“Thy simple honesty hath at this time saved thy life and the lives of thy companions!  Go your way, and bear in mind that ye are a band of hypocritical pretenders.  I have demanded your service for the last time!”

The magicians hurried away from the palace, thankful that they had escaped so well; and nevermore were their services required in the presence of the king.

“Much as I expected!  The vile, deceitful race!  The gods!  Much they know about the gods.  Have we any gods?  I have no proof of any god but the God of the Hebrews.  Belteshazzar must at last explain the vision!  Why do I dread the knowledge of it?  Is this trembling the result of fear?  The day is damp and cold.  ‘Hew down the tree!’ That voice was solemn!  Why must I remain in this suspense?  I will know the worst!  If the God of the Hebrews has a quarrel with the King of Babylon, let me know it!  Without delay I’ll send for Belteshazzar.”

The prime minister, always obedient to the demands of his sovereign, hastened into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, where he was received with the most profound respect.

“O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.  Thus were the visions of my head on my bed:  I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.  The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth; the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.  I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, and a holy one came down from heaven!  He cried aloud, and said thus, ’Hew down the tree and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.  Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.  Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.’  This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen.  Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.”