132 HISTORY 07 AttMENIA.
and join my standard, whatever benefits yom may have received from him, I will increase twofold ;" but before Argam had time to re- ply, Erwand moved oat the wings of his army to the attack. Sumbat, perceiving this manoenivre, caused his troops to advance, and raising the standard of Artaces, bearing the devices of an eagle, a pigeon, and a dragon, directed the trumpets to sound. At this mo- ment Argam, with the whole of the men be commanded, left the ranks of the king, and joined those of the prince. Hereupon Sumbat, with his new friends, began the con* fiict by an impetuous charge. Whilst both sides were fighting, and obstinately disputing every inch of ground, the Armenian chiefs sta- tioned on the wings of the king*s army suddenly ^rew ofi* their men, and passed to the side of Artaces. The battle then raged with double fury, and the slaughter of the troops of Erwand was dreadful. Notwithstanding the obvious superiority in numbers of the army of the prince, the battle remained long doubtful, the soldiers of the king fighting with the most determined bravery. These were inspired to greater exer- tion by indignation at the treachery of Argam and the other Armenian chiefs, who had deserted them in the hour of danger; those by a certainty of victory, which their superior numbers and
�� �
