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Now when Darius reigned, he made a great feast unto all his subjects, and unto all his household, and unto all the princes of Media and Persia,
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and to all the governors and captains and lieutenants who were under him, from India unto Ethiopia in a hundred twenty and seven provinces.
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And when they had eaten and drunk and, being satisfied, had gone home, then Darius the king went into his bedchamber and slept, and soon after awakened.
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Then three young men, who were of the king's bodyguard, spoke one to another:
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"Let every one of us speak a sentence. He that shall overcome and whose sentence shall seem wiser than the others, unto him shall King Darius give great gifts and great things in token of victory:
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as to be clothed in purple, to drink in gold, and to sleep upon gold, and a chariot with bridles of gold, and head attire of fine linen, and a chain about his neck.
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And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom, and shall be called Darius' kinsman."
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And then every one wrote his sentence, sealed it, and laid it under King Darius' pillow,
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and said, "When the king has risen, some will give him the writings; and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest, to him shall the victory be given, as was appointed."