Daniel's Answer To the King, Briton Riviere
Gov'ners were jealous and zealous the satraps -
One had received uncalled-for promotion.
With design to malign, these guys enacted
a divine trap for this fella's devotions.
"Accept this new law," they said, "Except to you,
O Great King, no petitions can be uttered."
A crusade to degrade, they watched Dan's window,
As he stepped up and prayed, boldly un-shuttered.
Their wily ruse worked and while he was kneeling,
they trotted off to the king and tattled.
Daniel was content to be pent up with lions,
but King Darius spent the night rattled.
Unarmed and unharmed, Dan stayed with the beasts.
In the morning, the king raced to the hole.
The lions in a daze; sudden praise he spoke,
"I'm amazed, God has delivered you whole."
Hear futile complaints among brutal beasts;
Officials are punished with fear and trembling.
They take a fair turn in the lair as ordered
God takes care of revenge for dissembling.
(dissembling means misleading)
based on the account in Daniel 6:1-24
to accompany the painting by Briton Riviere, Daniel's Answer to the King,
it seems Daniel continues to pray to his God inside the lion's den
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