Page 17 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

Lord Ashpenaz at the head of the train called to the riders nearest him: “Do you see,
young men, that dark mass that lies dimly on the horizon? That is Babylon, the city of
the great king, Nebuchadnezzar, to which we go. Keep your eyes fixed upon it and

watch as its noble walls and battlements emerge more clearly while we approach.” The
word was passed down the line and all fixed their gaze upon the city of their destination.
Even the slow pace of the camels visibly closed the distance, and before the sun had
dipped low in the west the magnificent ramparts and towering gates loomed imposingly

before them. From a distance of a mile (where there was a slight rise) the marble
columns and brilliant yellow tile could be seen above the walls, gleaming and
shimmering in the sunlight from the royal palace resting on the crest of a high hill in
the center of the metropolis. The river Euphrates could be seen stretched like a shining

ribbon as it wound its way through the plain and disappeared under the wall of the city.

The Jewish youths were awestruck with the splendor of the city. They had thought
the walls of Jerusalem were high, but these mighty walls were twice their height, and

their thickness so great that four chariots could drive abreast upon them. And the gates,
(twenty-five in number) spaced at intervals and of uniform size and architecture,
towered to twice the height of the walls. Little wonder that such a city had made herself
the mistress of the ancient world!

As they came to the great gate of the West, Ashpenaz dismounted and the rest of the
camel-train halted. The head porter came out to meet him and bowed before him with a
low salaam of respect. “My Lord Ashpenaz, we have orders from the palace to direct

your charges to the Fourth Temple of Bel in the Street of the Sycamores. There the new
domitories built for the novitiate-priests have been evacuated and put in order for the
young men of Judah. In case your lordship is not familiar with the way, I will send one
of the men of the portal to guide you.”

“Thank you, sir porter,” replied Ashpenaz, “that will be very satisfactory. We shall
proceed immediately to the Fourth Temple.”

The camel train was ordered to resume its march. Through the immense gates and
down the main East-West street, well-paved and clean swept, the caravan took its course.
The young riders from Judah were the objects of curiosity on the part of the populace,

who thronged to the doors of stores and residences to see them pass. No less were the
young men of Judah awed by the might of the city, the width of the streets, the
magnificent stores, the apparent prosperity of the inhabitants.

As the guide from the portal turned north on the Street of the Sycamores, the train

followed into the comparative quiet of the residential street, bordered on each side at
intervals with low-spreading sycamore trees from which it derived its name.