poor, poor
hermit came in.

"In the name of the Infant Jesus let me get rested, re-
fresh myself and have something to eat ! said he. Zenobi
immediately rose; hunger was torturing her, but she did
not hesitate for a moment to offer him her forlorn repast.

"Yes, may God be blessed, who hath sent a guest even
to our poor saklia for such a great celebration!" she
answered ; "eat — while I prepare thee a comfortable bed,"
and having done everything to make the foreign traveller
feel as much at home as possible, she went out into the
street, in order to keep the children quiet during the sleep
of the wise old man.

After two hours he came out, sat down along by the
saklia on a huge stone which took the place of a bench,
and pleasantly called the children. His touching, caress-
ing voice and his great good eyes instantly won him
forever the sincere love of the dear children, they gayly
ran up to him, while he pulled a small apple from his
pocket and a Sitzevian handkerchief.

"If you bring me four quills from this fine thorn-bush,"
said he, pointing to a very large bush growing within a
few steps from the saklia, "I will arrange a very nice
and amusing toy for you."

I42 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

Within a minute the children stood again before him —
this time their hands full of quills. The hermit there-
upon took up four of them and fastened with their help
the corners of the large handkerchief to the apple — after-
wards wound a handkerchief around the whole concern
and threw it so high into the air that it really looked like
an insignificant little dark point. The children in amaze-
ment did not lose sight of this point and soon beheld a
small balloon lowering itself in their direction; the air
filled out the handkerchief, giving it thus the look of a
small air balloon, which, gracefully flying between earth
and sky, gradually descended to their poor home. There
was no end to the children's delight, each one of them
wished to toss the dear toy higher than the first.

While they were going through various exercises, run-
ning and making a lot of noise, Zenobi sat down at the
side of her delightful guest and began to ask him from
what place he came.

"I, my child, come from the capital," he said; "to-day
there is an unusual commotion over there. The heralds
proclaimed on all the city squares that the sovereign would
spare no reward to him who would bring the best imag-
inable necklace into the palace and that by the Fete of
Circumcision of the Lord.

"In the nation a report is being spread that the only
daughter of the widower-Tsar took some kind of a most
terrible disease which not even the most experienced or
energetic doctor is able to define or heal in any way.
Something extraordinary, unseen, unheard of! Heavy
bands were tying down the young Tsarevna by the hands
and legs and deprived her of free movements, so that she
actually resembled a corpse much more than a live being.

"In this night she had had a very remarkable dream —
as though some powerful voice had promised her to cut
the bands which kept her down, upon the Day of the
Circumcision of the Lord, if by that day she had succeeded
in finding a necklace for her magnificent neck which by
its splendor exceeded all ornaments of the kind until then
known."

THE JEWEL NECKLACE 143

Saying this, the old man rose. "I should like to reach
that house to-day/' he said, "it is high time to set forth
for the journey; but how can I express my gratitude to
thee, my dear child, for thy wonderful hospitality ?

"Well, do not despise these lavashees (little breads),
and may the Lord increase every kind of food in your
most hospitable house."

"Amen," said Zenobi with all her heart, taking up the
lavashees and looking back at the departing hermit. A
little later she began to assemble the children around the
house.

"Thanks to our guest you will have very dainty
lavashees for supper this evening," she said to them, en-
tering the saklia.

But what must have been her complete surprise when
she saw her star-formed vessel standing on the table and
filled to overflowing with rice. There was so little of it
left when she had offered her dinner to the stranger;
where then had this veritable mountain of rice come from ?
She stared at her older brother and their astonished eyes
soon met each other.

"Isn't all this wonderful! How quickly the saintly
blessing of the wise hermit was fulfilled," said he, and,
falling down on their knees, the whole family began to
pray most ardently and afterwards joyfully sat down to
their well deserved and this time plentiful supper. In
front of each child lay a fresh lavash (roll), on which
Zenobi had thoughtfully piled up a large amount of rice.
Having eaten the rice, each one ate a lavash too and all
were perfectly satisfied, but there yet remained some rice
and lavashees. Zenobi gathered the remains and the
next morning the dish was again as full as ever and there
were enough lavashees for all. Thus the wonder re-
peated itself for eight days in succession, but on the Eve
of the Circumcision of the Lord, the dish looked just the
way it did when they took it off the table, neither rice
nor lavashees had increased. Zenobi decided to lay up
what was left for dinner and let the children go to walk

144 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

without a breakfast. In order to induce them not to think
of melancholy events, she wisely reminded them of the
excellent toy which the dear old traveller had left with
them. They immediately ran off to find the handkerchief
and indeed had a very hard time; in the end Zenobi her-
self started out for the search and managed to find it in
some remote, dark corner.

