CHAPTER 3
1 King Darius made a great supper to (or for) all his servants, and to all the master judges of Media and Persia,
2 and to all that weared (or wore) purple, and to governors, and to counsellors, and to prefects under him, from India unto Ethiopia, to an hundred and seven and twenty provinces.
3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and were fulfilled, they (re)turned again (home). Then king Darius went up in his little bed-place, and slept, and (then) was (a)waked.
4 Then those three young men, keepers of the body (or his body-guards), the which kept the body of the king [or that kept the body of the king], said one to another,
5 Say we each of us a word, that before pass (or surpass)in knowing; and whose ever word seem wiser than of another [or the tother], king Darius shall give to him great gifts,
6 and to be covered with purple, and to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold; and he shall give him a golden chariot, with the bridle, and a mitre of bis (or fine linen), and a bie (or a band) about the neck;
7 and he shall sit in the second place from Darius, for his wisdom; and he shall be called Darius’ cousin.
8 Then each of them three writing his word, sealed (it), and put those under the pillow of king Darius;
9 and said, When the king hath risen, they will take [or they shall give] to him their things written, and whatever thing the king shall deem of (these) three, and the master judges of Persia, forsooth the word of him is wiser than of the others, to him shall be given the victory, as it is written.
10 One wrote, Wine is strong.
11 Another wrote, The king is stronger.
12 The third wrote, Women be strongest; truth overcometh forsooth over all things.
13 And when the king had risen up, they took their things written [or they took their written things], and gave those to him, and he read (them).
14 And he sent (forth) and called all the master judges of Persia, and of the land(of) Media, and the clothed men in purple, and the rulers of (the) provinces, and (the) prefects;
15 and they set in council, and the writings were read before them.
16 And the king said, Calleth the young men, and they shall show their words. And they were called, and they came in.
17 And Darius said to them, Show ye to us of these things that be written. And the first, that had said of the strength of wine, he began,
18 and said to them, Men! full sur-passing(ly) strong is wine; to all men that drink it, it beareth down the mind;
19 also it maketh the mind vain, both of (the) king and of the fatherless child; also of servant and of free men, of poor and of rich;
20 and it turneth all the mind into secureness, and [in] to gladness; and it remembereth not any sorrow and debt;
21 and it maketh all the entrails honest (or rich); and it remembereth not king, nor master judge; and all things it maketh speak by talent(s);
22 and when they have drunken, they remember not friendship nor brotherhood, and not long after they take (out) swords;
23 and when they have been drenched of (or drowned in) wine, and rise, they have no mind (or memory of) what things they did.
24 O men! whether wine is not surpassingly strong, that thus constrain-eth men to do? And this thing said, he held his peace.