In the third year of Cyrus king of the Persians, a word was revealed to Daniel surnamed Baltassar, and a true word, and great strength: and he understood the word: for there is need of understanding in a vision.

Anno tertio Cyri regis Persarum, verbum revelatum est Danieli cognomento Baltassar, et verbum verum, et fortitudo magna: intellexitque sermonem: intelligentia enim est opus in visione.

Then, in the third year of Cyrus’ reign, that was king of Persia, a fresh revelation was made to Daniel, who is also called Baltassar. Here is truth indubitable, and a great host … And right well he understood its meaning; little avails vision where understanding is none.

In those days I Daniel mourned the days of three weeks.

In diebus illis ego Daniel lugebam trium hebdomadarum diebus:

For three weeks together I, Daniel, that saw it, had been making sad cheer;

I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine entered into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment: till the days of three weeks were accomplished.

panem desiderabilem non comedi, et caro et vinum non introierunt in os meum, sed neque unguento unctus sum, donec complerentur trium hebdomadarum dies.

for three weeks together dry bread was my diet, nor ever did meat or wine cross my lips, nor oil anoint me.

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month I was by the great river which is the Tigris.

Die autem vigesima et quarta mensis primi, eram juxta fluvium magnum, qui est Tigris.

Came now the twenty-fourth day of the new year, and I stood by the banks of the great river, where it is called Tigris.

And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold:

Et levavi oculos meos, et vidi: et ecce vir unus vestitus lineis, et renes ejus accincti auro obrizo:

I looked up, and saw a man standing there clad all in linen, and his girdle of fine gold.

And his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms, and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude.

et corpus ejus quasi chrysolithus, et facies ejus velut species fulguris, et oculi ejus ut lampas ardens: et brachia ejus, et quæ deorsum sunt usque ad pedes, quasi species æris candentis: et vox sermonum ejus ut vox multitudinis.

Clear as topaz his body was, like the play of lightning shone his face, and like burning cressets his eyes; arms and legs of him had the sheen of bronze, and when he spoke, it was like the murmur of a throng.

And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw it not: but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they fled away, and hid themselves.

Vidi autem ego Daniel solus visionem: porro viri qui erant mecum non viderunt, sed terror nimius irruit super eos, et fugerunt in absconditum.

The vision was for me, for Daniel, alone; my companions never saw it; such fear overcame them, they were fain to hide themselves,

And I being left alone saw this great vision: and there remained no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was changed in me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength.

Ego autem relictus solus vidi visionem grandem hanc: et non remansit in me fortitudo, sed et species mea immutata est in me, et emarcui, nec habui quidquam virium.

and I was left alone with this high vision for my company. No wonder if my spirits were cowed; pale grew my cheek, and all the strength in me ebbed away.

And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard, I lay in a consternation, upon my face, and my face was close to the ground.

Et audivi vocem sermonum ejus: et audiens jacebam consternatus super faciem meam, et vultus meus hærebat terræ.

He spoke, and as I listened to that voice, I swooned where I stood, and lay there, face to earth,

And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, and upon the joints of my hands.

Et ecce manus tetigit me, et erexit me super genua mea, et super articulos manuum mearum.

till a hand touched me, giving fresh impulse to knee and wrist.

And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling.

Et dixit ad me: Daniel vir desideriorum, intellige verba quæ ego loquor ad te, et sta in gradu tuo: nunc enim sum missus ad te. Cumque dixisset mihi sermonem istum, steti tremens.

Daniel, he said to me, Daniel, so well beloved, up with thee, and heed thou well; I have an errand to thee. Yet for all he spoke thus to me, I stood there trembling,

And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words.

Et ait ad me: Noli metuere, Daniel: quia ex die primo, quo posuisti cor tuum ad intelligendum ut te affligeres in conspectu Dei tui, exaudita sunt verba tua: et ego veni propter sermones tuos.

and still he must allay my fears. Take heart, Daniel, said he; thy prayers did not go unheard. Prayer of thine it was beckoned me to thy side, from the very moment when thou didst set about thy search for knowledge, by fasting in the presence of thy God;

But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians.

Princeps autem regni Persarum restitit mihi viginti et uno diebus: et ecce Michaël, unus de principibus primis, venit in adjutorium meum, et ego remansi ibi juxta regem Persarum.

but these twenty-one days he who guards the realm of Persia has delayed my coming. At last Michael, one of the high lords, brought me aid, and there, at Persia’s court, I was left master of the field.

But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days.

Veni autem ut docerem te quæ ventura sunt populo tuo in novissimis diebus, quoniam adhuc visio in dies.

Now I am here to tell thee what shall befall thy people in the last days; long days must pass ere the revelation is accomplished.

And when he was speaking such words to me, I cast down my countenance to the ground, and held my peace.

Cumque loqueretur mihi hujuscemodi verbis, dejeci vultum meum ad terram, et tacui.

Ever, as he spoke, I stood there dumb, and with eyes downcast,

And behold, as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me: O my Lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed, and no strength hath remained in me.

Et ecce quasi similitudo filii hominis tetigit labia mea: et aperiens os meum locutus sum, et dixi ad eum, qui stabat contra me: Domine mi, in visione tua dissolutæ sunt compages meæ, et nihil in me remansit virium.

till all at once a touch fell on my lips, like the touch of human hand. Now found I speech, to give yonder visitant his answer. Bethink thee, my lord, I said, that sight of thee unknits my frame; strength in me is none.

And how can the servant of my lord speak with my lord? for no strength remaineth in me, moreover my breath is stopped.

Et quomodo poterit servus domini mei loqui cum domino meo? nihil enim in me remansit virium, sed et halitus meus intercluditur.

How should slave bandy words with master? Not strength alone fails me; the very breath will not come.

Therefore he that looked like a man touched me again, and strengthened me.

Rursum ergo tetigit me quasi visio hominis, et confortavit me,

Once again a hand seemed to touch me, and words came to hearten me;

And he said: Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take courage and be strong. And when he spoke to me, I grew strong: and I said: Speak, O my lord, for thou hast strengthened me.

et dixit: Noli timere, vir desideriorum: pax tibi: confortare, et esto robustus. Cumque loqueretur mecum, convalui, et dixi: Loquere, domine mi, quia confortasti me.

Nay, fears are not for thee, so well beloved; never harm befall thee! Take courage, and play a man’s part! With that, I found my strength again; Speak on, my Lord, said I; thou hast put new heart into me.

And he said: Dost thou know wherefore I am come to thee? and now I will return, to fight against the prince of the Persians. When I went forth, there appeared the prince of the Greeks coming.

Et ait: Numquid scis quare venerim ad te? et nunc revertar ut prælier adversum principem Persarum. Cum ego egrederer, apparuit princeps Græcorum veniens.

And he answered, Hast thou read, by this, the secret of my coming to thee? I am even now on my way back to fight against the lord of Persia; when I left him, what saw I but the lord of the Greeks already on the march?

But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth: and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince.

Verumtamen annuntiabo tibi quod expressum est in scriptura veritatis: et nemo est adjutor meus in omnibus his, nisi Michaël princeps vester.

Only I must shew thee first what is written in the book of doom. Much is to do, and save for Michael, that is guardian of your race, I have none to aid me.