It was filled with something heavy and she naturally
imagined that it must be rice. Delighted by this thought,
she quickly placed the handkerchief on the table and un-
tied it; inside of it there was a magnificent, blindingly
beautiful jewel necklace! The children stood around in
a circle, their little mouths opened as wide as possible.

"Let us run this minute to the town," exclaimed the
older boy, "I say, let us run, Zenobi, dear, we will still suc-
ceed to get the necklace to the palace before midnight!"
And taking each other's hand, brother and sister ran on
the road with what they had found by accident. The
town was not very far ; by noon they were already on the
palace square, in the very centre of which a long, long
table was erected.

On it they opened and inspected the necklaces which
various people brought and the Royal officials carefully put
down in a large book the names of the strangers inter-
ested. These were extremely numerous and our poor lit-
tle acquaintances hardly had the patience to wait for their
turn to come. The official unbelievingly looked at their
humble attire and the poor, insignificant handkerchief.
Having placed the object on the table, he nevertheless
untied the handkerchief.

A cry of complete astonishment rang out from the
mouths of all those present, and before the poor orphans
had time to think the matter over, they were already
standing in the bedroom of the suffering Tsarevna and
saw how the Tsar, her father, with a trembling hand
placed the necklace on his invalid daughter's neck. Then
turning to them, he naturally asked who they were and
where under the sky they had found such an unheard of
and extraordinary treasure.

THE JEWEL NECKLACE 145

Zenobi with true childlike straightforwardness related
all that had taken place to the Tsar, who patiently listened
to her simple, yet most pathetic speech, in which one could
clearly make out her warmest faith in God and her thank-
fulness and gratitude to the holy martyr Anastasia; he
actually felt very much moved and sweet tears were to be
seen in his great eyes.

"Take my guests," he said to those near him, pointing
to Zenobi and her brother, "feed them, let them drink and
appease their aroused feeling and great anxiety, but
when they are rested, clothe them in the finest costumes
and bring them hither."

Then he ordered his aides-de-camp to bring the image
of the all-holy Fate-decider and having placed it on the pil-
low of the little princess, he gave orders that the prayers
for her speedy recovery and convalescence should begin.

By order of the King, the doors of the palace were
solemnly thrown open and all who desired to pray were
allowed to enter the enormous precincts of the bedroom.
The number of those praying increased hourly ; not long
before midnight the chamberlains and ladies of honor of
His Majesty the King conducted our dear little acquaint-
ances, attired in gorgeous costumes, which gave still
greater charm and beauty to their natural handsomeness
and grace. The grieved Tsar made a sign, indicating
his wish that they should stand in a line with him ; all eyes
were fixed on Zenobi, who, not noticing anything special,
quietly fell down on her knees and instantly began to pray
with all her heart and soul.

Exactly at midnight the Tsarevna raised her head and
happily looked at the loyal people who had been praying
for her; then made the holy sign of the cross — then
actually sat up in bed! The King rushed towards her
and took her up in his arms. The child put her arms
around her father's neck and sweet, sweet tears flowed out
of the eyes of both, and how open-heartedly and sincerely
they sang, together with the people present, a true song
of praise to the holy martyr Anastasia! At the end of
the prayer, the Tsar led the Tsarevna to Zenobi and said :

146 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

"After God and His holy servant thou must certainly
thank her, whom He chose to be the instrument of thy
precious recovery, yes, may she take the place of thine all-
beloved late mother !"

All present naturally hastened to bring their loyal and
dutiful congratulations to the Tsar and his bride, but the
little Tsarevna quite overwhelmed Zenobi with caresses
and kisses.

