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Epic Novel: Discovery of an Ancient Treasure
The Nile
The year was 2035. Under the relentless African sun, the White Nile shimmered, yet its depths promised a cool respite that Sarah couldn't resist. As a seasoned diver driven by adventure, she devoted her days to unraveling the river's mysteries. By her side was Tom, a novice swimmer who opted for the security of the sandy bank, offering unwavering encouragement from above the water's surface.
The Nile, a lifeline coursing through the heart of South Sudan, teemed with secrets. Days along the Nile were marked by the rhythm of Sarah's dives. Equipped with a powerful underwater flashlight, she delved into the murky depths, searching for remnants of a past whispered. Her fascination lay not only in potential treasure but in the ingenuity of ancient civilizations, and the stories that artifacts and ruins could tell.
On a hot afternoon, Sarah's usual routine was interrupted. While diving eight meters deep, she noticed a strange rock formation (from where a rock about forty meters high protruded along the river, covered with soil and vegetation) and saw something unusual in her flashlight beam. There was a flicker, a subtle distortion hinting at an opening below the riverbed. Intrigued, she felt a surge of curiosity. This wasn't just a natural crevice; it seemed intentionally placed.
The next day, Sarah came back with a newfound resolve. Tom nervously observed from the shore as she stepped into the water, her diving equipment shining in the sunlight. Gradually, she descended, meter by meter. Eventually, the entrance to the tunnel emerged—a water-filled passage cunningly hidden behind a veil of foliage. With a blend of apprehension and anticipation, Sarah proceeded along its twisting route.
The tunnel opened into a breathtaking scene: an air-filled cavern revealed a crystal-clear pool, and the chamber (chambers) lacked lighting. Yet, the air remained fresh, a testament to a sophisticated ventilation system – winding "chimneys" carved into the rock likely channeled fresh oxygen from the outside world. Sarah had stumbled upon a treasure trove of a different kind. Not the gold or jewels of legend, but something far more valuable – a glimpse into the ingenuity and craftsmanship of an ancient people.
Pharaoh's Ingenious Deception
In the chronicles of the time, Pharaoh's cunning knew no limits. To him, the treasures hidden within this sanctuary weren't merely riches and authority symbols; they represented a heritage to protect at any expense. Understanding the relentless greed of potential looters, he crafted a plan so daring, so shrewd, that its reverberations would endure across epochs.
The story started with the building of the Pyramids in Giza – massive structures that fascinated people worldwide. However, these impressive monuments had a double role. While they attracted numerous admirers and scholars from distant places, they also functioned as a distraction, masking the real whereabouts of the Pharaoh's most valuable treasures.
As people gazed in awe at the Pyramids, the architects working for the Pharaoh labored in secrecy, constructing the Castle of Treasures with a single entrance, an entrance which located under the waters of the Nile. They understood the immense value and sanctity of the treasures they protected, unwilling to let them fall into the wrong hands.
And so, with the precision of master craftsmen, they constructed a hidden castle, all designed to thwart would-be intruders. Meanwhile, the Pyramids stood as a beacon, drawing attention away from the Castle of Treasures of Pharaoh's power.
As Sarah delved deeper into the mysteries of this concealed world, she couldn't help but be amazed by the breadth of Pharaoh's deceit. It spoke volumes of his foresight, his readiness to do whatever it took to safeguard what he cherished the most.
Yet, even as she admired his cunning, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her soul. For in uncovering Pharaoh's treasures, she had stumbled upon a legacy fraught with both wonder and peril, a legacy that would forever alter the course of her destiny.
Sarah was overcome with a profound sense of awe and reverence. It wasn't merely a treasure trove before her; it was a gateway to the past, a gentle echo from a distant era. In that moment, she silently pledged herself to its safeguarding. This hidden marvel, untouched by the passage of time, would become her charge. She understood that revealing it could invite unwanted scrutiny, perhaps even lead to the desecration of this sacred site. Yet, the discovery kindled a fierce determination within her, a longing to unravel the tales engraved upon the weathered stones.
The River's Rhythm
The Nile, the lifeblood of the region, held a rhythm as old as time itself. Its waters swelled during the flood season, a testament to the raw power of nature. Sarah, her senses now attuned to the river's secrets, learned to read these subtle shifts.
With this realization came a deeper understanding of the ancient engineers' brilliance. The pool of the Castle of Treasures had been designed with an ingenious backup height. As the Nile surged, water would "flow" into the backup height of the pool (through the tunnel), the water's level rising in the pool, safeguarding the precious treasures within chambers (which were located on the upper level of the pool). Stone steps rose around the walls of the pool, facilitating access.
The Castle of Treasures (in the rock next to the river) had become a place where the weight of the world slipped away, replaced by an awe-filled silence. It was the stories etched on the walls, the intricate carvings and faded hieroglyphs that whispered tales of love, loss, and the relentless march of time, that captivated her.
Whispers in the Stone
As Sarah pressed on with her secret investigation of the concealed chamber, her thoughts raced to decipher the enigmatic origins of its creation. The vast scale of the endeavor, the meticulous detail evident in the carvings, and the cleverly designed ventilation system all hinted at a meticulously crafted scheme executed with remarkable expertise.
In her imagination, she pictured the scene from millennia ago vividly: not only workers, but also architects, engineers, and artisans all gathering at this hidden location. They accomplished their task by utilizing the force of the river. With remarkable skill, they redirected its flow, steering its waters away from their designated area. Once released from the river's grasp, they commenced their labor, meticulously sculpting the unyielding rock and crafting a tunnel.
