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In the thridde ȝeer of the kyngdam of Joachym, kyng of Juda, Nabugodonosor, kyng of Babiloyne, came in to Jerusalem, and byseegide it. And the Lord bitoke Joachym, kyng of Juda, in the hond of hym, and he toke a part of vessels of the hous of God; and bare hem out in to the lond Sennaar, in to the hous of his god, and toke the vessels in to the hous of tresour of his god. And the kyng saith to Aphanet, prepost, or souereyne, of his geldingus, that he shulde brynge yn of the sonys of Yrael, and of the kyngus bloode, and the children of tyrauntis, or strong men, in whom was no wem, faire in fourme, and lernd in al wisdam, war in science, and tauȝt in disciplyne, and whiche miȝten stonde in paleys of the kyng, that he shulde teche hem lettris and langage of Caldeis. And the kyng ordeynde to hem fruyte of oo ȝeer bi alle days of his metis, and of the wijne of whiche he dranke; that thei nurishid out in three ȝeers, afterward shulden stonde in siȝt of the kyng. Therfore there weren amonge hem of the sonys of Juda, Danyel, Ananyas, Mysael, and Azarias. And the prepost of geldyngus puttide to hem names; to Danyel, Balthasar; to Ananyas, Sydrac; to Mysael, Mysac; and to Azarias, Abdenago. Forsothe Danyel purposide in his herte, that he were not defoulid of the borde of the kyng, nether of the wyne of his drinke; and he preyede the prepost of the geldingis, that he were not defoulid. Forsothe God ȝaue grace and mercy to Danyel, in siȝte of the prince of geldyngus. And the prince of geldingus saide to Danyel, I dreede my lord the kyng, whiche ordeynede to ȝou mete and drinke; whiche ȝif he shal see ȝour cheeris lener byfore other ȝunge men, ȝour eueneldis, ȝe shuln condempne myn hede to the kyng. And Danyel sayde to Malassar, whom the prince of geldyngus hadde ordeynyd vpon Danyel, Ananye, Mysael, and Azarie, I beseche, tempte, or assaie, vs thi seruauntis ten days, and be potage ȝouen to vs for to ete, and water for to drinke; and byholde thou oure cheeris, and the cheeris of children that eten the kyngus mete; and as thou shalt see, so do thou to thi seruauntis. Whiche, siche manere wordis herd, temptide hem ten days. Forsothe after ten days the cheeris of hem apperiden betir and fuller of fleshe, byfore alle the children that eeten kyngus mete. Sotheli Malassar toke the metis, and wijn the drinke of hem, and ȝaue to hem potagis. Forsothe God ȝaue to these children science and discipline in eche boke, and wisdam; to Danyel sothely vndirstondynge of alle visiouns and sweuens. And so the days fulfillid, after whom the kyng saide, that thei shulden be brouȝt yn, the prepost of geldyngus brouȝte hem yn, in the siȝt of Nabugodonosor. And whan the kyng spac to hem, ther ben not founden siche of alle, as Danyel, Ananyas, Mysael, and Azarias; and thei stoden in siȝt of the kyng. And eche word of wijsdam and vndirstondyng, that the kyng axide of hem, he fonde in hem the tenthe folde ouer alle dyuynours and witchis, that weren in alle the rewme of hym. Forsothe Danyel was vn to the first ȝeer of kyng Cyrus.
In the secounde ȝeer of the kyngdam of Nabugodonosor, Nabugodonosor sawȝ a sweuen; and his spirit was to gydre ferid, and his sweuen fleiȝ fro hym. Therfore the kyng comaundide, that dyuynours shulden be clepid to gydre, and witchis, and enchauntours, and Caldeis, that thei shulden shewe to the kyng his sweuens; whiche whenn thei camen, stoden bifore the kyng. And the kyng saide to hem, Y sawȝ a sweuen, and Y confusid, or astonyed, in mynde, wote not what I sawȝ. And Caldeis answerden to the kyng by Siry speche, Kyng, lyue thou in to with outen eende; saye thou thi sweuen to thi seruauntis, and we shuln shewe the interpretacioun, or declaryng, therof. And the kyng answerde, and saith to the Caldeis, The word wente awey fro me; no bot ȝe shuln shewe to me the sweuen, and the coniecturyng, or menyng, therof, ȝe shuln perishe, and ȝour housis shuln be maad commoun, or forfetid. Forsothe ȝif ȝe shuln telle the sweuen, and coniecture therof, ȝe shuln resceyue of me meedis and ȝiftis, and myche honour; therfore shewe ȝe to me the sweuen, and the interpretacioun therof. Thei answerden the secounde tyme, and saiden, The kyng saye the sweuen to his seruauntis, and we shuln shewe the interpretacioun therof. The kyng answerde, and saith, Certis I wote, for ȝe aȝein byen the tyme, witynge that the word hath gon awey fro me. Therfore ȝif ȝe shuln not shewe to me the sweuen, oo sentence is of ȝou, that ȝe han maad to gydre an interpretacioun, and fals, and ful of dysceyt, that ȝe speke to me til the tyme passe; and so saye ȝe to me the sweuen, that Y wite, that ȝe shuln speke to me and the verre interpretacioun therof. Therfore the Caldeis answeryng byfore the kyng, saiden, Kyng, ther is no man vpon erthe, that may fulfille thi word; bot nether eny grete of kyngus and miȝti axith siche manere word of eche dyuynour, and witche, and Caldey. Sotheli the word whom thou, kyng, seekist, is greuous, nether eny man shal be founden, that shal shew it in siȝt of the kyng, out taken goddis, whos lyuyng is not with men. Whiche thing herd, the kyng, turned in to wodenesse and in grete wrath, comaundide, that alle the wijse men of Babyloyne shulde perishe. And the sentence gon out, the wijse men weren slayn; and Danyel and his felawis weren sowȝt, that thei shulden perishe. Than Danyel enquyride of the lawe and sentence, of Arioch, prince of the knyȝthode of the kyng, whiche wente oute for to slea the wijse men of Babiloyne. And he axide hym, that hadde taken power of the kyng, for what cause so cruel sentence wente out fro the face of the kyng. Therfore whann Arioch hadde shewide to Danyel, Danyel gon yn preyede the kyng, that he shulde ȝeue hym tyme for to shewe the vndoyng to the kyng. And he entride in to his hous, and shewide to Ananyas, Mysael, and Azarias, his felawis, the neede, that thei shulden seeke mercye of the face of God of heuen vpon this sacrament; and Danyel and his felawis shulden not perishen with other wijse men of Babyloyne. Thann the misterie was shewid to Danyel by a visioun in niȝt. And Danyel blesside God of heuen, and saith, Be the name of God blessid fro world, and til in to world, for wijsdam and strengthe is of hym; and loo! he chaungeth tymes and ages, translatith rewmes and ordeyneth; ȝeuith wisdam to wijse men, and science to men vndirstondynge disciplyne; shewith depe thingus and hid, and knewe in derknessis thingus ordeyned, and liȝt is with hym. God of oure faders, to thee I knowleche, and Y herye thee, for thou hast ȝouen to me wijsdam and strengthe; and now thou hast shewide to me whiche thingus we preyden thee, for thou hast opnyde to vs the word of the kyng. After these thingis Danyel wente yn to Arioch, whom the kyng hadde ordeyned, that he shulde leese the wise men of Babiloyne, and thus spake to hym, Leese thou not the wijse men of Babiloyne; leede yn me in the siȝt of the kyng, and I shal telle to the kyng the solucioun, or vndirstondyng. Thanne Arioch hastynge ledde yn Danyel to the kyng, and saide to hym, I haue founden a man of the sonys of transmygracioun of Jude, that shal telle to the kyng the solucioun. The kyng answerde, and saide to Danyel, to whom the name was Balthasar, Gessist thou, wher thou maist verrely shewe to me the sweuen that I sawȝ, and the interpretacioun therof? And Danyel answerde byfore the kyng, and saith, The mysterie whiche the kyng axith, the wise men, and the witchis, and dyuynours bi auteris, and dyuynours by lokyng of sterris, mown not shewe to the kyng. Bot ther is God in heuen, shewynge mysteries, whiche shewide to thee, thou kyng Nabugodonosor, whiche thingus ben to cum in the last tymes. Thi swenens and visions of thin hed, in thi couche, ben siche. Thou, kyng, biganst for to thinke in thi bed, what thing was to cummynge after these thingus; and he that shewith mysteries, shewide to thee what thingus ben to cummynge. And this sacrament, or hid trewthe, is shewid, not in wisdam that is in me more than in alle lyuynge men, bot that the interpretacioun be shewid to the kyng, and that thou shuldist wite the thouȝtis of thi soule. Thou, kyng, hast seen, and loo! as oo grete ymage; thilk ymage grete, and in stature hiȝ, stode aȝeinus thee, and the biholdyng therof was dreedful. The hed of this ymage was of best gold, forsothe the brest and armys of syluer; forsothe the wombe and thiȝes of brasse, sothely the leggis of yren; forsothe of the feet sum part of yren, sum of erthe. Thou hast seen thus, til a stoon was kit of, with outen hondis, of a mount, and smote the ymage in his feet of yren and erthe, and made lesse, or brake, hem. Thanne the yren, pott, or mater maad of erthe, brasse, syluer, and gold, ben broken to gidre, and dryuen as in to a qwenchid brond of somer feeld, whiche ben rauyshid with wynd, and no place is foundun in hem; forsothe the stoon that smote the ymage, is maad a grete mounteyn, and fulfillide al erthe. This is the sweuen. And we shuln saye the interpretacioun therof byfore the kyng. Thou art kyng of kyngus, and God of heuen ȝaue to thee kingdam, strengthe, and empire, or lordship, and glorie, and alle thingus in whiche sones of men dwellen, and beestis of the feeld; and he ȝaue in thin hond the foulis of heuen, and ordeynyde alle thingus vndir thi lordship; therfor thou art the golden hed. And after thee an other rewme shal ryse to gydre, lesse than thou; and the thrid rewme, an other of brasse, whiche shal comaunde to al erthe. And the fourthe rewme shal be as yrunny; hou yrun brekith to gydre alle thingus, and dauntith, or tamith, so it shal menushe, and to gydre breke alle these thingus. Forsothe thou hast seen of the feete and fyngris erthi, or cleyi, part of a potter, and a part of yren, the rewme shal be departid; whiche neuerthelese shal sprynge of the plauntyng of yren, after that thou hast seen yren meynt of cleye and tyel, and fingris, or toon, of feet in partie of yren, in partie of erthe, the rewme in party shal be sad, and in party debrusid. Sothely that thou hast seen yren meynt to tyel of cley, forsothe thei shuln be meynt to gidre by mans seed; bot thei shuln not cleue to hem self, as yren may not be meynt to tyel. Forsothe in the days of tho rewmes, God of heuen shal reyse a kyngdam, whiche shal not be distruyed in to with outen eende, and his rewme shal not be taken to an other peple; it shal make lesse, and waste alle these rewmes, and the ylk shal stonde in to with outen eende. Vp that that thou sawȝ, that a stoon is kit off with outen hondis of an hill, and maad lesse, or brake, the tyel, and yren, and bras, and syluer, and gold, the grete God shewide to the kyng, what thingus ben to cummynge afterward; and the sweuen is trewe, and the interpretacioun therof feithful. Than kyng Nabuchodonosor felle in to his face, and wirshipide Danyel, and comaundide sacrifices and encense, that it were offride to hym. Therfore the kyng spekynge saith to Danyel, Verreli ȝour God is God of goddis, and Lord of kyngus, shewinge mysteries, for thou miȝtist opne this sacrament. Thann the kyng enhaunside in to heeȝ Danyel, and ȝaue to hym many ȝiftis and grete, and ordeynyde hym vpon alle prouyncis of Babiloyne prince and prefect, and maister vpon alle wijse men of Babiloyne. Forsothe Danyel axide of the kyng, and ordeynyde vpon the werkis of the prouynce of Babiloyne, Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago; forsothe Danyel hym self was in the ȝatis of the kyng.
