FALL OF BABYLON. Then fill to the foaming brim; When the dewy lip Of the fair doth sip As we lean on her snowy breast. He raised the goblet high, And the foaming juice ran o'er; And ever the bout Of the frantic rout Did shake the marble floor. The matron rent her veil As she tossed the beady wine, And even the queen To drink was seen With the reeling concubine. What ho, what ho, the goblet! He grasps it in his hands— What ails the king While the minstrels sing, And the wine untasted stands? He hath dashed his jewelled crown, For a finger dark On the wall doth mark, And an earthquake rocks the hall. 15 Now fetch me my magicians, Upon him doth wait That the deadly scroll shall read. They have looked upon the scroll; But word said never a breath, Till stern and loud To the frightened crowd Spoke the voice of the Seer of Death. FALL OF BABYLON. 17 Thou has pledged me a kingdom-hast offered a throne; Thou hast wasted the altar, and trod, in thy pride, For this thou art weighed, and thy balance is light; Now crown the prophet straight; He hath read the scroll aright, That I and ye Shall perish here to-night. But bid the banquet on, To the gods we leave the rest, For fear, at least, At the monarch's feast, Were a most unseemly guest. B 18 FALL OF BABYLON. Flows the wine, and swells the revel Live, Belshazzar! night is waning, Crown the goblet! let it circle; Morn is breaking! lo, the summit Brighter, clearer, now it flashes, Bursting into sudden day. 'Tis not morning; darkness hovers O'er the firmament afar; Babylon, to death devoted, Lightens with the blaze of war. Arm we then! the blood of Ninus, |