The tunnel was their lifeline, a conduit through which flowed not just air, but supplies and the determined spirit of an entire workforce. Slowly, painstakingly, it took shape, its path winding through the depths of the earth like a serpent seeking the sun. With each passing day, the builders ascended, widening the passage, carving out the crystalline pool – the heart of the treasure house – and the spacious rooms that would become repositories of unimaginable wealth.
But Sarah's fascination didn't end with the structure itself. It was the absence of soot or burn marks on the ceilings that hinted at a forgotten technology. How had the builders illuminated their workspace? Were there ancient light sources, fueled by some long-lost knowledge, that history had yet to rediscover?
A Pharaoh's Legacy
In the concealed sanctuary nestled beneath the Nile's embrace, Sarah discovered herself engulfed by the resplendent inheritance of a Pharaoh lost to time. Every chamber within the treasure trove gleamed with its unique essence, unveiling treasures surpassing the imagination of tomb plunderers and fortune seekers.
Gold, the eternal symbol of power and wealth, gleamed abundantly. Intricate necklaces, adorned with lapis lazuli and turquoise, and exquisitely crafted bracelets set with fiery carnelians, along with rings of hammered gold, seemed to resonate with the craftsmanship of skilled artisans. Golden vessels, created for practical and ceremonial use, depicted scenes of daily life and mythical battles with breathtaking artistry.
Precious gemstones, collected from the far corners of the known world, glittered in the dim light filtering through the vents.
Emeralds, their deep green hues reminiscent of fertile valleys, lay nestled next to shimmering sapphires that mirrored the ever-changing sky above.
Rubies, like drops of solidified blood, whispered tales of passion and sacrifice.
In the various rooms, Sarah came across sizable sacks and jars brimming with raw gems. Opals, shimmering with colorful flashes, spilled out like a rainbow trapped in stone. Clusters of amethyst, their deep purple hues hinting at enigmatic depths, were scattered in disarray. It seemed as though the very earth had revealed its most valuable treasures within this concealed sanctuary.
But the Castle of Treasures held more than just inanimate objects. Tapestries of vibrant colors adorned some walls, their threads whispering stories of heroism, love, and the intricate tapestry of courtly life.
In one room, Sarah discovered a collection of intricately carved musical instruments – lyres, harps, and flutes – their melodies silenced by time, yet somehow still alive within the stone walls.
With each stride, Sarah sensed a stronger bond with history. This wasn't merely a trove of treasures; it embodied the essence of an epoch, a tribute to the everlasting force of human ingenuity and aspiration. The riches of the Pharaoh, meticulously shielded from time's erosion, now silently acknowledged her existence.
Embracing Wealth and Responsibility
As Sarah emerged from the hidden depths of the House of Treasures, she carried with her a burden unlike any other. In her hands, she held a backpack heavy with gold and precious stones – treasures that could transform her and Tom's lives in an instant.
With a blend of awe and excitement, Sarah unzipped the backpack, revealing the dazzling treasures concealed within the depths of the House of Treasures. Gold coins sparkled alongside vivid gemstones, offering a glimpse of a life filled with luxury and abundance beyond their wildest dreams.
Sarah and Tom shared a meaningful look, feeling their hearts quicken with excitement. They grasped the significance of the secret they now possessed and the duty it bestowed upon them. Yet, they also saw the potential in these treasures, not only for their own benefit but for bringing about positive change in the world.
Sarah and Tom made a silent vow to use their newfound riches not only to fulfill their desires but also to uplift those in need. They pledged to support charitable causes, to invest in projects that would benefit their community, and to spread kindness and generosity wherever they went.
In the years that followed, Sarah and Tom embraced their newfound wealth with gratitude and humility. They lived lives of abundance, traveling the world, pursuing their passions, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. But they never forgot the promise they had made to keep the secret of the House of Treasures hidden from the world.
Instead, they used their wealth as a force for good, channeling their resources into philanthropic endeavors that touched the lives of countless individuals. They funded schools, hospitals, and orphanages, providing opportunities for those less fortunate to thrive and succeed. They supported environmental initiatives, working to preserve the natural beauty of the world for future generations to enjoy.
As they looked back on their journey, Sarah and Tom knew that they had found true fulfillment – not just in their prosperous life but in the knowledge that they had used their wealth to make a difference in the world. And in doing so, they honored the legacy of Pharaoh's treasures, ensuring that its secrets remained hidden, even as its riches touched the lives of many.
VIP
David of Sassoon
Armenian epic
by Hovhannes Toumanian
Introduction
The name “David” comes from the Hebrew for “the beloved one.” Like the Old
Testament David who slew Goliath, David of Sassoon is the beloved, national
hero, the defiant and self-reliant youth, who by the grace of God defends his
homeland in an unequal duel against a titanic oppressor.
The epic begins with two brothers, Sanasar and Balthasar. Some scholars link
them to the brothers Adramelek and Sarasar, the sons of Hezekiah (Isaiah
37:38).
David’s story resonates not only with the Old Testament David, but also with
the battle between Hayk of Armenia and Bel of Assyria. Hayk is the Armenian
Orion (Job 9:9), the deified archer-protector-forefather of the Armenians.
1
Great Lion Mher, with his noble pride,
for forty long years ruled Sassoon far and wide.
His rule was so awesome that in his day,
across Sassoon's peaks even birds feared to stray.
Far from the highlands where Sassoon was found,
his dreaded fame spread with a thunderous sound.
And praise for the high deeds of Lion Mher,
on thousands of lips, in one voice, filled the air.
2
He ruled in Sassoon with lionly might,
the prince of the highlands, unchallenged in right.
For forty long years he ruled without foe,
and in forty long years he knew not one woe.