Nabugodonosor, kyng, made a goldyne ymage, in heiȝte of sixty cubitis, in breede of six cubitis; and sette it in the feeld Duram, of the prouynce of Babiloyne. And so Nabugodonosor sente for to gedre satrapis, or wijse men, magistratis, and iugis, and duykis, and tirauntis, or strong men, and prefectis, and alle the princes of cuntrees, that thei shulden cum to gydre to halewyng of the ymage, whom the kyng Nabugodonosor rayside vp. Than satrapes weren gedrid, magestratis, and iugis, and duykis, and tirauntis, and the best men that weren ordeyned in poweris, and alle princis of cuntrees, that thei shulden cum to gydre to halewyng of the ymage, whom the kyng Nabugodonosor reyside vp. Forsothe thei stoden in siȝt of the ymage, whiche kyng Nabugodonosor hadde putt; and a bedel criede miȝtily, To ȝou it is sayd, peplis, lynagis, and langagis; in the hour in whiche ȝe shuln heere the sown of trumpe, and pipe, and harpe, sambuke, sautrie, and symfonie, and al kynde of musikis, ȝe fallynge wirshipe the golden ymage, whom Nabugodonosor, kyng, ordeynyde. Sotheli ȝif eny man not fallynge doun shal wirship, in the same hour he shal be sent in to a fourneyse of fijr brennynge. Therfore after these thingus, anoon as alle peplis harden the sown of trumpe, pype, and harpe, sambuke, and sautrie, synphonie, and al kynde of musikis, fallynge alle peplis, lynagis, and langagis, wirshipiden the golden ymage, whom Nabugodonosor, the kyng, ordeynede. And anoon in that tyme men Caldeis cummynge to, accusiden Jewis, and saiden to Nabugodonosor, kyng, Kyng, in to with outen eende lyue thou. Thou, kyng, hast putte a decree, or dome, that eche man that shal heere the sown of trumpe, pype, and harpe, sambuke, and sautre, and synfonye, and al kynde of musykis, putte doun hym self, and wirshipe the golden ymage; forsothe ȝif eny man not fallynge doun shal wirshipe, be he sent in to fourneyse of brennynge fijr. Therfore men Jewis ben, whom thou hast ordeynyd vpon werkis of the cuntree of Babyloyne, Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago. These men, kyng, dispisiden thi decree; thei honouren not thi goddis, and thei worshipen not the golden ymage, whom thou reysidist. Thanne Nabugodonosor in woodnesse and in wrath, comaundide, that Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago shulden be ledde to; whiche anoon ben ledde to in siȝt of the kyng. And Nabugodonosor, the kyng, pronounsynge saith to hem, Verrely wher ȝe, Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, honouren not my goddis, and wirshipen not the golden ymage, whom Y reiside? Now therfore be ȝe redy, in what euer hour ȝe shuln heer sown of trumpe, pype, harp, sambuke, sautrie, and synfonye, and of al manere of musykis, putte ȝe doun ȝou, and wirshipe the ymage that Y made; for ȝif ȝe shuln not wirship, in the same houre ȝe shuln be sent in to the fourneys of fijr brennynge; and who is God, that shal delyuere ȝou of myn hond? Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago answerynge saiden to kyng Nabugodonosor, It byhoueth not vs of this thing for to answere to thee. Loo! sothely our God, whom we wirshipen, may delyuere vs of the chymneye of brennynge fijre, and of thin hondis delyuere, thou kyng. For ȝif he wole not, be it knowen to thee, kyng, for we honoure not thi goddis, and we wirshipen not the golden ymage, whom thou hast reyside. Thanne Nabugodonosor was fulfillid with wodenesse, and the biholdynge of his face is chaungid vpon Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago. And he bad, that the fourneyse shulde be sette on fijre seuen fold, hatter than it was wont for to be tendid. And he badde the strongist men of his oost, that the feet bounden of Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, thei shulden sende hem in to the fourneyse of brennynge fijre. And anoon the ilk men bounden, with armes, and cappis, and shoon, and clothis, weren sente in to mydil of the fourneys of brennynge fijre; for whi the comaundyng of the kyng constreynide. Forsothe the fourneys was tendid ful miche; forsothe flawme of the fijre slewȝ tho men, that senten Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago in to the fourneyse. Forsothe these three men, Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, fellen doun bounden in mydil of the chymney of brennynge fijre. And thei walkiden in mydil of the flawme, heryinge God, and blessynge to the Lord. Forsothe Azarie stondynge preyede thus; and opnyng his mouth in mydil of the fijre, saith, Blessid art thou, Lord God of our fadris, and heryful, or worthi to be preyside, and thi name glorious in to worldis; for thou art iust in alle thingus whiche thou didist to vs, and alle thi werkis trewe, and thi wayes riȝt, and alle thi domes verrey. Forsothe thou hast don verrey domes, after alle thingus that thou leddist in vpon vs, and vpon the holy citee of our fadris, Jerusalem; for in trewthe and dome thou leddist yn alle these thingus for oure synnes. Sothely we synnyden, and diden wickidly, goynge awey fro thee, and trespassiden in alle thingus, and herden not thin heestis, nether kepten, nether diden as thou comaundidist to vs, that it were wele to vs. Therfore alle thingus that thou leddist yn vpon vs, and alle thingus that thou didist to vs, in verre dome thou hast don; and thou hast bitaken vs in the hondis of enmys, wickid and warst trespassours, and to the vniust kyng, and warst ouer al erthe. And now we mown not opne the mouthe; we ben maad confusioun and shenship to thi seruauntis, and to these that wirshipen thee. We preyen, bitake not vs in to with outen eende, for thi name, and distruye not thi testament, nether do awey thi mercye fro vs, for Abram, thi derworthe, and Ysaac, thi seruaunt, and Yrael, or Jacob, thin holy; to whiche thou spake, bihetynge that thou shuldist multiplie the seede of hem as sterris of heuen, and as grauel that is in the brynke of the see. For, Lord, we ben maad litil, more than alle hethen men, and we ben meeke, or lowe, in eche lond this day, for oure synnes. And ther is not in this tyme prince, and duyke, and prophete, nether brent sacrifice, nether sacrifice, nether offring, nether encense, ne place of primissis byfor thee, that we mown fynde thi mercye; bot in contrite soule, or ynwitt, and in spirit of mekenesse be we resceyuyd. As in brend sacrifice of wetheris and boolis, and as in thousandis of fat lambren, so oure sacrifice be maad to day in thi siȝt, that it plese to thee; for confusioun, or shame, is not to men tristinge in thee. And now we suen thee in al herte, and dreeden thee, and seeken thi face. Confounde thou not vs, but do with vs vp thi myldenesse, and vp the mykilnesse of thi mercy. And deliuere vs in thi merueylis, and ȝeue glorie to thi name, Lord; and confoundid be alle, that shewen to thi seruauntis yuel thingis; be thei confoundid in al thi power, and the strengthe of hem be broken to gydre; and thei shuln wite, for thou art the Lord God aloone, and glorious vpon the roundenesse of erthes. And thei ceesiden not, the ministris of the kyng, that sente hem, for to tende the fourneis with napte, herdis of hemp, or flaxe, and pitche, and kittyngus of vynes. And the flawme was held out ouer the fourneys by nyne and fourti cubitis, and brake out, and brent whom of Caldeis it fonde bysidis the fourneis. Forsothe an aungel of the Lord cam doun with Azarie and his felawis, in to the fourneys, and smote ouere the flawme of fijre of the fourneis; and maade the mydil of the fourneis as wynde of dewe blowinge; and the fijre touchide not hem on al manere, nether made sorewfull, nether brouȝte yn eny thing of heuynesse. Thanne these three as of oo mouthe heryeden God, and glorifieden, and blessiden God in the fourneys, sayinge, Blessid art thou, Lord God of oure fadris, and worthi to be heryed, and glorious, and aboue enhaunsid in to worldis; and blessid the name of thi glorie, the whiche is holy, and worthi to be heried, and aboue reisid in alle worldis. Blessid art thou in the holy temple of thi glorie, and thou aboue preiseful, and glorious in to worldis. Blessid art thou in the trone of thi rewme, and aboue preyseful, and aboue reysid in to worldis. Blessid art thou, that biholdist depnessis, and sittist vpon cherubyn, and preysful, and aboue reysid in to worldis. Blessid art thou in the firmament of heuen, and preysful, and glorious in to worldis. Blesse ȝe, alle the werkis of the Lord, to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue enhaunse ȝe hym in to worldis. Blesse ȝe, aungels of the Lord, to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Blesse ȝe, heuens, to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Blesse ȝe, alle watris that ben vp on heuens, to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle vertues of the Lord, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe him into worldis. Sunne and moone, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preise ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe him in to worldis. Sterris of heuene, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preise ȝe, and aboue reise ȝe him in to worldis. Reyn and dew, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe him into worldis. Ech spirit of God, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Fijre and heete, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Colde and sumer, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝee, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Dewis and whijt frost, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe him in to worldis. Byndynge frost and colde, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Yss and snowes, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym into worldis. Nyȝtis and days, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Liȝt and derknesses, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Leitis and cloudis, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym into worldis. Blesse the erthe the Lord; preyse it, and aboue reyse hym in to worldis. Mounteyns and smale hillis, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle buriownynge thingus in erthe, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Wellis, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Sees and floodes, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Whallis, and alle thingis that ben moued in watris, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle foulis of heuen, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Alle beestis and etable, or litil, beestis, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Sonys of men, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym into worldis. Blesse Yrael the Lord; preyse it, and aboue reyse him in to worldis. Prestis of the Lord, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Seruauntis of the Lord, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Spiritis and soulis of iust men, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym into worldis. Holi and meeke in herte, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym into worldis. Ananyas, Azarias, Mysael, blesse ȝe to the Lord; preyse ȝe, and aboue reyse ȝe hym in to worldis. Whiche delyuerede vs fro helle, and made saaf fro the hond of deth, and delyuerede fro the mydil of the brennynge flawme, and rauyshide vs out of the mydil of the fyre. Knowleche ȝe to the Lord, for he is good; for in to the world the mercye of hym. Alle religious, blesse ȝe to the Lord, God of goddis; preyse ȝe, and knowleche ȝe to hym, for in to alle worldis the mercye of hym. Thanne kyng Nabugodonosor wondride myche, and rose hastiliche, and saith to his best men, Wher we senten not three men bounden to gidre in to mydil of fyre? Whiche answeringe to the kyng saiden, Verrely, kyng. Thanne the king answerde, and saith, Loo! I see foure men vnbounden, and walkynge in mydil of the fyre, and no thing of corrupcioun is in hem; and the fourme of the fourthe lijc to the sone of God. Thanne Nabugodonosor, kyng, came to the dore of the fourneys of brennynge fyr, and saith, Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, saruauntis of heeȝ lyuyng God, go ȝe out, and cume ȝe. And anoon Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, wenten out of the mydil of fyr. And satrapis gedrid, and magestratis, and domysmen, and miȝty men of the kyng, biheelden thoo men, for fijre hadde no thing of power in the bodys of hem, and an heer of hir hed was not brent to; also the breechis of hem weren not chaungid, and the sauer of fijr passide not by hem. And Nabugodonosor brestinge out saith, Blessid is God of hem, that is to saye, of Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, whiche sente his aungel, and delyuerde his seruauntis that byleeuyden in to hym, and chaungiden the word of the kyng, and ȝauen her bodies, lest thei seruyden, and lest thei wirshipiden euery god, outake her God aloone. Therfore of me this decree, or dome, is putt, that eche peple, and langagis, and lynagis, who euere shal speke blasfeme aȝeinus God of Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, perishe, and his hous be waastid; forsothe ther is non other God, that may thus saue. Thanne the kyng auaunside Sydrac, Mysac, and Abdenago, in the prouynce of Babyloyne; and in to eche lond he sente a pistle, conteenynge these woordis.
