"Arioch!" cried the king, "haste thee, and without delay let the most
noted of the wise men and astrologers of Babylon be commanded to appear
in my presence. Let there be no useless tarrying. My demands are urgent.
Haste thee! Away!"
Without asking any questions, the astonished and half frightened officer
hastened from the presence of his king, and gave all diligence in the
performance of his urgent duty. He found ready access to the prince of
the magicians, delivered to him the message of the king, and retired. The
astrologer soon sent the message to his numerous companions, and in a
short time the concentrated wisdom of the great metropolis stood in the
presence of the king.
"Ye have done well," said the king, eying them with a degree of severity,
"to be thus punctual; a failure on this point might have involved you in
serious difficulties. Ye stand before the king as the representatives of
wisdom. Ye profess to be able to bring to light hidden mysteries, and to
make known the transactions of the future.
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