But now as old age upon him descended,
this valiant man's heart a pang apprehended,
which prompted the aging grand hero to ponder:
"My life's autumn days will soon take me yonder,
the captive of earth and its black sandy cloak.
The fame of Mher shall vanish like smoke,
and my name, and my might, and my glory shall pass,
in my orphaned and leaderless realm shall amass
thousands of bandits and fiends on the make,
no heir have I left, no successor to take
my sword in his hand for Sassoon's protection,"
so thought the great prince in pensive dejection.
3
Then one day, as he thought, his grey eyebrows knit tight,
an angel from heaven, in fiery light,
came to the prince, feet fixed on a cloud,
bringing a message, proclaiming aloud:
"Greetings! your highness, O Sassoon's great lord,
your voice to God's throne in high heaven has soared,
and soon shall he grant you the heir that you seek.
Heed me well, though, prince Mher, great king of this peak,
on the day that the Lord gives effect to your prayer,
neither you nor your wife shall he suffer to spare."
"May God's will be done," said Mher without sigh,
"Death is our lot; all mortals must die.
But when in this world we've a child in our stead,
through our child we live, although we be dead."
And then in a flash, the Angel took flight,
and nine months and nine hours from that joyous sight,
to Lion Mher a child was born,
and he called his cub David. On that happy morn,
he summoned his brother Ohan of Great Voice,
and his realm he bequeathed, no time to rejoice,
to his brother Ohan and his newly born son,
knowing his days and his wife's were now done.
4
In those times, reigned a king, over Egypt victorious,
called Melik of Musr, mighty and glorious.
As soon as he learned of Great Mher's demise,
he set for Sassoon to conquer a prize.
Ohan of Great Voice trembled in fear,
bowing his head, as the warlord came near.
Down on his knees, begging he said,
"You be our master," quaked he with dread,
"So long as we're under the force of your sway.
We'll be your true servants, your tribute we'll pay.
But on one condition, our land must remain,
untouched and intact for as long as you reign."
"No," said Melik, "your whole nation must go,
under my sword their submission to show,
and prove that whatever my policy be,
no native of Sassoon shall rise against me."
Ohan called his people from near and from far.
They passed one by one ‘neath Melik's scimitar.
All except David, who try though they did,
refused to do honor as Melik had bid.
The crowd dragged him forward by force to his foe.
Raging, he tossed them away, high and low.
He grazed his small finger against a large rock,
emitting a lightening bolt to the crowd’s shock.
"This rogue, he is trouble, I must kill him off,"
said the King to the elders, who started to scoff.
"King," they protested, "you’re mighty and strong.
How could this young lad do you any wrong,
though he were fire from head down to foot,
after everyone under your sword you have put?"
"You think you know best," said Melik, with alarm.
"But be warned, if upon me should ever come harm,
upon this boy's head shall the penalty rest,
as this day's defiant events do attest."
5
At the time of this clash, David the great,
was but a small boy, of seven or eight.
A boy though I say, he was strong as could be.
All were the same to him, man, beast or flea.
It's an old saying, but truth it does hold,
"Eat up your porridge, grow up strong and bold."
But pity this child, no keeper on earth,
although Mher's son, they knew not his worth.
Ohan of Great Voice had a mean, wicked wife.
Her tongue she first held, then started the strife:
"I'm only one person, with thousands of cares,
enough mouths to feed, without rearing theirs.
What did I do that you took in this knave?
I'm telling you straight, I'm nobody's slave.
I'll bury this boy, if you don't send him packing,
so set something up, work's what he's lacking."
And then she began to moan and complain,
that she was so poor, that all was in vain.
Her burdens were boundless, at least in her eyes:
"I've no keeper, no helper, no pity, no prize."
Ohan went and thought, now what shall I do?
He found iron boots, for the boy as a shoe,
and a large iron rod, to sling on his back.
A shepherd he made him, Sassoon's sheep to track.
6
Our hero the shepherd tended his sheep.
He wandered the hills of Sassoon high and steep.
Hey, my dear highlands,
O Sassoon's highlands,
He shouted in joy, his voice echoed so,
rumbling it bounced from the peaks high and low.
And the birds and the beasts fled their lairs and their nests,
scampering on rocks, with no where for rest.
David gave chase o’er the hills and the vales,
the fox and the deer, the hares and the quails.
Gathering them up, he climbed top the rocks,
he mixed them all up with the sheep in his flocks.
Down to the town of Sassoon they stampeded,
with noise, dust and uproar, they brayed and they bleated.
The city folk cried, their eyes not believing.
The livestock charged forth, the town's life upheaving.
Oh help, someone save us!
The children cried out.
The grown-ups in panic
their work threw about.
Wherever they hid, at home, church or store,
they locked up the windows and bolted the door.
When David arrived and stood in the square,
he looked all about, but no one was there.
"Yo there, he shouted, it's too soon to sleep,
I've come with your goats, and brought you your sheep.
Goatherds and shepherds, get up from the sack,
for each one I took, ten I've brought back.
Hurry, come get them and take them away
to your barns for safekeeping, or else they will stray."
But no one came out, the doors didn't budge.
Back to the hills, too tired to trudge,
he pulled up a rock and rested his head,
and soon fell asleep, the square for a bed.
When the sun rose, the town's folk emerged
at old Ohan's house, they quickly converged.
"Hey there, old Ohan of the Great Voice,
it's you or the kid, you've left us no choice.
How could you put our whole flock in his hands?
The town's filled with beasts, he's ruined our lands.
He can't tell a fox from a lamb. What a mess!
So find him another job, quick, and God Bless!"
