She hastened to the banquet
chamber, where she found all in the greatest consternation, especially
the king.
"O king, live forever!" cried the queen-mother. "Let not thy thoughts
trouble thee, nor thy countenance thus be changed in the presence of thy
mighty lords, lest hereafter they despise thy fear. There is a man in thy
kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and, in the days of thy
grandfather, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the
gods, were found in him, whom the king, Nebuchadnezzar, thy grandfather--I
say the king himself--made master of the magicians, astrologers and
soothsayers; and this was a sure sign of his superior wisdom. This great
man is not found among thy nobles. Since in thy great wisdom thou didst
see fit to deprive all Hebrews of office, this mighty Daniel, whom thy
grandfather called Belteshazzar, has been seen but seldom. But be it
known to thee, O king, that he is not utterly forgotten."
Without delay messengers were sent to the house of Daniel, and in a short
time a venerable person, with his hair silvered over, slowly marched into
the banqueting hall, and, without the least embarrassment, stood in the
presence of the pale and trembling Belshazzar.
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