The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. Translated according to the Ebrue and Greke, and conferred with the best translations in diuers languges. VVith moste profitable annotations vpon all the hard places, and other things of great importance as may appeare in the epistle to the reader

CHAP. III.

1 The feast of Darius, 16. The thre wise sentences.

1 NOw when Darius reigned, he made a great feast to all his subiects and to all those of his owne house, and to all the prin ces of Media and Persia.

2 And to all the gouernours and captaines, and lieutenants that were with him, from India vnto Ethiopia of an hundreth and se uen and twentie prouinces.

3 And when they had eaten and drunke, and were 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they departed, and King Darius went into his chamber, and slept, til he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 againe.

4 ¶ In the meane time thre yong men of the garde, kepers of the Kings bodie, said one to another.

5 Let euerie one of vs speake a sentence, (&) he that shal ouercome, and whose sentence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 appeare wiser then the others, Darius the King shal giue him great gifts, & great things in token of victorie,

6 As to weare purple and to drinke in golde and to slepe in golde, and a chariot with bridles of golde, an head tyre of fine linen and a chaine about his necke,

7 And he shal sit next to Darius for his wisdo me, and shalbe called Darius cousin.

8 Then euerie man wrote his sentence and sealed it, and put it vnder the pillowe of King Darius,

9 And said, when the King rose, thei wolde giue him the writing, and whose sentence the King & the thre princes of Persia shul∣de iudge to be wisest, to him shulde the vi∣ctorie be giuen, as it was appointed.

10 One wrote, The wine is strongest.

11 The other wrote, The King is strongest.

12 The other wrote, women are strōgest, but trueth ouercometh all things.

13 ¶ And when the King rose, they toke the writings and gaue thē to him, & hered thē.

14 And sent and called all the noble men of Persia and of Media, and the gouernours and the captaines, and lieutenants, and the consuls.

15 And sate him downe in the counsel, & the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was red before them.

16 Then he said, Call the yong men that they may declare their owne sentences, So they called them, and they came in.

17 Then he said vnto them, Declare vnto vs the writings, So the first began, which had spoken of the strength of wine.

18 And said on this maner, Oye men, how strong is wine it deceiueth all men that drinke it.

19 It maketh the minde of the King and of the fatherles bothe one, of the bonde

man and of the fre man, of the poore man and of the riche man.

20 It turneth also euerie thoght into ioye and gladnes, so that one remembreth no maner of sorow, nor det.

21 It maketh euerie heart riche, so that one re∣membreth nether King nor gouernour, and causeth to speake all things by“ 1.1 talents.

22 When men haue drunke, they haue no minde to loue ether friends or brethren, and a litle after they drawe out swordes.

23 But when they are from the wine, they do not remember what they haue done.

24 O ye men, is not wine strongest, which com¦pelleth to do suche things! and he helpe hys peace when he had thus spoken.

Notes

• “ 1.1

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉,