"In his palace, O king, indulging in excess of wine, apparently perfectly
at ease."
"Is he not forthcoming?" asked the king, with a darkened brow.
"He laughs to scorn thy commands, O king! and wishes to inform thee that
if thou hast aught to communicate he may be consulted at his palace."
"By all the gods, the fellow is mad!" cried Nebuchadnezzar in a passion.
"I'll have to bend his stubborn will--yea, I shall do it. I thirst not for
his blood; but let the guilty monarch beware how he trifles with my
commands! Balphoras! haste thee back with a double guard, and inform
Jehoiakim that my orders are not to be trifled with; and moreover, that
if he persists in his stubbornness, I shall send sufficient force to drag
him into my presence as a guilty culprit."
The communication was in perfect accordance with the desires and
expectations of the Chaldean officer. Balphoras was in possession of an
amiable mind. He was respectful to his superiors, kind and gentle to his
inferiors.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42