242 they marched without opposition directly to the palace. The gates of the palace, which were strongly fortified, wore shut, and the guards on the outside, apprehending no danger, were drinking near a blazing light, when the Persians suddenly rushed upon them with drawn swords. The noise of men shouting and fighting was soon heard within the palace. One would have thought that Belshazzar, who had just heard Daniel explain the hand-writing on the wall, might have suspected the truth; but God had apparently sent infatuation upon him and all his subjects. He madly ordered the gates of the palace to be thrown open, that he might discover the cause of the tumult without. Instantly the Persians rushed in. The king drew his sword, but intemperance and fear had left him little presence of mind or strength to defend himself; he was therefore soon killed, with all his family and nobles. The Babylonians were coulmanded to retire to their houses ; and all who were seen in the streets were slah, by the soldiers of Cyrus. Cyrus immediately began to govern in the name of