Nabugodonosor, kyng, to alle peplis, folkis, and langagis, that dwellen in al erthe, pees be multiplied to ȝou. Heeȝ God made at me signis and wondirful thingus; therfore it pleside to me for to preche the sygnys of hym, for thei ben greet, and his wondirful thingis, for thei stronge; and his rewme euerlastinge rewme, and his power in to generacioun and generacioun. I, Nabugodonosor, was quyete in myn hous, and flouringe in my paleys; I sawȝ a sweuen, whiche feride me; and my thouȝtis in my bed, and siȝtis of myn hed, to gidre troubliden me. And by me a decree was putte forth, that alle wijse men of Babiloyne shulden be ledde yn in my siȝt, that thei shulden shewe to me the solucioun, or vndirstondyng, of the sweuene. Thanne entriden dyuynours by auters, wicches, Caldeis, and dyuynours by sterris; and I teelde the swenen in the siȝt of hem, and thei shewiden not to me the solucioun therof, til a felowe of office entride in my siȝt, Danyel, to whom the name Balthasar, after the name of my god, whiche hath the spirit of holy goddis in hym self; and I spac the sweuen bifore hym. Balthasar, prince of dyuynours by autris, whom I wote, for thou hast in thee the spirit of holy goddis, and eche sacrament is not impossible to thee, telle thou to me the visions of my sweuens, and the solucioun of hem. The visioun of myn hed in my couche. I sawȝ, and loo! a tree in the mydil of erthe, and the heiȝt therof ful myche. And a greete tree and stronge, and the nobley, or strecchinge out, therof touchynge heuen, biholding therof was vnto termes of al erthe. The leues therof most faire, and the fruyte therof ful myche, and mete of alle thingus theryn; vnder it beestis dwelliden, and wijlde beestis, and in bowis therof briddis of heuen lyuyden, and eche fleshe eete of it. Thus I sawȝ in siȝt of myn heued, vpon my bed. And loo! the waker, and holy came doun from heuen, and criede strongli, and thus saith, Kitte ȝe doun the tree, and bifore kitte ȝe the braunchis therof, and smyte out the leeues therof, and scatere ȝe the fruytis therof; beestis that ben vndir it, flee thei, and briddis of the braunchis therof. Nethelese suffre ȝe buriownyng of rootis therof in the erthe, and be it bounden to in boond of yren and brasun, in erbis that ben with outforth, and be it dyed in dewe of heuen, and with wijlde beestis the parte therof in erbe of erthe. The herte therof be chaungid fro mans, and the herte of wijlde beest be ȝouen to it, and seuen tymes be chaungid vpon hym. As in sentence of wakers it is demyd, and the word of saintus and axing, to lyuynge men knowen, for the heeȝ shal be Lord in rewme of men; and he shal ȝeue it to whom euere he shal woln, and he shal ordeyne the mekist man vpon it. This sweuen sawȝ Y Nabugodonosor, kyng. Therfore thou, Balthasar, hastily telle the interpretacioun, for alle the wijse men of my rewme mown not saye out to me the solucioun; forsothe thou maist, for the spirit of the holy goddis is in thee. Thanne Danyel, to whom the name Balthasar, bygan with yn hym self stilly for to thenke, as oon hour, and his thouȝtis to gydre trubliden hym. Forsothe the kyng answerynge, saith, Balthasar, the sweuen and interpretacioun of it truble not thee. Balthasar answerde and saide, My lord, the sweuen be to hem that haten thee, and the interpretacioun therof be to thin enmyes. The tree whom thou hast seen heeȝ and stronge, whos heiȝt stretchith vnto heuen, and the biholdyng therof vnto al erthe, and his most faire braunchis, and fruyte therof ful myche, and mete of alle thingus theryn, vndir it dwellynge beestis of the feelde, and in braunchis therof dwellynge briddis of heuen, thou art, kyng; that art magnyfied, and hast woxen stronge, and thi greetnesse wexide, and cam fully vnto heuen, and thi power in to termis of al erthe. Forsothe that the kyng sawȝ the waker and hooly for to cum doun fro heuen, and for to saye, Kitte ȝe doun the tree, and scatre ȝe it, nethelese leue the buriownyng of rootys therof in erthe, and be he bounden in yren and brasse, and in erbis with out forth, and dew of heuen be it spreyn to gydre, and with wylde beestis be his mete, til seuen tymes be chaungid vpon hym; this is the interpretacioun of sentence of the heeiȝist, that came fully vpon my lord kyng. Thei shuln cast thee out fro men, and with beestus and wijlde beestis thi dwellyng shal be, and thou shalt ete hay as an oxe, bot and in dewe of heuen thou shalt be inshed, and seuene tymes shuln be chaungid vpon thee, til thou wite, that the heyȝ lordshipith vpon rewme of men, and he ȝeuith it to whom euer he shal wiln. Forsothe that he comaundide, that buriownyng of rootis therof, that is to saye, of the tree, shulde be left, thi rewme shal dwelle to thee, after that thou shalt knowe power for to be heuenly. Wherfore, kyng, my counseil plese to thee, and aȝeinby thou thi synnes with almes deedis, and thi wickidnessis with mercies of pore men; perauenture God shal forȝeue thi trespasses. Alle these thingus camen on Nabugodonosor, kyng. After the eende of twelue monethis in the halle of Babiloyne he walkide; and the kyng answerde and saith, Wher this not Babyloyne, the grete citee, whiche I beeldide in to the hous of rewme, in miȝt of my strengthe, and in glorie of my fairnesse? Therfore whann ȝit the word was in the kyngus mouthe, a voice felle fro heuen, To thee it is said, kyng Nabugodonosor, Thi rewme passith fro thee, and fro men thei shuln caste out thee, and with beestis and wijlde beestis thi dwellyng shal be; thou shalt ete hay as an oxe, and seuen tymes shuln be chaungid vpon thee, til thou wite, that the heyȝ lordshipith in rewme of men, and he ȝeuith it to whom euer he shal woln. In the same houre the word was fulfillid vp on Nabugodonosor, and of men he is cast out, and he eete hay as an oxe, and with dewe of heuen his body was enfourmed, or defoulid, til his heris wexiden in to lickenesse of eglis, and his naylis as naylis, or clees, of briddis. Therfore after the eend of days, Y, Nabugodonosor, reyside myn eeȝen to heuen, and my wit is ȝolden to me; and I blesside to the heeȝist, and I heriede, and glorifiede the lyuynge in to with outen eende; for his power euerlastynge power, and the rewme of hym in to generacioun and generacioun. And alle dwellers of erthe anentis him ben rettid in to nouȝt; forsothe after his wille he shal do, as wele in vertues of heuen, as in dwellers of erthe, and there is not, that shal aȝein stonde his hond, and shal saye to hym, Whi didist thou this? That tyme my wit tourned aȝein to me, and I came fully to the honour of my kingdam, and fairnesse, and my figure, or shap, turnyde aȝein to me; and my best men and my magestratis aȝein souȝten me, and I am ordeyned in my kingdam, and my magnyfience, or gretenesse, is addid to me. Now therfore Y Nabugodonosor herie, and magnyfie the kyng of heuen; for alle his werkis ben trewe, and his wayes domes; and he may make meke, or lowe, men goynge in pryde.
