[35] Langlois 1:ix, x. These songs of which Moses of Khorene very
frequently speaks are classified by Langlois into songs of the first
order, the second order, and the third order. The first are relative
to the prowess of Armenian kings and gods; the second concern a long
series of military exploits accomplished against the Assyrians, Medes,
and Persians; the third refer especially to traditions in connection
with the Assyrians. The birth-song of Vahakn is an illustration of
the songs of the first order (p. x, xi). Flint in his History of the
Philosophy of History, p. 42, speaks of this period of minstrelsy
as necessarily preceding the use of letters everywhere. "The myth
and legend interest primitive man more than real fact. His vision is
more largely of the imagination than of the sense of judgment. It is
an error to regard the rude minstrelsy which generally preceded the
use of letters as essentially historical."
[36] Countess Evelyn Martinengo Cesaresco, Essays in the Study of
Folk-Songs, chapter on Armenia.
[37] The battle of Avarair under the leadership of the celebrated
Vartan, where Armenia defended her national ideals against the
intrusion of Persia, is proof of this.
[38] Ormanian p. 22. Moses of Khorene p. 158.
[39] There are further proofs that may be cited. The history of English
and French literature shows that the golden age of their literature
followed a period of social integration along national lines. And
it is true that the golden age of Armenian literature dawned with
the closing decades of the Arsacidae dynasty, and continued several
decades beyond. And finally, when Valarsace, the first Arsacidae,
ascended the throne of Armenia, finding everything in a state of
disorder, he organized the country along national lines. Dividing
the kingdom into provinces he placed his governors at the heads
of them; he organized a standing army, appointed guardians of the
granaries, established courts of justice, a royal guard, and minutely
regulated court life. What is most interesting is that he appointed two
reporters, one to remind him in his anger, "le bien à faire," the other
to remind him of the necessity for doing justice. Ibid. pp. 82-85.
[40] St. Martin 1:300. Moses of Khorene pp. 105-6.
[41] Ibid. p. 106.
[42] Boyadjian p. 49. Moses of Khorene p. 106. Moses as translated by
Langlois, relates the story as legend, for after telling the tale, and
quoting the songs he writes, "Voici maintenant le fait dans toute sa
verité comme le cuir rouge est trés-estimé chez les Alains, Artaschés
donne beaucoup de peaux de cette couleur, et beaucoup d'or en dot,
et il obtient la jeune princesse Satenig. C'est là la lanière de cuir
rouge garnie d'anneaux d'or. Ainsi dans les noces, ils chantent des
légendes, en disant,
'Une pluie d'or tombait
Au marriage d'Artaschés;
Les perles pleuvait
Aux noces de Satenig.'"
Moses likewise relegates the legend and songs of Artavasd to their
proper places.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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