7
Ohan rushed away his nephew to see,
"Uncle, tread softly, these goats like to flee,"
said David, who'd spent all night keeping them there.
But as he approached, the ears of a hare
perked up and he dashed away into the wood,
and David gave chase as fast as he could.
Over the hills and over the dales,
he chased the grey hare through the mountainous trails.
He caught him and brought him right back to the camp,
mixed him in with the goats, and then smiled like a champ.
"The black ones, God bless them, I like them just fine,
but, Uncle, the grey ones, they won't stay in line.
All day, yesterday, they hopped all around.
In order to catch them, I covered some ground,"
Ohan took a look at David's new boots.
Iron shoes were not equal to David's pursuits.
The rod like the boots was worn away,
so much had he run in only one day.
"David, my lad," he said with affection,
"Those grey ones abused your valiant protection,
I'll leave you no more to their wily devices,
tomorrow, for you cow pasture suffices."
Ohan went his way, and on the next morn,
he brought new steel boots for the ones that were worn,
and a new iron staff for David's strong hand,
and made David guard of Sassoon's pasture land.
8
Up to the pasture he went with his herds,
to Sassoon's still highlands, fair beyond words.
O my dear highlands,
Sassoon's sweet peaks,
my heart in your bosom
finds just what it seeks.
He shouted aloud in his voice pure and strong.
The canyons and mountain tops rang with his song.
The birds and the beasts fled their nests and their lairs.
They scampered away to avoid David's snares.
As David pursued them through hill and through dale,
he chased them around every mountainous trail.
The wolf and the leopard, tiger, lion and bear,
he caught and mixed in with the herd in his care.
And drove them back down to the town of Sassoon,
with rumbling and grunting in mid-afternoon.
The town's folk again were aroused from their chores
by the charging of beasts, they were drawn out of doors:
"Oh, no, get away,"
the young and old cried.
Their hearts in a panic
their work flung aside.
And they fled to their houses, their churches and stores.
They locked up the windows and bolted the doors.
When David arrived and stood in the square,
he looked all about, but no one was there,
How early you city folk turn in for sleep!
Come, see what's become of the herd in my keep!
For each cow and ox I've brought ten in its stead,
and for each ten you gave me, twenty I've bred.
Hurry up, come on out, and take them away,
or else your new cattle will run and go stray.
But no one came out, the doors didn't budge,
back to the hills, too tired to trudge,
he pulled up a rock and rested his head,
and soon fell asleep, the square for a bed.
When the sun rose, the town's folk emerged.
At old Ohan's house, they quickly converged.
"Ohan, we've had it, now look what he's done.
Our cattle and oxen, he's let loose to run.
He can't tell a lion from an ox or a cow.
Whatever it takes, get rid of him now.
This boy, hear us well, spells nothing but trouble
He'll make our fair town a bear's den and rubble."
9
Try as he might, he didn't fit in.
The boy was a rebel, Ohan couldn't win.
For David he fixed up a bow and some arrows,
"You're off to the hills to hunt quail and sparrows."
David took up the bow and was ready to roam.
Leaving Sassoon, his folks and his home,
he marched through the barley fields, up the steep trail,
and started to hunt the sparrows and quail.
At dusk he caught sight of a very poor shack,
he sprawled on the floor, the hearth to his back.
In the shack an old woman, who'd known of his dad,
lived alone, without children, and took in the lad.
One day he returned from his regular hunt.
The old woman yelled to him, plainly and blunt,
"I'll be damned, you're his boy, the King's only heir.
You're David, the son of Lion Mher.
I am old and my arms and my legs they are shot.
My worldly possessions are myself and this plot.
So why must you trample it on your sorties
and wreck my year's crops, do tell, if you please?
And what kind of hunter seeks game in these parts?
Seghanasar is the place to practice those arts.
Dzdzmaga was the gate to the King's hunting ground.
There the deer, and the goats, and the wild sheep abound.
Go there, if you’re looking to hunt real game,
Instead of round here where the creatures are tame."
"Why do you scold me, in words sharp and base,
I am young, I'd no knowledge of this special place.
Where, please do tell, is the King's hunting ground?"
"Well, go ask your Uncle, he knows where it's found."
10
The next day at dawn he was at Ohan's door.
With his bow in his hand he gave Ohan what for.
"You never said that my dad had a grove,
in the mountains where game used to roam by the drove,
where the rams ran about with the wild goat and deer.
Get up, Uncle Ohan, let's go, is it near?"
"Oh David," cried Ohan, "who told you these things?
May they be struck dumb, oh, how this stings!
That mountain, my lad, is not in our hands.
The game that roamed there have been snatched from our lands.
It's not like it was in your dad's blessed day.
And what days those were! Where have they gone?
How many times did we eat venison!
When your father died, God forsook us.
The Melik of Musr then overtook us.
With his troops he attacked, but we were outmanned.
He stole all the game and plundered our land.
Where deer and goats roamed, now there are none.
So it was written, so it was done.
Now it's all past, go back to your work.
If the Melik gets wind of this he'll go beserk."
David scoffed, "The mean Melik can do me no harm.
Why should my inquiries cause him alarm?
Let the Melik of Musr stay in his home.
What business does he have in our parts to roam?
Get up, Uncle Ohan, remember your bow.
To the mountainous hunting ground we've got to go."
So they ventured to Lion Mher's hunting ground,
but when they got there, they heard not a sound.
The trees were cut down, the fences destroyed,
the look-outs laid low, the land was a void.
11
When it grew dark, they decided to stay.
Ohan of Great Voice had had a long day.
His head on his quiver he rested, then snored.
David however was restless and bored.