Immediately some noblemen were sent after her broth-
ers and sisters, who from that time onwards lived at the
palace and were educated together with the dear little
princess.

Zenobi, however, having become Queen never forgot
the poor, the religious and the queer, and the Lord blessed
her with the birth of a son, who immediately became
heir-presumptive to the throne. The reign of her hus-
band was most peaceful and happy, and having lived to
an advanced age in model mutual accord, the reigning
sovereigns died both on the same day, reminding their
son never to forget the Only Real and True Faith, the
Faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

XI. Saint Mourvanoss

A STORY

Mourvanoss was the first saint in our highly honorable
royal family, later on so abundant in holy martyrs,
preachers and leaders. In the year three hundred and
ninety-three a.d. the Georgian King Varaz (ovenne)-
Bakarr was favored with the birth of a son Mourvanoss,
the birth of whom had been predicted to his mother by
angels. This mother was namely the grand-daughter of
Revv, the son of Mirian and daughter of Trdat, that is
to say third cousin of her husband the Tsar Varaze-
Bakarr, the grandson of Bakarr the First and son to

SAINT MOURVANOSS 147

Mirdat the Third. Bakarr the First loved very much
his dear nephews, especially the younger of them, Bakou-
rious. The son of Bakarr the First, Mirdat was almost
the same age as Trdat and the cousins frequently passed
the time together, their children grew up under the shel-
ter of this friendship and did not notice how their child-
ish friendship went over into love. Although the
parents had absolutely nothing against the marriage, yet
the youthful Tsarevna was always tormented by the
thought that they were not acting in accordance with
the holy laws of the church, which strictly forbade mar-
riage between two third cousins. Most honorable, good,
simple, merciful, helping everybody in case of need or
unhappiness, she as Tsaritsa still went on tormenting her-
self with the acknowledgment of her sin and, see! the
Lord really wished to quiet and comfort her and as a
sign of forgiveness sent angels, who announced to her
that He blessed her marriage by the birth af a saintly
baby.

While still at his mother's breast, Mourvanoss regu-
larly observed the fasts, refusing to suck the breast on
Wednesdays and Fridays. Hardly had he learned to
talk when he earnestly began to commit to memory what
he had heard in the church and gradually as he grew
older instructed himself always more and more in the
holy scriptures.

When Varaze-Bakarr died, Mourvanoss and his broth-
ers and sisters were children, and as guardian over them
they chose the uncle Trdat, having also handed over to
his administration the kingdom until the coming of age
of the children of Varaze-Bakarr and his daughter, who
had already died, while, however, the younger son of
Varaze-Bakarr, Faremanne, from his second wife, was
being educated at the home of the kristav of Sammesh-
villde. Notwithstanding his very advanced age Trdat
reigned most wisely; he was a thoroughly God-fearing,
sensible and cautious man. Thanks to his extreme wis-
dom the Persians were completely conquered, the right-

148 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

eous state of affairs again introduced into the country
and many churches restored and newly erected.

Under him died the well-known Bishop Yovv and was
superseded by Tlia. Although he of course paid tribute
to the Persians, yet he understood how to get back from
them Rousstave where he then triumphantly built a
church. He also finely restored Nekreziy.

Mourvanoss was already fifteen years old, when the
Greek Emperor, Theodosius the Younger, came upon the
throne and the relations between Greece and Persia
became worse and worse.

The new Emperor fearing that other nations might
unite and make common cause with his enemies, offered
Trdat an alliance, to assure which he demanded some one
of the children of Varaze-Bakarr as hostage. Good
Trdat, who equally loved all his grandsons, was in the
greatest confusion, while reflecting whom he should
select, when to him appeared Mourvanoss and energeti-
cally announced that he was going to Greece, where he
had long desired to be, as it was the centre and capital
of the whole Christian world, and with general consent
and approbation he started off for Constantinople.
There he devoted himself to fasting, praying and preach-
ing, rebuking the tremendous worldly splendor with
which the Emperor constantly surrounded him.

