A wonderfully gorgeous reception was being prepared at the Turkish
Court. The Sultan had taken it into his head to brilliantly celebrate
and entertain the all-famous hero-prince Solagge, a Mikhian by descent,
who had just arrived in his domains. At the door the Vizir met the
guest with open arms and explained to him what a fortunate concurrence
of circumstances it had been that had granted Turkey the chance of
beholding him within their borders. Solagge wanted to reply, but the
Vizir, without listening to him, continued his pompous speech and
thus obliged his guest to hold his tongue. The Vizir had received
instructions from the Sultan to seek out means under pretense of
friendship and veneration in order to have the famous hero perish,
and so the sly Ottoman official proposed that he should fight a duel
with an Arab giant and boxer, promising in reward for victory the
position of a Pasha of Achaltsisk. Solagge refused the reward, not
wishing to abandon little Mikhia, to serve which he had devoted his
whole life, but the duel he accepted, and so the Vizir personally
brought him a rare and expensive horse with a golden saddle, gold
stirrups, etc., saying: "Here you have a steed worthy of a future
Pasha of Achaltsisk." On a Friday the whole town came together on a
well-known square. Proudly did the Arab rival parade on his foaming
horse. Solagge reverently bowed to him, but the former, instead of
replying, simply rushed at his antagonist with a hatchet in his hand.
Notwithstanding the perfectly unexpected attack, Solagge all the same
succeeded in repelling him, but a second and even a third hatchet
came flying after the first. The clever Mikhian missed their aim and
without trouble succeeded in protecting himself against all of them and
was soon on the point of attacking his enemy. Like a regular tornado
he pounced down upon his rival and at full gallop let his own hatchet
fall on him. He cut the Arab through and through and threw him off his
horse to the ground. Wishing to speedily arouse the dissatisfaction
of the people, the moullahs (i.e., priests) surrounded the corpse,
read aloud the Khoran and filled the air with their hideous mournful
lamentations and cries. But the nation, greatly delighted over the
daring exploit of Solagge, remained perfectly insensible to their
never-ceasing weeping and howling.
With great signs of distinction was Solagge conducted into the palace,
where the Sultan, after a most friendly and hearty reception and
pleasant congratulations, rewarded his excessive chivalry with gold
and precious stones and again offered him the position of a Pasha of
Achaltsisk, but Solagge refused even a second time.
"Remember thy wonderful strength and the extraordinary mightiness
which thou wilt be able to dispose of!" said the Sultan.
"O Sovereign!" replied the famous hero, "I sincerely thank thee for
the honor thou bestowest upon me and the extreme confidence which thou
hast in me, but know thou then that being inspired by the mercy of
God with that serene strength which hath drawn unto me thine elevated
attention, I nevertheless do not feel the least need in obtaining
any other power, whatever it may be, besides the one which gives me
the love of my fellow-citizens."
And Solagge remained true to his word and passed his whole life
in poor Mikhia, protecting the slighted, punishing the lawless, and
never died, for even down to our days he lives with boundless glory in
national songs and legends, blessed and adored by every generation,
as a shining example of courage and uncorrupted and sincere love for
his native land.