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

238 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
faithful to their religion, and headed by their
chiefs. The camps of these two bodies were
distinct, some distance lying between them.
Previously to their disbanding, some of the
pious chiefs, who had been disgusted and
grieved with the conduct of their apostate countrymen,
secretly met, and said to each other,
**
Now is the time for a bold effort to deliver
our country from the hand of the Persians and
apostates. Let us join with
Valthank, the king
of Georgia, or wiih the Huns, or Greeks, and
attack them.
The Almighty, seeing the purity
of the motives that inspire us, will smile upon
our exertions ;
for we do not engage in this enterprise
for personal aggrandizement, but for the
purpose of saving our
holy church from falling
under the power of the worshippers of fire."
All being unanimous in these sentiments, disclosed
their desires to Vahan.
He, overjoyed at
the opportunity that offered itself for publicly
recanting his apostacy, replied, "Your wishes
exactly agree with mine, but I scarcely dare
join with you, because I have observed how
often enterprizes of this nature are baulked by
treason.
Let us not apply to strangers for aid, for
they may betray us. Let us place all our trust
in God, for he alone disposes of events." The
chiefs, on hearing this, declared, " We place no
confidence in ourselves, nor in others; but in the