Page 54 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER XII

A SCHEME AND A PLAN

Never had the empire of Babylon enjoyed a period of such tranquility and prosperity.

The smouldering hatred of the populace occasioned by the royal decree to slay all
the Magi of Babylon if his dream were not reproduced, was gradually dissipated by
subsequent events. In fact the king’s beneficences to the people in the way of public

improvements, with reduced taxes, less military conscription, and generous largesses to
the poor procured the loyalty of the masses and accrued praise and popularity to the
royal household.

Though she was rarely seen by the people and avoided the lime-light, the opinion
persisted among the people that the queen was the one who was largely responsible for
the royal gratuities. Queen Rhea became a legendary character with them, a fabulous
embodiment of beauty and grace.

Around the head of the brilliant young Hebrew, Belteshazzar, there was also a halo
of glory since he had been elevated by Nebuchadnezzar to be prime minister. The
excellence of the government was more credited to the administration of his office than

to the abilities of the king. The stories that were told of so extravagant as to accord him
the very dimensions of deity.

The attitude of the king toward his prime minister was one of complete trust and

confidence. To Daniel he referred for decision nearly all the difficult problems of
government. Though well aware of his popularity and the esteem in which he was held
by rulers and people, Nebuchadnezzar seemed to feel no jealousy toward him. In Daniel
the brilliant monarch knew that he had more than met his match and treated him with a

deference that he never gave to anyone else. In fact he secretly felt an awe of him, as he
sensed that Daniel was in contact with sources of power and wisdom entirely out of his
own reach.

Though many moons had passed since he had had his dream restored and the
interpretation presented, the vividness of the vision did not abate or become dim in the
slightest degree. The mighty significance of it all haunted him constantly, as he turned
it back and forth in his mind. It was because of this preoccupation that he inclined to

withdraw from the affairs of state and was content to have Daniel assume most of the
responsibility.