IV.

On C[=y]res dagum cyninges wr[=e][.g]don th[=a] Babil[=o]niscan thone {73} w[=i]tegan Dani[=e]l, for th[=ae]m the h[=e] t[=o].wearp hiera d[=e]ofol-[.g]ield, 150 and cw[=ae]don [=a]n-m[=o]dl[=i]ce t[=o] th[=ae]m fore-sae[.g]dan cyninge C[=y]rum: 'Bet[=ae][.c] [=u]s Dani[=e]l, the [=u]rne god B[=e]l t[=o].wearp, and thone dracan [=a].cwealde the w[=e] on be.l[=i]efdon; [.g]if th[=u] hine for.st[e,]ntst, w[=e] for.dilgiath th[=e] and th[=i]nne h[=i]red.'

Th[=a] [.g]e.seah se cyning thaet h[=i]e [=a]n-m[=o]de w[=ae]ron, and n[=i]edunga 155 thone w[=i]tegan him t[=o] handum [=a].s[.c][=e]af. H[=i]e th[=a] hine [=a].wurpon int[=o] [=a]num s[=e]athe, on th[=ae]m w[=ae]ron seofon l[=e]on, th[=ae]m man sealde dae[.g]hw[=ae]ml[=i]ce tw[=a] hr[=i]theru and tw[=a] s[.c][=e]ap, ac him waes th[=a] of.togen [=ae]lces f[=o]dan siex dagas, thaet h[=i]e thone Godes mann [=a].b[=i]tan scolden. 160

On th[=ae]re t[=i]de waes sum [=o]ther w[=i]tega on J[=u]d[=e]a-lande, his nama waes Abacuc, s[=e] baer his rifterum m[e,]te t[=o] aecere. Th[=a] c[=o]m him t[=o] Godes [e,]n[.g]el, and cwaeth: 'Abacuc, ber thone m[e,]te t[=o] Babil[=o]ne, and s[e,]le Dani[=e]le, s[=e] the sitt on th[=a]ra l[=e]ona s[=e]athe.' Abacuc andwyrde th[=ae]m [e,]n[.g]le: 'L[=a] l[=e]of, ne [.g]e.seah 165 ic n[=ae]fre th[=a] burg, ne ic thone s[=e]ath n[=a]t.'

Th[=a] se [e,]n[.g]el [.g]e.l[=ae]hte hine be th[=ae]m feaxe, and hine baer t[=o] Babil[=o]ne, and hine s[e,]tte bufan th[=ae]m s[=e]athe. Th[=a] clipode se Abacuc: 'th[=u] Godes th[=e]ow, Dani[=e]l, nim th[=a]s l[=a]c the th[=e] God s[e,]nde!' Dani[=e]l cwaeth: 'M[=i]n Dryhten H[=ae]lend, s[=i]e th[=e] lof 170 and weorth-mynd thaet th[=u] m[=e] [.g]e.mundest.' And h[=e] th[=a] th[=ae]re sande br[=e]ac. Witodl[=i]ce Godes [e,]n[.g]el th[=ae]r-rihte mid swiftum flyhte [.g]e.br[=o]hte thone disc-the[.g]n, Abacuc, th[=ae]r h[=e] hine [=ae]r [.g]e.nam.

Se cyning th[=a] C[=y]rus on th[=ae]m seofothan dae[.g]e [=e]ode dr[=e]ori[.g] 175 t[=o] th[=a]ra l[=e]ona s[=e]athe, and inn be.seah, and efne th[=a] Dani[=e]l sittende waes [.g]e.sundfull on.middan th[=ae]m l[=e]onum. Th[=a] clipode se cyning mid mi[.c]elre stefne: 'M[=ae]re is se God the Dani[=e]l on be.l[=i]efth.' And h[=e] th[=a] mid th[=ae]m worde hine [=a].t[=e]ah of th[=ae]m scraefe, and h[=e]t inn weorpan th[=a] the hine [=ae]r for.d[=o]n woldon. 180 Thaes cyninges h[=ae]s wearth hraedl[=i]ce [.g]e.fr[e,]mmed, and thaes w[=i]tegan [=e]hteras wurdon [=a].scofene be.twix th[=a] l[=e]on, and h[=i]e {74} th[=ae]r-rihte mid gr[=ae]digum [.c]eaflum h[=i]e ealle t[=o].t[=ae]ron. Th[=a] cwaeth se cyning: 'Forhtien and on.dr[=ae]den ealle eorth-b[=u]end Dani[=e]les God, for th[=ae]m the h[=e] is [=A].l[=i]esend and H[=ae]lend, 185 wyr[.c]ende t[=a]cnu and wundru on heofonan and on eorthan.'