of the gods, and thus
reduce himself to the level of a common subject? Never! Let all the gods
hear it! Never! 'Driven from among men!' Who shall be able to drive
Nebuchadnezzar? 'Eat grass as oxen!' O, ye gods, is not that laughable?
And yet I cannot laugh! Let it come! I fear not the gods! Ah, do I not? I
fear not the gods, but still I have a dread of that one God. I destroyed
his temple, I plundered his sanctuary, I carried his vessels to the house
of my god, in the land of Shinar. Is he about to retaliate? I shall see.
Shall I humble myself before a strange god? Shall I now, after having
reached the very pinnacle of fame and glory, dishonor myself in the eyes
of my nobles? Nay! Sooner than this, I will brave the vengeance of all
the gods and nobly perish in the unequal conflict!"

. . . . . . .

Twelve months passed after the King of Babylon was troubled by his
wonderful dream. His grief was not of long duration, and this period had
been one of more than usual gayety and hilarity in the great city. The
king gave entertainments on a magnificent scale; and, in the midst of his
dazzling splendor, the mournful predictions of Belteshazzar were
well-nigh forgotten. Occasionally they would rush to the monarch's mind,
but with a desperate effort they would be banished as troublesome
intruders and unwelcome guests.

. . . . . . .

The day was beautifully clear. The king, about the ninth hour of the day,
walked upon the roof of his high palace. Babylon, in all its glory, stood
before him, its massive walls bidding defiance to all the surrounding
nations. The temple of Belus, with its famous tower, stood forth in
majestic grandeur, together with the hanging gardens, decorated with all
that was beautiful and lovely in nature. The city's famous buildings he
could count by thousands, and its rich palaces by tens of thousands. The
predictions of Daniel found way to the monarch's mind; but they were
expelled by a proud spirit and stubborn will. His soul laughed to scorn
the dark prophecy.

"What!" said the proud monarch, "does this look like 'eating grass like
an ox'? Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the
kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? Who
shall--" Hark! A voice speaks from the heavens! "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to
thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee, and