A   In the thyrde yeare of kynge Cirus of Persia, there was shewed vnto Daniel (other wyse called Balthasar) a matter, yee, a true matter, but it is yet a longe tyme vnto it. He vnderstode the matter well, and perceaued what the visyon was. At the same tyme, I Daniel mourned for þe; space of thre wekes, so that I had no lust to eate bread: as for fleshe and wyne there came none wythin my mouth: No, I dyd not once anoynte my self, tyl the wole thre wekes were out.

Upon the .xxiiij. daye of the first moneth, I was by the greate floude, called Tygris ^note I lyft vp myne eyes, and loked: and beholde, a m&abar; clothed in lyn&ebar;, whose loynes were gyrded vp with fyne golde of Araby: his body was lyke the Chrysolite stone, hys face (to loke vpon) was lyke lyghtenynge, hys eyes as the flame of fyre, hys armes and fete were lyke fayre glysterynge metall, but the voyce of his wordes was lyke the voyce of a multitude.

B    ^noteI Daniel alone sawe thys visyon ^note the men that were wyth me, sawe it not: but a greate fearfulnesse fell vpon them, so þt; they fled awaye, and hyd them selues. I was left there my selfe alone, and sawe this great visyon, so longe tyll there remayned nomore strength wythin me: yee, I lost my coloure clene, I wasted awaye, and my str&ebar;gth was gone. Yet hearde I the voyce of hys wordes: and as soone as I hearde it, fayntnesse came vpon me; and I fell downe flat to the gro&ubar;de vpon my face. And behold, an hande touched me, whych set me vp vpon my knees ∧ vpon the palmes of my handes, sayinge vnto me. ^noteO Daniel, thou well beloued man: take good hede of the wordes, that I shall saye vnto the, and stande ryght vp, for vnto the am I nowe sent.

C   And when he had sayde these wordes, I stode vp tr&ebar;blynge. Then sayde he vnto me: feare not Daniel: for why, sence þe; fyrst daye

that thou set thyne herte to vnderst&abar;de, and dydest chasten thy selfe before thy God: thy wordes haue bene herde. And I had come vnto the. When thou begannest to speake had not the prynce ouer the kyngdom of the Perses wythst&abar;de me .xxj. dayes. But lo, ^note Michael one of the chefe prynces, came to helpe and I was left to c&obar;tynue ther with the kinges of Persia, ∧ am come to shewe the, what shall happen vnto thy people in the latter dayes. For it wylbe longe yet or the visyon be fulfylled.

Nowe when he had spoken these wordes vnto me, I cast downe my head to the gro&ubar;de and helde my tunge. Beholde, there touched my lyppes one very lyke vnto a man. Then opened I my mouth, and sayde vnto him, D   that stode before me, O my Lorde, my ioyntes are lowsed in the visy&obar;, and there is nomore strength within me. Howe may my Lordes seruaunt then talke wyth my Lord? seynge there is no str&ebar;gth in me, so that I c&abar;not take my breth? Upon this there touched me agayne, one moch lyke a man ^note and conforted me, sayinge. O thou man so well beloued, feare not: be c&obar;tent, take a good hert vnto the, and be stronge. So when he had spoken vnto me, I recouered, and sayde. Speake on my Lord, for thou hast refreshed me. Then sayd he: knowest thou wherfore I am come vnto the? nowe wyll I go agayne to fyght wyth the prince of the Perses. As soone as I go forth, lo, the prince of Grekel&abar;de shall come. Neuertheles, I wyll shewe þe; þt; thynge, that is fast noted in the scrypture of trueth. And as for all yonder matters, there is none that helpeth me in th&ebar;, but Michael youre prynce.

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