His mind was submerged in a deep sea of thought,
when in the dark a shimmering light caught
his eye and he started and jumped to his feet,
and raced toward the light with his legs fast and fleet.
Bounding he ran to the top of the peak,
then he glimpsed a white stone in these parts dark and bleak.
The white marble stone was split in the middle,
and a flame burnt bright there, "What a puzzling riddle!"
Thought David as he ran as fast as he could
to rouse Uncle Ohan to see if he would
wake up and examine this startling sight.
"Uncle Ohan, enough sleep! Come see the light,
settled on top of the mountains afar.
Get up, Uncle Ohan, it's bright as a star
that bobs up and down on a white marble sheet."
Ohan crossed himself twice as he rose to his feet.
"Alas, my poor lad, the light that you've seen,
is all that is left of the altar serene,
of the Church of Our Lady, our keeper and hope.
The convent and church on Maruta's slope,
is called Charkhapan, where your dad went and prayed,
each time he set forth and fierce battle made.
When your father died, God forsook us.
The Melik of Musr then overtook us
Maruta convent he razed to the ground,
but the altar light pierces the darkness profound."
12
When David discovered the convent's sad fate,
He called to old Ohan, "Dear Uncle, please wait!
I am an orphan, no keeper on earth.
You are my father, though not by birth.
I want to stay here on Maruta's peak,
until I've rebuilt our convent unique.
Provide me, my keeper, five hundred skilled men,
and five thousand workers to build it again.
Just as it was, we've no time to lose.
Send them this week, please don't refuse."
Just as he promised, Ohan brought a corps
of five thousand five hundred superior
workers to rebuild the convent on high.
Banging and clanging, it rose to the sky,
just as it was, in all of its glory,
the Church of Our Lady, a blessed promontory.
The monks to the convent quickly returned.
Chanting soared up again, candles were burned.
David came down from the convent sublime
restored to the splendor of Great Mher’s time.
13
It didn't take long before Melik got word,
"David's the prince now or haven't you heard?
He's rebuilt the convent dear to his dad,
and for seven years now, no tribute you've had."
The Melik exploded and summoned his lords,
"Badin, Gozbadin, claim my just rewards,
Syudin, Charkhadin, set forth straight away.
Leave no stone unturned, Sassoon has to pay
a price for its insolence. Strike hard and swift.
Remind my dear subjects that tribute's no gift.
And bring forty maidens, radiant and bright,
and bring forty short maids of milling height,
and bring forty tall ones my camels to load.
They'll work as my servants and tend my abode."
Gozbadin saluted his master and king,
"Your tribute in gold and the maids we will bring.
Your wish, King of Egypt, is our glad command.
We'll vanquish the rebels in Armenia's land."
The Melik, his wife and his daughter made merry.
They danced and they sang, "Armenia we'll bury.
Gozbadin, the Bold, on Sassoon will make war.
He'll bring us back servants and gold coins galore.
And forty bright maidens and forty short maids,
and forty tall ones, who'll work as our aides.
They'll load up the camels and milk the red cows,
and churn creamy butter and tend the fat sows.
Gozbadin! Gozbadin! our knight, strong and brave,
you'll whip David handily, he's just a knave."
Gozbadin swelled up and nodded with pride,
"Thank you, my ladies, all boasting aside,
if you will with patience my victory await,
we'll have more to dance for, we'll all celebrate."
14
With songs and with laughter
his armed men went after,
Sassoon and its people and when they arrived,
Ohan lost his voice and a welcome contrived,
With salt and bread,
with tears and dread,
he bowed down his head
and humbly pled:
"Whatever you want, oh, please, take your pick,
our maids or our hard dug gold in coin or brick,
rosy cheeked maidens, so bright and so fair.
Just don’t wreck our lands or rip us asunder.
It's God's realm above and Melik's down under."
Ohan called together the rosy cheeked girls.
Gozbadin checked them out as if they were pearls.
And when he'd selected, he ordered them held
in a locked stable, then with pride he yelled:
"Forty young maidens, radiant and bright,
forty short maidens of milling height,
forty tall maidens the camels to load.
They'll all work as servants in Melik's abode.
With glistening gold our king they’ll adorn,
while their friends in Armenia wear black and mourn."
15
O David! where are you, Armenia's protector?
Dash open the rocks, our convent's erector,
and come to the square, Sassoon's plight is bleak.
And David came down from Maruta's peak
to the old woman's plot where a rusty sword laid,
trampling the turnips, he reached for the blade.
"David, you fool, get out of my garden,"
scowled the old woman, "God beg my pardon,
is my plot the only place that's caught your eye?
A curse on you, David, may you suffer and die.
Just look what you've done, you've levelled my field.
Nothing is left of my winter crop's yield.
What will I live on, can you tell me that?
You're such a foolish and clumsy, spoiled brat.
Were you truly brave, you'd take up your bow,
and rule your dad's realm as he did long ago,
and claim your birthright and live as you ought,
for too long you've given Sassoon not a thought.
The Melik's sent forces to sack it today."
"Why do you scold me?" he asked in dismay,
"What does the Melik dare take from me?"
"Everything, David, go home and you'll see.
The Melik is ready to gouge out your eye,
while you're sitting here all alone idly by.
O David, wake up, he's taking it all.
He's sent in his warriors to spread 'round his gall.
Gozbadin and Badin led the attack,
Charkhadin and Syudin brought up the back.
They're plund’ring Sassoon and gathering their loot.
Forty gold sacks is their price for tribute,
and forty young maidens, radiant and bright,
forty short maidens of milling height,
forty tall maidens the camels to load.
They'll all work as servants in Melik's abode."
