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

HKTORT OF ARMENIA.
273
The Armenians all took the sacrament that
night, and inflamed with the love
of Christ and
their country, felt themselves doubly strengthened.
On the following day, which was the 26tlv
Marery (May), and the seventh day of Whitsuntide,
the Armenians, eager for the contest
which was to decide the fate of all they held dear,
crossed the river and commenced the attack.
They were at first attended with success, the
Persians being
cut down with great slaughter,
but treason broke out in their ranks. Five
thousand men, who were secretl-y attached to
the other party, drew themselves off and joined
the Persians.
This unexpected event changed
the fortune of the day, and the Armenians
were routed. The glorious Vardan, having
performed prodigies of valour, fell, with nine
other chiefs. In all, the number of slain on the
side of the vanquished, that were left on the
field, amounted to 296 men. In the pursuit,
the Persians took 740 prisoners, who were prevented
from fleeing with the same speed as the
others, by being wounded.
These were immediately
put to death, making on the
whole the
loss of the Armenians to amount to 1,036.
The victors suffered more severely ; their
slain amounting to 3,544, nine of whom were
great chiefs of Persia. If the defalcation of
those 6,000 perfidious cowards had not thrown
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