“Young man, where is thy father?”

“My father is in the adjoining chamber, O king.”

“Call him hither without delay.”

The page hastened from the presence of the king, and presently a venerable-looking person walked into the apartment, and bowed in reverence before the king.

“Arioch, it is my desire to see the wise men of Babylon as soon as possible at this apartment.  Go!  Haste thee! for the command of the king is urgent.  Let them be native Chaldeans who appear before me at this time; trouble not Belteshazzar.  If I need his services I shall call for him hereafter.”

The officer, faithful to his charge, was soon on his way to summon the wise men to appear before the king.

It was not long before a number of the Chaldeans stood in the presence of the king, ready to learn his will and do his pleasure.

“Are ye able to give me the correct interpretation of a wonderful dream?” asked the king, in a doubtful tone.

“We surely can, O king!” replied the chief of the wise men; “we derive our knowledge from the gods, and the interpretation of the dream must be sure.”

“But what proof do your gods give of their own existence?” asked the king, looking sternly on the chief.

“Our gods made the world, O king!”

“Some gods, or God, made the world; but why not the God of Israel?  Can you point to any miraculous interference of your gods in the affairs of mortals?  If I have forgotten my dream, can ye, through your gods, restore it?  And if, in case ye fail, I should cast you all into a fiery furnace, would your gods preserve you unhurt in the midst of the fire?  Answer me!”

“Thy servants,” said the trembling magician, “from their youth up have been taught to reverence and adore the gods of Chaldea.  That there is a God in Israel, we are ready to admit; and far be it from us to hide from the king our convictions that this God has given us infallible proofs of his power.  This we do not admit before the populace:  but why should we dissemble before our king?  Since the issuing of thy decree on the plains of Dura, we have never said aught against the God of the Hebrews.  Let thy servants, I pray thee, find favor in thy sight, and deal not with us harshly!”

“At this time,” said the king, “ye are not required to restore a lost dream.  I have the vision in all its parts, and, if ye are able, ye may give me the interpretation.  If ye are not able, confess your ignorance, or, by the God of Israel, I will pour my vengeance on every head!”

The king then carefully rehearsed his dream in their presence.  When he had finished he arose, and, approaching the head magician, with a look that made him tremble, he asked: 

“Canst thou or thy comrades give me the interpretation of this wonderful dream?”

“The king’s dreams are at all times of a very peculiar nature, and far different from ordinary dreams,” replied the prince of the magicians.  “The king demands honesty at our hands, and may the gods forbid that we should be otherwise.  We are not able to give thee the interpretation of thy wonderful dream.  We fall on thy mercy!  Oh, deal not harshly with thy servants!”