Page 138 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XXX

THE CONSPIRACY

The demon of jealousy is a relentless and vindictive tyrant.

The dignified courtesy of the chairman of the presidents in his dealing with the
other two – Parmashta and Adalia – did not appease their resentment toward him for

having been placed over them. And the very fact of his growing favor with Darius and
with the best of the satraps all over the realm tended to aggravate and intensify their
hatred toward him.

Aspatha the military genius who had conceived and largely carried out the plan for
the capture of Babylon, had now been promoted over the other military officials and
been made commander-in-chief of the Medo-Persian armies in the Babylon area and
chief of staff to King Darius. Aspatha had come to share with Darius a profound love

and admiration for the elder-statesman.

The military officials over whose heads Aspatha had been promoted, were also
resentful toward the king and toward Aspatha on this account.

There grew to be two parties in the government – the two presidents Parmashta
and Adalia, many of the satraps of the old Babylonian vintage and the majority of the
military clique in the one hand, and Darius, Daniel and Aspatha on the other hand. The

former were more numerous and completely unscrupulous, while the latter held in
their hands the supreme power. Of course the presidents and satraps and generals were
careful not to allow the king to know of their opposition to Daniel and to Darius for
favoring him.

Having discovered who were those among the satraps and generals who were most
opposed to Daniel, Parmashta and Adalia called them into a secret council. There was

no effort to hide their intentions.
“We are all agreed that it is desirable that we contrive some means of getting
Daniel the Hebrew out of office. And for you who feel aggrieved at the arbitrary
promotion of Aspatha and would like to have him removed, be it known that our first
object of attack must still be Daniel the Hebrew.” This speech was from Parmashta.

Then spoke one of the older Babylonian officials, “Concurring in the idea of the