Chapter IX: The Dramatization of Daniel in the Lions' Den

The story of _Daniel in the Lions' Den_ was dramatized by the members of the club according to the same methods as those which were used in connection with the story of _Abraham and the Three Guests._

This play is given here in order to show how a story which deals with a miraculous event may be treated. When Daniel was thrust into the den of lions, he was in reality put out of the door which opens at the side of the stage. The children readily came to the decision that it was unnecessary to show Daniel actually in the den of lions on the stage. In telling the story no explanation was made or asked for concerning the miracle which happened. The children accepted it and enjoyed it as they would any other good story.

The final play which follows represents entirely the children's interpretation; the product is their own.

DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN

SCENE I

PLACE: The court room of King Darius.

CHARACTERS: King Darius, Daniel, Four Conspirators,
Soldiers, Servants.

[KING DARIUS _is seated on his throne. Soldiers and
attendants stand nearby. The conspirators are talking
together at one side._ DANIEL, _followed by two
soldiers, comes in and kneels before the_ KING.]

_Daniel:_ King Darius, live forever!

_King Darius:_ Good Daniel, I have sent for thee that thou
mayest know my will. It has pleased me to set over my
kingdom one hundred and twenty princes, and over these
princes have I set three rulers. Thou hast been so faithful
and true that I wish to make thee the first of these three
rulers. Thou shalt have great responsibility, and thou shalt
report to me when thou thinkest it well to do so.

_Daniel:_ Thou art kind and gracious unto me, O King! May
the Lord, Jehovah, help me to do this.

_King Darius:_ Come unto the feast, Daniel, and have the
royal robe placed on thee.

[DANIEL _bows to the_ KING _and they both go out,
followed by the soldiers and servants._]

[_The conspirators are left alone in the room. They
show great anger and begin talking to each other._]

_First Conspirator:_ See how this Daniel has found favor in
the King's sight! He is not of our country, he belongs to
the Hebrew people; but the King has appointed him over us
all! We must destroy this Daniel.

_Second Conspirator:_ Yea, thou art right. What can we do?

[_They all walk back and forth in deep thought._]

_Third Conspirator:_ I can think of nothing against him!

_Fourth Conspirator:_ Thou sayest the truth; he hath no
fault. He is faithful and doth nothing wrong.

_First Conspirator:_ I can think of nothing, save that we
find it against him concerning his God.

_Fourth Conspirator:_ Ah, that is true; Daniel worshipeth a
different God; I have seen him praying thrice in one day.

_Second Conspirator:_ Let us influence the King to make a
firm decree that whosoever shall worship any God or man,
save the King, for thirty days, he shall be cast into the
den of lions.

_Third Conspirator:_ That soundeth well! If Daniel be
faithful to his God, he will surely disobey this decree; and
if the King once signeth it, the law of the Medes and the
Persians saith that it cannot be altered.

_First Conspirator:_ Ah, this will surely be Daniel's ruin
now!

_Fourth Conspirator:_ Come, let us hasten to the King and
have him establish and sign this decree. He will be pleased;
he will not think of Daniel.

_Third Conspirator:_ Yea, we will hasten before the setting
of the sun.

SCENE II

PLACE: The same as in scene i.

CHARACTERS: The same as in scene i.

TIME: Several days after the events in scene i.

[_The_ KING _is seated on his throne. The four
conspirators come before the_ KING _and kneel._]

_The Conspirators:_ Great King Darius, live forever!

_King Darius:_ Arise, my friends!

_First Conspirator:_ O King, hast thou not signed a decree
that he who shall pray to any God or man within thirty days,
save to thee, shall be cast into the den of lions?

_King Darius:_ This thing is true, according to the law of
the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

_Second Conspirator:_ A man in thy kingdom regardeth not
this law, and doth pray to his God three times a day--we
have seen him!

_King_ [_with anger_]: Who is this man that breaketh my
laws?

_First Conspirator:_ He is Daniel, whom thou hast favored
and made ruler!

_King Darius_ [_with surprise and sadness_]: Daniel! It
cannot be! Daniel must not die, for I love him.

_Third Conspirator:_ Thou knowest, O King, that the law of
the Medes and Persians is that no decree which the King
establisheth may be changed.

_King_ [_sadly_]: Thou sayest truly; the King's word may not
be broken. Bring Daniel hither.

[_Soldiers go for_ DANIEL. _The_ KING _walks back and
forth in great distress._]

_King_ [_talking to himself_]: Oh, I would that this had not
happened!

[DANIEL _appears and bows before the_ KING.]

_King:_ Why hast thou disobeyed my law, Daniel? Wherefore
didst thou pray to thy God when thou knewest of my decree?

_Daniel:_ Great King Darius, my God, the God to whom I pray,
is the true God, and I shall worship no other. Do with me
what thou wilt.

_King:_ Daniel, I would that thou hadst not done this thing,
for I love thee. Thou art a brave and bold man! Thy God whom
thou servest continually, he will deliver thee! [_To the
soldiers_]: Take this man from me; cast him into the den of
lions.

[_Soldiers take_ DANIEL _and thrust him into the den.
The door is closed, and the_ KING _seals it with his
signet. The_ KING _and attendants withdraw. The
conspirators are alone._]

_First Conspirator:_ Daniel has fallen at last! No longer
will he be the King's favorite!

_Fourth Conspirator:_ We, instead, will be the favored ones!

[_They leave the room in high spirits._]

SCENE III

PLACE: The same as in scene i.

CHARACTERS: The same as in scene i.

TIME: The next morning after the events in scene ii.

[_The_ KING _hastens to the door of the lions' den._]

_King_ [_calling eagerly_]: O Daniel, servant of the living
God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to
deliver thee from the lions?

_Daniel_ [_from within_]: O King, live forever! My God hath
sent his angel and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they
have not hurt me, for the Lord knoweth that I have done no
wrong, either before him or thee, O King!

_King_ [_to servants who have followed him into the room_]:
Come hither, servants! Quickly bring Daniel out that I may
see him!

[_The door is opened, and_ DANIEL _comes out. The_ KING
_shows great joy in greeting him._]

_King:_ Thy God is truly the living God! Bring forth the men
that have done Daniel this wrong. Cast them into the lions'
den.

[_The conspirators are standing in the room, looking
at_ DANIEL _in astonishment. The soldiers seize them
and push them down into the den. As they go they cry
to the_ KING.]

_Conspirators:_ O King, spare us!

_King:_ I will now sign a decree that in every dominion of
my kingdom men shall bow before the God of Daniel, for he is
the only true God. He delivereth and rescueth and worketh
great wonders; he hath saved Daniel from the power of the
lions.

_Daniel:_ The Lord God will surely bless thee for this good
thing!

END