"Why do you curse me, old woman, pray tell?
Where I can find these fiends, I'll give them hell."
"Where are these fiends? Curse my old ears!
How could this be his son? Brings me to tears!
You're munching on turnips out here in the cold,
while Gozbadin is in your house counting your gold,
and filling the stable with your town’s fair maids."
Tossing the turnip, he reached for his blade.
He went to his house, Gozbadin was there,
weighing the gold with cold, greedy care.
Charkhadin and Syudin were holding the bag.
Ohan of Great Voice his tongue didn't wag.
He stood there in silence, his head lowly bowed.
Wringing his hands, he was downcast and cowed.
When David saw this, his eyes flushed with rage.
"Gozbadin, get up, get back in your cage,
This gold is my dad's, it's mine to mete out."
Gozbadin called Ohan, "Rein in this lout.
Are we getting our tribute this minute or what?
If we don't, mark me well, no 'if and or but',
I'll tell the Melik to launch an invasion.
He'll raze Sassoon town, there'll be no dissuasion.
To the ground he will burn it and then plant a park."
But David unfazed did not fear his bark.
"Get out, dogs of Egypt. Flee while you can.
The braves of Sassoon fear no living man.
Did you think we were dead? Or we gave up the ghost?
That you can take tribute and rule us and boast?"
Then David grew angry, and picked up the scales.
He smashed in Gozbadin's head to shrieks and wails.
The shards of the scales pierced holes in the walls,
and fly to this day like sharp, spiked cannon balls.
The warriors of Musr fled, leaving the gold.
Armenia was safe, praise David the bold.
Gozbadin and Badin quickly turned tail.
Charkhadin and Syudin followed their trail.
16
"Dear Uncle, how could you, what can I say?
We've great heaps of gold, yet you treat me this way?
You've made me a servant, no keeper on earth,
abandoned to others, is that all I'm worth?"
Ohan lost patience and cried out, "You fool!
The gold was our shield against Melik's fierce rule.
We kept it so that he would turn a kind eye.
You'll see what will happen when we defy.
He'll ruin Sassoon and plunder our land.
Who can oppose him, his onslaught withstand?"
"Hold it, dear Uncle, he'll answer to me,
I’m not afraid of him, just wait and see."
Then he knocked down the door to the dark, dreary stable,
and rescued the maids, before Ohan was able
to say one more word. David told them with glee,
"Long life wish for David, go home, you are free!"
17
Battered and bloodied,
tattered and muddied,
the warriors of Egypt fled toward their home soil.
Glimpsing their coming caused noise and turmoil.
The women of Egypt first shouted in joy.
They clapped from their rooftops, "Ahoy, there, ahoy."
They're coming, they're coming, our gold they have brought.
Gozbadin to Sassoon a lesson has taught.
They've brought forty maidens our red cows to tend.
This spring they'll churn butter, our clothing they'll mend.
But as they approached, it soon became clear,
the clapping went silent, something's wrong here.
The women rushed forward and sassily taunted,
"Gozbadin, you braggard, you're not quite as vaunted,
as boasted and toasted before your excursion.
You ran cross the mountain tops for your diversion?
So tell us, what’s up, that your head’s split in two?
And where are the maidens and where is your crew?
The forty tall maids and sacks full of gold?
And the rout of Armenia that you foretold?
You went off to Sassoon like a wolf in the wild,
and came back a poor dog, frightened and mild."
Gozbadin exploded with loud rage and fury,
"Shut up, all you ingrates, I'll be the jury.
You've never seen men like the men of Sassoon.
Each fiercer and stronger than our whole platoon.
Like mountains they tower; they use logs for arrows,
their country's rock solid, a fort on the narrows.
Even the grass blades are sharper than swords.
They slaughtered three hundred of our fiercest lords."
After he'd spoken, he went to the king,
running impatiently his news to bring.
The king chuckled feverishly from his high throne,
"Well done, Brave Gozbadin, you're back with your own.
I should reward you for what you have done,
With Egypt's great medal that's bright as the sun,
So where is the booty and where are the maids?"
The King asked Gozbadin, "How were the raids?"
Embarrassed he shrank, his eyes to the ground,
"Long live the King, by my pledge I am bound,
I barely escaped with my life, O great lord,
Armenia has spawned a man like a horde.
He's crazy, fears nothing, not orders nor might.
He smashed in my head with one blow in our fight.
He said, 'I won't give you the gold of my dad,
and the maids of Armenia they just can't be had.
There's no place for you in the land of Sassoon.
Let Melik himself come for tribute and boon.
Let him come, and we'll fight it out, just me and him,
Let him come and I’ll tear him apart limb from limb.'"
The Melik of Musr flew into a rage,
"Call my whole army, a war we will wage.
ten thousand kids, new born and male,
ten thousand boys, beardless and pale.
ten thousand lads, growing with time,
ten thousand grooms, enjoying their prime,
ten thousand men with black beards and hair,
ten thousand men with heads grey and bare,
ten thousand buglers our coming to sound,
ten thousand drummers our cadence to pound.
Call them and arm them with sword, bow, and shield.
We'll tame master David and get him to yield.
I'll pillage and plunder Sassoon till it's rubble.
I'll teach Sassoon’s people to cause Egypt trouble."
18
The Melik assembled his numberless forces,
and went to Sassoon with arms, men and horses,
and when he arrived, he set up his tent,
some distance from Sassoon, where the horde went
to the river named Batma to quench their great thirst.
So many were they that when they immersed
their mouths in the water, the river went dry,
and the river flow to Sassoon slowed by and by,
until the town's water flow came to a halt.
Distressed, Ohan wondered what was at fault.
