Bible -- History of Biblical events -- Poetry; English poetry -- Old English, ca. 450-1100
(ll. 430-439) Then the king bade the young men come before him.
Boldly the noble youths obeyed His word and came as they were
bidden. The young men rose and went before the heathen king.
Their fetters were burned away and the bonds of the king which
were laid upon them, but their bodies were saved from harm. For
their beauty was no wise injured, nor was any harm come upon
their garments, nor their hair singed by the fire, but in God's
protection they came forth gladly from that gruesome horror, wise
of heart and favoured by the Holy Ghost.
(ll. 440-457) Then the angel, a faithful servant to the Holy
Lord, departed up to seek eternal bliss on the high roof of the
heavenly kingdom. And by that marvel he had honoured those who
had deserved it. The young men praised the Lord before the
heathen host, exhorting them with words of truth, rehearsing many
truthful tokens before the king, until he too believed this was a
God of wonders who freed them from the darkness. And the mighty
lord of Babylon, the haughty king, decreed among his people that
he was guilty unto death whoso denied this was a glorious God of
might who freed them from that death. He gave back unto God the
remnants of His captive people and granted favour to his olden
foes. And their prosperity in Babylon was great and their fame
was known throughout the nation, after they endured that trial by
fire, and obeyed their Lord. Mighty were their counsels after
God, the Holy Warden of the heavenly kingdom, had shielded them
from harm.
(ll. 458-471) Then, as I have heard, when the lord of Babylon
perceived the marvel that was come to pass within the flames, he
was fain to know how the youths had passed through the blaze of
fire, and overwon the terror of the heated furnace and the
flames, so that the fury of the burning brands and raging furnace
had wrought God's prophets naught of harm, but His defence had
shielded them against that fearful peril. And the prince
commanded a council, and summoned his people, and there, before
the multitude so gathered, rehearsed the event as it had come to
pass, and the miracle of God made known upon the youths:
(ll. 472-485) "Consider now the holy might and wondrous works of
God. We saw how He shielded the young men in the furnace from
death and the leaping flames, because they served Him. He only
is the Lord, Eternal and Almighty, who gives them glory and
abundant weal who preach His gospel. And He reveals Himself by
many a wonder to holy hearts who seek His favour. It is well
known that Daniel showed me the interpretation of a secret dream,
which formerly perplexed the minds of many men among my people,
because Almighty God had given him an understanding spirit in his
heart, and strength of wisdom."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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