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Soon silence was obtained, and Sherakim the Orator stood before the vast concourse, and began: "Princes and Nobles of Judah! With merry hearts, we assemble from different parts of the kingdom to hail this festal day the eleventh anniversary of the reign of our illustrious sovereign.
The last feature expected was an address from the king. The hour appointed had arrived, and expectation ran high, but Jehoiakim made not his appearance. At last Sherakim appeared before the vast audience, and commenced an apology for the absence of the monarch in the following strain: "Princes and Nobles of Judah!
The vast assembly was soon hushed to silence, and spellbound from curiosity. Sherakim the Orator gazed on the king. The king, with an angry brow, gazed on the stranger. The stranger, in return, cast a withering glance on the king, and stood in his presence with form erect and fearless.
Jehoiakim was complimented on every hand, but the law of God was ridiculed. Jehoiakim sat on a magnificent throne, gilded over with pure gold. A large number of war officers sat near him. A royal herald passed through the throng, crying, "Listen to the oration of Sherakim! Listen to the oration of Sherakim!"
"Jared!" said Jehoiakim, "where is that Sherakim who was so full of fight at the banquet hall last night?" "As my soul liveth, O king, I know not his whereabouts. I have not seen him since early dawn; and then he appeared to be in haste, and was in no mood for conversation." "A curse on his cowardly head! I suppose these Chaldeans have put his valor to flight.
"Sherakim, O king, is not to be found." "Ah, I had forgotten. Sherakim not to be found! Ha, ha, ha! Sherakim not to be found! The cowardly babbler! Jared, command more wine! Sherakim has fled he is afraid of a shadow he has not the courage of a maiden. Have I not known him of old? Did not a thunderstorm always make him cry? Ha, ha, ha! Sherakim the orator! fool! coward!"
Jared! how many armed men have we within the royal enclosures?" "Two hundred of the royal guard, O king, are present all armed and ready to face death for their illustrious sovereign." "It is well!" said Jehoiakim, filling his bowl. "Ha, ha, ha! Let the King of Babylon beware of my vengeance? What does the fool desire? The King of Judah is not to be frightened. Jared! where is Sherakim?"
Now, Sherakim had come to the conclusion that their arguments had finally prevailed, and that the king had been comfortably removed to his bed-chamber; hence his remarks, which were cut short by the sudden appearance of the king. Jehoiakim, without any ceremony, commanded the orator to fall back; which command was instantly obeyed.
Cowardly fool! Miserable brawler! Sherakim! Bah! Jared, order more wine. Whom should Jehoiakim fear? Jared! what trouble is there in the porch? Haste thee and see." Jared hastened to obey the commands of his drunken sovereign, and presently returned. "The same messenger from the King of the Chaldeans demands an interview with the King of Judah." "Let him be admitted. Ha! ha! What next?"
Instead of ascending the throne, as usual, he took the stand that had been vacated by Sherakim, waved his hand, and loudly laughed, while the audience cheered; then, with violent gestures and faltering tongue, he went on: "Princes and Nobles of Judah! I am here! I tell you I am here! Am I not Jehoiakim, King of Judah? Is not this the glorious reign of my anniversary?
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