THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE 
 
 OF 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i
 
 Belshazzar's Doom 
 
 COMPOSED BY 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSOH. 
 
 ST, PAUL, MINN. 
 
 1887.
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1887. by 
 
 SAMUEL JOHNSON, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 
 Printed by Wanderer Printing Co. 
 St. Paul, Minn.
 
 PS 
 
 BELSHAZZAR'S DOOM, 
 
 A king there lived in ancient ages 
 Who did possess a wondrous fame; ' 
 Not Solomon the sage of sages; 
 This was another king by name 
 Belshazzar, and still history's pages 
 Tell of his life, his death, his shame, 
 His heavy sins and their high wages, 
 And how he played a fatal game. 
 
 He ruled o'er mighty Babylon, the famous, 
 
 The loveliest of cities in the world, 
 
 The kingdom which o'er other ancient kingdoms 
 
 The banner of supremacy unfurled. 
 
 He was Nebuchadnezzar's son and scion, 
 
 His very image in all wicked ways; 
 
 He lived as independent as the lion 
 
 And won through sin and vice the wicked's praise. 
 
 5 
 
 762903
 
 He ruled his monarchy with rods of iron, 
 And when enraged the flames of wrath would blaze 
 Until they reached to heav'n, to God of Zion, 
 Who even now was numbering his days. 
 
 But never did he lift his eyes to heaven 
 And therefore could not see a higher pow'r; 
 He was himself monarch; who could tell him 
 A king above him had him in his pow'r? 
 No time for this! a king, a brute, a tyrant 
 Has other things than these to keep in mind, 
 For he must rule as he is ruled by Satan! 
 A vassal and a king are here combin'd! 
 
 But often would he thirst for some amusement 
 And let the tyrant spirit take a rest, 
 But this would never check his proud ambition;. 
 The same vile heart still beat within his breast; 
 In kingly robes and state and pomp and glory 
 He hid his foul iniquities and shame: 
 
 6
 
 Fair fortune smiled her sweetest on his kingdom, 
 With grand success she fed ambition's flame, 
 But haughtiness and pride and vile ambition, 
 On which the lofty fly as tho' on wings, 
 According to the King's of Heav'n decision 
 Has ever been, and shall, the bane of kings! 
 
 And thus it is that mighty men 
 
 So often play the fool; 
 
 In their ascent they imitate 
 
 The rnount'neer's heedless mule, 
 
 They climb on unsafe footing 
 
 To the mountain's highest crown, 
 
 And never think that when they fall 
 
 It is a great way down. 
 
 Thus did he climb on stepping stones 
 
 Of haughtiness and pride 
 
 "To higher realms" he thought, but no! 
 
 By One he was defied! 
 
 The One who ruled the realms above 
 
 7
 
 Had fix'd his utmost height; 
 
 "Thus far, no farther shalt thou soar. 
 
 Vain eagle in thy flight!" 
 
 The King of kings was even now. 
 
 Although to him unknown, 
 
 Above his head and reaching forth 
 
 To hurl him from his throne! 
 
 The city long by foes had been surrounded, 
 
 The Modes' 1 and Persians' formidable ranks 
 
 Had met the anxious gaze of Babylon's sentinels 
 
 Upon the hills and on the river's banks, 
 
 And round the walls, from dark Euphrates' entrance 
 
 E'en to its exit on the other side, 
 
 The foe's grim front was stationed like a death watch 
 
 Round those grim walls which even death defied. 
 
 King Cyrus with his great, tremendous army 
 Of Persian horsemen, forty-thousand strong, 
 And Lydian warriors well equipped and armed, 
 
 8
 
 Of Phrygian javelin-men a massive throng, 
 
 And therewith scythed chariots and steeds, 
 
 The Coppadocians, by him subdued, 
 
 Who now had joined as allies to the Medes: 
 
 Arabian slingers in a multitude 
 
 On every side stood ready for the battle. 
 
 Must not such formidable foe cause dread? 
 
 An awful body, made to deal destruction, 
 
 But waits command from Cyrus, from its head. 
 
 He ranged his mighty forces round the walls, 
 But as he round the city spurred his steed 
 Lo! an Assyrian traitor doth approach! 
 Kxpecting to deserve a bounteous meed. 
 To Cyrus he imparts the secret minds, 
 The plans of those within the foe's defense, 
 And thus he speaks: "() Cyrus, be not rash! 
 Thf Assyrians show no signs of diffidence;. 
 They laugh and mock your army, for they say 
 As from the walls your forces they survey, 
 
 9
 
 Your chances do appear to them but weak; 
 But this is what 1 would to thee convey: 
 They dare not come without the walls to iight 
 (For such an act would bring them sure defeat). 
 They'll keep in hiding till the danger's o'er; 
 But watch the treacherous lion, be discreet! 
 Gaze in his eyes and he will do no harm: 
 His courage then will fail he will not stir: 
 Thus are these Babylonians, mark my word 
 That you no needless danger may incur, 
 For when you turn your forces to depart, 
 From yonder walls they'll open an attack; 
 Therefore, be on your watch, guard your retreat; 
 Like cowards they will turn upon your back! 
 
