At the appointed hour, our youths, in company with many others, were
conveyed to their new habitation, which was a beautiful building,
erected in the vicinity of the king’s palace. Here all the students
were received with great civility, and commended to their different
apartments. The four Hebrews were not separated, but were permitted to
remain as heretofore. They found that everything conducive to their
comfort and enjoyment had been provided here as well as at the
apartments they had left. Hitherto they had no knowledge of the manner
in which they were to receive instruction, or the precise nature of
their studies. They knew the Chaldeans to be noted for their learning,
and they were not without their fears lest the Babylonian youths who
were to be their fellow-students should outstrip them, and leave them
far in the distance; however, they were fully determined to acquit
themselves to the utmost of their ability, and leave the result with
the God of their fathers. Nothing could have given them greater
satisfaction than the course marked out for them by the king. Indeed,
if it had been left to their own choice to select, it could not have
been otherwise. From the days of their early childhood they had been
close students, and they had become well versed in Hebrew lore, and had
a fair knowledge of Chaldee, which was often studied in Judah, as an
ornamental branch of education. This proved a very favorable item in
their experience, but there were numerous studies before them, to
which, as Jews, they were utter strangers, and to acquire even a
respectable knowledge of which demanded much time and perseverance. The
king was aware of this when he appointed the time of their probation to
be three years. The Egyptian youths were of royal descent, and had some
knowledge of the Chaldee, and were well acquainted with several
branches of learning pertaining to their native land. The Chaldean
portion of the students were mostly of the city of Babylon, and already
somewhat advanced in what was considered the higher branches.
When conducted to their respective rooms, they were given to understand
that, at a certain signal, they were all to assemble below, where
Ashpenaz would meet them, address them, and enlighten them in regard to
the duties of their future course.
The four Hebrews were quietly seated in one of their apartments, each
one engaged in satisfying his curiosity by gazing at the richly carved
casings and highly ornamented articles of furniture.
“Well, cousins,” said Daniel, with a smile, “I trust they will not
un-Hebrew us with their Chaldean mysteries.”
“If I forget thee, O Jerusalem!” said Azariah, with feeling, “let my
right hand forget her cunning.”
“Let my tongue be palsied if I forget, for a day, the loved ones at
home,” said Hananiah.
“When the sweet memories of our beloved Prophet shall be obliterated
from this bosom,” said Mishael, laying his hand upon his breast, “then
let me be utterly forsaken.”
“The law of Jehovah shall be the rule of our actions,” said Daniel; “to
him we yield our hearty and willing obedience.”
The grand signal was heard below, and, without delay, the young men,
from different parts of the building, were seen hurrying to the
commodious apartment set apart for the occasion. Here they found a
number of the king’s officers assembled, among whom the youths of Judah
recognized the pleasant countenance of Barzello. They were soon seated
in perfect order, and Babylon never witnessed, in personal appearance,
a more interesting group of youths. They were received by the officers
with a smile of satisfaction, and with a look of admiration. Presently,
the dignified form of Ashpenaz was seen moving slowly towards the
rostrum; he ascended, gracefully bowed to the officers on either side,
and proceeded:
“It is of the utmost importance that those who are destined to minister
in the king’s presence should be well initiated into the ways and
manners, maxims and customs of our nation, and be well versed in all
the learning of the Chaldeans. Nothing short of this can meet the
demands and reasonable expectations of our great monarch; and for this
he has carefully provided every facility. Your teachers are of the most
superior in the realm, and an ample period is appointed for the
perfection of your accomplishments.
“In addition to literary attainments, the king looks for moral
integrity, uprightness of character, and true amiability of deportment.
Without these, the most learned can never add to the real dignity of
the court, nor to the stability of the Empire; but, on the contrary,
such a one destitute of moral principle must prove a dangerous element
in any and all communities. Let this be deeply impressed on your
youthful minds, and seek earnestly to cultivate those nobler powers of
the mind, as well as the intellectual faculties.
“Those of you from Egypt, and especially those of you from Judah, have
no faith in our gods, or sympathy with our mode of worship. From your
infancy ye have been taught to do homage to the God of your fathers and
to his worship ye have pledged your future lives. The King of Babylon,
in his great wisdom, has seen fit to put no obstacles between you and
the worship of your deities. Ye are at liberty to serve your gods and
adore after the dictates of your own consciences; and, moreover, ye are
not required to perform any act that may be contrary to your religious
convictions. I trust that this great favor will be rightly appreciated,
and never abused. While ye are thus kindly permitted to worship your
own gods, show no disrespect to those who may differ from you, and on
whose good-will and favor your future success must greatly depend.
“As a proof of his high regard for your physical and intellectual
prosperity, the king has appointed your meat and drink to be conveyed
from his own table. This, indeed, is an honor conferred on but few in
Babylon. Thus, ye readily perceive that nothing is wanting that is in
the least calculated to enhance your comfort or speed your literary
progress. Ye have but to apply yourselves diligently to your studies
and be careful to maintain a correct deportment, and ye shall reap the
reward of fidelity, in being permitted to stand in the presence of the
king.
“It is the desire of your sovereign that those from Egypt and Judah be
known hereafter by names more suitable to the country in which ye now
abide. These names ye shall hereafter learn from your teachers. Ye may
now return in perfect order to your respective apartments. To-morrow at
the second hour, at a given signal, ye will appear at this place again,
and formally enter upon your studies.”
