(ll. 362-408) "O let the beauty of the world, and all Thy works,
bless Thee, our Gracious Father, the heavens and all the angels,
and the shining waters! Let all, who in Thy great creation dwell
in heavenly glory, bless the Lord of might! Let all things made,
the shining orbs that circle through the heavens, the sun and
moon, praise Thee in their degree. Let the stars of heaven, and
dew and the fierce storm, praise Thee. O let the souls of men
bless the Lord of might! Let burning fire and radiant summer
praise Thee. Let night and day and all lands, light and
darkness, heat and cold, praise Thee in their degree. Let frost
and snow and wintry weather and the flying clouds bless the Lord
of might! Let the swift, shining lightnings bless Thee! Let all
the earth, the hills and plains and lofty mountains, the salt
sea-waves and ocean, and the welling springs, praise the
Everlasting God, the Righteous Lord! Let the whales, and the
birds of the air that fly in the heavens, praise Thee. Let all
that move in the water, wild beasts and all cattle, bless Thy
name! Let all men praise Thee, yea! let Israel bless the Lord,
who giveth all good things. Let holy men of heart, the spirits
and souls of the righteous, praise the Everlasting God, the Lord
of life, who giveth a reward to all. Let Hananiah and Azariah
and Mishael praise the Lord! We worship Thee and bless Thee,
Lord of men, Almighty Father, and Thee, True Son of God, Saviour
of souls and Helper of mankind, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, the God
of wisdom. We praise Thee, Holy Lord, and worship Thee with
prayer. Blessed art Thou, and adorned with holy might for ever,
above the world's roof reigning King of heaven, and Lord of life
in every land."
(ll. 409-415) Then Nebuchadnezzar, the lord of that people, spake
unto the princes who stood nigh unto him and said: "Ye beheld, my
princes, how we cast three men to a fiery death in the blazing
flames. And now, in truth, I see four men therein, except my
sense deceive me."
(ll. 416-429) Then spake a counsellor of the king, wise of heart
and prudent of speech: "This is some marvel which we behold with
our eyes. Bethink thee now, my lord, of what is fitting. Know
who it is hath showed this grace upon the youths. They worship
One Eternal God, and call on Him with zeal by every name. With
eager words they praise His Majesty, and say that He alone is God
Almighty, Wise King of glory, of earth and heaven. Call these
men forth from out the furnace, prince of the Chaldeans! In no
wise is it well that they should linger in that torture longer
than thou hast need."
(ll. 430-439) Then the king bade the young men come before him.
Boldly the noble youths obeyed His word and came as they were
bidden. The young men rose and went before the heathen king.
Their fetters were burned away and the bonds of the king which
were laid upon them, but their bodies were saved from harm. For
their beauty was no wise injured, nor was any harm come upon
their garments, nor their hair singed by the fire, but in God's
protection they came forth gladly from that gruesome horror, wise
of heart and favoured by the Holy Ghost.
(ll. 440-457) Then the angel, a faithful servant to the Holy
Lord, departed up to seek eternal bliss on the high roof of the
heavenly kingdom. And by that marvel he had honoured those who
had deserved it. The young men praised the Lord before the
heathen host, exhorting them with words of truth, rehearsing many
truthful tokens before the king, until he too believed this was a
God of wonders who freed them from the darkness. And the mighty
lord of Babylon, the haughty king, decreed among his people that
he was guilty unto death whoso denied this was a glorious God of
might who freed them from that death. He gave back unto God the
remnants of His captive people and granted favour to his olden
foes. And their prosperity in Babylon was great and their fame
was known throughout the nation, after they endured that trial by
fire, and obeyed their Lord. Mighty were their counsels after
God, the Holy Warden of the heavenly kingdom, had shielded them
from harm.
(ll. 458-471) Then, as I have heard, when the lord of Babylon
perceived the marvel that was come to pass within the flames, he
was fain to know how the youths had passed through the blaze of
fire, and overwon the terror of the heated furnace and the
flames, so that the fury of the burning brands and raging furnace
had wrought God's prophets naught of harm, but His defence had
shielded them against that fearful peril. And the prince
commanded a council, and summoned his people, and there, before
the multitude so gathered, rehearsed the event as it had come to
pass, and the miracle of God made known upon the youths:
(ll. 472-485) "Consider now the holy might and wondrous works of
God. We saw how He shielded the young men in the furnace from
death and the leaping flames, because they served Him. He only
is the Lord, Eternal and Almighty, who gives them glory and
abundant weal who preach His gospel. And He reveals Himself by
many a wonder to holy hearts who seek His favour. It is well
known that Daniel showed me the interpretation of a secret dream,
which formerly perplexed the minds of many men among my people,
because Almighty God had given him an understanding spirit in his
heart, and strength of wisdom."
(ll. 486-494) So spake the leader of the host, the lord of
Babylon, when he perceived the miracle and God's clear token.
And yet he wrought no whit the better; pride ruled the prince.
His heart was insolent and the thoughts of his heart were
thoughts of pride, more than was meet, until the Lord Almighty
humbled him, as He humbleth many who walk with arrogance.