Page 121 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

forebears would be exercising caution, he is summoning his minions and enjoying his
subjects to a night of revelry.
“Your father would send out a corps of scouts to see whether this retreat of the

Medes is real or feigned.”
“Ah, Mother! You are inclined to be pessimistic and over-cautious. I am sure your
apprehensions are unnecessary,” Queen Hanniel replied.
“We shall see!” briefly observed the dowager-queen.

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The commissary department of the palace was a beehive of activity. Never had
even the convivial King Belshazzar imposed upon the procurers of food, the chefs, or
the banquet-hall staff, the task of feeding such a great number of guests. In the two
years preceding, during the siege, when economy of food was necessary, the feasting

had been curtailed.

Now the encirclement was lifted, the city-gates were opened to allow the
messengers of the King’s commissary to go forth to the farmers and purchase vast

quantities of fresh foods, and to the wineries for the choicest wines which had been
unavailable even to the king, during the days of the siege.

By early afternoon, immense supplies of everything-meats, vegetables, fruits,

wines, had been brought in by the wagon load.

As the last units of the Medo-Persian armies disappeared beyond the western hills,
the spirit of jubilation rose almost to the point of intoxication among the people, and

even with the men on the walls, as the sun dipped into the horizon. The king had
commanded that portions of the choicest wines be distributed to the men on the walls.

It was shortly after dark that the guests began to arrive at the palace. The banquet

was to be held in the great throne-room, built and adorned by Nebuchadnezzar, with
its multicolored tiles, its magnificent high dome and the exquisitely carved murals that
portrayed the successful campaigns of the former conqueror. At intervals around the

walls measured from a great image of Bel in the center of the East wall, were
representations of the lesser Babylonian deities-once removed, now restored. Up the
stone steps, past the lions and black marble columns, through the corridors and into
the banquet hall streamed the guests, resplendent in their best attire. The women,
extravagantly bedecked with jewelry, were decollate under external wraps, many of

expensive ermine.