last they agreed that David, being the youngest, should sit. So he put his shield over his head, laid under it the holy cross, and sat down. Mösramelik made an onset from three leagues, burst upon him, and assailed 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.”
Mösramelik sprung upon him three times, struck him with his club, and said: “Earth thou art, be earth again!” and David replied only, “I believe in the high and holy cross of Maratuk.”
Then came Mösramelik’s turn to sit down, and he was stubborn and would not. But the army reproached him and put his shield over his head, and he sat down. Then came Mösramelik’s mother, and began to ask mercy, saying: “David, I am ready to die for you! Is he not thy brother ? Slay him not; have pity on him!”
“O shameless woman! When he struck me, thou saidst not, ‘Is he not thy brother!’ But, may your wish be granted! One blow I will give up for God’s sake, the second for your sake, but the third belongs to me, and when I strike either he dies or lives!”
David rode back and forward again, and seizing his club hurled Mösramelik seven yards deep into the earth. Then he ravaged Mösr and ascended the throne.
The Emir[1] of Kachiswan had a daughter, and her name was Chandud-Chanum.[2] Chandud-Chanum heard of David’s valor, and gave gifts to a bard and said to him: “Go, sing to David of my beauty, that he may come hither and we may love each other.”
The bard went to Sassun, for he thought David was there. He came to Sassun and entered Zöranwegi’s castle, thinking David lived in it, and sat down and began to sing to Zöranwegi. Zöranwegi cried: “Go. Club him and hunt him forth. He thinks to bring David hither by cunning!”
They set upon the singer, dragged him to the valley, and
