Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-19


pie" again spoke up Zorobabel.
Tell u.s." eagerly cried his two
companions.
TT Is this: Let. every one OF M
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 1t 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 won 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 bad
written, namely: Wine is the stroDg-
est"
And the second read: THE king Is
the strongest"
And the third read: Women are
truth beareth away the victory"
And when he had summoned all his
princes and governors and captains,
and had sat dowa 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 IL. 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. It turneth also every thought
into jollity and mirth, so that a man
remembereth neither sorrow nor debt.
that a man remembereth neither king
nor governor; and II 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:
20 We men, do not men excel in
strength, that bear rule over sea and
| land, and all things I'm 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. III he
bid them make war the one against
the other, they do it. If he send them
out against the enemies, they 20, and
break down mountains, walls and tow
ers. They STAY and are slain, and
transgress not the kings command
ment. II they get the victory, they
bring all to the king. as well the sEoil,
as 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
which they had sown, they bring It to
the king, and compel one another to
pay tribute unto the king. So all his
people and his armies obey him. o ye
men, how should not the king be
mightiest. 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:
20 we men, II Is not the great kins
nor the multitude OF men. neither is ~
wine that excelleth. Who Is IL then
that ruleth them, or that hath lord
ship over them? Are they not won.
en-? Women have borne the king
and all people that bear rule by sea
! and land. A man leaveth his own ia
Their who brought him up, and his own
courSry, and cleaveth INTO his wife.
Many also have persisted, have erred
and sinned for women. And now do
ye not believe me? Is not the king
great in his power? Do not all regions
fear to touch him? Yet did see him
and Apame the kings wife, sitting at
the right hand OF the king. and taking
the crown from the kings head, and
setting 1t 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
in his course, for he compasseth the
heavens round about, and fetcheth his
| course again to his own place in one
day. Is he not great who made these
things? Therefore great IS Truth
and stronger than all things. Wine Is
wicked, the king is wicked, women are