Balthasar, kyng, made a grete fest to his best men a thousand, and eche man dranke after his age. Forsothe the kyng now drunken comaundide, that the golden vessels and sylueren shulden be brouȝt forth, whiche Nabugodonosor, his fadre, bare out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, that the kyng, and his best men, and wyues, and his concubynes, or secundarie wyues, shulden drynke. Thei drunken wijne, and herieden her goddis of gold, and of syluer, and of brasse, and of yren, and of tree, and of stoon. In the same houre there apeeriden fyngris, as of hond of a man, writynge aȝeins the candilstike, in the ouermer part of the walle of the kyngis halle; and the kyng bihelde the fyngris of the hond wrijtynge. Thanne the face of the kyng was chaungid to gydre, and his thouȝtis al to-trubliden hym; and the ioyntures of his reynys weren vnbounden, and his knees weren hurtlid to gydre at hemself. And so the kyng cried strongly, that thei shulden leede yn witches, or wijs men, Caldeis, and dyuynours by sterris. And the kyng spekyng afer saith to the wijs men of Babiloyne, Who euere shal reede this wrytyng, and shal make the interpretacioun therof knowen to me, shal be clothid with purpre, and shal haue a golden bee in the nek, and shal be the thrid in my rewme. Thann alle wijse men of the kyng gon yn myȝten not reede the scripture, nether shewe to the kyng interpretacioun therof. Wherof kyng Balthasar is trublid to gydre ynowȝ, and his cheere is chaungid, bot and his best men weren trublid to gydre. Forsothe the queen for the thing that bifelle to the kyng, and best men of hym, wente to the hous of feest; and for spekynge saith, Kyng, in to with outen eende lyue thou. Thi thouȝtis trublen thee not, nether thi face be chaungid. A man is in thi rewme, that hath in hym the spirit of holi goddis, and in the days of thi fadir science and wisdam ben founden in hym; for whi and kyng Nabugodonosor, thi fadre, ordeynyde hym prince of witchis, enchauntris, of Caldeis, and of dyuynours by sterris; sotheli, thou kyng, thi fadir, for the more spirit, and more prudent, and vndirstondynge, and interpretacioun of sweuens, and shewyng of pryuy thingus, and vndoyng of bounden thingus ben founden in hym, this is in Danyel, to whom the kyng ȝaue name Balthasar. Now therfore Danyel be clepid, and he shal telle the interpretacioun. Therfore Danyel is brouȝt yn byfore the kyng. To whom the forsaid king saith, Thou art Danyel of the sonys of caytiftee of Jude, whom my fadre, kyng, ledde to fro Jude? Y herde of thee, for thou hast in thee the spirit of goddis, and science, and vndirstondynge, and wisdam gretter ben founden in thee. And now wijse men, witches, entreden in my siȝt, for to reede this writyng, and for to shew to me the interpretacioun therof; and thei miȝten not saye out to me the wit of this word. Forsothe I herde of thee, that thou mayst interprete derke thingis, and vnbynde bounden thingus; therfore ȝif thou maist reede the wrijtyng, and shewe to me the interpretacioun therof, thou shalt be clothid with purpre, and thou shalt haue a golden bee aboute thi nek, and thou shalt be the thridde prince in my rewme. To whiche thingus Danyel answerynge saith byfore the kyng, Thi ȝiftis be to thee, and ȝeue thou to an other the ȝiftus of thin hous; forsothe, kyng, I shal reede to thee the wrytyng, and I shal shewe interpretacioun therof to thee, thou kyng. The heeȝist God ȝaue rewme, and magnyficence, glorie, and honour to Nabugodonosor, thi fadir. And for the magnificence whiche he ȝaue to hym alle peplis, lynagis, and tungis, trembliden and dredden hym; he slowȝ whom he wolde, and whom he wolde he smote, and whom he wolde he enhaunside, and whom he wolde he meekide. Forsothe whan his herte was reyside vp, and his spirit stablid to pride, he was putt doun of the seete of his rewme; and the glorie of hym was taken awey, and he was cast out of sones of men; bot and the herte of hym was putt with beestis, and with feeld assis his dwellynge was; and he eete hay as an oxe, and with dewe of heuen his body was fourmed, or defoulid, til he knew that the heeȝist hath power in the rewme of men, and whom euere he shal wole, he shal reyse on it. Forsothe thou, Balthasar, his sone, mekedist not thin herte, whann thou wistist alle these thingus; bot aȝeinus the Lord of heuen thou art reysid vp, and the vessels of his hous ben brouȝt to byfore thee, and thou, and thi best men, and thi wyues, and thi concubynes han drunke wijne in hem; and thou heriedist goddis of syluer, and of gold, and of brasse, and of yren, and of tree, and of stoon, whiche seen not, nether heeren, nether feelen; forsothe thou glorifiedist not God, that hath thi wynd, or spirit, in his hond, and alle thi weies. Therfore fro hym the fyngre of an hond is sente, whiche wrote this thing that is writen. Forsothe this is the wrytyng that is ordeyned, Mane, Techel, Phares. And this interpretacioun of the word. Mane, God hath noumbride thi rewme, and fulfillid it; Techel, it is hangid in a balaunce, and is founden hauynge lesse; Phares, thi kyngdam is departid, and is ȝouen to Medis and to Persis. Thanne, the kyng comaundynge, Danyel is clothid with purpre, and a gold bee is ȝouen aboute in his nek; and it is prechid of hym, that he hadde power, he the thrid in his rewme. The same niȝt Balthasar, kyng Caldey, is slayn; and Darius of Mede was successour in the rewme, hauynge two and sixti ȝeeris.
It pleside to Darius, and he ordeynyde on the rewme satraps an hundrid and twenti, that thei weren in al his rewme; and on hem three princis, of whom Danyel was oon; that the satraps shulden ȝelde resoun to hem, and the kyng shulde not suffre eny disese. Therfore Danyel ouercame alle princis and satraps, for the more spirit of God was in hym. Forsothe the kyng thouȝte for to ordeyne hym on al the rewme. Wherfore princes and satraps souȝten for to fynde occasioun to Danyel, of syde of the kyng; and thei miȝten fynde no cause and suspicioun, for that that he was feithful, and eche blame and suspicioun was not founden in hym. Therfore thilk men saiden, We shuln not fynde to this Danyel eny occasioun, no bot perauenture in the lawe of his God. Thanne princes and satraps falsli tysiden, or counceyliden, to the kyng, and thus spaken to hym, Darye, kyng, in to with outen eende lyue thou. Alle princes of thi rewme, and magestratis, and satrapis, senatours, and domysmen, maden a conceyle, that decree, or dom, of the emperour go out, and maundement, that eche man that shal axe eny axinge of eny god and man, vnto thritty days, no bot of thee, kyng, be sent in to the lake of lyouns. And so now, kyng, conferme thou the sentence, and write the decree, that it be not chaungid whiche is ordeynyd of Medis and Persis, nether be it leeful to eny man for to breke. Forsothe kyng Darius putte forth the decree, and ordeynyde. Whiche thing whanne Danyel had founden, that is to saye, the lawe ordeynyd, he wente in to his hous; and the wyndowis opnyd in his soupyng place aȝeinus Jerusalem, three tymes in the day he bowide his knees, and wirshipide, and knawelichide byfore his God, as he was wonte for to do byfore. Therfore tho men more bysily enquerynge founden Danyel preyinge, and bisechynge his God. And thei cummynge to spaken to the kyng on the maundement, Kyng, wher thou ordeynidist not, that eche man whiche preyde eny of goddis and men, vnto thritti days, no bot thee, kyng, he shulde be sent in to the lake of lyouns? To whom the kyng answerynge saith, The word is trewe, vp the decree of Medis and Persis, whiche it is not leeful for to breeke. Thanne thei answerynge saiden bifore the kyng, Danyel, of the sones of caytifte of Judee, reckide not of thi lawe, and of the maundement, whiche thou ordeynedist, bot three tymes by day he preyeth in his bisechynge. Whiche word whan the kyng hadde herd, he was sorewful ynewȝ, and for Danyel sette the herte, that he shulde delyuere hym; and vnto goynge doun of the sunne he traueilide for to delyuere hym. Forsothe tho men vndirstondynge the kyng, saiden to hym, Wite thou, kyng, for the lawe of Medis and Persis is, that eche decree whiche the kyng ordeyneth, be not leeful for to be chaungid. Thanne the kyng comaundide, and thei ledden to Danyel, and senten hym into the lake of lyouns. And the kyng sayde to Danyel, Thi God, whom thou wirshipidist euermore, he shal delyuere thee. And a stoon is brouȝt to, and is putt on the mouthe of the lake, whiche the kyng markide, or sealide, on eche syde with his reng, and with reng of his best men, lest eny thing were don aȝeinus Danyel. And the kyng wente awey in to his hous, and slepte vnsoupid, and metis be not brouȝt to byfore hym; more ouer and sleep wente awey fro hym. Thanne the kyng first in the mornyng rysynge hastily, wente to the lake of lyouns; and he neiȝinge to the lake, with a wepynge voice criede vn to Danyel, and spake to hym, Danyel, the seruaunt of the lyuynge God, gessist thou, wher thi God, to whom thou seruist euermore, miȝt not delyuere thee fro lyouns? And Danyel answerynge to the kyng saith, Kyng, in to with outen eende lyue thou. My God sente his aungel, and closide to gydre the mouthes of lyouns, and thei anoyeden not me, for byfore hym riȝtwysnesse is founden in me; bot and byfore thee, kyng, Y did no trespas. Thann the kyng gretely ioyede vpon hym, and comaundide Danyel for to be led out of the lake. And Danyel was led out of the lake, and noon hirtyng is founden in hym, for he bileeuyde to his God. Forsothe the kyng comaundynge, thei that accusiden Danyel ben brouȝt forth, and in to the lake of lyouns ben sent, thei, and the sonnys of hem, and the wyues of hem; and thei camen not fully vn to the pament of the lake, tyl the lyouns rauyshiden hem, and braken to gydre alle her bonys. Than Darius, kyng, wrote to alle peplis, lynagis, and langagis, dwellynge in al erthe, Pees be multiplied to ȝou. Therfore a decre is ordeynide of me, that in alle the empire and my rewme thei tremble, and drede the God of Danyel; forsothe he is lyuynge God, and euerlastinge into worldis, and his rewme shal not be distruyed, and the power of hym vnto with outen eende. He is delyuerer and sauer, doynge signe and merueilis in heuen and in erthe, whiche delyuerde Danyel fro the lake of lyouns. Forsothe Danyel duryde vnto the kyngdam of Darius, and to the kyngdam of Cyrus of Persis.