Donning his cloak, he searched for the cause.
On a high look out, he took a quick pause,
he saw tents by the thousands, like a blanket of snow,
just as if winter had fallen below.
His warm blood ran cold and his tongue became tied.
Running back home, "God help us," he cried.
"Woe, run away, it has come, it is here!"
"What, my dear Uncle, has caused you such fear?"
"The pain and the fire, you've brought on our heads.
The Melik has come here to tear us to shreds.
His army outnumbers the stars in the sky.
Woe to our lives, woe to our lands!
Gather the maids and gold in our hands.
Let us bow down, perhaps he'll forbear.
Perhaps he’ll take pity, his sword he might spare."
"Hold it there, Uncle, don't blink an eye.
You're tired and anxious, now go home and lie
down in your bed, while I take a look
at what Melik's up to." So David took
his leave and ran off to the old woman's shack.
"Hey granny," he shouted, "Look, I've come back.
Quick get your skewers and old iron scraps
to tie on the donkey with these tattered straps.
I'm taking on Melik the way you once said.
"O, David," she cried, "God strike me dead.
How could your father have had such a lad?
When he went to war, a great horse he had,
a fiery steed and a waistband of gold.
And in his right hand a cross he would hold.
He had a mail shirt, defense to afford.
and a thick metal helmet and bright Lightening Sword.
And you're off to battle with donkey and skewer."
"Okay, okay, granny, your words could be fewer,
if you would just tell me the place where it’s hid."
"Go, ask your uncle, you’re not just a kid.
Tell him to get it, and bring it to you.
And if he refuses, you’ll just have to do
whatever it takes to gather his trust,
but get what is yours, as is mete and is just."
19
David went home to his Uncle directly,
"Hey Uncle," he shouted loud and suspectly,
"My father had armor of which I was told,
and a fiery steed and a waistband of gold
and in his right hand a cross he would bear,
so as he made battle, he gave life no care.
He had a mail shirt, defense to afford,
and a thick metal helmet and bright Lightening Sword.
Wherever they are, Uncle, give them to me."
"O David, my David, say how can this be?"
Ohan cried in dread, “But since your dad died,
no one has taken the horse for a ride,
nor has the sword been out of its case,
nor the mail shirt, nor the gold mace.
Just leave me alone, don't torment me.
Take them, and use them, they're your legacy."
20
David put on the armor and buckled the band.
He donned the mail shirt, his sword in his hand.
And raising the victory cross to the sky,
he mounted the Lion's steed and riding high,
with a snap of his whip, he galloped away,
and Ohan of Great Voice, wept for this day,
"Ten thousand woes, for the steed he has taken.
Ten thousand woes, for the gold he's forsaken.
Ten thousand woes, for the mail shirt he's wearing.
Ten thousand woes, for the sword he's bearing."
On hearing this, David boiled up with rage.
He turned the steed back and charged to engage
his Uncle's attention, making him smart.
Poor Ohan in fear changed his tune and his heart:
"Alas, my David, poor David, is lost.
Alas, he is lost at such a high cost,"
When David heard this, he sighed and calmed down.
He jumped from the horse and touched Ohan's gown.
He then kissed his hand, and Ohan of Great Voice
with fatherly care and a nod did rejoice
at the sight of this youth, and bid him farewell,
and sent him away Musr Melik to quell.
21
David's mom had a brother whose name was Toros.
This uncle's fierce exploits unfolded before us.
When Toros got wind of the up-coming battle,
he pulled up a tree and slaughtered some cattle,
and then in the distance he was heard yelling:
"You on the plain with your tents I am telling,
David of Sassoon's coming your way.
How many are you? You don't want to stay.
What are you waiting for? Haven't you heard?
He flies on his steed like a great preying bird.
Get away, while you've time, before he arrives.
I'm warning you, go, if you value your lives."
Then from his shoulder he took the tree trunk,
and swinging it, cleared them away with one dunk.
From the peak David watched and then fiercely roared
like a dragon to wake up Melik and his horde:
"If you're asleep, you'd better wake up,
and if you're awake, you'd better stand up,
and if you are standing, you'd better gear up,
and if you are geared up, you'd better mount up,
and if you are mounted, you'd better ride on,
and don't complain later that we were spied on,
while David attacked like a thief in the night.
So wake up, get ready, you're in for a fight."
Making his challenge, he spurred on his steed.
And with shocking bolts down from a cloud,
the Lightening Sword glistening followed his lead,
and struck in the midst of the Melik's fierce crowd.
David wreaked mayhem the first half the day,
and the rush of their blood like a rising red tide,
Melik's men by the thousands carried away,
both dead and alive in human landslide.
In the midst of the carnage was an old man,
who'd seen much of life and was known as a sage.
"Boys," said he, "Step aside, quick, so I can
go and see David and quiet his rage."
The old man set off to plead for his band.
He went before David, "O brave one," he said,
"May your fist remain strong, with a sword in your hand.
May your sword remain sharp, like the thoughts in your head.
Pray hear me out though I'm old and I'm weak,
and weigh my words well as our lives you determine
What have we done that you wilfully wreak
death and destruction and kill us like vermin?
Each one among us is some mother's son.
Each one among us is some household's light,
who's left his dear wife and his housework undone,
her wet eyes are fixed on the road in deep fright.
His children lie shivering in their cold beds.
His parents are poor, bent over and old.
With crying and mourning, veils over their heads,
the young brides are waiting their grooms to behold.
Melik gathered these men upon pain of death.
He ordered them here crushing their will.
They're miserable conscripts who've breathed their last breath.
What harm can they do you? They bear you no ill.
