Commentaries of the divine John Calvin, upon the prophet Daniel, translated into English, especially…Commentaries of the diuine Iohn Caluine, vpon the prophet Daniell, translated into Englishe, especially…

It was a marvellous madness and blindness that he prepared so great a feast full of delicates, when as the City was yet besieged. For Cyrus had now a long time besieged the City with a great army, & this miserable king was half surprised: yet notwithstanding as it were in despite of God, he maketh a dainty feast and calleth a thousand guests. Hereby may we easily conjecture what business there was & what charges in the feast. For if one would entertain but either ten or twenty men, there will be much business and travail if so be he will treat them sumptuously. But when there was preparation made for the Prince, when there were a thousand noble personages, the Queen and the kings concubines, when so great a multitude was then gathered together: no doubt there must needs be much searching out of many parts, to find sufficient delicates: and this thing may seem incredible. But Xenophon, (although he tell many fables, and do neither keep the gravity nor fidelity of an historiographer because he will set forth the praises of Syrus like and orator: yet in this point there is no cause why he should lie) saith that there was preparation of victual laid up in store that the Babylonians might bear the siege ten year more. And Babylon may worthily be called a country. For the greatness of that City was such that is is incredible to be told. Doubtless it must needs be that is was very full of people. And seeing they carried victuals from all Asia thither, it is no marvel if the men of Babel had victual laid up in store, that they might sustain themselves a long space, the gates being shut up.

It was a meruelous madnes and blindnes that he prepared so great a feast full of delicates, whē as the Citie was yet besieged. For Cyrus had now a long tyme besieged the Citie wyth a great army, & thys miserable king was halfe surprised: yet notwithstanding as it were in despight of God, he maketh a dainty feast and calleth a thousād gestes. Hereby may we easily coniecture what busines there was & what charges in ye feast. For if one would intertaine but eyther ten or twenty men, there will be much busines and trauayle if so be he wyll treate thē sumptuously. But whē there was preparation made for the Prince, when there were a thousand noble personages, the Quéene and the kinges concubines, when so great a multitude was then gathered together: no doubt there must néedes be much searching out of many partes, to finde sufficient delicates: and thys thing may séeme increadible. But Xenophon, (although he tell many fables, and do neither kéepe the grauity nor fidelity of an historiographer because he wil set forth the prayses of Syrus like and orator: yet in thys poynt there is no cause why he should lie) sayth that there was preparation of vitayle layd vp in store that ye Babylonians might beare the siege ten yeare more. And Babylō may worthely be called a coūtrey. For the greatnes of that City was such that is is incredible to be tolde. Doubtles it must néedes be that is was very full of people. And seyng they caried vitailes from all Asai thether, it is no meruaile if the men of Babell had vitaile layd vp in store, that they myght sustaine themselues a long space, the gates being shut vp.