352 HISTOBT OF ARMENIA.
soon as the letter was dispatched, the in- exorable Vahan coolly ordered him to be strangled. The same fate befel the officer and ten men whom he had sent for, on their falling into His hands. The strength of Varshir^s forces being thus broken by their division into three bodies, Vahan attacked them succes- sively^ while they, considering themselves in perfect safety, had neglected all means of defence, and destroyed them all with the ezcep* tion of forty, who succeeded in effecting their escape to Persia. On their relating to Khosrove the horrid catastrophe which had befallen Mih- ran and his army, he became highly incensed^ and immediately assembled a large force to revenge on Vahan the loss he had sustained.
^ %?nn '^^^® ^^^^® ^^^ placed under the command of «»54. Valthank, the uncle of Mihran, who marched with speed into Armenia. On his arrival in the country of the Apahqnians, he received a mes*^ senger from Vahan, who had assembled an army of 28,000 men, bearing a message of the most scornful and contemptuous nature. I am surprised, says he, that after hearing of the tragical fate of Mihran, you have the rashness to come against us; perhaps you seek a wife amongst the daughters of Armenia. Come then to us, and you will find in the midst of our troops what will soon cool your amorous fireT*
�� �
