In the fifth century (458 A. D.) the Ossians stole and led off the
sister of the Georgian Tsar Vachtang the First, known under the name
of Gourgasslan (the lion wolf). The then three-year-old princess
was called Mikrandoukta. When, however, Vachtang had conquered and
pacified the Ossians, killed their commander-in-chief, Great Bagkatar,
and seven of his brothers, and brought the sister safely home, he
also took with him as a captive the very youngest of the Bagkatorian
brothers, Mirian, whom he had left alive upon the repeated prayers
of Mikrandoukta. The boy, who had been a playmate of the Tsarevna,
was appointed page and grew up at the royal court.
As he grew older his attachment for Mikrandoukta constantly increased,
but he never so much as ventured to reveal to her his thoughts and
feelings, neither by his speech, nor his looks, but used to go to an
out of the way spot of the royal garden and there began to bitterly
cry. Gradually, however, as he became a man, his wooings took a more
refined form and were frequently put down in exquisite verses. A
large number of little pieces of poetry are in circulation among the
people under the name of "Wooing of the Knight," for when he reached
his fourteenth year, the Tsar made him his body-knight. His comrades
were of course jealous of this exceptional distinction and heartily
congratulated him, but he, deeply grieved by the final departure of
the princess, went into his favorite resting place; there a song came
out of his lips, which for whole ages was known and went down from
generation unto generation.