hout
the knowledge of the others. And Artabanes, seeing this, was in a fever
of excitement, and became exceedingly anxious by reason of the
surpassing magnitude of the issue at stake; he began to move his head,
the colour of his countenance changed repeatedly, and he seemed to have
become altogether like one inspired, on account of the greatness of the
undertaking. And Peter, upon seeing this, understood what was being
done, but he did not disclose it to any of the others, because, being
well disposed to the emperor, he was exceedingly pleased by what was
going on. And Artasires, having come close to the tyrant, was pushed by
one of the servants, and as he retreated a little to the rear, the
servant observed that his sword was bared and cried out saying: "What is
this, my excellent fellow?" And Gontharis, putting his hand to his right
ear, and turning his face, looked at him. And Artasires struck him with
his sword as he did so, and cut off a piece of his scalp together with
his fingers. And Peter cried out and exhorted Artasires to kill the most
unholy of all men. And Artabanes, seeing Gontharis leaping to his feet
(for he reclined close to him), drew a two-edged dagger which hung by
his thigh--a rather large one--and thrusting it into the tyrant's left
side clean up to the hilt, left it there. And the tyrant none the less
tried to leap up, but having received a mortal wound, he fell where he
was. Ulitheus then brought his sword down upon Artasires as if to strike
him over the head; but he held his left arm above his head, and thus
profited by his own idea in the moment of greatest need. For since
Ulitheus' sword had its edge turned when it struck the sections of
arrows on his arm, he himself was unscathed, and he killed Ulitheus with
no difficulty. And Peter and Artabanes, the one seizing the sword of
Gontharis and the other that of Ulitheus who had fallen, killed on the
spot those of the body-guards who remained. Thus there arose, as was
natural, an exceedingly great tumult and confusion. And when this was
perceived by those of the Armenians who were standing by the tyrant's
guards, they immediately picked up the shields according to the plan
which had been arranged with them, and went on the run to the
banquet-room. And they slew all the Vandals and the friends of
Gontharis, no one resisting.

Then Artabanes enjoined upon Athanasius to take charge of the money in
the palace: for all that had been left by Areobindus