Nerses Mokatzi was an ecclesiastic and poet. Very few of his works have come down to us. One of the poems we have—entitled The Dispute between Heaven and Earth—is interesting. The poet begins by saying that Heaven and Earth are brothers. One day these brothers disputed as to which of them was the greater. “Of course,” says the poet, “the Heaven is high, but the Earth is more fruitful.” He then goes on to report a dialogue between the brothers in which each enumerates his own possessions, declaring them superior to those of the other. The following is a short prose summary of this dialogue:— Heaven. Surely I possess more than you. The stars, with their radiance, are all in my domain. Earth. The flowers, with their six thousand colours, are in mine. Heaven. If I withhold my dew, how will your flowers array themselves? Earth. You derive your dew from the sea, which originates in me. If I cut off the source of the sea, how would you get your dew? Heaven. I have something else that you have not: should I veil my sun your flowers would fade. Earth. Oh, I will bring forth waters from my abyss to keep my flowers alive. Heaven. The lightning and the hail could destroy your flowers if I willed it so. Earth. I have mountains and valleys that would intercept them and shield the flowers. Heaven. All brave and wise men are buried in your depths. Earth. When God recalls the souls that are His, what is to be done? If I did not receive and conceal their bodies, the angels would flee from the deathly odour, and Heaven and Earth would be shaken. Heaven. The Nine Orders of Angels are all here with me. Earth. In my realm are the Apostles and Prophets. Heaven. I am the Heaven of Seven Regions; the Sun, the Moon, and the Creator-God sitting on His throne all have their abode in me. Earth. Your Seven Regions will be shaken from their foundation. The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars will be cast into the darkness and your Creator-God, with His throne, will descend to me. The Judgment will be held in my domain. “Heaven then bent down its head To the Earth in adoration, You too, children of the Earth, Bow to her in adoration. What is higher than the Earth? Praise and love bring to enwreathe her. For to-day we walk on her And to-morrow sleep beneath her.” [44]