Armenian Literature Part 11

"Ha, ha," said David, "I know why you weep. I have brought the grits, but have forgotten b.u.t.ter and salt. That is why you weep. Eat the grits now, and have salt and b.u.t.ter this evening."

But the youth said. "David, I am ready to die for you, What need have I of salt and b.u.t.ter; forty thieving Dews have come and driven away our calves."

David said, "Stay here and watch these calves, and I will bring back all the others"; and he went after the calves. He followed their tracks to the entrance of a cave and paused. He cried out with so loud a voice that the Dews were frightened, and were as full of fear as is the devil when Christ's voice is heard in h.e.l.l.

And when the leader of the Dews heard the voice he said: "That is surely David, Abamelik's son. Go receive him with honor, else he will strike us dead."

They went out, one by one, and David struck each as he pa.s.sed with his oaken cudgel, so that their heads fell off and only dead bodies remained in the place. He cut off the ears of all the forty and buried them under a stone at the mouth of the cave.

He laid down his club and entered the cave. There he saw a heap of gold and a heap of silver--indeed, all the treasures of the world. Since his father's death they had robbed and concealed their plunder in this cavern. He opened a door, and saw a steed standing fastened to a ring.

David was sunk in thought, and said to himself: "Uncle dear, this property belongs to you, but this beast to me. If you give it to me--good. If not, you travel after those other fellows." Then he answered for Uncle Toross: "My child, the treasure and the beast should belong to you. What shall I do with them?"

He looked around and saw upon a pyre a copper kettle with four handles, and in it were his forty calves. He stuck his oaken stick through the handles and raised the kettle, poured off the water, pushed the calves'

feet back into the kettle, lifted it to his shoulder, and went back to his comrade.

The two drove the rest of the herd into the village, and David called the owners to him and said: "If you deceive my brother a hair's breadth in the reckoning it will go badly with you. Sell this kettle. May it repay you for your calves."

He separated his own calves from the peasants', and went home. It was then midday. He said to Uncle Toross: "Take quickly twenty a.s.ses and we will go out and bring back treasure that shall suffice you and your children till the seventh generation."

And they took the a.s.ses and set forth. When they reached the cavern, Uncle Toross saw the bodies of the Dews stretched near the entrance, and they were swelled up like hills. In great fright Uncle Toross loosed his a.s.s from the others and fell back.

David said: "You destroyer! I fled not before them living, but you fear them dead! If you believe me not, turn back and raise this stone. I concealed all their ears there."

Uncle Toross came back and took the a.s.ses, and they went into the cave.

They made a pack of all the treasure and carried it away with them.

David said: "All this treasure belongs to you, but the steed is mine. If you will not give it to me, you shall follow after them."

He answered: "My child, the horse and the treasure too are yours. What should I do with it?"

Uncle Toross let David mount the steed. He gave him the spurs and he bucked to right and left. This was no ordinary steed--the difficulties of managing him cannot be described.

They returned to Sa.s.sun with the treasure. David procured a beautiful falcon and rode off to hunt. The calves he had long ago given over.

Once, as he hunted, he rode across the soil of a poor man, whose family numbered seven heads, and the man had seven beds of millet. Four beds he laid waste, and three remained. Someone ran with the news to the old graybeard and said: "You are ruined. Go at once to your field, for before night he will destroy the other three beds."

The graybeard rose early and went out and saw his field was laid waste.

He glanced about and saw David coming with a falcon on his hand. The graybeard cursed David and said: "Dost thou not fear G.o.d? Dost thou test thy strength on my grain-field? I have seven mouths to fill, and seven millet beds. Four thou hast destroyed, and three remain! If you are brave, go and get back your inheritance that extends from the summit of Mount Zozmak as far as Sechanssar. Mosramelik has taken it from you and draws wealth from it Go and get it back. Why try your strength on me?"

But David answered: "Old man, curse me not. Here is a handful of gold--use it." And as he said it he killed his falcon.

David returned home and said: "Uncle Toross, go and bring me my father's staff and bow. I am going to make war, for others consume my inheritance and none of you have said anything about it to me."

Uncle Toross arose and demanded of Zoranwegi in David's name the staff and bow of Abamelik, but Zoranwegi refused it. David sent a second time, saying: "If you give it to me, good. If not, I will see to it that your head flies off and only your body remains."

