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

HISTORY OF ARMENIA. 185
family of the deceased Tiiidates, whom the emperor
had put to death on the first impulse
of his rage. Valentinian gave in marriage to
Arsaces, whose wife was lately dead, a young
virgin named Olympias, connected with the
imperial family. With the whole of these
ISierses returned to Armenia. The emperor,
previous to the departure of the saint from
Constantinople, to shew his sorrow for the
hasty order he had given foi-
the death of Tiridates,
bestowed great favours on young Gnelus,
the son of the deceased,
lie appointed him to
the dignity of consul, and gave him immense
treasures. These marks of favour excited the
envy of Tirithus, wiiich, however, he suppressed
until a fit opportunity should occur to gratify
it.
Gnelus, on his return to Armenia, hastened
to pay a visit to his grandfather, the blind Tiran,
who was still alive in the village of Coash, and
related to him all the above incidents, with
which the old man was unacquainted.
Tiran heard of the tragical end of Tiiidates,
became exceedingly grieved :
When
he
" xVhT' exclaimed
he, " I am the cause of his death, for I yielded
him as an hostage to Julian, and I am now justly
punished for it with blindness !'" Tiran bestowed
the whole of his personal property on his
grandson Gnelus,
consisting of various villages
and buildings, and desired him to
bb
remain with