84 Narrative of the Armenian king [Feb. 



"The astrologers and magicians required time for the consideration 

 of the question proposed to them by Sapor. On the following day 

 they assembled at the royal palace and said, ' Since the Armenian 

 king Arsaces has come to you of his own accord, we desire to know 

 how he speaks to you, how he behaves in your presence, and what 

 does he think of himself?' Sapor replied, ' He considers himself as 

 one of my servants, and lies prostrate in the dust at my feet.' The 

 astrologers and magicians advised him how to act. ' Do what we 

 say,' replied they : ' keep Arsaces and his general here in confine- 

 ment, and send messengers to Armenia, with instructions to bring 

 from that country two loads of earth and a large pitcher of water. 

 Get the half of the floor of the royal pavilion strewed with the earth 

 of Armenia, and holding the Armenian king by the hand, walk over 

 that part of the ground covered with the earth of Persia, and confer 

 with him on a subject. After which, tread with him over the earth 

 brought from Armenia, and put him some questions. Thus you will 

 be enabled to ascertain from his address and replies whether he will 

 continue firm in his allegiance and friendship to you, after your 

 allowing him to depart to Armenia. Should he, however, assume an 

 overbearing attitude while treading on the Armenian earth, then be 

 assured of the renewal of his hatred and enmity towards you, and of 

 the commencement of fresh hostilities immediately after his return to 

 his native soil.' 



" The king of Persia adopted the suggestions of the astrologers 

 and magicians. He despatched messengers to Armenia with drome- 

 daries, for the purpose of bringing a quantity of earth and water 

 from that country, and trying therewith the proposed experiment. 

 In course of a few days the orders of Sapor were put into execution. 

 He then ordered the half of the floor of his royal pavilion to be 

 strewed with the earth, and sprinkled with the water brought from 

 Armenia, and the other half to be covered with the earth of Persia. 

 He desired Arsacks, king of Armenia, to be brought before him apart 

 from other individuals, and began to walk with him hand in hand. 

 While going to and fro over the Persian earth, Safor asks, ' why did 

 you become my enemy, Arsaces, king of Armenia ? I have looked 

 upon you as my son, and contemplated to form an alliance with you 

 by effecting a marriage between you and my daughter, and thus to 

 take you into my adoption. But you have armed yourself against 

 me, and of your own free will treated me as a foe, by waging war 

 with the Persians for upwards of thirty years.' 



" Arsaces replied, * I have transgressed the law of friendship, and 

 must confess my fault. It was 1 that routed your enemies, and put 



