the Persian court, because of the privilege annexed to it, of being often near the king’s person and of being allowed to speak to him in the most favourable moments. (Vol II, Book VII, p.447) Herodotus called the position of cupbearer, one “of no trifling honour” (Histories III.34). We were now in the second historical succession of empires as depicted in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. Here, the Medo-Persian Empire is portrayed as the breast and arms of silver, in contrast to the head of gold (representing