So pity us peons, mean Melik's your foe.
If you’ve got a bone to pick, then in God's name,
you two should cross swords and fight toe to toe,
and spare us unfortunate pawns in your game."
"Well spoken, old man, you are wise as your age,"
David said to the grey beard at Sassoon's high gate,
"But where's the mean Melik that I might engage
in one-on-one combat and seal his dark fate."
"You see the great tent? That's where he sleeps.
the one with the smoke coming out of the top,
It's not real smoke, but a foul fume that seeps,
out of his mouth as he sleeps without stop."
Not a moment to spare, David mounted his steed.
He rode to the tent where the mean Melik lay.
At the door of the tent he arrived with great speed,
and roared at the guards who cringed in dismay.
"Where is he hiding who threatens my lands?
Call him out, in the open, we'll fight on this field.
If he isn't dead now, he'll die at my hands.
His match he has met, his fate is now sealed."
"The Melik," they said, "Is in a deep slumber.
For seven full days his post he's forsaken.
So far just three days have passed of that number.
Four more still remain before he'll awaken."
"You mean to tell me he naps while his men
are swimming in blood as deep as the sea?
For seven full days he snores in his den,
while he sends his poor troops to do battle with me.
Sleep-shmeep hear me well, this is insane.
Get him up, send him out, we shall meet in the square.
I'll give him sleep in which he'll remain
forever at rest with a tomb for a lair."
The guards were now shaken and picked up a spear.
They heated it red in the campfire's heat.
Their king snored so loud that he couldn't hear,
as they put the hot spear to the soles of his feet.
"How can a man get a decent night's rest
as long as these damned fleas are swarming around."
The giant king muttered, then undistressed,
he turned himself over and slept on the ground.
So they got a huge plow from a field near the tent,
and they heated its blade on the blazing red fire,
and when it glowed bright and iridescent,
they put it against the back of their sire.
"How can a man get a decent night's rest,
as long as these blasted mosquitoes do flit?"
Groggy, he rubbed his eyes, glimpsing a guest.
It was David who'd come to pay a visit.
He raised his head up and muttered a curse,
then he blew upon David to sweep him away,
He huffed and he puffed, but he could not coerce,
David to leave, so he shrank in dismay.
Amazement and fear engulfed his cold heart,
seeing how David withstood his fierce blows.
His bloody red eyes were fixed like a dart,
as he frowned upon David and cast a mean pose.
Seeing that David did not flinch at all,
his beastly strength drained like a wilting bean stalk.
So he sat up and thought of a way he could stall,
and he put on a smile and started to talk.
"Greetings, dear David, come in, take a chair,
you must be quite tired, let's have a good chat.
If you're still intent upon settling this affair,
we'll fight one on one, okay, how is that?"
Under his tent the wily old troll
had dug a great pit some forty feet deep.
He'd had a net flung across the wide hole
with a rug for a cover, his secret to keep.
Whomever he couldn't defeat in combat
he lured to his tent to catch in his snare.
Asking them in as his guests just like that,
they would fall in the pit as they sat unaware.
So David dismounted from his tall horse
and went and sat down upon the guest's rug.
It gave way and he fell as a matter of course
into the pit that Melik had dug.
Melik cackled and smirked at the fate of his guest.
He ordered a millstone to close off the pit.
"You can rot in the dark, my noisome young pest,
for the rest of your life in my snare you shall sit."
22
Ohan of Great Voice slept poorly that night.
Dark dreams filled his head like an unruly crowd.
O'er Egypt the sun rose with radiant light,
but a black cloud hung over Sassoon like a shroud.
Stricken with terror he jumped from his bed.
"Oh, Wife, light a candle, take hold of my hand.
It's David, I know it, dark fate on our head.
A black cloud's descending upon our dear land."
"I'll kill him, I tell you," scowled his wife.
"Who knows where he is, the reckless ingrate?
While you're here at home afraid for your life,
tormented by dreams about others' fate."
Ohan fell asleep, but was wakened again.
"O, Wife, hear me out, David's in a tight spot.
The star over Egypt shines brighter than ten,
while Sassoon's star fades away like a dot."
"Dammit, old man, it's after midnight,"
His wife scolded loudly, sharply and tart.
Ohan crossed himself, not wanting a fight,
and fell back to sleep, though troubled at heart.
He then dreamt a dream that was yet darker still.
He saw in the heavenly skyscape on high
that Egypt's bright star was yet more visible,
while Sassoon's was falling down out of the sky.
This time he awoke in tortured chagrin,
"A curse on your house, why'd I listen to you?
David's in danger, he's my last of kin.
Now get me my armor I've got work to do."
23
Ohan rose from bed and went to the stable.
He gave the white horse a kind slap on the back.
"Tell me old whitey, how fast are you able,
to get me to David to join the attack?"
"You'll get there by morning if you ride on me."
said the horse to Ohan, belly slumped to the ground.
"And what good is that? Shall I go there to be
in time for the mass at his burial mound?"
He then gave the red horse a slap on the saddle.
He too dropped its belly down to the ground.
"Dear red horse, how soon can we join in the battle
and fight on the field where David is found?"
The red horse responded, "In less than an hour,
you'll be there with David engaged in the battle,"
"A curse on your fodder and may it grow sour,
for nought have I fed you, I've no time to prattle."
Next Ohan turned to inspect the black steed.
He too dropped his belly down to the ground,
so, my black beauty, in my time of need,
can you take me there, where David is bound?
"If you wrap your legs tight and get a good grip,"
said the black horse, jumping out of his stall,
"Before your foot's through the second stirrup,
you'll be there with David, hold on or you'll fall."
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