The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1909-04-30

ty we seek of pleading for our peo-
pie" again spoke up Zorobabel.
Tell u.s." eagerly cried his two
companions.
TT is this: Let every one of us
speak a sentence. He that shall over
come, and whose sentence shall seem
wiser than the others, unto him shall
the king, Darius, give great gifts, and
great things in token Of victory. And
when it shall be so, the one who thus
wins the favor Of the king shall
choose for our people the help they
need"
Agreed" the other two cried.
Then every one wrote his sentence,
sealed it and the consent OF the
kings private chamberlain to place
the writings near his couch where he
would see them upon first rising.
So it came to pass that when the
king had risen and had opened the
writings, he read what the first had
written, namely: Wine 10 the strong
est"
And the second read: "The king 10
the strongest"
And the third read: Women are
the strongest; but above ali things
truth beareth away the victory"
And when he had summoned all his
princes and governors and captains,
and had sat down in his judgment
hall, he commanded that the young
men who had propounded the riddles
should be brought before them, that
they might declare their writings,
For" said the king, "by all the power
of my kingdom he who proves the
declaration of his writing shall re-
ceive favor from the king"
Then began the first, who has spo-
ken of the strength Of wine. and said:
20 We men, how exceeding strong is
wine! 1t causeth all men to err that
drink it. 1t maketh the mind of the
king and of the fatherless child to be
all one; of the bondman and OF the
freeman; of the poor man and of the
rich. 1t turneth also every thought
into jollity and mirth, SO that a man
remembereth neither sorrow nor debt.
And it maketh every heart rich, so
that a man remembereth neither king
nor governor; and it maketh to speak
all things by talents. And when they
are in their cups, they forget their
love both to friends and brethren, and
a little after draw out swords. And
when they are out from the power OF
the wine, they remember not what
they have done. o we men, is not
wine the strongest, that enforceth to
do thus?"
Thus spake the first young man.
and the king beckoned to the second
to rise and address the assemblage,
which he did. as follows:
90 We men, do not men excel in
strength, that bear rule over sea and
land, and all things in them? But yet
the king is more mighty; for he is
the lord of all these things, and hath
dominion over them; and whatsoever
he commandeth them, they do. If he
bid them make war the one against
the other, they do it. If he send them
out against the enemies, they go, and
down mountains, walls and tow
ers. They slay and are slain, and
transgress not the kings command
ment. If they get the victory, they
bring all to the king, as well the spoil,
all things else. Likewise for those
that are no soldiers. and have not to
do with wars, but use husbandry,
when they have reaped again that
they had sown, they bring it to
the king, and compel one another to
pay tribute unto the king. So all his
and his armies obey him. o We
men, how should not the king be
when in such sort he is
obeyed?"
Thus spake the second, and ceased.
Then Zorobabel stood forth and lift
ing his eyes to the king declared his
riddle, as follows:
90 We men, it is not the great king,
nor the multitude of men, neither is it
vine that excelleth. Who is it then
hat ruleth them, OF that hath lord
over them? Are they not wom-
en-? Women have borne the king
duU all pSOplc LudC UcdI luIC ny ocd |
and land. A man leaveth his own ia
her who brought him up, and his own
and cleaveth unto his wife.
Many also have persisted, have erred,
and sinned for women. And now do
re not believe me? Is not the king
great in his power? Do not all regions
ear to touch him? Yet did / see him
and Apame the kings wife, sitting at
he right hand of the king, and taking
he crown from the kings head, and
it on her own head. She also
struck the king with her left hand in
her mirth, and he spake no harsh
word unto her. o We men, are not
women strong? Great is the earth,
high is the heaven, swift is the sun
n his course, for he compasseth the
heavens round about, and fetcheth his
course again to his own place in one
lay. Is he not great who made these
Therefore great is Truth.
md stronger than all things. Wine is
the king is wicked, women are