“In addition to literary attainments, the king looks for moral integrity, uprightness of character, and true amiability of deportment.  Without these, the most learned can never add to the real dignity of the court, nor to the stability of the Empire; but, on the contrary, such a one destitute of moral principle must prove a dangerous element in any and all communities.  Let this be deeply impressed on your youthful minds, and seek earnestly to cultivate those nobler powers of the mind, as well as the intellectual faculties.

“Those of you from Egypt, and especially those of you from Judah, have no faith in our gods, or sympathy with our mode of worship.  From your infancy ye have been taught to do homage to the God of your fathers and to his worship ye have pledged your future lives.  The King of Babylon, in his great wisdom, has seen fit to put no obstacles between you and the worship of your deities.  Ye are at liberty to serve your gods and adore after the dictates of your own consciences; and, moreover, ye are not required to perform any act that may be contrary to your religious convictions.  I trust that this great favor will be rightly appreciated, and never abused.  While ye are thus kindly permitted to worship your own gods, show no disrespect to those who may differ from you, and on whose good-will and favor your future success must greatly depend.

“As a proof of his high regard for your physical and intellectual prosperity, the king has appointed your meat and drink to be conveyed from his own table.  This, indeed, is an honor conferred on but few in Babylon.  Thus, ye readily perceive that nothing is wanting that is in the least calculated to enhance your comfort or speed your literary progress.  Ye have but to apply yourselves diligently to your studies and be careful to maintain a correct deportment, and ye shall reap the reward of fidelity, in being permitted to stand in the presence of the king.

“It is the desire of your sovereign that those from Egypt and Judah be known hereafter by names more suitable to the country in which ye now abide.  These names ye shall hereafter learn from your teachers.  Ye may now return in perfect order to your respective apartments.  To-morrow at the second hour, at a given signal, ye will appear at this place again, and formally enter upon your studies.”

The four youths, after having reached their rooms, for a while sat in silence; and from the countenance of Daniel it might have been easily gathered that all was not well.  The brothers were not slow to notice this, and it caused them some uneasiness.  Usually their cousin took the lead in all conversation, but at this time Daniel was mute.

“Well, cousin,” said Azariah, “how wast thou pleased with the address of our new master?”

“Highly pleased, upon the whole.  He surely is a man of kind feelings and refined taste.”

“But my dear cousin seems somewhat disconsolate and much less cheerful than when we left this apartment one hour ago.  We are at a loss to find a cause for this sudden change.”