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…

But this is wonderful, that the king which should have watched himself, or at the least have sent forth his watchmen lest the City should be taken, gave himself to banqueting and to pleasure, as though he were in great peace, and were in no danger of the outward enemy. He had to do with Cyrus a stout man, if there were ever any: who also not only excelled in wisdom, but also in activity far ⟨image 83⟩passed all other. Seeing then he was so mightily assaulted, it is marvel that he was so careless to give himself to feasting and banqueting. Xenophon saith, that that day was a feast day. Whereas the Jews think that the victory was gotten of the Chaldees against the Persians, that is a trifle. For Xenophon, whom we may believe in this matter when he doth not lye in the favour of Cyrus, for then he is a most grave author and a witness worthy to be believed: but when he will praise Cyrus there is no end: in this point is an historiographer, when he saith that this was every year a festival day and a solemn feast with the Babylonians. He showeth also how Babylon was taken: that is, Gobria and Gabatha being captains. For this Beltsazar had gelded the one to put him to shame, and had killed the son of the other, the father being yet alive. Therefore when the one did burn with the desire of revengement for the death of his son, and the other for the shame that he had done unto him, they both conspired together. So it came to pass that Cyrus turned away many rivers of Euphrates, and so Babylon was suddenly taken.

But thys is wonderfull, that the king which should haue watched hymselfe, or at the least haue sent forth hys watchmen lest the Citie should bee taken, gaue hymselfe to banketing and to pleasure, as though he were in great peace, and were in no daunger of the outward enemy. He had to do wyth Cyrus a stout man, if there were euer any: who also not onely excelled in wisdome, but also in actiuitie far ⟨image 83⟩passed all other. Seing then he was so mightely assaulted, it is meruaile that he was so careles to geue himselfe to feasting and banketyng. Xenophon sayth, that that day was a feast day. Wheras the Iewes thinke that the victory was gotten of the Chaldeis agaynst the Persians, that is a trifle. For Xenophon, whom we may beleue in thys matter when hee doth not lye in the fauour of Cyrus, for then he is a most graue author and a witnes worthy to bee beleued: but when he wyll prayse Cyrus there is no end: in thys point is an historiographer, when he saith yt thys was euery yeare a feastiuall day and a solemne feast wyth the Babilonians. He sheweth also how Babylon was taken: that is, Gobria and Gabatha beyng captaynes. For thys Beltsazar had gelded the one to put hym to shame, and had killed the sonne of the other, the father beyng yet aliue. Therefore when the one did burne wyth the desire of reuengement for the death of hys sonne, and the other for the shame that he had done vnto hym, they both conspired together. So it came to passe that Cyrus turned away many riuers of Euphrates, and so Babylon was sodenly taken.