"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin."
"In that night was Belshazzar,
The King of the Chaldeans, slain."
Of all the cities 'neath the Eastern sun,
What might surpass imperial Babylon?
Her hanging gardens, and her turrets grand,
Seem'd as erected by no mortal hand;
Her hundred brazen gates, of massive frame,
Might well the meed of admiration claim;
Its gorgeous height proud Belus' temple rear'd,—
Belus, whom fair Chaldæa's land revered,
Within that matchless city's broad domain,
The boast and ornament of Shinar's plain;
While through its centre, flowing deep and wide,
The vast Euphrates pour'd his foaming tide.
With rapid flight had ages pass'd away,
Since first great Nimrod* settled here his sway;
Since first the "mighty hunter,” with a band
Of bold confederates, awed the conquer'd land;
Semiramis, that queen of deathless name,
Raised infant Babylon to the height of fame,
And kings succeeding kings, in blood allied,
Were by their subjects almost deified.
The throne was now by King Belshazzar fill'd,
A prince voluptuous, cruel, and self-will'd,
Who dared heaven's awful Sovereign to despise,
The avenging God that rules the boundless skies;
But retribution's fix'd and stern decree
Shall soon cut short his proud prosperity.
Cyrus, the Lord's anointed, with a train
Of veteran warriors, held the neighbouring plain;
His ardent legions round the city lay,
To force an entrance ere the break of day.
Jehovah + leads them on-His powerful aid
Hath nerved each arm, and strengthen'd every blade.
For on this night, the last he hath to live,
The reader will recall to mind the 1st and 2nd verses
A splendid feast the king intends to give
To all his courtiers' servile meek array,
The obsequious flatterers of his impious sway,
Who crouch to Babylon's imperious lord,
And hang attentive on his slightest word.
And lo! the toiling slaves in crowds prepare
The royal palace for a banquet rare ;
Sculptured with cunning art, around the wall,
Frown'd gods and kings on gilded pedestal ;
The choicest perfumes of the East supplied
A fragrant odour through that dome of pride;
While pendant lamps,* unnumber'd, gleaming bright,
Threw o'er the scene a flood of silvery light.
And dark embroidery, with its cumbrous fold,
Adorn'd and flower'd with many a wreath of gold,
And deep Sidonian purple hung the wall
Of that resplendent, spacious festal hall.
The sweetest tones of psaltry and flute,
Harp, sackbut, cornet, dulcimer, and lute,
In melting harmony melodious blent
Enchanting music to the banquet lent,
* "From gilded roofs depending lamps display
Nocturnal beams that emulate the day."
-DRYDEN'S Virgil's Eneid, b. i. in fin.
Rich cates and viands piled the ample board,
The tables groan'd beneath the luscious hoard;
While wines were placed in vast profusion there,
And all seem'd wrought with elegance and care.
Belshazzar, follow'd by a numerous throng,
Through the wide hall in triumph sweeps along ;
Around his haughty temples, duly set,
There flash'd Chaldæa's gorgeous coronet.
The noblest lords and satraps humbly bow'd,
And rich-robed princes swell'd that brilliant crowd;
Warriors and chiefs of fame, whose martial deeds
Had earn'd in conflict glory's highest meeds,
And aged councillors, renown'd of yore,
With slow, proud footsteps paced the cedar floor;
Their splendid garb and jewels glittering fair,
All form'd a pageant exquisite and rare.
The loveliest beauties of his kingdom wide
Appear'd in pomp of luxury and pride.
Their beaming eyes and flowing tresses bright,*
Herodotus, i. 195.-His description there is used of the Babylonians in full, as a nation.
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