, by a royal decree, to appear on the
spot, and, at the appointed hour, fall down and worship it; and let the
penalty of disobedience be death. Let those who dare set at naught the
will of the king be taken and thrown into the burning fiery furnace. What
thinkest Belrazi of this?"

"O king, live forever! Thy goodness is unbounded. Thy design is dictated
by that wisdom that cometh from the gods. The measure shall be hailed
throughout the empire with shouts of rejoicing, and the day of its
dedication will be a day of days in the future history of Chaldea."

"Let no time be lost, then," replied the king. "Let my head goldsmith be
called, and from the lips of the king let him receive instructions in
regard to the making of the image. This is my desire. Let the measure be
known but to a few, until the proclamation shall go forth."

The head goldsmith was soon in the presence of the king, and after much
deliberation the exact dimensions of the great image were settled upon;
and, moreover, it was agreed, that by a certain day it should be
completed.

According to the direction of the king, no publicity was given to the
measure. Few of the king's confidential friends were apprised of it. In
the meantime, no pains were spared by the chief goldsmith to have
everything in readiness by the time appointed. Hundreds of the craft were
called together to speed the great undertaking; and, even before the time
agreed upon, the idol was ready to be set up. Word was sent to the king,
and immediately the proclamation was trumpeted far and wide, throughout
the length and breadth of the vast empire:

"Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, to all his Princes, Governors,
Captains, Judges, Treasurers, Counselors, Sheriffs, and all rulers of his
provinces: Ye are hereby commanded to appear on the twenty-third day of
the eighth month, at the third hour of the day, in the plain of Dura,
within the province of Babylon, to witness the dedication of the great
image which I have set up in honor of Bel, the god of the Chaldeans. Ye
are, moreover, hereby commanded, at the hour appointed, to fall down and
worship the golden image. Disobedience will be punished with the utmost
rigor. Those who shall refuse to bow and worship shall in that same hour
be taken and thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

"Given under my hand and seal, at the great City of Babylon, on this the
fourth day of the seventh month.

"Nebuchadnezzar."

The dedication of the great im