his doors, mounted his horse, and captured whatever came in his way, both demons and beasts of prey. Once he penetrated into Mösr and ravaged it, and he went in to the wife of the Lord of Mösr and lay with her. She bore a son, and the King of Mösr knew that the boy was Abamelik’s and named him Mösramelik. But afterward Abamelik slew the King and took his wife and became King of Mösr.[1]
Now Sanassar dwelt at Sassun, but the gods of his fathers gave him no repose, so he travelled to Bagdad to the home of his father and mother. His father, sitting at his window, saw his son Sanassar come riding up, and recognized him, and the caliph said: “My life to thee, great god! Thou hast brought back thy victim. Certainly in thy might thou wilt restore the second soon.”
The mother—she was a Christian—began to weep and shed tears over her children. The father took a sharp word and went out to meet his son, saying: “Come, my son, let us worship the great god in his temple. I must sacrifice to him.”
The son said, “Dear father, your god is great and very wonderful. Truly in the night he permits us no rest. Certainly he will bring the second victim to you by force.”
And they went into the temple of the god, and the son said: “Father dear, you know that we left your house when we were yet children, and we knew not the might of your god.”
“Yes, yes, my son, but kneel before him and pray.”
The son said: “What a wonderful god your god is! When you bowed before your god, there was a darkness before my eyes and I did not see how you did it. Bow once more before him, that I may learn to worship him.”
When the father did the second time the son cried: “Bread and wine, the Lord liveth!” and seized his club and hurled the caliph full seven yards distant to the ground. And with his club he shattered all the images where they stood, put the silver in the skirts of his robe and carried it to his mother, saying: “Take this, mother, and wear it for ornament!”
His mother fell full length and bowed herself and said: “I thank thee, Creator of heaven and earth. It is well that thou hast rescued me from the hands of this cruel man.”
- ↑ The Armenians now call Egypt Mösr. This probably refers to Mossul.
