Page 130 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XXVIII

RHEA, DARIUS, AND DANIEL

A month had passed and Darius the Mede, the regent-king of Babylon, sat in the
parlor of Queen Rhea.
“I have come to consult you, honored Aunt, since I feel it is time that we lift our
government by martial law, and reinstate a civil administration.

“As the new power of the Medes and Persians, we must be occupied in a military
way with confirming our control over all parts of the now-defunct Babylonian
Empire.”
“May I interrupt to inquire whether you have any intelligence concerning the

former King Nabonidus and the great army that he led eastward to the lands of the
Rising Sun?” broke in Rhea.

Darius, though a hardy warrior and as ruthless in conquest as all the military

leaders of his time, yet had a tender heart, and in personal relation was considerate and
even tender. He paused a moment before answering her question and his eyes dropped
to the floor.
“I fear the news that we have received about Nabonidus and his army will be

distressing to you, and I am a little loath to tell it, even though he would normally be
my enemy. Our scouts have brought back the report that Nabonidus became the victim
of an oriental fever and has been dead over a year. Many of the men of his army were
the victims of the same disease which reached the dimensions of a pestilence among

them. Though the native forces of the Indian Nabobs could not have given opposition
to the Babylonian armies, what military might could not accomplish, the pestilence
did, and the army disintegrated completely after the death of Nabonidus. Some
decided to stay there, hearing that we were besieging Babylon. Many died on the way

back and some have already slipped into the city here and are in the surrounding
country, having completely divested themselves of military equipment. I have already
sent out a proclamation offering amnesty to all who wish to return and accept our

rule.”
“It cannot but cause me distress, my gallant Nephew, that the royal house to which
I have been joined all my life is now completely cut off, and that my only daughter
Hanniel is now a childless widow. But again, I cannot but regard it as a just,
punishment from the Great God Jehovah for Babylon’s indignities upon His people of

Judah and the city of Jerusalem and the refusal of Nabonidus and Belshazzar to
humble their hearts before Him, as Nebuchadnezzar finally did. I may add as a