To drown unnecessary gossip he clothed himself in a
vlassianitsa of most ordinary goat wool. To the gen-
eral astonishment of the people he soon acquired a com-
plete and perfect knowledge of the Greek and Syrian
languages and ardently studied philosophy. The Lord
now rewarded him with the exceptional gift of being
capable of healing the sick. Thanks to his petition the
remains of the martyrs, who had suffered torment and
death in Persia, were safely transported into old Georgia.
Once upon a time, on the eve of the Most Holy Baptism
of the Lord, intending to pass the whole night in devo-
tion and prayer, Mourvanoss ordered his servant to bring
him some butter for the little lamp.

SAINT MOURVANOSS 149

But he brusquely answered him : "Thou art a royal
son and, instead of reigning as it becomes one of thy rank,
thou livest as a monk without eating a morsel from one
Sunday to another," and he did not go for the desired
butter. But the Tsarevitch rilled the little lamp with
water instead of butter, and, lighting it, accomplished with
this marvellous light his holy, holy prayers. Seven
whole days and nights the wonderful light did not once
go out, and during that period our Lord Jesus Christ
appeared to the Saint to invisibly accompany and protect
him everywhere. With the help and favor of God the
Tsarevitch carried out many wonders, healing the sick
with the water of his little lamp. The Emperor namely
had a eunuch who used to like to come and pray together
with the Saint.

The Tsarevitch thought of leaving the Imperial Court
accompanied by the eunuch, but Theodosius, having
heard of the plan, sent a guard to watch them. Never-
theless through the almighty mercy of God they suc-
ceeded in avoiding being closely observed by them and
during the night ran away. An all-shining holy pillar
went in front of them, guiding them and illuminating
their road.

Upon the appearance of the pillar the following words
were heard coming out of it : "He who doth follow me
will never fall into the region of darkness and unbelief!"

Finding a respectable vessel, they after a few days ar-
rived in a port then unknown to them, where they were
immediately locked up in the local prison. But that same
night a terrific earthquake with perfectly awful noise took
place there and many, many people perished through it.
To the commandant of the city appeared a perfectly un-
known man, the very voice of whom reminded one of
tremendous rolls of thunder.

"Deliver thou this minute the true servants of God!"
he called out, "otherwise this wicked town will be turned
to ashes."

The frightened official immediately had the prisoners

150 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

led out and freed and they started off for Jerusalem,
where at that time there lived the runaway from Rome
captive, Tsar Pipinoss, with his wife Malienoss. They
were very religiously inclined, had entirely given up all
wordly habits and pretensions, became monks and lived
at Jerusalem in two different monasteries, which they
themselves had erected. They caressingly received the
newcomers. Having rested a little, the saints went to the
tomb of the Lord, where they also became monks.
Mourvanoss was named Peter and the eunuch John.

Who can possibly describe their charitable deeds!
They shone like illuminators, instructing and converting
all and everything simply by the splendid example of
their own lives ! They constructed two monasteries and
connected with these a house of refuge of strangers for
Georgians and Greeks, where the Tsarevitch humbly
waited upon travellers, and while occupied with such
actions he reached his twenty-fifth year. This monastery
was named after the most Holy Virgin. At this time
the devil suddenly pounced down upon him in the dis-
guise of a stranger and began to argue with and insult
the Saint for having renounced all his rights to the crown
and for having humbly served his own servants, but the
righteous hermit Peter soon found out with whom he had
to do and angrily chased him out of the hospice of stran-
gers. Then our Lord Jesus Christ for a second time ap-
peared to him and drew his attention towards the sky,
where the Saint now beheld a temple, in which fully fifty
tsars of indescribable beauty were singing hymns unto
God and glorifying His Holy Name. In the number of
these select Christian worshippers the Lord also promised
to add the Tsarevitch Mourvanoss.

He was sixty-five years old when the patriarch of Jeru-
salem, Anastasius, made him a full priest. He went off
into a desert, where on the banks of the Jordan he
founded yet another monastery.

John accompanied him everywhere. Here he success-
fully healed a man possessed with the devil, and delivered

SAINT MOURVANOSS IS1

John from a tumor which had formed itself on his face
and threatened to deprive him of his sight. When, how-
ever, John once more fell ill and suffered from some
deadly disease, the Saint implored that his life might be
prolonged for still twelve years.

