me the correct interpretation of a wonderful dream?"
asked the king, in a doubtful tone.

"We surely can, O king!" replied the chief of the wise men; "we derive
our knowledge from the gods, and the interpretation of the dream must be
sure."

"But what proof do your gods give of their own existence?" asked the
king, looking sternly on the chief.

"Our gods made the world, O king!"

"Some gods, or God, made the world; but why not the God of Israel? Can
you point to any miraculous interference of your gods in the affairs of
mortals? If I have forgotten my dream, can ye, through your gods, restore
it? And if, in case ye fail, I should cast you all into a fiery furnace,
would your gods preserve you unhurt in the midst of the fire? Answer me!"

"Thy servants," said the trembling magician, "from their youth up have
been taught to reverence and adore the gods of Chaldea. That there is a
God in Israel, we are ready to admit; and far be it from us to hide from
the king our convictions that this God has given us infallible proofs of
his power. This we do not admit before the populace: but why should we
dissemble before our king? Since the issuing of thy decree on the plains
of Dura, we have never said aught against the God of the Hebrews. Let thy
servants, I pray thee, find favor in thy sight, and deal not with us
harshly!"

"At this time," said the king, "ye are not required to restore a lost
dream. I have the vision in all its parts, and, if ye are able, ye may
give me the interpretation. If ye are not able, confess your ignorance,
or, by the God of Israel, I will pour my vengeance on every head!"

The king then carefully rehearsed his dream in their presence. When he
had finished he arose, and, approaching the head magician, with a look
that made him tremble, he asked:

"Canst thou or thy comrades give me the interpretation of this wonderful
dream?"

"The king's dreams are at all times of a very peculiar nature, and far
different from ordinary dreams," replied the prince of the magicians.
"The king demands honesty at our hands, and may the gods forbid that we
should be otherwise. We are not able to give thee the interpretation of
thy wonderful dream. We fall on thy mercy! Oh, deal not harshly with thy
servants!"

"Thy simple honesty hath at this time saved thy life and the lives of thy
companions! Go your way, and bear in mind that ye are a band of
hypocritical pretenders. I have demanded your service for the last t