In the first ȝeer of Balthasar, kyng of Babyloyne, Danyel sawȝ a sweuen. Forsothe the visioun of his hed in his couche, and sweuen, he wrytynge comprehendide in short word; and in sum, or litil wordis, touchynge saith, Y sawȝ in my visioun by niȝt, and loo! foure wyndis of heuen fouȝten in the mydil see. And foure greet beestis stieden vp of the se, dyuerse bytwixe hem self. The first as a lyonesse, and hadde weengis of an egle. Y byheelde til hir weengis weren drawen of, and she is taken vp of the erthe, and she stode on the feet as a man, and the herte of it is ȝouen to it. And loo! an other beest, lijc to a bere in party, stode, and three ordris weren in mouth therof, and in teeth therof three princis. And thus thei saiden to it, Ryse thou, ete ful manye fleshis. After these thingus Y byheelde, and loo! an other as a pard, and hadde vp on it foure weengis of a bridd on it, and foure hedis weren in the beest, and power is ȝouen to it. After these thingus Y byheelde in a visioun of niȝt, and loo! the fourthe beest, dreedful, and wonderful, and ful stronge. It hadde greet yren teeth, etynge and brekynge to gydre, and defoulynge other thingus with his feet; forsothe it was vnlijc to other beestis, whiche Y sawȝ byfore it, and it hadde ten hornys. Y biheelde the hornys, and loo! an other litil horn is sprungen vp of the mydil of hem, and three of the first horns ben drawen out fro the face therof; and loo! eeȝen as eeȝen of a man weren in this horn, and a mouth spekynge greet thingus. Y byhelde, til trones weren sette, and the olde of days sat; his clothinge white as snowe, and the heris of his hed as cleen wolle, his trone of flawme of fijr, the whelis of hym fijr tendid. A flode of fijr and fast rennynge wente out fro his face, a thousand of thousandis mynistriden to hym, and ten thousand sithis an hundred thousand stoden niȝ to hym; the dom sate, and bokis ben opnyd. Y byheelde for the voice of grete wordis, whiche the ylk horn spake; and I sawȝ, for the beest was slayn, and the body therof peryshide, and was bytaken for to be brent in fijr. And the power of other beestus was taken awey, and tymes of lijf ben ordeynyd to hem, vn to tyme and tyme. Therfore Y byhelde in visioun of niȝt, and loo! with cloudis of heuen as the sone of man came; and vnto the olde of days he came fully, and in his siȝt thei offreden hym. And he ȝaue to hym power, and honour, and rewme, and eche peple, lynagis, and tungis shuln serue to hym; the power of hym euerlastinge power, whiche shal not be don awey, and the rewme of hym, whiche shal not be corrupte, or distruyed. My spirit hidouside; Y, Danyel, was ferd in these, and the visiouns of my heed to gidre trubliden me. Y came to oon of the niȝ stondynge, and Y axide of hym trewthe of alle these thingus. Whiche saide to me interpretacioun of wordis, and tauȝte me. These foure greet beestis ben foure rewmes, that shuln ryse to gydre of the erthe. Forsothe thei shuln resceyue the rewme of God heeȝist holy, and thei shuln holde the rewme, til into the world, and in to world of worldis. After these thingus Y wolde diligently lerne of the fourthe beest, that was gretely vnlijc fro alle, and dreedful ful myche, the teeth and naylis therof of yren; it eete, and brake to gydre, and defoulide the tothir thingus with his feet. And of ten hornes whiche it hadde in the hed, and of the tother that was sprungen vp, bifore whiche three hornes fellen doun, and of that horne that hadde eeȝen, and mouthe spekinge grete thingis, and was more than other; Y byheelde, and loo! the ylk horn made bataile aȝein saintis, and hadde power ouer hem, til the olde of dais came, and ȝaue dome to saintis hiȝe; and loo! tyme came, and saintis weldiden rewme. And thus he saith, The fourthe beest shal be the fourthe rewme in erthe, that shal be more than alle rewmes, and shal deuouren al erthe, and shal defoule, and to gydre breke it. Forsothe ten horns of that kyngdam shuln be ten kyngus; and an other shal rijse after hem, and he shal be miȝtier than the former, and shal meeke three kyngus. And he shal speke wordis aȝeinus the heeȝ, and he shal breke to gidre the saintis of the heeȝist; and he shal wene, that he may chaunge tymes and lawis; and it shal be ȝouen in to the hondis of hym, vn to tyme, and tymes, and the half of tyme. And dom shal sitte, that power be taken awey, and be broken to gydre, and perishe til into the eende. The rewme forsothe, and power, and the gretenesse of rewme, whiche is vndre al heuen, be ȝouen to the peple of halewis of the heeȝist, whose rewme is euerlastinge rewme, and alle folkis shuln serue to hym, and obeye. Til hidre the eende of the word. Y, Danyel, in my thouȝtis was miche trublid, and my face is chaungid in me; forsothe Y kepte to gidre the word in my hert.
In the thrid ȝeer of rewme of Balthasar, kyng, a vysioun apeeride to me. Y, Danyel, after that thing whiche Y hadde seen in the bygynnyng, sawȝ in my visioun, whan I was in the castel Susis, whiche is in the cuntre of Helam; forsothe I sawȝ in visioun me for to be vpon the ȝate Vlay. And Y rayside myn eeȝen, and sawȝ; and loo! oo wether stode byfore the mareis, hauynge heeȝ horns, and oon heeȝer than an other, and vndrewexinge. Afterward Y sawe the wether with hornys wyndowynge, or castynge doun, aȝeinus the eest, and aȝeinus the west, and aȝeinus the north, and aȝeinus the south; and alle beestis miȝten not aȝein stonde it, nether be delyuerd fro the hondis therof. And he dide vp his wille, and is magnyfied. And I vndirstode. Lo! forsothe a buk of geet came fro the west vpon the face of al erthe, and touchide not the erthe; forsothe the buk hadde a noble horn bitwixe his eeȝen; and came vnto the ylk wether horned, whiche Y sawȝ stondynge byfore the ȝate, and he ran to hym in bir of his strengthe. And whenn he neiȝede niȝ the wether, he dide crueli in to hym, and he smote the wether, and he brake to gidre two hornys of hym, and the wether miȝte not withstonde hym. And when he sente hym in to the erthe, he defoulide hym; and no man miȝte delyuere the wether of his hond. Forsothe the buk of geet is maad grete ful miche; and whan he hadde waxen, the grete horn is brosten, and foure horns ben brouȝt forth vndir it, bi foure wyndis of heuen. Eftsoone forsothe of hem oo litil horne wente out, and it is maad grete aȝeinus the south, and aȝeinus the eest, and aȝeinus strengthe. And it is magnyfied vnto the strengthe of heuen, and castide doun of strengthe and of sterris, and defoulide hem. And vnto the prince of strengthe he is magnyfied, and fro hym he toke the contynuel sacrifice, and castide doun the place of halewyng of hym. Forsothe strengthe is ȝouen to hym aȝeinus the contynuel sacrifice for synnes, and trewthe shal be cast doun in erthe; and he shal haue prosperite, and shal do. And Y herde oon of the saintus spekynge; and oo saynt saide to an other, Y noote to whom spekynge, Hou longe deuysioun, and the contynuel sacrifice, and synne of desolacioun, or discoumfort, that is maad, and sayntuarie, and strengthe shal be defoulid? And he saide to hym, Vnto euenyng and morewnynge, days two thousand and three hundred; and the sayntuarie shal be clensid. Forsothe it is don, when Y, Danyel, sawe the visioun, and souȝte vndirstondyng, loo! there stode in my siȝt as the fourme of man. And Y herde a voice of the man bytwixe Vlay, and he criede, and saith, Gabriel, make thou this for to vndirstonde the visioun. And he came, and stode bysidis wher Y stode; and when he came, Y dreedynge felle doun in to my face. And he saith to me, Vndirstonde thou, sone of man, for in the tyme of eende diuisioun shal be fulfillid. And when he spac to me, Y slode to gydre doun riȝt in to the erthe. And he touchide me, and sette me in my degree. And he saide to me, Y shal shewe to thee what thingis ben to cummynge in the last of cursidnesse, for tyme hath his eende. The wether, or ram, whom thou hast seen for to haue hornys, is the kyng of Medis and Persis. Forsothe the geet buk is the king of Grekis; and the grete horn that was bitwix his eeȝen, is the first kyng. Forsothe that, it broken, foure han rysen for it, foure kyngus shuln to gydre ryse of that folc, bot not in the strengthe of hym. And after the rewme of hem, whenn wickidnesses shuln wexe, there shal ryse a king vnshamfast in face, and vndirstondynge proposiciouns, or resouns; and his strengthe shal be maad miȝty, bot not in his own strengthis. And ouer that it may be byleeued he shal waste alle thingus, and shal haue prosperite, and shal do. And he shal slea stronge men, and the peple of sayntus, after his wille, and gyle shal be dressid in his hond. And he shal magnyfie his hert, and in plente of alle thingus he shal slea ful manye. And he shal ryse to gydre aȝeins the prince of princis, and with outen hond he shal be broken to gydre. And the visioun, that is said in euening and morewnyng, is trewe. Therefore seale thou, or marke, the visyoun, for after manye days it shal be. And Y, Danyel, languyshide, and was seeke by ful manye days; and when Y roos, Y dide the werkis of the kyng; and I wondride at the visioun, and ther was not whiche shulde interprete, or expoun.