He then visited and inspected all the Egyptian and
Skithian monasteries and returned to his own monastery
with a hospice for travelling strangers. At the time of
hunger, he by the strength of his righteous prayers filled
the monastery dwellings with bread and berries and the
cellars with butter and wine.

In that year good John peacefully died and he was
solemnly interred in the monastery of the most Holy Vir-
gin, which is to this day known under the designation of
"the monastery of the Georgians." Soon afterwards the
Bishop of Mayum died and the inhabitants having called
together a meeting, unanimously chose Peter the Geor-
gian to be bishop in the place of the deceased, and the
patriarch fully approved their choice, but the most humble
Peter, not knowing how to avoid such a high honor,
thought of throwing himself down from an elevated spot
in order to break either a hand or a leg and so appear
disqualified for the election unless he should possibly suc-
ceed in hiding himself by flight.

Then the Lord appeared to him a third time with a
quantity of angels and ordered him to accept the bishopric.
Many a time the good and God-fearing people in May-
rounne heard the voice, which before had announced
various news to the Saint. At the time of a great dry-
ness the holy prayers of the Bishop brought down innu-
merable wonders. Fruitless parents were comforted by
the birth of children ; the sick were healed and recuper-
ated, fruitless trees were instantly covered with fruit;
fishermen who until then had always been unsuccessful
in their attempts, now pulled out of the water laden nets.
The Lord besides all this favored him with the exhalted
gift of becoming a prophet and enabled him thus to see
the saintly souls in Heaven. Bishop Peter was already

I52 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

eighty-one years old, when the all-holy fathers Tsaya and
Zenomme died and the ever-fortunate Bishop saw their
sacred souls rising to Heaven. The all-reverent Peter
had been obliged to stand much in the course of his life
from the monophysites, through whose sly proceedings
he was for a short time deprived of his righteous pulpit,
to the great grief of the true believers. Emperor Leo
Frakiisky had hardly ascended the throne, when he has-
tened to restore the Mayioun bishop in his rightful posi-
tion. But he did not long keep his throne, for he soon
felt the approach of his death and announced these solemn
news to all those who belonged to his parish.

At that time Father Athanasius was favored with a
superb vision: the saints were praying to the Lord that
he should order them to bring up to their heavenly abode
the all-holy bishop Peter, who had done so exceedingly
much in converting thousands and thousands of unbeliev-
ers to the one True and Holy Faith !

Within ten days the wish of the saints was carried out.
The Saint passed these ten days in constant prayer, on
the tenth day he conducted a communion service, com-
muned himself and also many true followers, blessed the
enthusiastic crowd and having tenderly parted with all
his dear folks he returned to his cell, where he serenely
died and was borne to Heaven by the mercy of the
Almighty God on the second day of December.

Many righteous and holy followers saw his soul carried
by saints preceded by the holy martyr Peter of Alexan-
dria, and heard their praises and songs of "Glory to God."
Many till then incurable were healed simply by being
brought up to and placed against his holy body. The
holy Roman Pope Gregory Diologue dedicated a magnifi-
cent funeral oration to his precious memory in his all-
famous book.

ZESVA 153

XII. Zesva

Two horsemen were giving chase to some wild goats.
Quickly did their most daring horses run, but still faster
did the light little goats save themselves by flight, jump-
ing across narrow gorges with one bound, springing on
small plateaus, and in a word as though favored with hav-
ing wings they seemed to fly through bushes and low
shrubs. Now, however, they made for a very high
mountain covered with bushes and forests and rapidly
found their way among green branches and blooming
trees, ascending higher and higher. The pace of the pur-
suit of the horsemen considerably slowed down as the
various plants were every now and then the cause of un-
expected delays, while their victims, the goats, were able
to catch breath between each long jump and thus got on
rather well and without much difficulty.

