A Traveler's Narrative
page 94
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brothers, put them in chains, and brought them before the
public assembly. Yet seek as they might to fix on them some
accusation, find some fault, or discover some pretext, they
were unable to do so. At length they said, "You must either
renounce this faith, or else lay down your heads beneath the
sword of punishment." Although some of those present urged
them saying, "Say merely `We are not of this sect,' and it is
sufficient, and will be the means of your deliverance and
protection," they would by no means consent, but rather
confirmed and declared it with eloquent speech and affecting
utterance, so that the rage and violence of the Imám-Jum'ih
boiled over, and, not satisfied with killing and destroying
them, they inflicted sundry indignities on their bodies after
death to mention which is not fitting, and of which the details
are beyond the power of speech. Indeed in such wise was the
blood of these two brothers shed that even the Christian priest
of Julfá cried out, lamented, and wept on that day; and this
event befell after such sort that everyone wept over the fate of
those two brothers, for during the whole period of their life
they had never distressed the feelings even of an ant, while by
general report they had in the time of the famine in Persia
spent all their wealth in relieving the poor and distressed. Yet,
notwithstanding this reputation, were they slain with such
cruelty in the midst of the people!
But now for a long while the justice of the King has
prevented and withheld, and none dares attempt such grievous
molestations.
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