The four youths, after having reached their rooms, for a while sat in
silence; and from the countenance of Daniel it might have been easily
gathered that all was not well. The brothers were not slow to notice
this, and it caused them some uneasiness. Usually their cousin took the
lead in all conversation, but at this time Daniel was mute.
“Well, cousin,” said Azariah, “how wast thou pleased with the address
of our new master?”
“Highly pleased, upon the whole. He surely is a man of kind feelings
and refined taste.”
“But my dear cousin seems somewhat disconsolate and much less cheerful
than when we left this apartment one hour ago. We are at a loss to find
a cause for this sudden change.”
“I perceive that a certain part of the address, which struck me as
rather unfortunate for us, was not looked upon in that light by my
worthy cousins.”
“I suppose thou hast reference to that part relating to the change of
names. For my part, I am not overtenacious on that point, for to me
thou wilt always remain ‘Cousin Daniel,’ and to thee, I trust, I shall
always be ‘Cousin Azariah;’ and if the Chaldeans prefer to call me
Bel-sha-bo-raze-ba-phoo, and my Cousin Daniel Sha-go-mer-zalta-ba-phee,
or some other long name, let them by all means be gratified.”
“My worthy cousin is mistaken in regard to this point,” said Daniel,
smiling, while the three brothers, for the first time in Babylon,
joined in a hearty laugh. “As far as names are concerned, they are
welcome to add on the syllables to their hearts’ content; but,
seriously, cousins, there is a point that, if not rightly managed, will
entangle us in serious difficulties. I have reference to that part
which made mention of our meat and drink. How can we, as Hebrews,
defile ourselves with meats, portions of which are offered to idols,
and with wine sacrificed to the gods of Chaldea? This would be in
direct violation of the law of our God. To this we can never consent;
and, moreover, we are not accustomed to these dainties, and such high
living can never be conducive to our health and happiness. Ye know,
cousins, that from beholding the drunken degradation of those in high
authority in Judah, our parents, many years ago, arrived at the wise
conclusion that their children, in order to escape the pit-falls into
which others had fallen, should never be counted among wine-drinkers.
To this desire of our fond parents we strictly adhered while in
Jerusalem, although often ridiculed by drunken wit, and frowned upon by
countenances flushed with strong drink. Shall we, then, in a strange
land, forget the covenant of our God, and violate our sacred
obligations to our beloved parents? No, cousins, this must _never_ be.
I trust we may yet be excused, for we were informed that we would not
be required to perform any act against our religious convictions. Our
food must remain simple, as in Judah; and by this we shall not only
adhere to the requirements of Jehovah, but we shall also be better able
to master those arduous studies which stand before us in such
formidable array.”
“Right, noble cousin,” cried Azariah, hastening up to Daniel and
grasping him affectionately by the hand; “_always_ right! On thee be
the sole management of the business; and we are confident that, as
usual, under the blessing of our God, we shall come forth
triumphantly.”
“First of all, then, I must have an interview with our kind master.”
Footsteps were now heard approaching their apartment. Daniel opened the
door, and, finding there a servant of Ashpenaz, addressed him:
“Will the servant of our noble master have the kindness to convey to
him a message, in few words, from one of the youths of Judah?”
“The servant of my lord Ashpenaz will always be happy to do all in his
power for the comfort and happiness of those from Judah; and any
message to my lord I am ready to convey.”
“The message is this: Daniel, of the captivity of Judah, asks the favor
of a short interview with his kind lord, Ashpenaz.”
The servant respectfully bowed and departed, and, in a few moments,
Daniel stood in the presence of his kind friend.
“And what is the pleasure of my young friend from Judah?”
Here Daniel explained, in an eloquent manner, the objections he and his
three companions had to partaking of the portion of the king’s meat and
the wine which he drank.
“This is rather a delicate point, my young friend,” answered Ashpenaz,
with a degree of perplexity visible on his countenance. “If your meat
and drink were of my own appointment, your request could be granted
with the greatest ease and pleasure; but since the order comes from the
king, I see not how it can be granted without disobedience to superior
orders. The king desires to give you every opportunity to improve, if
possible, your appearance. I fear my lord the king. For why should he
see your faces worse looking than the children which are of your
degree? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.”
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days,” said Daniel, turning
towards Melzar, “and let them give us _vegetable_ food, and _pure cold
water_ to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee,
and the countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the
king’s meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”
“Well,” replied Ashpenaz, smiling, “if the king’s object is
accomplished, I trust he is not tenacious about the article of food;
so, Melzar, let our young friends be gratified in this respect. Let
them have a trial of ten days, and, if at the end of that time they
have retained their beauty and freshness, let them be fed with
vegetables.”
“Permit me, in the absence of my three cousins, to offer their
gratitude, with my own, to our noble lord for his kind favor,” said
Daniel, gracefully bowing himself out of the apartment.
The morning of the tenth day dawned upon our Hebrew captives. Their
days of trial were soon over, and they felt no fear of the scrutinizing
gaze of Melzar. Health and beauty played on their fair cheeks, and they
were well prepared for the inspection; and Melzar declared, with due
humility, in their presence, that such countenances were not to be
found in all Babylon. Now, Melzar was an excellent judge of beauty.
Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they
should drink, and gave them pulse.