LI

(ll. 104-115) Now the famous lord of Babylon was great and
glorious over all the earth, and terrible to the sons of men. He
lived in insolence and heeded not the law. And there came to the
great king in his slumber, when the prince had gone to his rest,
a terrible dream that hovered about his heart, how wondrously the
world was wrought, unlike for men, until the world's redemption.
Truth was revealed as he slumbered, that there would come a
bitter end to every rule and to the joys of earth.

(ll. 116-129) Then the wolf-hearted lord of Babylon awoke from
his wine-flushed slumber. His heart was not blithe; but a fear
was upon him, and dread of the dream. Yet he could not recall
what the vision had been. And he summoned his people, all such
as were skilled in magic, and asked the men so gathered what his
dream had been, while men lay sleeping. He was shaken with
terror and knew no beginning nor word of the dream; but he bade
them tell it to him. Troubled, the sorcerers answered (for
wisdom was not given them to tell his dream unto the king):

(ll. 130-133) "How may we divine so secret a thing in thy soul, O
king! how thy dream hath run, or knowledge come to thee of
Fate's decrees, except thou tell us first the beginning of thy
dream?"

(ll. 134-144) And the wolf-hearted king was vexed, and answered
his wise men: "Ye were not so wise above all men as ye told me,
saying ye knew my fate as it should fall, or I should find it in