242 BISTORT OF ARMENIA.
prince, the chiefs pursued a dro^e of wild asses into a part of the country very rugged and diffi- cult of access. Shapuh stopped through fear» whilst the others continued the chase. Atom, the chief of the Mocks, coming near the king, exclaimed, ^' Why dost thou not also run with us, thou Persian demigod ? Surely thou art a man and not a woman !*' Shapuh answered in a rage, I stop, knowing that devils are mischie- vous in such craggy places as these," thereby likening the chief to a devil. Atom bore this insult in mind, and waited for an opportunity A. D. 417. to retaliate. Some time after, the king agaia went to hunt wild boars. The reeds, which afforded a eovert to these animals, being set on fire, Shapuh, by some mismanagement of his horse, got into the middle of the flames, and was unable to pass out, the beast upon which he rode becoming unmanageable. Whilst he was running to and fro to get away from the fire, which was now approaching very close. Atom, the chief beforementioned, came up to him, and cried out, Here is nothing but your fiither and your god, why are you afraid V* alluding to his worship of fire. Shapuh replied, *' Leave off jeering now, and make a road through the fire, by passing with your horse; mine starts on my attempting to plunge through/* Atom then laughing at him, said with contempt, Are these
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