272 that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” Dariuts, without suspecting their evil design, at once repsied, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persiaus, which altereti, not.” Then said they, “That Daniel, which is of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, oking, nor the decree that' thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.” They did not tell Darius to whom he made his petition, lest that should be taken as an excise. But yet the king immediately understood their cloked deceit and malice. He saw clearly that their sole object, in persuading him to make the law in question, had been to destroy the life of Daniel, whom they hated for his superfority to themselves. But it was now too late to retract; for, by a foolish regulation under the Median and Persian government, the kingಳre Ilot allowed to repeal or alter any laws which they had once made.. Although they were absolutemonarchs; had the lives and fortunes sf their subjects entirely at their own
