d raging furnace
had wrought God's prophets naught of harm, but His defence had
shielded them against that fearful peril. And the prince
commanded a council, and summoned his people, and there, before
the multitude so gathered, rehearsed the event as it had come to
pass, and the miracle of God made known upon the youths:

(ll. 472-485) "Consider now the holy might and wondrous works of
God. We saw how He shielded the young men in the furnace from
death and the leaping flames, because they served Him. He only
is the Lord, Eternal and Almighty, who gives them glory and
abundant weal who preach His gospel. And He reveals Himself by
many a wonder to holy hearts who seek His favour. It is well
known that Daniel showed me the interpretation of a secret dream,
which formerly perplexed the minds of many men among my people,
because Almighty God had given him an understanding spirit in his
heart, and strength of wisdom."

(ll. 486-494) So spake the leader of the host, the lord of
Babylon, when he perceived the miracle and God's clear token.
And yet he wrought no whit the better; pride ruled the prince.
His heart was insolent and the thoughts of his heart were
thoughts of pride, more than was meet, until the Lord Almighty
humbled him, as He humbleth many who walk with arrogance.

LIV

(ll. 495-522) Now a dream came unto Nebuchadnezzar in his sleep
and troubled him. It seemed to him that there stood a tree upon
the earth, wondrous fair, deeply rooted and gleaming with fruit.
Nor was it like to other trees, but it towered unto the stars of
heaven, so that it overshadowed the regions of the world and all
the earth with its boughs and branches, even unto the shores of
the sea. And as he gazed it seemed to him that the tree made
shelter for the wild beasts, and that it held food for them all,
and likewise that the birds of the air found sustenance in the
fruit of the tree. And it seemed to him that an angel descended
from the heavens, and spake with a loud voice, commanding the
tree to be cut down, and the wild beasts and the birds to flee
away, when its fall should come. And he bade that its fruit be
cut off and its branches and boughs, but that the roots of the
tree should abide fast in the earth as a token, until green
shoots should spring again when God granted. And he bade bind
the mighty tree with brazen fetters and fetters of iron, and thus
bound cast it into torment, that his heart might know that a
mightie