Day dawned. Bright tongues of scarlet flame Shot up into the sky, The livid heav’ns blushed, and became A sea of crimson dye. The sun his fiery beams unrolled Like strands of coloured thread; Embroidered all the clouds with gold, And blue, and green, and red. Then o’er the mountain, full in view, Nature’s great Monarch rose: And from his tent of Royal blue Hurled darts upon his foes. Eternal foe of Gloom and Night, On high he raised his arm; His shield of gold, all shining bright, Sheltered the world from harm. THE FOUNDING OF VAN From the History of Armenia, by MOSES OF KHORENE And after these things Semiramis, having remained in the plain called Aïrarat after Ara, went into the hill country towards the south. For it was summer time and she wished to disport herself in the valleys and the flowery plains. And seeing the beauty of the land and the purity of the air, the clearness of the fountains and the murmuring of the gliding rivers, she said, “It is needful that we build for ourselves a city and palaces in this balmy clime and beautiful country, by the side of these pure waters; so that we may spend the fourth part of the year, which is the summer season, with enjoyment in the land of Armenia; and the three cool seasons of the year we will spend in Nineveh.” And passing over many places she came to the eastern shore of the salt lake. And on the shore of the lake she saw a long hill lying towards the setting sun. And south of the hill was a wide valley like unto a plain, which came down from the eastern flank of the hill unto the shore of the lake, spacious and of goodly shape. And the rills of sweet water descending from the mountains ran down the ravines, and meeting around the spurs of the hills they hastened to join the river. And there were not a few buildings erected in the valley on the right and left banks of the waters. And she selected a small hill on the eastern side.