Zoranwegi was frightened, and surrendered the bow and baton, and Uncle Toross brought them to David. And David fell asleep and dreamed. The next day he took forty calves and went to holy Maratuk,[18] where he slaughtered the forty calves and bathed in their blood. Then he fell on his face and prayed and wept until G.o.d sent from heaven a sacred sign and a token. Even now the holy sign is to be found in Hawar at the house of Sork. David kissed the holy sign and put it under the right shoulder, and the token under the left.

[18] Maratuk is a monastery built on a mountain of the same name.

Mosramelik knew that David, Abamelik's son, was come into manhood, and he gathered together a host to march against him. And he appointed a _holbaschi_,[19] who prepared his army and attacked David at Maratuk. He met on the march seven women, and said to them, "Sing and dance until I return," and they answered: "Why shall we dance and sing? We know not what we should say."

[19] This Turkish t.i.tle shows that the legend has been altered at a late date.

And Holbaschi sang for them:

"May the little women busy themselves grinding corn; May the stout women help with the camel-loading; For Holbaschi carries grim war to Sa.s.sun.

Strong yoke-oxen and red milch-cows he'll bring back In the springtime; b.u.t.ter and Tochorton Will be plentiful in the Land of Mosr."

Holbaschi saw the women begin dancing and singing, and started his host again and went to Maratuk and entered its gates. The daughter of the priest of Maratuk had often glanced slyly at David, and he was not indifferent to her. The priest's daughter went to David and said: "David, I am ready to die for you! Arise and see how many warriors are congregated in the courtyard."

When she had spoken she went out and closed all the gates from without.

David stretched himself and cried: "Bread and wine, the Lord liveth!"

and began to knock off the heads of the men of war. He beheaded them so that the bodies flew over the walls and the heads remained lying in the court. And he laid hold of Holbaschi, and tore out his teeth and drove them into his brow like nails. And he bent his lance till it curved like a dog's collar and put it around his neck. "Now," he said, "take yourself off and tell all to Mosramelik. If people still remain in his country let him herd them together before I come."

Holbaschi met the women a second time, and they were singing and dancing. And one of them sang:

"Holbaschi, dear Holbaschi, went hence like a cruel wolf, Why come you back to us like a hunting dog?

Your lance lies on your neck like a dog's collar, Thy mouth gapes like an open window, And slime flows out like curdled milk from a skin;[20]

And whole caravans of flies buzz round it."

[20] In Armenia, as is usual in the East, they make b.u.t.ter out of curdled milk; and for this reason the vessel is always covered with sc.u.m.

And Holbaschi sang:

"Oh, you shameless, worthless hussies, I thought that Sa.s.sun was a free field.

Think not that only rocks and clefts opposed me.

There new-born children are fierce devils, Their arrows like beams of the oil-mill; And like windows they tear out the mouths of their enemies.

All the brave lads who went with me Are fallen in Charaman.[21]

In the spring its waters will bring you booty, Then your b.u.t.ter and cheese can be made."

[21] A valley near Musch.

Now David armed himself and marched against Mosramelik. He found a great host a.s.sembled and encamped near Sechanssar.[22]

[22] Literally, a table-like mountain.

David said: "I promise thee not to give battle till I have eaten rice pillau in the green and red tent," and he urged his horse forward and appeared suddenly from the west in front of the tent. Great fright possessed the army when they perceived this rider, and Melik said, "What manner of man art thou?"

"I am the son of a western king, and I have come to help you."

Melik pitched a tent for him, and they ate together seven days. On the eighth day David mounted his horse, rode twice before Mosramelik's tent, and said: "Now, come out, I want to fight you. How long, Mosramelik, are you going to encroach upon my inheritance?" And David cried: "Bread and wine, G.o.d lives!" and fighting began on all sides.

Uncle Toross heard of the combat. He tore up a poplar by its roots, threw it across his shoulder, and set out. He halted at the upper end of the valley in which the fight was going on. If anyone crept away David shouted: "Dear Uncle Toross, chase him back into the valley and I will be ready for him!"

At last the army began to murmur: "Let them struggle hand to hand. He who overpowers the other has conquered."

Then said one of them. "Sit down, that I may slay you with my club," and the other said: "No, you sit down." At last they agreed that David, being the youngest, should sit, So he put his s.h.i.+eld over his head, laid under it the holy cross, and sat down. Mosramelik made an onset from three leagues, burst upon him, and a.s.sailed him with a club, saying, "Earth thou art, be earth again!"

David said: "I believe in the high and holy cross of Maratuk. It is to me as if I were still eating rice pillau under the red and green tent."