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

318 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
doctrine of the Magi. The second is, that you
favour none, nor exalt the base merely because
they profess the worship of fire. The third and
last is, that the king on all occasions hear both
sides, and not hasten to judgment on the information
of one party against another, without
hearing the latter's defence."' Vahan then sent
back the messengers of Nikhor with honour, and
dispatched with them five of his faithful chiefs
as ambassadors on his part bearing the foregoing
conditions. When these arrived at the
Persian camp, the prefect received them with
much respect, and supped with them. At every
cup, during the repast, he drank the health of
Vahan, mentioning his gallant exploits. Having
agreed to perform the conditions specified
in Vahan's reply, the Prefect, with the concurrence
of the five chiefs, wrote to him by the
hands of his former two messengers, inviting him
to come to the Persian camp without fear, and
promising to comply with his desires ; nay, to
do more than he had requested. Vahan then,
with his few adherents, proceeded to the village
of Elind, in the province of Artaz, where he
halted, sending forward to inform Nikhor of his
arrival, and saying, " If you desire that I should
come to you, let some of your Persian nobles
come over to my troops, as hostages for my
safety, until the conclusion of this affair." The