The Debate of the Bodyguards before the Emperor
1 The Emperor Darius gave a great banquet for all those under him, all the members of his family and staff, all the leading officials of Persia and Media, 2 all his chief officers, administrators, and the governors of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 3 When everyone had enough to eat and drink, they left, and Darius went to bed. He fell asleep but soon awoke.
A Contest Is Proposed
4 Then the three young men who served Emperor Darius as his personal bodyguard said to one another, 5 “Let each one of us name the one thing that he considers the strongest thing in the world. The emperor will decide who has given the wisest answer to this question and will give magnificent gifts and prizes to the winner. 6 He will wear royal robes, drink from a gold cup, and sleep in a gold bed. He will have a chariot with gold-studded bridles, wear a fine linen turban, and have a gold necklace. 7 Because of his wisdom he will be an adviser to the emperor and will be given the title ‘Relative of the Emperor.’”
8 Then each of them wrote down the best answer he could think of, sealed it, and put it under the emperor's pillow. They said to one another, 9 “When the emperor wakes up, the statements will be given to him. He and the three leading officials of Persia will decide who gave the wisest answer. The winner will be given the prize on the basis of what he has written.” 10 The first wrote, “There is nothing stronger than wine.” 11 The second wrote, “There is nothing stronger than the emperor.” 12 And the third wrote, “There is nothing stronger than a woman, but truth can conquer anything.”
13 When the emperor woke up, the written statements were given to him, and he read them. 14 Then he sent messengers and called together all the leading officials of Persia and Media, including the chief officers, administrators, governors, and commissioners. 15 He took his seat in the council chamber and had the three statements read aloud. 16 “Bring in the three young men,” he said, “and let them explain their answers.” So when they were brought in, 17 they were asked to explain what they had written.
The Speech about Wine
The bodyguard who had written about the strength of wine spoke first: 18 “Gentlemen,” he began, “wine is clearly the strongest thing in the world. It confuses the mind of everyone who drinks it. 19 It has exactly the same effect on everyone: king or orphan, slave or free, rich or poor. 20 It makes every thought happy and carefree, and makes one forget every sorrow and responsibility. 21 It makes everyone feel rich, ignore the power of kings and officials, and talk as if he owned the whole world. 22 When men drink wine, they forget who their friends and neighbors are, and then they are soon drawing their swords to fight them. 23 Then, when they sober up, they don't remember what they have done. 24 Gentlemen,” he concluded, “if wine makes men act in this way, it certainly must be the strongest thing in the world.”
1 Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia,
2 And to all the governors and captains and lieutenants that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, of an hundred twenty and seven provinces.
3 And when they had eaten and drunken, and being satisfied were gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber, and slept, and soon after awaked.
4 Then three young men, that were of the guard that kept the king’s body, spake one to another;
5 Let every one of us speak a sentence: he that shall overcome, 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:
6 As, to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and an headtire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck:
7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius his cousin.
8 And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under king Darius his pillow;
9 And said that, when the king is risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed.
10 The first wrote, Wine is the strongest.
11 The second wrote, The king is strongest.
12 The third wrote, Women are strongest: but above all things Truth beareth away the victory.
13 Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings, and delivered them unto him, and so he read them:
14 And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media, and the governors, and the captains, and the lieutenants, and the chief officers;
15 And sat him down in the royal seat of judgment; and the writings were read before them.
16 And he said, Call the young men, and they shall declare their own sentences. So they were called, and came in.
17 And he said unto them, Declare unto us your mind concerning the writings. Then began the first, who had spoken of the strength of wine;
18 And he said thus, O ye men, how exceeding strong is wine! it causeth all men to err that drink it:
19 It 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:
20 It turneth also every thought into jollity and mirth, so that a man remembereth neither sorrow nor debt:
21 And it maketh every heart rich, so that a man remembereth neither king nor governor; and it maketh to speak all things by talents:
22 And when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and brethren, and a little after draw out swords:
23 But when they are from the wine, they remember not what they have done.
24 O ye men, is not wine the strongest, that enforceth to do thus? And when he had so spoken, he held his peace.