"Nowifyou are ready,at the momentyou hearthe soundof the horn,flute,lyre,trigon,psalteryand bagpipeand allkindsof music,to falldownand worshipthe imagethat I have made,[very well]. But ifyou do not worship,you will immediatelybe castinto the midstof a furnaceof blazingfire;and whatgodis there whocan deliveryou out of my hands?"
Thenthey approachedand spokebeforethe kingaboutthe king'sinjunction,"Did you not signan injunctionthat anymanwhomakesa petitionto anygodor manbesidesyou, O king,for thirtydays,is to be castinto the lions'den?"The kingreplied,"The statementis true,according to the lawof the Medesand Persians,whichmay not be revoked."