In the first ȝeer of Darius, sone of Assuerus, of the seed of Meedis, whiche comaundide vpon the rewme of Caldeis, in oo ȝeer of his rewme, Y, Danyel, vndirstode in bokis the noumbre of ȝeeris, of whiche the word of the Lord is maad to Jeremye, the prophete, that seuenty ȝeeris of desolacioun of Jerusalem shulden be fulfillid. And Y putte my face to the Lord my God, for to preye and byseche in fastyngis, sac, and ashe. And Y preyede the Lord my God, and I knawlechide, and sayde, Y biseche, thou Lord God, grete and dreedful, kepynge couenaunt and mercy to men louynge thee, and kepynge thi maundementis. We han synned, we han don wickidnesse, vnpytously we diden, and wenten awey, and bowiden awey fro thi maundementis and domys. We obeyeden not to thi seruauntis, prophetis, that spaken in thi name to our kyngis, oure princis, oure fadris, and to al peple of the lond. Lord, to thee riȝtwisnesse, forsothe to vs confusioun of face, as is to day to man of Juda, and dwellers of Jerusalem, and to al Yrael, to these that ben niȝ, and to these that ben fer in alle londis, to whom thou castidist hem out for the wickidnessis of hem, in whiche thei synnyden in thee, Lord. To vs confusioun of face, to oure kyngis, oure princis, and to oure fadris, that synneden; forsothe to thee, Lord oure God, mercye and helpe. For we wenten awey fro thee, and herden not the voice of the Lord oure God, that we shulde walke in his lawe, whiche he puttide to vs by his seruauntis, prophetis. And al Yrael braken thi lawe, and bowiden awey, that thei herden not thi voice; and cursse droppide on vs, and wlatyngnesse, that is writen in the boke of Moyses, seruaunt of God, for we han synned to hym. And he ordeynyde his wordis, whiche he spac vpon vs, and vpon oure princis, that demyden vs, that thei shulden aboue lede yn in to vs grete yuel, what maner was neuer vndir al heuen, vp that it is don in Jerusalem, as it is writen in the lawe of Moyses. Al this yuel came vpon vs, and we preyeden not thi face, Lord oure God, that we shulden turne aȝein fro oure wickidnessis, and shulden thinke thi trewthe. And the Lord wakide on his malice, and brouȝt it vpon vs; iust the Lord oure God in alle his werkis whiche he dide, forsothe we herden not the voice of hym. And now, Lord oure God, that leddist out thi peple of the lond of Egypt in strong hond, and madist to thee a name vp this day, we han synned, we diden wickidnesse, Lord, in to al thi riȝtwisnesse. Y biseche, be thi wrath turned awey and thi woodnesse fro thi citee Jerusalem, and fro thin holy hill; forsothe for oure synnes, and wickidnessis of oure fadris, Jerusalem and al thi peple ben in shenshipe, to alle men bi oure cumpas. Now forsothe, oure God, heere the orisoun of thi seruaunt, and preyeres of hym, and shewe thi face on thi sayntuarye, that is desert. For thi self thou, my God, bowe thin eere, and heere; opyn thin eeȝen, and see oure desolacioun, and the cite, on whom thi name is yn clepid. Forsothe nether in oure iustifiyngus we casten forth preeyeres byfore thi face, bot in thi manye doyngus of mercy. Heer thou, Lord; be thou plesid, Lord, perceyue, and do; dwelle thou, or tarye, not, for thi self, Lord my God, for thi name is in clepid vpon the cytee, and vpon thi peple. And whan ȝit I spac, and preyede, and knowlachide my synnes, and synnys of my peple Yrael, that Y shedde out preyers in siȝt of my God, for the holy hill of my God, ȝit me spekynge in my preyer, loo! the man Gabriel, whom I sawȝ in visioun fro the bygynnynge, soone fleeȝinge touchide me in tyme of euen sacrifice; and tauȝt me, and spac to me, and saide, Danyel, now Y am gon out, that Y shulde teche thee, and thou shuldiste vndirstonde. Fro the bygynnyng of thi preyers a word passide out. Forsothe Y came for to shewe to thee, for thou art a man of desijris; forsothe perceyue thou the word, and vndirstonde the visioun. Seuenty weekis ben abreggid on thi peple, and vpon thin holi citee, and trespassyng shal ben eendid, and synne shal take eend, and wickidnesse shal be don awey, and riȝtwysnesse euerlastynge shal be led to, and the visioun shal be fulfillid, and prophecie, and the holy of halewis shal be anoyntid. Therfore wite thou, and perceyue; fro bygynnynge of the word, that Jerusalem eftsone be beeldid, til to Crist, duyk, seuen weekis and two and sixti weekis shuln be; and eftsoone the strete shal be beeldid, and wallis, in anguyshe, or streytnesse, of tymes. And after two and sixti weekis Crist shal be slayn. And it shal not be the peple of hym, that is to denyinge hym. And the peple shal distruye the citee and sayntuarie, with the duyke to commynge; and the eende of hym waastynge, and after the eende of bataile ordeynd desolacioun. Forsothe he shal conferme the couenaunt with manye oo weeke, and in the half of a weeke oost and sacrifice shal fayle; and in the temple abomynacioun of desolacioun shal be, and vnto the eendynge and eende the desolacioun shal last.
In the thrid ȝeer of rewme of Cyrus, kyng of Persis, a word is toke aȝein to Danyel, by name Balthasar; and the word trewe, and grete strengthe, and he vndirstode the word; forsothe vndirstondyng is neede in visioun. In tho days Y, Danyel, weilide in days of three wekis; Y eete not desireful breede, and fleshe and wyne entriden not in to my mouth, bot nether with oynement Y was anoyntid, til days of three weekis weren fulfillid. Forsothe in the fourthe and twentithe day of the first moneth, Y was bysydis the grete flode, that is Tigris. And I reyside myn eeȝen, and sawȝ, and loo! oo man clothid in lynnen, and his reyns gird to with shynyng gold; and his body as crisolitus, and his face as fourme of leyt, and his eeȝen as a laumpe brennynge, and his armys and whiche thing is dounward vn to the feet as fourme of brasse waxinge whyte, and the voice of his wordis as voice of multitude. Forsothe Y, Danyel, aloone sawe the visioun; sothely the men that weren with me, sawen not, bot ful myche dreed felle vp on hem, and thei fledden in to an hid place. Forsothe Y left aloone sawe this greet visioun, and strengthe abode not in me; bot and my fourme is chaungid in me, and Y was drye, or welewid, nether hadde eny thing of strengthis. And Y herde the voice of his wordis, and Y heerynge laye castidoun, or ferd, vpon my face, and my cheer cleuyde to the erthe. And loo! an hond touchide me, and reyside me on my knees, and vpon the fyngris of myn hondis. And he sayde to me, Danyel, man of desiris, vndirstonde the wordis whiche Y speke to thee, and stonde thou in thi degree; now forsothe Y am sente to thee. And whenn he saide to me this word, Y stode tremblynge. And he saith to me, Danyel, nyl thou dreede, for of the first day in whiche thou puttidist thin herte for to vndirstonde, that thou shuldist tourmente thee in siȝt of thi God, thin wordis ben herde, and Y came for thi wordis. Forsothe the prince of the kingdam of Persis aȝein stode me oon and twenti days, and loo! Mychael, oon of the first princis, came in to myn help, and Y abode there bysidis the kyng of Persis. Forsothe Y came for to teche thee, what thingis ben to cummynge to thi peple in the last days; for ȝit the visioun is deferrid, or drawen alonge, in to days. And whann he spac to me siche maner wordis, Y keste doun my cheer to the erthe, and was stille. And lo! as the licnesse of the sone of man touchide my lippis; and Y opnynge my mouth spac, and saide to hym that stode byfore me, My Lord, in thi visioun my ioyntouris ben vnbounden, and no thing of strengthis aboden in me. And how may the seruaunt of my Lord speke with my Lord? no thing of strengthis aboode in me, bot and my brethe is closid bitwixe, or stoppide. Therfore eftsoone as the siȝt of man touchide me, and coumfortide me, and saide, Nyl thou dreede, thou man of desyrs; pees to thee, be thou coumfortid, and be thou strong. And whann he spac with me, Y waxe stronge, and saide, Speke thou, my Lord, for and thou hast coumfortide me. And he saith, Wher thou wast, whi Y came to thee? And now Y shal turne aȝein, for to fiȝt aȝeinus the prince of Persis. Forsothe whann Y wente out, the prince of Greekis apeeride cummynge. Nethelese Y shal telle to thee, what thing is expressid in the wrytyng of trewthe; and no man is myn helper in alle these thingis, no bot Miȝhel, ȝour prince.
Forsothe fro the first ȝeer of Darius of Mede Y stode, that he shulde be coumfortid, and strengthid. And now Y shal telle to thee trewthe. And loo! three kyngus shuln stonde in Persis, and the fourthe shal be maad riche with ful manye richessis ouer alle men. And whanne he shal be stronge in his richessis, he shal stire to gydre alle men aȝeinus the rewme of Grece. Forsothe a stronge kyng shal rijse, and shal lordshipe with myche power, and that, that shal plese to hym, shal do. And whanne he shal stonde, his rewme shal be broken, and shal be departid in to foure wyndis of heuen, bot not in to his folewers of bloode, nether after his power, in whiche he lordshipide; the rewme of hym shal be departid, and in to alyens, out taken these. And the kyng of southe shal be coumfortide; and of the princis of hym ther shal be strengthe ouer hym, and shal be lord in lordship; forsothe his lordshipyng myche. And after the eende of ȝeeris thei shuln be knyt in pees; and the douȝter of kyng of south shal cume to the kyng of the north, for to make frenship. And she shal not haue strengthe of arm, nether hir seed shal stonde; and she shal be bitaken, and hir ȝunge men that ledden hir to, and thei that coumfortiden hir in tymes. And a plauntyng shal stonde of the buriownyng of hir rootis; and he shal cum with an oost, and shal entre the prouynce of the kyng of the north, and he shal mysuse hem, and shal weelde the goddis of hem, and grauen thingus. And he shal lede the precious vessels of gold and syluer caitif, or taken in bataile, in to Egipt. He shal haue victorie aȝeinus the kyng of the north; and the kyng of the south shal entre in to the kyngdam, and shal turne aȝein in to his lond. Forsothe the sonys of hym shuln be stirid to wrath, and thei shuln gadre the multitude of ful manye oostis. And he shal cum hiȝinge and flowynge, and he shal turne aȝein, and shal be stirid, and go to gydre with strengthe of hym. And the kyng of the south terrid to wrath, shal go out, and fiȝte aȝeinus the kyng of the north, and shal make redy a ful grete multitude; and multitude shal be ȝouen in the hond of hym. And he shal take multitude, and the horn of hym shal be enhaunsid; and he shal cast doun many thousandis, bot he shal not haue victorie. The kyng of the north shal be conuertid, and shal make redy a multitude, miche more than byfore; and in the eende of tymes and ȝeeris