Part 17 (2/2)

The afternoon was fair and beautiful. It was about the ninth hour of the day. Daniel, weary with his arduous duties within, thought fit, in order to invigorate both his body and mind, to take a walk in the beautiful groves of the palace park. So he laid his papers aside, and was soon under the refres.h.i.+ng breezes of the open skies. The scene was truly delightful. The sun was gradually losing the intensity of its heat, and slowly sinking toward the western hills. Nature was adorned in beauty and innocence. The sweet choristers of the trees chanted their melodious sonnets on the high branches, and the parks rang with the sound of praise from the feathered tribe. The river rolled majestically along, while its sh.o.r.es were strewed with the choicest roses and flowers. On the banks of ”proud Euphrates' stream,” the Rab Mag sat down and gave freedom to his thoughts.

”His paths are unsearchable, and His ways past finding out! He reigns in heaven above, and on earth beneath. Jehovah is G.o.d alone. By him kings rule and princes govern. He taketh down one and setteth up another. O Lord, thou art very great, and highly exalted above all G.o.ds. In thy hands are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is thine also. I adore thee, O my G.o.d! I praise thee, O Jehovah! From my youth the G.o.d of Israel has been my help. He has brought me through ways I have not known. How terrible is his wrath toward those who rebel against him! How great his love to all that fear him! He bringeth down the proud look, and causeth his enemies to be ashamed. The scepters of kings are broken in pieces. Jehovah is King of kings! Babylon, with all her glory, shall become a desolation. Her lofty towers shall fall, her walls shall be destroyed, her palaces shall become heaps of ruin, and her idol temples shall be no more!”

Such were the meditations of Daniel, when his attention was called to a rustling noise in the foliage, on his right, a short distance from the spot on which he sat. He looked, and beheld the uncouth form of the maniac king slowly approaching him. The sight affected the Hebrew's heart. His eyes became moistened with tears. The punishment was just, he knew; but in the history of that degraded monarch, he could find many things to admire. In other days he had a heart that throbbed with kind and warm emotions. Had he not in the main been kind to him and his three companions? And, in the midst of envy and jealousy, had he not kept them, foreigners as they were, in the highest offices in the gift of the government? He had. And Daniel's heart throbbed with pity as he beheld the brutish antics of one who was once so powerful and intelligent. The king gradually approached the spot where Daniel sat, without observing him, sometimes standing erect, other times running on all fours, sometimes uttering incoherent expressions, other times bellowing like an ox.

”G.o.d of my fathers,” silently cried Daniel, ”let this suffice! According to thy promise restore the unhappy king to his reason, and let his courtiers know that there is no G.o.d like unto thee.”

By this time the maniac stood close by the side of his courtier, but as yet he had not observed him.

”Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon!” cried Daniel, with a loud voice.

The maniac was startled, looked up to the face of the minister for a moment, and cried, in loud accents, ”Belteshazzar! Belteshazzar!” and, as if greatly terrified, ran. He soon stopped and stood at a distance, with his wild, flas.h.i.+ng eyes steadfastly fixed on the form of the Rab Mag.

Daniel arose, and slowly directed his footsteps towards the spot. He was glad to find that the king remained stationary. He approached within a respectful distance of the maniac, uncovered his head, made his humble obeisance as in days of yore, and cried:

”O king, live forever!”

The king, in silence, continued to gaze on Daniel, with a wild, vacant stare.

”Jehovah, the G.o.d of Israel!” cried Daniel, pointing with his finger to the skies.

”J-e-h-o-v-a-h!” slowly whispered the king, gazing upward.

The Hebrew now ventured nearer the king, fell upon his knees, and ”with his face toward Jerusalem,” sent his urgent, silent pet.i.tion to the G.o.d of Israel, in behalf of his unfortunate sovereign. Daniel had not been long in prayer before the king, with restored reason, fell down by his side and loudly rejoiced and praised the G.o.d of heaven. The set time had come; the prayer of the man of G.o.d had, indeed, prevailed; the lost was found, the maniac was restored.

The restoration of reason to the king was brought about by the same miraculous power that had deprived him of it, and it was accomplished in the same sudden manner. He was not only restored to the right use of his faculties, but also to a perfect recollection of the past. The dream, its interpretation, with all subsequent transactions up to the very day of his insanity, were brought clearly to his mind; but since that moment all was one dark void. In mercy, not a vestige was permitted to remain to embitter his after years.

The most important thing that now appeared to occupy the monarch's mind was the life and health of his family, and the length of the period of his insanity.

”Tell me, O Belteshazzar, how long has the king of Babylon remained in this degraded condition?”

”Seven years of deep calamity, O king, have pa.s.sed over thy head!”

”Seven years!” cried the king, with a trembling voice, while his tears were fast falling. ”O thou G.o.d of heaven, thou art just in all thy ways!

But are the members of my family spared to see the restoration of the king?”

”They are all spared and in good health, O king, and will be overjoyed to see thee restored to thy throne.”

”Jehovah is the only G.o.d! He ruleth among the armies of the heavens, and the inhabitants of the earth. Let all nations praise the G.o.d of Israel!

But come, Belteshazzar, let us bend our footsteps towards the palace.”

Daniel threw one of his loose garments over the almost naked form of the king, side by side, they started towards the palace royal. On their way thither, they were met by the captain of the guard. The old soldier was overwhelmed with joy to hear once more the familiar voice of his beloved king. He fell before him, and would have embraced his feet if permitted.

He begged of the king to remain where he was with Belteshazzar, and permit him to hasten to the palace to herald the joyful news, and return with the king's old guard to escort him home. The measure struck the king favorably, and Arioch, with a bounding heart, was on his way. The regent, Evil-Merodach, was first apprised of the fact, which he received with demonstrations of joy.

The news was quickly learned by hundreds, and the palace rang with shouts of rejoicing. The regent, with the guard, was soon on the march for the place where Arioch had left the king. When they reached the spot, the monarch arose and gently bowed. His son now ran up to his father, fell on his neck, and they warmly embraced each other. The old royal guard, as soon as their emotions were partially subsided, approached as near their sovereign as they could, and, at a given signal from their captain, they broke forth in one grand shout that made the forest ring. The king was deeply moved; he endeavored to speak, but was not able.

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