Le

fted in the execution of his orders. The paints which were at his disposal assumed such a marvellous, nay overwhelming resemblance with reality, that several of the saints represented by them appeared as though they were alive, and astounded faithful and esteemed believers many hundred years after his death. On one of the walls he had undertaken to reproduce the apparition of the most Holy Virgin to Saint Nina. The latter was seen down on her knees stretching out her arms and receiving a holy cross made of fine vineyard branches. The fear, happiness, love to God and perfec

ared, did not notice the beauty of his productions, and while just then all those standing about were filled with amazement and extreme delight, he sighed while comparing his master works with those shining, marvellous, indescribable,

best to find a proper type which would have nothing earthly about it, and once more that same loving and beloved little face of Poullkheria presented itself to him. At last in perfect despair he went to the Katholikoss (this fully corresponds to the rank of a patriarch), John the Second, imploring counsel and prayer.

sleep, for I do heartily believe that in a dream thou art destined to see

ohn, and a third time saw the features of Poullkheria; she app

phets and other true servants of the Lord. For a whole week he constantly went through all the different religious services and ate nothing, no

y first representation of the kind, and it completely satisfied and pleased the artist himself! The worry which had long been weighing down on him was changed into inexpressible happiness and good fortune, and he hurried to the holy djoua

erly absorbed in his magnificent inner world. In the meantime Poullkheria followed the newcomer. He was a tall, well-built, handsome youth, broad-shouldered with a slender waist, which was pinched in by a fine gold belt with decorations of highly precious stones, and how these various-colored stones played and shone and reflected! when he had placed it on a huge marble piece and he easily and quickly arranged on it a heavy stone, which her father moved from place to place-very slowly and only gradually. The youth did not pay the very least attention to her-he was evidently worried and pulled down by some outside event. Deep sighs from time to time came ou

nd butter were now to be seen on various parts of his costly attire, his hair was indeed in the greatest

me, thou good youth!" he

rda

it pos

m the whole East was talking. Yesterday only he had returned from a victorious expedition to Rome, and they were convinced that he would soon start out again. How was it possible that during these very few days of res

lected Martin, and gayly and joyfully went home with his dear little daughter, who all along the route questioned him about

appeared. It seems that he had left for Movakanne and soon after had pacified it for h

cessor Mirdat wished to call out Barzabode in a duel. Barzabode took up his quarters in an abandoned tower beyond the city, but Mirdat surrounded it from evening on-supposing that during the night it would be impossible for him to slip out and escape, and so he resolved to give rest to his exhausted

shining on her and gave her long, regular features some secret mysteriousness and unusual charm. And suddenly her coral mouth opened, and from it

hou dost not wish it so. Thou hast wonderful beauty, common sense, mind, strength, and bravery, while I never had anything except a dear father. He prided himself in his warlike glory-thou didst darken it! He had won for himself the entire confidence of the Shah, thou didst destroy it. He boast

knees. "O do not tear him away from me!" she murmure

s Mirdat loved her with all the mightiness and emotion of his hero-prince's heart, and there was deep, deep grief and depression in his soul. Was it possible to suppose that the T

was all dark and heavy. With unbelievable effort he finally forced himself to answer the general and most hearty greetings constantly showered on him with a caressing smile, and on the following day, when he safely reached his beloved home, he immediately went to continue and work for the glorification of the most Holy Virgin, invoking her assistance and protection. The same was his object when he reached his native town after his second great

ke to render thee some good service, good youth; perhaps my old age

nd plans which called forth my tears. Nobody except the most Holy Virgin is strong enough to make my terrible grief go by,

le clear explanation quite differently, and through this mistake he let his most honest and loyal soul almo

l of the Greek man Martin, who hath given up his whole life to the glorification of Thy name. There is not one vice which can possibly obtain admission to or seek refuge in it, for it

rth the devilish laughing and ridiculing were heard. "Why dost thou so rejo

. He gave commands that the soul should again be placed and fixed in the body of the sleeping painter, and also informed the angels that in case Martin should ever happen to listen to and obey

art of the Tsarevitch and that he himself would become a royal father-in-law. And thus at last vanity stained the diamond with dark and dirty spots, its shining lightness began to go out more and more, while the perfectly extraordinary and marvellous beauty see

he royal garment, asked for permission to be married to the daughter of the conquered satrappe. The loving father replied with an amused smile: "As long as thou didst administrate Ranna, Movakanne,

d to Mtzkhet where the marriage ceremony was performed and the innumerable fêtes connected with it continued for many days. The Tsar gave his son the city of Samshrilde with the p

ent, and thoroughly explaining it to the Tsarevna Sagdoukta, who already fully believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, and having gone through and accepted the ho

the living. He had succeeded in finishing his work in the church of Stephen-Tsminda at the time of the last campaign of the Tsarevitch in Aderbadaganne, received a

chose the most precious objects, and composed of them

h full confidence displayed before her the pictures of her future greatness. On hearing all these compliments and glorious prophecies the shining eyes of Poullkheria lit up with still greater joyfulness. Her clean heart could not understand or appreciate the many foolishly vain thoughts and intentions of her father. She loved Mirdat, indeed, not because he jus

phant receptions were now universally prepared for the great victor, and young and old rushed into the street with colored flags or flower branches in t

wed on after him and clearly beheld how he went straight to the finished image of the most Holy Virgin and having fallen on his knees w

ar, my master, will no

ed with all his might to go out of the church, while Martin thought that his own affairs were taking an unusually pleasant turn and greatly rejoiced. A few days went by, on the large square of the city a glashatai (kind of herald) made his appearan

iving himself every possible trouble to stop the abundant flow of blood. Somebody out of the crowd was desirous of running to help her, but he looked back with a really terrified glance, and like a regular madman, having seized her in his vigorous arms, rushed off with her to Stephen Tsminda. Here he placed her at the foot of that wonderful pict

cupola, and approaching slowly, the angels came down, who quickly and intelligently drew out two wings from them, quite as beaming with light as their own, and made them grow on to Poullkheria, and having man?uvred with them several times, the new angel wi

darkened with sorrow, and painfully they announced that willingly they would have prepared for him at first a more desirable spot in the all glorious and all wonderful domains of Heaven, but that he threw away his splendid chance by wicked and useles

to acknowledge his sinfulness. Abundant tears of remorse

, however, the diamond again acquired its former harmless and utterly immaculate look, they radiantly bore him up to the throne of God, where he is shining and enlightens with