The comparatively large horses were of course forced
to go out of their way in order to avoid knocking up
against trees, which barred the trail, and even where the
grass had been smoothed out the animals went rather
quietly and the energetic horsemen saw themselves more
than once obliged to cut and bend down massive branches
which formed the chief impediment in the whole under-
taking. When after long and renewed attempts they
safely reached the summit of the mountain, the goats had
completely disappeared, and looking in various directions
in order to discover the hiding place of the fugitives, the
plucky horsemen cast their glances at that part of the
mountain at the foot of which spread itself out like a
fairyland the perfectly magnificent valley of Alazana.
And how beautiful she looked on this rare sunny day, all
shining with soft sweet rays, separated from each other
by a large number of various colored shades, one more
perfect and exquisite than the other.

Now she would seem to take a bath in some pale, rosy

154 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

waves, produced by an unknown marvellous battery of
light, then again she so dazzled in precious gold and
finally blazed with emeralds and the branches of its quite
innumerable vineyards. There was also the sea of clus-
ters, which could be distinguished through its little fruit
garden, and like gigantic flower bushes they concentrated
in themselves an amazing variety of flowers from the
very most conspicuous to the darkest and palest. In as-
tonishment did the hunters stop. Till then none of the
Toushines had known about the existence of the highly
blessed and favored Kakhitia. Being illuminated and
showing all of her blinding beauty, she indeed seemed to
them a perfect paradise and attracted forever their exul-
tant glances. And the hunt and goats and everything
else was forgotten. They stood there in perfect adora-
tion of this unusual perfection of beauty and being unable
to resist any longer the force which drew them nearer
and nearer to the happy land, they descended into the
gorge of Pankisse. On the River Bazzarisse-Tskali they
chanced to come upon a detachment of Tartar frontier
guards, who immediately surrounded the newcomers, and
having dealt with them in the most insulting and truly
shameful manner, again chased them into the mountains
from which they had come. Arriving at home, the in-
dignant Toushines made a halt near that river, where the
nation usually assembled when it was necessary to decide
some important affairs. Here did they also announce
the facts of their perilous adventure and demand a re-
venge. Soon by the summons of the Elder there came
together not only the Toushines, but also the Pchaves and
Kersourians, called in to give their advice.

They all unanimously decided to take terrible revenge
for the insult inflicted on their countrymen. The
Pchaves and Khevsourians promised their assistance and
with general consent the whole army was divided into two
parts. One division was to conceal itself in the gorge of
Pankiss, while the other should direct itself towards the
Baktrionan fortress, which was situated to the east of

ZESVA 155

Alazana and was in those remote times considered a very
powerful fortification. Nowadays we can judge of it only
by its ruins, which, however, all testify its past grandeur
and mightiness. It was impossible to cross the river
otherwise than over the bridge, which the sly Tartars cov-
ered with ashes in order to always find out the exact
number and direction of new arrivals. But this ingen-
ious slyness was not long hidden from the searching eye
of Zesva, the valiant leader of the detachment. He or-
dered to stop the horses near the outer gates and, riding
at full speed across the bridge, he succeeded in hiding
himself in a valley before the Tartars found time to
appear. The latter, guiding themselves by the direction
of the traces, started in pursuit of their antagonists, but
with every step getting farther and farther away from
those to capture which was their intense desire. In the
meantime the night came on and, profiting by the dark-
ness, the Toushines reached the foot of the very fortress
without being noticed by anyone. Having ordered his
warriors to rest, Zesva, without breaking the silence, took
up a hammer, covered it with cow-hair felt, unloaded
from his horse a very large maprasha (i.e., a pair of
sacks tied unto the steed) filled with strong iron tusks
and knocked the first great nail into the battlements of
the fortress, and standing upon it and reaching as high
as possible he made a second one stick, and thus he con-
tinued until he had made himself a kind of ladder of iron
hooks to the tip-top of the high rampart wall, whence he
jumped down and in a flash threw open the heavy gates.
Like a rushing stream did the Toushines make their
way into the fortress, while the first rays of the rising
sun were falling upon the grim old fortifications. The
Tartars, half asleep, ran out into a field, but in vain for
now they were met by the Pchaves and Khevsoures, who
had ventured out from the gorge of Pankisse. The Tar-
tars, surrounded on all sides, were exterminated to the
last one and the field of honor of Allavanne, on which
the glorious fight had taken place, was from now on

156 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

known under the name of "Gatzvetila" (from the word
"gatsveta" — "they are killing").

