immense riches it would perhaps be too much for me to attempt；
yet as large and lofty as they were； they were completed in
fifteen days。 （22） He also erected elevated places for walking；
of stone； and made it resemble mountains； and built it so that it
might be planted with all sorts of trees。 He also erected what
was called a pensile paradise； because his wife was desirous to
have things like her own country； she having been bred up in the
palaces of Media。〃 Megasthenes also； in his fourth book of his
Accounts of India； makes mention。 of these things； and thereby
endeavors to show that this king ＇Nebuchadnezzar＇ exceeded
Hercules in fortitude； and in the greatness of his actions； for
he saith that he conquered a great part of Libya and Iberia。
Diocles also； in the second book of his Accounts of Persia；
mentions this king； as does Philostrates in his Accounts both of
India and of Phoenicia； say； that this king besieged Tyre
thirteen years； while at the same time Ethbaal reigned at Tyre。
These are all the histories that I have met with concerning this
king。
2。 But now； after the death of Nebuchadnezzar； Evil…Merodach his
son succeeded in the kingdom； who immediately set Jeconiah at
liberty； and esteemed him among his most intimate friends。 He
also gave him many presents； and made him honorable above the
rest of the kings that were in Babylon； for his father had not
kept his faith with Jeconiah； when he voluntarily delivered up
himself to him； with his wives and children； and his whole
kindred； for the sake of his country； that it might not be taken
by siege； and utterly destroyed； as we said before。 When
Evil…Mcrodach was dead； after a reign of eighteen years；
Niglissar his son took the government； and retained it forty
years； and then ended his life； and after him the succession in
the kingdom came to his son Labosordacus； who continued in it in
all but nine months； and when he was dead； it came to Baltasar；
（23） who by the Babylonians was called Naboandelus； against him
did Cyrus； the king of Persia； and Darius； the king of Media；
make war； and when he was besieged in Babylon； there happened a
wonderful and prodigious vision。 He was sat down at supper in a
large room； and there were a great many vessels of silver； such
as were made for royal entertainments； and he had with him his
concubines and his friends； whereupon he came to a resolution；
and commanded that those vessels of God which Nebuchadnezzar had
plundered out of Jerusalem； and had not made use of； but had put
them into his own temple； should be brought out of that temple。
He also grew so haughty as to proceed to use them in the midst of
his cups； drinking out of them； and blaspheming against God。 In
the mean time； he saw a hand proceed out of the wall； and writing
upon the wall certain syllables； at which sight； being disturbed；
he called the magicians and Chaldeans together； and all that sort
of men that are among these barbarians； and were able to
interpret signs and dreams； that they might explain the writing
to him。 But when the magicians said they could discover nothing；
nor did understand it； the king was in great disorder of mind；
and under great trouble at this surprising accident； so he caused
it to be proclaimed through all the country； and promised； that
to him who could explain the writing； and give the signification
couched therein； he would give him a golden chain for his neck；
and leave to wear a purple garment； as did the kings of Chaldea；
and would bestow on him the third part of his own dominions。 When
this proclamation was made； the magicians ran together more
earnestly； and were very ambitious to find out the importance of
the writing； but still hesitated about it as much as before。 Now
when the king's grandmother saw him cast down at this accident；
（24） she began to encourage him； and to say； that there was a
certain captive who came from Judea； a Jew by birth； but brought
away thence by Nebuchadnezzar when he had destroyed Jerusalem；
whose name was Daniel； a wise man； and one of great sagacity in
finding out what was impossible for others to discover； and what
was known to God alone； who brought to light and answered such
questions to Nebuchadnezzar as no one else was able to answer
when they were consulted。 She therefore desired that he would
send for him； and inquire of him concerning the writing； and to
condemn the unskilfulness of those that could not find their
meaning； and this； although what God signified thereby should be
of a melancholy nature。
3。 When Baltasar heard this； he called for Daniel； and when he
had discoursed to him what he had learned concerning him and his
wisdom； and how a Divine Spirit was with him； and that he alone
was fully capable of finding out what others would never have
thought of； he desired him to declare to him what this writing
meant； that if he did so； he would give him leave to wear purple；
and to put a chain of gold about his neck； and would bestow on
him the third part of his dominion； as an honorary reward for his
wisdom； that thereby he might become illustrious to those who saw