he shal cum hiȝinge with the most oost, and ful many richessis. And in tho tymes many shuln ryse to gydre aȝeinus the kyng of south; and sones of trespassours of thi peple shuln be enhaunsid, that thei fulfille the visioun, and shuln falle to gydre. And the kyng of the north shal cum, and shal bere to gydre hepis of erthe, and shal take strengist cytees; and the armys of the south shuln not susteyne. And the chosen of hym shuln ryse to gydre, for to withstonde, and strengthe shal not be. And he cummynge vp on hym, shal do vp his likyng; and ther shal not be, whiche shal stonde aȝeinus his face. And he shal stonde in the noble lond, and it shal be waastid in hond of hym. And he shal putte his face, that he cum for to holde al the rewme of hym, and he shal do riȝt thingus with hym. And he shal ȝeue to hym the douȝtre of wymmen, that she turne hym vpsadoun; and it shal not stonde, nether shal be his. And he shal turne his face to ylis, and shal take manye. And he shal make prince for to cese, and the shendship of hym shal be turned in to hym. And he shal turne his face to the empire of his lond, and he shal hurtle, and shal falle, and shal not be founden. And the foulist and vnworthi to kyngis fairnesse shal stonde in place of hym, and in fewe days he shal be broken to gydre, not in wodenesse, nether in batel. And a dispisid man shal stonde in his place, and kyngus honour shal not be ȝouen to hym; and he shal cum priuely, and shal weelde the rewme in fraude doynge. And armys of the fiȝtynge shuln be ouercummen of his face, and shuln be broken to gydre, more ouer and the duyke of pees. And aftir frendship with hym, he shal do gyle. And he shal stiȝe vp, and ouercume litil peple; and he shal entre plenteuous and grete citees, and shal do whiche thingis the fadris of hym diden not, and fadris of fadris of hym. He shal scatere raueyns, and prayes, and ricchessis of hem, and he shal bygynne, or go yn, counseile aȝeinus saddist thouȝtis, and this thing vn to tyme. And the strengthe of hym shal be stirid, and the herte of hym, aȝeinus the kyng of south in grete oost. And the kyng of south shal be terrid to bateil with manye helpis, and stronge ful myche; and thei shuln not stonde, for thei shuln go in to counseilis aȝeinus hym. And thei etynge breede with hym shuln breke hym to gydre; and his oost shal be oppressid, and his slayn men ful manye shuln falle. And the herte of two kyngus shal be, that thei do yuel, and at oo bord thei shuln speke lesyng, and thei shul not profite; for ȝit the eende in to other tyme. And he shal turne aȝein to his lond with manye ricchessis, and his herte aȝeinus the holy testament, and he shal do, and shal turne aȝein in to his lond. In tyme ordeynyd he shal cum aȝein, and shal cum to the south, and the last shal not be lijc to the former. And grete shippis, and Romayns, shal cum vpon hym, and he shal be smyten. And he shal turne aȝein, and be wrothe aȝeinus the testament of the sayntuarie, and shal do. And he shal turne aȝein, and shal thinke aȝeinus hem that forsoken the testament of sayntuarye. And the armes of hym shuln stonde, and shuln defoule the sayntuarie of strengthe, and shuln take awey the contynuel sacrifice, and shuln ȝeue abominacioun in to desolacioun. And vnpitous men shuln feyne gylfuly a testament; forsothe the peple witynge her God shal weelde, and do. And tauȝt men in peple shuln teche ful manye, and shuln falle in swerd, and in flawme, and in caitiftee, and in to rauyn of days. And whanne thei shuln falle to gidre, thei shuln be reysid vp with litil help; and ful many shuln be applied, or putt to, to hem gylfully. And of lerned men shuln falle, that thei be wellyd to gydre, and be chosen, and be maad whijt unto the tyme determynyd; for ȝit an other tyme shal be. And the kyng shal do after his wille, and shal be reysid vp, and magnyfied aȝeinus eche god, and aȝeines God of goddis he shal speke great thingus; and he shal be dressid, til wrath be fulfillid. Forsothe diffinicioun, or dome, is fully don. And he shal not rette the God of his fadris, and he shal be in coueityngis of wymmen, nether he shal recke eny of goddis, for aȝeinus alle thingus he shal ryse to gydre. Forsothe he shal wirshipe god of Maosym in his place, and he shal honoure god, whom his fadris knewen not, in gold, and syluer, and precious stoon, and precious thingus. And he shal do that he make stronge Maosym, with an alien god whom he knewe not. And he shal multiplie glorie, and shal ȝeue to hem power in many thingus, and he shal departe erth at his wille. And in tyme sett the kyng of south shal fiȝt aȝeinus hym, and the kyng of the north as a tempest shal cum aȝeinus hym, in chaaris, and horsmen, and grete nauee. And he shal entre londis, and shal breke to gydre; and shal passe by, and shal entre in to glorious lond, and many shuln falle. Forsothe these aloone shuln be saued fro the hond of hym, Edom, and Moab, and of the princis of the sonys of Amon. And he shal sende his hond in to londis, and the lond of Egypt shal not scape. And he shal be lord of tresours of gold, and syluer, and in alle precious thingis of Egypt; and he shal passe by Libie and Ethiopie. And fame shal truble hym fro eest and north; and he shal cum in grete multitude, for to breke to gydre, and slea ful manye. And he shal sette his tabernacle fro Feduo, bitwixe seese, vpon a noble hille and holy; and he shal cum vnto the heeȝ therof, and no man shal help hym.
Forsothe in that tyme Myȝhel shal rijse, the grete prince, that stondith for sonys of thi peple. And tyme shal cum, what maner was not, fro that sithen folkis bygunen for to be, vn to that tyme. And in that tyme thi peple shal be saued, eche that shuln be founden wrijten in the boke of lijf. And manye of these that slepten in dust of erthe, shuln wake out, other in to euerlastinge lyf, and othere in to shenship, that thei se euermore. Forsothe thei that shuln be tauȝt men, or wijse, shuln shyne as shynyng of the firmament, and thei that lernen, or enfourmen, manye to riȝtwijsnesse, as sterris in to euerlastyngnessis. Forsothe thou, Danyel, close the wordis, and seale the boke, vn to the tyme ordeynyd; ful manye shuln passe, and science manyfold shal be. And Y, Danyel, sawȝ, and loo! as two other stoden; oon stode on this syde, vpon the ryuere of floode, and an other on that syde, on the tother part of the floode. And I sayde to the man, that was clothid with lynnen, whiche stode vpon the watris of the floode, Hou longe the eende of these merueylis? And Y herde the man, that was clothid in lynnen, whiche stode vpon watris of the floode, whann he hadde reyside vp his riȝt and left half in to heuen, and swore by the lyuynge in to with outen eende, For in to tyme, and tymys, and the half of tyme. And whan scateryng abrood of the lond of holy peple shal be fulfillid, alle these thingus shuln be eendid. And Y herde, and vndirstode not; and saide, My lord, what shal be after these thingus? And he saith, Go thou, Danyel, for the wordis ben closid and sealid, vn to tyme ordeynyd. Thei shuln be chosen, and be maad whijt, and as fijr many shuln be proued, and vnpytous men shuln do vnpytously, nether alle vnpitouse men shuln vndirstonde; forsothe tauȝt men shuln vndirstonde. And fro tyme in whiche contynuel sacrifice shal be don awey, and abomynacioun in to desolacioun shal be sett, days a thousand two hundrid and nynty. Blessid is he, that abydith, and fully cummeth, vn to days a thousand thre hundrid and thritty and fyue. Forsothe go thou to determynd; and thou shalt reste aȝein, and shalt stonde in thi sort, or part, in the eende of days.
Hidre to we reeden Danyel in Ebru; other thingis that suen, til in to the eende of the boke, ben translatid of the making of Theodosyon.
A man was in Babiloyne, and the name of hym Joachym. And he toke a wijf, Susanne by name, the douȝtir of Elchie, ful faire, and dreeding the Lord. Forsothe the fadir and modir of hir, when thei weren iust, lerneden her douȝter after the lawe of Moyses. Forsothe Joachym was ful riche, and to hym was a gardyne nyȝ to his hous; and Jewis camen to gidre to hym, for that he was more honourable of alle. And two olde domesmen ben ordeynyd in that ȝeer, of whiche the Lord spac, for wickidnesse wente out of Babyloyne, of the eldre iugis whiche weren seen for to rewle the peple. These ofte hauntiden the hous of Joachym; and alle that hadden domis camen to hem. Forsothe whenn the peple turnyde aȝein after mydday, Susanne entride, and walkide in the gardyne of hir husbond. And the eldre men sawen hir eche day entrynge, and walkinge; and thei brennyden in the coueitise of hir. And thei turnyden awey her witt, and bowiden awey her eeȝen, that thei shulden not see heuen, nether shulde haue mynde of iust domys. Forsothe bothe weren woundid in loue of hir, nether shewiden to hem self her sorewe; forsothe thei shameden for to shewe to hem self her coueitise, willynge for to ligge with hir. And thei aspieden eche day bysilier for to see hir. And the tother saide to the tother, Go we home, for oure of mete is. And thei gon out, departiden fro hem self. And whann thei hadden departid, thei camen in to oon; and thei axinge cause eche of other, knawlechiden her coueitise. And thann in comoun thei ordeynyden tyme, whann thei miȝten fynde hir aloon. Forsothe it is don, whanne thei aspieden a couenable day, sche entride sum tyme, as ȝisterday and three days gon, with two damisels aloone, and wolde be washen in the gardyne; sothely heete was. And no man was there, out taken two olde men hid, byholdyng hir. And she saide to the maydens, Brenge ȝe to me oyle, and sope, or oynement; and shitte ȝe the doris of the gardyne, that Y be washen. And thei diden as she comaundide; and thei closiden the doris of the gardeyn, and wenten out by a postern, for to brenge whiche thingus she bad. And she wiste not olde men for to be hid with yn forth. Sothely when the damysels weren gon out, the two olde men rysen, and runnen to hir, and saiden, Loo! doris of the gardyne ben closid, and no man seeth vs, and we ben in coueitise of thee. Wherfore accorde to vs, and be ioyned with vs. That ȝif thou wilt not, we shuln saye witnessyng aȝeinus thee, that a ȝung man was with thee, and for this cause thou sentist out the damysels fro thee. And Susanne inwardly sorewide, and saith, Anguyshis ben to me on eche syde; forsothe ȝif Y shal do this thing, deth is to me; sothely ȝif Y shal not do, Y shal not ascape ȝoure hondis. Bot bettir it is to me for to falle with outen werk in to ȝour hondis, than for to synne in the siȝt of the Lord. And Susanne criede with a grete voice, forsothe and the olde men crieden aȝeinus hir. Sothely