History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

HISTORY or ARMENIA. 83
drink, and advised them to die with him.
They
solicited their father to permit them first to
perish, and taking the cup from his hands, drank
a part of the poison of which they soon expired.
The wretched Mithridates drank the remainder,
which not operating as quickly as he wished,
he stabbed hmiself with his sword, which
failed in producing the desired effect. He then
sought to make the poison operate by walking.
In the meantime the mob penetrated into the
fortress and surrounded him on all sides, on
which he called out to a soldier to guide his
hand, and with a great effort plunged his sword
into his breast, fell and expired. Thus perished
Mithridates, after
period of 50 years.*
rulmg various tribes for a
Before this event happened, Tiran, the son of 3939;
Tigranes, having ingratiated himself with some
of the Armenian chiefs, excited a rebellion
against his father, and induced Arshez the
king of Persia to join him. They marched
against and captured several cities
in Armenia.
But having laid siege to the city of Artashat, it
was so well defended that their efforts to reduce
it were unavailing. After remaining before it
some days, Arshez grew weary of the enterprize,
and returned to his country. Tigranes,
* See Hist. B. II, c. 9.
m 2