him； and who inquired upon what occasion he obtained such honors。
But Daniel desired that he would keep his gifts to himself； for
what is the effect of wisdom and of Divine revelation admits of
no gifts； and bestows its advantages on petitioners freely； but
that still he would explain the writing to him； which denoted
that he should soon die； and this because he had not learnt to
honor God； and not to admit things above human nature； by what
punishments his progenitor had undergone for the injuries he had
offered to God； and because he had quite forgotten how
Nebuchadnezzar was removed to feed among wild beasts for his
impieties； and did not recover his former life among men and his
kingdom； but upon God's mercy to him； after many supplications
and prayers； who did thereupon praise God all the days of his
life； as one of almighty power； and who takes care of mankind。
＇He also put him in mind＇ how he had greatly blasphemed against
God； and had made use of his vessels amongst his concubines； that
therefore God saw this； and was angry with him； and declared by
this writing beforehand what a sad conclusion of his life he
should come to。 And he explained the writing thus：〃 MANEH。 This；
if it be expounded in the Greek language； may signify a Number；
because God hath numbered so long a time for thy life； and for
thy government； and that there remains but a small portion。
THEKEL This signifies a weight； and means that God hath weighed
thy kingdom in a balance； and finds it going down
already。PHARES。 This also； in the Greek tongue； denotes a
fragment；。 God will therefore break thy kingdom in pieces； and
divide it among the Medes and Persians。〃
4。 When Daniel had told the king that the writing upon the wall
signified these events； Baltasar was in great sorrow and
affliction； as was to be expected； when the interpretation was so
heavy upon him。 However； he did not refuse what he had promised
Daniel； although he were become a foreteller of misfortunes to
him； but bestowed it all upon him； as reasoning thus； that what
he was to reward was peculiar to himself； and to fate； and did
not belong to the prophet； but that it was the part of a good and
a just man to give what he had promised； although the events were
of a melancholy nature。 Accordingly； the king determined so to
do。 Now； after a little while； both himself and the city were
taken by Cyrus； the king of Persia； who fought against him； for
it was Baltasar； under whom Babylon was taken； when he had
reigned seventeen years。 And this is the end of the posterity of
king Nebuchadnezzar； as history informs us； but when Babylon was
taken by Darius； and when he； with his kinsman Cyrus； had put an
end to the dominion of the Babylonians； he was sixty…two years
old。 He was the son of Astyages； and had another name among the
Greeks。 Moreover； he took Daniel the prophet； and carried him
with him into Media； and honored him very greatly； and kept him
with him； for he was one of the three presidents whom he set over
his three hundred and sixty provinces； for into so many did
Darius part them。
5。 However； while Daniel was in so great dignity； and in so great
favor with Darius； and was alone intrusted with every thing by
him； a having somewhat divine in him； he was envied by the rest；
for those that see others in greater honor than themselves with
kings envy them； and when those that were grieved at the great
favor Daniel was in with Darius sought for an occasion against
him； he afforded them no occasion at all； for he was above all
the temptations of money； and despised bribery； and esteemed it a
very base thing to take any thing by way of reward； even when it
might be justly given him； he afforded those that envied him not
the least handle for an accusation。 So when they could find
nothing for which they might calumniate him to the king； nothing
that was shameful or reproachful； and thereby deprive him of the
honor he was in with him； they sought for some other method
whereby they might destroy him。 When therefore they saw that
Daniel prayed to God three times a day； they thought they had
gotten an occasion by which they might ruin him； so they came to
Darius and told him that the princes and governors had thought
proper to allow the multitude a relaxation for thirty days； that
no one might offer a petition or prayer either to himself or to
the gods； but that he who shall transgress this decree shall be
east into the den of lions； and there perish。〃
6。 Whereupon the king； not being acquainted with their wicked
design； nor suspecting that it was a contrivance of theirs
against Daniel； said he was pleased with this decree of theirs；
and he promised to confirm what they desired； he also published
an edict to promulgate to the people that decree which the
princes had made。 Accordingly； all the rest took care not to
transgress those injunctions； and rested in quiet； but Daniel had
no regard to them； but； as he was wont； he stood and prayed to
God in the sight of them all； but the princes having met with the
occasion they so earnestly sought to find ag