em,
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 occas