Page 48 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that
shall make known the interpretations to the King, and that thou mightest know the
thoughts of thy heart.

Thy dream and the visions of thy head upon thy bed are these.” With these
introductory words the King’s attention was focused upon the young seer, and his eyes
blazed with interest. There was a calm and lofty confidence about this man that

disarmed suspicion, and even induced within the egotistical monarch, for the first time
in his life a slight sense of inferiority. “Thou, O King, sawest, and behold a great image.
This great image whose brightness was excellent stood before thee; and the aspect
thereof was terrible.”

So intently did the King listen that he leaned forward, and sat on the very edge of
the throne-seat, while Daniel continued in an even tone: “This image’s head was fine
gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron,

his feet part of iron and part of clay.”

As he listened to these words, the King’s countenance was a study in expression.
The initial hauteur had softened into tolerance and respect, and then had come rapt

interest which gradually brightened into enthusiasm as awakening memory rekindled
the dead embers of forgetfulness.

“Thou sawest still that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image

upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron,
the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold broken to pieces together and became like the
chaff of the summer threshing-floors. And the wind carried them away, that no place
was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and

filled the whole earth.”

The monarch’s enthusiasm had now heightened into a speechless ecstasy as Daniel
with mounting eloquence swept along into his interpretation. “This is the dream; and

we will tell the interpretation thereof before the King.”
“Thou O King, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom,
power and strength and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts

of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thin hand, and hath made thee
ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another
kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over
all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh
in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these shall it break on

pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and
part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the