the ton ran, and opnyde the dore of the gardeyn. Forsothe seruauntes of the hous fellen yn by the posterne, whan thei herden cry in the gardeyne, for to see what it was. Forsothe after that the olde men spaken, the seruauntis shamyden gretely, for siche word was neuer herd of Susanne. And the morewe day is maad. And whanne the peple cam to hir husbond Joachym, and the two prestis camen ful of yuel thouȝt aȝeinus Susanne, for to slea hir. And thei seiden byfore alle the peple, Sende ȝe to Susanne, douȝter of Elchie, wyf of Joachym. And anoon thei senten. And she came with fadir, and modir, and sonnys, and alle hir cosyns. Forsothe Susanne was ful delicate, and faire of fourme, or shap. And the ylke wickid men comaundeden, that she shulde be vnkeuered, sothely she was hillid; that or so thei weren fulfillid with fairnesse of hir. Therfore hern wepten, and alle that knewen hir. Sotheli two prestis rijsyng to gydre in mydil of the peple, puttiden hir hondis vpon the hed of hir. Whiche wepynge byhelde to heuen, forsothe the hert of hir was hauynge trist in the Lord. And the prestis saiden, Whann we walkiden aloon in the gardeyn, she this came yn with two maydens damesels; and closide the dore of the gardeyn, and lefte the damysels. And a ȝung man, that was hid, came to hir, and dide lechorie with hir. Forsothe we, whanne we weren in a corner of the gardeyn, seeynge wickidnesse, runnen to hem, and we sawen hem for to be mengid to gidre. And sothely we miȝten not cacche hym, for he was strengre than we; and the doris opnyd, he lepte out. Sothely when we hadden cauȝt this, we axiden, who was that ȝunge man; and she wolde not shewe to vs. Of this thing we ben witnesses. The multitude byleeuyde to hem, as to eldre men of the peple and iugis, and condempnyden hir to deth. Forsothe Susanne criede with grete voice, and saide, Lord God euerlastinge, that art knower of hid thingus, that hast knowen alle thingus byfore thei be maad; thou wost, for thei han born fals witnessinge aȝeines me. And loo! Y dye, whann Y dide nouȝt of these thingus, whiche these maliciously maken to gydre aȝeinus me. Forsothe the Lord herd the voice of hir. And whann she was ledde to deth, the Lord reyside a spirit of a ȝungir chijld, whose name Danyel. And he cryede with greete voyce, Y am cleene of the blood of this. And al the peple to gyder turnyd to hym saide, What is this word, whom thou hast spoken? Whiche, whanne he stode in the mydil of hem, saide, So ȝe, foolis, sonys of Yrael, not demynge nether knowynge that thing that is iust, condempneden the douȝter of Yrael. Turne ȝe aȝein to dome, for thei han spoke fals witnessyng aȝeinus hir. Therfore the peple turned aȝein with hiȝyng. And the olde men saiden to hym, Cum thou, and sitt in mydil of vs, and shewe thou to vs; for God ȝaue to thee honour of eelde. And Danyel saide to hem, Departe ȝe hem fro a twynne, or eche fro other, fer, and Y shal wysely deme hem. Therfore, whanne thei weren departid the tother fro the tother, he clepide oon of hem, and saide to hym, Thou olde of yuel days, nowe thi synnes camen on thee, whiche thou wrouȝtist byfore, demynge vniust domys, oppressinge innocentis, and delyuerynge gylti, sayinge the Lord, Thou shalt not slea the innocent and iust man. Now forsothe ȝif thou sawist hir, saye thou, vndir what tree thou sawȝ hem speekynge to hemself? Whiche saith, Vndir a sloo tree. Sothely Danyel saide, Riȝtly thou leeȝist in to thin hed; loo! forsothe an aungel of the Lord, the sentence token of hym, shal kitte thee the mydil. And hym remoued awey, he comaundide the tother for to cum, and saide to hym, Seed of Canaan, and not of Juda, fourme, or fairnesse, disceyuyde thee, and coueitise turnyde thin hert vpsadoun; thus ȝe diden to douȝtris of Yrael, and thei dredynge spaken with ȝou, bot the douȝter of Juda suffride not ȝour wickidnesse. Now therfore saye to me, vndir what tree thou sawist hem spekynge to hem self? Whiche saith, Vndir a plum tree. Sothely Danyel saide to hym, Riȝtly and thou leeȝist in thin hed; forsothe an aungel of the Lord dwellith, hauynge a swerd, that he kitte thee the mydil, and slea ȝou. And so alle the peple criede with grete voyce, and blessiden the Lord, that saueth men hopynge in hym. And thei rysen to gidre aȝeins two prestis; sothely Danyel hadde conuicte hem of her mouth, for to haue saide fals witnessyng; and thei diden to hem, as thei hadden do yuel aȝeines the neiȝbour, that thei diden after the lawe of Moyses, and slewen hem. And the giltlesse blode is saued in that day. Forsothe Elchie and his wyf preysiden God in that day, for her douȝter Susanne, with Joachym, hir husbond, and alle hir cosyns, for foule thing was not found in hir. Forsothe Danyel was maad greet in siȝt of the peple, fro that day and afterward.
And kyng Astriages is putt to his fadris, and Cyrus of Perse resceyuyde the kyngdam of hym. Forsothe Danyel was meete feere of the kyng, and honoured aboue alle the freendis of hym. And an ydol, Bel by name, was anentis men of Babyloyne, and there weren spendid in it by alle days twelue mesuris artabis, and oon conteyneth three busshels of floure, and fourty sheep, and of wijn sixe amphoris. And the kyng wirshipide hym, and wente by alle days for to honoure it; forsothe Danyel honourede his God. And the kyng saide to hym, Whi honourest thou not Bel? Whiche answerynge saith to hym, For Y wirshipe not ydolis maad by hond, bot lyuyng God, that made of nouȝt heuen and erthe, and hath power of eche fleshe. And the kyng saide to hym, Wher Bel is not seen to thee a lyuynge God? whether thou seest not, hou many thingus he etith and drynkith eche day? And Danyel leiȝinge saith, Kyng, erre thou not; this is withynforth of cley, and with outforth of brasse, nethir etith eny tyme, nether drynkyth. And the kyng wroth clepide the prestis of hym, and saide to hem, No bot ȝe shuln saye to me, who etith these ȝiftis, ȝe shuln dye. Forsothe ȝif ȝe shuln shewe for Bel etith these, Danyel shal dye, for he blasfemyde Bel. And Danyel sayde to the kyng, Be it don vp thi word. Forsothe there weren of Bel seuenty prestis, oute taken wijues, and litil children, and sonys. And the kyng with Danyel came into the temple of Bel. And prestis of Bel saiden, Loo! we shuln go out, and thou, kyng, putte metis, and meynge wyne, and shitte the dore, and seale with thi ryng. And whan thou shalt cum yn erly, no bot thou shalt fynde alle thingus eten of Bel, by deth we shuln dye, or Danyel, that leeȝide aȝeinus vs. Forsothe thei dispisiden, for thei hadden maad an hid entryng vndir the bord, and therby thei entriden euermore, and deuoureden tho thingus. Forsothe it is don, after that they wenten out, and the kyng puttide metis byfore Bel, Danyel comaundide his children, and thei brouȝten to ashe, and by al the temple he ridlide byfore the kyng. And thei gon out closiden the dore, and sealynge with ryng of the kyng wenten awey. Sothely the prestis wenten yn in nyȝt, after her custome, and wijues, and sonys of hem, and eeten alle the thingus, and drunken. Sotheli the kyng roose in the heeiȝist spring of day, and Danyel with hym. And the kyng saith, Danyel, wher the sealis ben saaf? Whiche answeride, Kyng, saaf. And anoon whan thei hadden opnyd the dore, the kyng byhelde the bord, and he criede with grete voyce, Grete art thou, Bel, and no gyle is anentys thee. And Danyel leiȝide, and he heelde the kyng, lest he entride with ynforth; and saide, Loo! the pament, perceyue whos steppis these ben. And the kyng saide, Y see steppis of men, and wymmen, and ȝunge children. And the kyng is wroth. Thanne the kyng cauȝte the prestis, and wijues, and sones of hem; and thei shewiden to hym smale doris hid, by whom thei entriden, and wastiden what thingus weren on the bord. Therfore the kyng slewȝ hem, and bytoke Bel in to power of Danyel, whiche distruyide hym and his temple. And a grete dragoun was in that place, and men of Babyloyne wirshipiden hym. And the kyng saide to Danyel, Loo! now thou maist not saye, that this is not god lyuynge; therfore wirshipe hym. And Danyel saide to the kyng, Y wirshipe the Lord my God, for he is lyuynge God; this is not god lyuynge. Thou forsothe, kyng, ȝeue to me power, that Y slea the dragoun, with oute swerd and staff. And the kyng saith, Y ȝeue to thee. Therfore Danyel toke picche, and fatnesse, and heris, and seethide to gydre; and he made gobettis, and ȝaue in to mouthe of the dragoun, and the dragoun is borstun. And Danyel sayde, Loo! whom ȝe wirshipiden. Whiche thing whanne men of Babyloyne herden, thei hadden indignacioun gretely; and thei ben gadrid aȝeinus the kyng, and sayden, The kyng is maad a Jewe; he distruyede Bel, and slewȝ the dragoun, and killide prestis. And thei saiden, whanne thei camen to the kyng, Ȝeue to vs Danyel, that distruyede Bel, and slewȝ the dragoun; ellis we shuln slea thee, and thin hous. Therfore the king sawȝ, that thei fellen in to hym gretely; and by neede he constreyned ȝaue to hem Danyel. Whiche senten hym in to the lake of lyouns, and he was there seuen days. Forsothe in the lake weren seuen lyouns, and eche day two bodyes and two sheep weren ȝouen to hem. And thanne thei weren not ȝouen to hem, that thei shulde deuoure Danyel. Forsothe Abacuc was a prophete in Judee, and he hadde sothen potage, and hadde sette yn looues in a litil vessel, and wente in to the feeld, for to bere to repers. And an aungel of the Lord saide to Abakuc, Bere thou the mete, that thou hast, in to Babyloyne, to Danyel, that is in the lake of lyouns. And Abakuc saide, Lord, I sawȝ not Babyloyne, and I knewe not the lake. And the angel of the Lord toke hym in the poll of hym, and bare hym in an her of his hed, and putte hym in to Babyloyne, on the lake, in bir of his spirit. And Abakuc criede, sayinge, Danyel, seruaunt of God, take thou the mete, that God sente to thee. And Danyel saith, Lord God, thou hast mynde of me, and forsakist not men loouynge thee. And Danyel rysynge eet; forsothe the aungel of the Lord restoride anoon Abakuc in his place. Therfore the kyng cam in the seuenthe day for to weile Danyel; and he came to the lake, and lookide with ynne, and loo! Danyel sittynge in the mydil of lyouns. And the kyng criede with grete voice, saiynge, Grete art thou, Lord God of Danyel; and drouȝ out him of the lake. Forsoth he sente yn in to the lake hem, that weren cause of his perdicioun, and thei ben deuoured in a moment byfore hym. Thann the kyng saith, Men dwellynge in al erthe, dreede the God of Danyel; for he is deliuerer, and sauere, doynge sygnes and merueyles in heuen and in erthe, that delyuerede Danyel of the lake of lyouns.
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