Come, now, be
frank and plain with thy sovereign, and tell me how I stand in the
estimation of my nobles."
"O king, live for ever!" replied the officer, highly delighted with this
unusual mark of the king's confidence. "Thou livest in the warm
affections of thy nobles, and in the pure regard of all thy numerous
subjects. Thou art the peculiarly favored of the gods. All the nations of
the earth fear thee, and pay their homage at thy feet."
"True. But art thou not aware that on one point my subjects are not as
fully satisfied with their king as they might be? Behold, I have placed
unusual confidence in my servant, and in return the king requireth equal
sincerity."
"As thy soul liveth, O king, I shall hide nothing from thee. In mingling
with thy nobles, I find that, without distinction, they are abundantly
loyal. In a very few instances I have heard language that indicated that
my lord the king was favorably inclined toward the God of the Hebrews,
and less ardent in his devotion to the gods of Chaldea.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165