He paused. There was a rustle of the curtain at the tent-door. It drew aside and the tall, majestic presence of Belteshazzer came into the tent. The musical, quiet voice of the prophet said, “I am here, O King Cambyses!”
Cambyses stared in amazement.
“What wonder is this?” he exclaimed. “Am I dreaming? Is this a vision? Are you that prophet, Belteshazzer?”
“I am Belteshazzer, the Hebrew,” answered the prophet. “Your life is almost ended, Cambyses. What do you demand of me?”
“I demand to know what awaits me in the future. About to die, I would atone for many grievous sins. What of the future? What of God? What of forgetfulness through eternity to come?”
Belteshazzer’s countenance exhibited both pity and sternness, as he answered, “Your time is short to atone for the grievous sins of your life, O King. The blood of many cries against you from the ground. Through long years to come, wherever your soul may wander, the evil you have done will be with you and bitterness will be your portion. But God, the great and only God, is a loving Father; and, perhaps, if you humble yourself and repent, you may at length win His forgiveness and favor. There will be no forgetfulness without forgiveness. Greatly have you sinned. Deeply must you repent.”
“Yes, I have sinned greatly,” murmured the King. “In frantic wrath I slew my sister-wife! In willful oppression I drove my sister Athura to her death—”
“She is not dead,” interrupted Belteshazzer. “She lives!”
“Praise be to Ahura-Mazda!” said the King. “Now I know what that Magian meant, when he said that a son of my sister shall sit on the throne of the King of Kings. For she shall marry the Prince of Iran. I feel upon me the spirit of prophecy! Prince of Iran, you shall be King of Kings! In the presence of Belteshazzer, I declare you my successor. Marry Athura. I give her to you. She is your wife. Thus do I atone for one sin. But that other prophet lied when he said I should die at Hamadan. For I die here in the Syrian desert.”
“Did he say Hamadan of Medea?” inquired Belteshazzer. “If not, he spake truly. For this village where you are encamped is named Hamath, which is Syrian for Hamadan.”