8. Then each bodyguard composed his own statement and sealed it. They placed them under the pillow of King Darius. They said,
9. "When the king wakes up, his servants will give him the written statements; and whoever’s statement the king and the three officials of Persia judge to be wisest will be given the victory according to Persian law."
10. The first wrote, "Wine is superior."
11. The second wrote, "The king is superior."
12. The third wrote, "Women are superior, but truth conquers all."
13. When the king woke up, they gave the written statements to him, and he read them.
14. Then he sent for all the officials of Persia and Media and the administrators, generals, district governors, and civil authorities. He sat in the council room, and the written statements were read before them all.
15. He said, "Call in the young men to explain their statements."So they were called together.
16. He said to them, "Give us an explanation for what you wrote."
17. So the first young man, who had spoken of the strength of wine, started:
18. "Gentlemen, how is it that wine is so superior? It misleads the minds of all who drink it.
19. It makes the mind of the king the same as that of the orphan, likewise of the slave and the free, of the poor and the rich.
20. It changes every thought to feasting and cheerfulness, and forgets all grief and every obligation.
21. It fattens all hearts, makes one remember neither kings nor administrators, and makes everyone talk in outrageous sums.