1 King Darius made a great supper to all his domestical servants, and to all the magistrates of Media and Persia,
1 King Darius made a great supper to al his domestical seruantes, and to al the magistrates of Media and Persia,
2 and to all that wear purple, and to the Prætors, and Consuls, and Lieutenants under him from India unto Æthiopia, an hundred twenty seven provinces.
2 and to al that were purple, and to the praetors, and counsuls, and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto AEthiopia, an hundred twentie seuen prouinces.
3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and returned full, then Darius went up into his chamber, and slept, and awaked.
3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and returned ful, then Darius went vp into his chamber, and slept, and awaked.
4 Then those three young men keepers of his body, which guarded the king's body, said one to another:
4 Then those three youngmen kepers of his bodie, which garded the kings bodie, sayd one to an other;
5 Let every one of us say a word that may excel: & whose word soever shall appear wiser than the others, to him will king Darius give great gifts,
5 Let euerie one of vs say a word that may excel: & whose word soeuer shal appeare wiser then the others, to him wil king Darius geue great giftes,
6 to be covered with purple, & to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, & a chariot with a bridle of gold, & a bonnet of silk, and a chain about his neck:
6 to be couered with purple, & to drinke in gold, and to sleepe vpon gold, & a chariote with a bridle of gold, & a bonet of silke, and a cheyne about his necke:
7 and he
7 and he shal sit in the second place next Darius for his wisdome. And he shal be called the cosin of Darius.
8 Then every one writing his word signed it, and they put it under the pillow of Darius the king,
8 Then euerie one writing his word signed it, and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius the king,
9 and they said: When the king shall rise, we will give him our writings: and which soever of the three the king shall judge, and the magistrates of Persia, that his word is the wiser, to him shall the victory be given as is written.
9 and they sayd. When the king shal rise, we wil geue him our writinges: and which soeuer of the three the king shal iudge, and the magistrates of Persia, that his word is the wiser, to him shal the victorie be geuen as is writen.
10 One wrote: Wine is strong.
10 One wrote: Wine is strong.
11 Another wrote, A king is stronger.
11 An other wrote, a King is stronger.
12 The third wrote, Women are more strong: but above all things truth overcometh.
12 The third wrote, Wemen are more strong: but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh.
13 And when the king was risen, they took their writings, and gave him, and he read.
13 And when the king was risen, they tooke their writinges, and gaue him, and he read.
14 And sending he called all the Magistrates of the Persians, and the Medes, and them that wear purple, and the Prætors, and the Overseers;
14 And sending he called al the Magistrates of Persians, and the Medes, and them that weare purple, and the pretors, and the ouerseers;
15 and they sat in the Councel: and the writings were read before them.
15 and they sate in the councel: and the writinges were read before them.
16 And he said: Call the young men, & they shall declare their own words. And they were called, and went in.
16 And he sayd: Cal the youngmen, and they shal declare their owne wordes. And they were called, and went in.
17 And he said to them: Declare unto us concerning these things which are written. And the first began, he that had spoken of the strength of wine,
17 And he sayd to them: Declare vnto vs concerning these thinges which are writen. And the first began, he that had spoken of the strength of wine,
18 and said: O ye men, how doth wine prevail over all men that drink! It seduceth the mind.
18 and sayd: O ye men, how doth wine preuaile ouer al men that drinke! it seduceth the minde.
19 And also the mind of king and orphan it maketh vain. Also of the bondman and the free, of the rich man and the poor,
19 And also the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine. Also of the bondman and the free, of the rich man and the poore,
20 and every mind it turneth into security and pleasantness, and it remembereth not any sorrow and duty,
20 and euerie mind it turneth into securitie and pleasantnes, and it remembreth not any sorow and dewtie,
21 and all hearts it maketh honest, and it remembereth not king, nor magistrate, and it maketh a man speak all things by talents.
21 and al hartes it maketh honest, and it remembreth not king, nor magistrate, and it maketh a man speake al thinges by talentes.
22 And when they have drunk, they remember not friendship, nor brotherhood: yea and not long after they take swords.
22 And when they haue drunke, they remember not frendship, nor brotherhood: yea and not long after they take swordes.
23 And when they are recovered and risen from the wine, they remember not what they have done.
23 And when they are recouered and risen from the wine, they remember not what they haue done.
24 O ye men, doth not wine excel? Who thinketh to do so? And having said this, he held his peace.
24 O ye men, doth not wine excel? who thinketh to doe so? And hauing sayd this, he held his peace.