appear before him."

Daniel, with his usual calmness and dignity, walked into the presence of
the king, while Arioch was beckoned to retire.

"Belteshazzar," said the king, "thou art thus admitted into my presence,
and thou art at perfect liberty to speak freely on whatever subject
mostly occupies thy mind. I have heretofore been well pleased with thy
superior knowledge and wisdom, as well as that of thy comrades. The army
has of late occupied the most of my attention, and among the various
affairs of importance it is nothing astonishing if some of my best
subjects are partially overlooked. Proceed with thy request."

"A little over four years ago, O king, according to thy direction, thy
servant, with his three companions, was brought from the land of Judah to
the great city of Babylon. Hitherto, we have been the subjects of thy
kind regards. At thy expense we have been taught in all the learning and
wisdom of the Chaldeans; and, in the presence of hundreds of thy worthy
nobles, thou sawest fit to pronounce us superior in the various branches
of learning, and, amid enthusiastic cheers, we were escorted to the
palace of the king. We have endeavored to prove ourselves worthy of the
favors and regard. We have spared no pains to render ourselves agreeable
in the eyes of our superiors; and never have we heard a word of
complaint. We have made no pretensions to superior wisdom. We are
numbered among the wise by the direction of the king. In all things have
we aimed to be thy faithful, loyal subjects. Judge then, O king, the
astonishment of thy servant when, not half an hour ago, he was
apprehended by the captain of the guard as one already appointed to
death, according to the direction of the king. I wonder not that thine
anger is kindled against the false pretensions of the magicians. But why