The magnanimous and lion-hearted Zesva handed out
all the rich booty of this ever-memorable day to his faith-
ful allies, i.e., the Pchaves and Khevsoures, while Gatz-
vetila became the common property of all Toushines.
Nowadays this historic spot is known under the designa-
tion, "Field of Allavanna." Some people pretend that this
name comes from the Georgian word "ali," i.e., "flame,"
as on this field, after the fire of the battle, the Tartar blood
went on smoking for a long time; others say this name
originates from the Kshtinskian words "al"=vladyka
and "va"=here. This latter supposition, it seems to me,
must be nearer in approaching the truth, as Allvani was
one of the country palaces of Tamara, the ruins of which
were not kept, although traditions confirm the existence
of a palace on the above-mentioned field.

XIII. The Tale of Mikhian

A LEGEND

A wonderfully gorgeous reception was being prepared
at the Turkish Court. The Sultan had taken it into his
head to brilliantly celebrate and entertain the all-famous
hero-prince Solagge, a Mikhian by descent, who had just
arrived in his domains. At the door the Vizir met the
guest with open arms and explained to him what a for-
tunate concurrence of circumstances it had been that had
granted Turkey the chance of beholding him within their
borders. Solagge wanted to reply, but the Vizir, with-
out listening to him, continued his pompous speech and
thus obliged his guest to hold his tongue. The Vizir
had received instructions from the Sultan to seek out
means under pretense of friendship and veneration in

THE TALE OF MIKHIAN 157

order to have the famous hero perish, and so the sly
Ottoman official proposed that he should fight a duel
with an Arab giant and boxer, promising in reward for
victory the position of a Pasha of Achaltsisk. Solagge
refused the reward, not wishing to abandon little Mikhia,
to serve which he had devoted his whole life, but the
duel he accepted, and so the Vizir personally brought him
a rare and expensive horse with a golden saddle, gold
stirrups, etc., saying: "Here you have a steed worthy of
a future Pasha of Achaltsisk." On a Friday the whole
town came together on a well-known square. Proudly
did the Arab rival parade on his foaming horse. Solagge
reverently bowed to him, but the former, instead of re-
plying, simply rushed at his antagonist with a hatchet in
his hand.

Notwithstanding the perfectly unexpected attack,
Solagge all the same succeeded in repelling him, but a
second and even a third hatchet came flying after the
first. The clever Mikhian missed their aim and without
trouble succeeded in protecting himself against all of
them and was soon on the point of attacking his enemy.
Like a regular tornado he pounced down upon his rival
and at full gallop let his own hatchet fall on him. He
cut the Arab through and through and threw him off his
horse to the ground. Wishing to speedily arouse the
dissatisfaction of the people, the moullahs (i.e., priests)
surrounded the corpse, read aloud the Khoran and filled
the air with their hideous mournful lamentations and
cries. But the nation, greatly delighted over the dar-
ing exploit of Solagge, remained perfectly insensible to
their never-ceasing weeping and howling.

With great signs of distinction was Solagge conducted
into the palace, where the Sultan, after a most friendly
and hearty reception and pleasant congratulations, re-
warded his excessive chivalry with gold and precious
stones and again offered him the position of a Pasha of
Achaltsisk, but Solagge refused even a second time.

"Remember thy wonderful strength and the extraor-

158 CAUCASIAN LEGENDS

dinary mightiness which thou wilt be able to dispose of!"
said the Sultan.

"O Sovereign !" replied the famous hero, "I sincerely
thank thee for the honor thou bestowest upon me and the
extreme confidence which thou hast in me, but know thou
then that being inspired by the mercy of God with that
serene strength which hath drawn unto me thine ele-
vated attention, I nevertheless do not feel the least need
in obtaining any other power, whatever it may be, besides
the one which gives me the love of my fellow-citizens. "

And Solagge remained true to his word and passed
his whole life in poor Mikhia, protecting the slighted,
punishing the lawless, and never died, for even down to
our days he lives with boundless glory in national songs
and legends, blessed and adored by every generation, as
a shining example of courage and uncorrupted and sin-
cere love for his native land.

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