 Accepting this good counsel, Cyrus gives 
 
 His orders for retreat. The army then 
 
 In solid ranks move slowly from the scene. 
 
 Anon, they turn and face the foe again, 
 
 And thus they march; with face toward the wall, 
 
 10
 
 They keep an eagle eye upon the foe, 
 Until safe distance guards them from the shafts, 
 The slings and arrows of the lurking foe: 
 Then, on they march till out of Babylon's view, 
 Nor halt until they reach their rendezvous. 
 
 The thoughtful general summons then around him 
 His most important officers to council, 
 Among whom were, Gobryas, an Assyrian 
 Whose son by King Belshazzar had been slain, 
 Gadatas, an Assyrian by birth. 
 Who also by this villain had been wrorigf-d, 
 And both, now thirsting to avenge their wrongs, 
 Had turned against Belshazzar, Babylon's king, 
 And joined with Cyrus, his most deadly foe, 
 To pay the bloody tyrant for their wrongs. 
 These officers and one by name Chrysantas 
 Composed the three most weighty men in council. 
 
 11
 
 First Cyrus spoke: "Allies and friends, 
 
 Great difficulty this our plan attends: 
 
 We've viewed the city's stronghold round about, 
 
 And frankly, our success I greatly doubt! 
 
 Such massive walls we cannot take by force, 
 
 We must pursue some more expedient course: 
 
 More plans than one I might indeed suggest, 
 
 And yet it seems to me a siege were best; 
 
 Let soldiers guard the citv round about 
 
 And piercing famine soon will drive them out. 
 
 J think this is our plan to take our foes 
 
 Unless some better method you'd propose." 
 
 Chrysantas says: "Can we not ford the stream?" 
 
 Gobryas answers: "No, we'll never dream 
 
 Of such an undertaking, for my lord, 
 
 The river here is twice too deep to ford." 
 
 But Cyrus speaks: "No more Chrysantas! hold! 
 
 And hark to me while I my plan unfold: 
 
 Our force shall be arranged in three detachments, 
 
 And where Euphrates in the city 
 
 12
 
 Be one detachment of the army stationed. 
 Another where the river makes its exit; 
 The third withdraw with me a little distance 
 Further up the river, to that .place 
 Where Nitocris, once Babylon's famous queen, 
 Once turned the modest river from its bed: 
 There we will pierce the banks and force the flood 
 Out of its natural course in a canal 
 Which passes to that lake above the city 
 Which this same Nitocris, the queen, hath sunk. 
 Both forces then be vigilant and ready: 
 Be on your guard and watch the sinking stream: 
 When from the flood enough has been extracted, 
 That ye may possible effect an entrance, 
 Press forward, lose no time but march at once: 
 The river's bed shall be your line of march: 
 Both armies enter neath the massive walls 
 And meet within Belshazzar's battlements, 
 And there we'll join our forces all in one. 
 If we shall meet again within those walls 
 
 13
 
 And force the bra/en gates within to yield, 
 
 Belshaz/ar's power is but a fickle thing, 
 
 And short his reign as Babylon's mighty king! 
 
 We'll have him now our plans he shall not foil! 
 
 But we must work: the steps to reach the throne 
 
 Are not yet built; 'tis but a night of toil, 
 
 And every man shall reap what he has sown! 
 
 Play well your parts, lose not a single cue; 
 
 Be brave as lions, sly as th' wary fox; 
 
 Your minds with thoughts of victory imbue, 
 
 And rest not till within Belshaz/ar's locks! 
 
 This very night the serpent must be slain, 
 
 For if he live uncertain is our gain; 
 
 And let us swear tomorrow's rising sun 
 
 Must see the tyrant dead and th' castle won!" 
 
 Up from the secret conclave gathered there 
 
 The solemn oath swells on the midnight air 
 
 And in a murmur dies away: "We swear!" 
 
 Now Babylon thinks from danger she is free! 
 In blissful ignorance the people see, 
 
 14
 
 Where tl it-re was no defeat, a victory: 
 They little dream what dangers hover near! 
 With joy they see the enemy disappear: 
 Pride and defiance take the place" of fear. 
 
 For Babylon, by enemies surrounded, 
 
 Was threatened with destruction for a time; 
 
 But now the bells of liberty had sounded, 
 
 And all hearts swelled with joy to hear their chime! 
 
 The dreadful siege had reached its termination, 
 
 The enemy, a weary of suspense, 
 
 Had turned their backs, despairing an invasion 
 
 Into a castle with so strong defense. 
 
 So now the flags of liberty were flying, 
 The emblems of a peaceful victory, 
 All hearts are full of joy, no time for sighing, 
 For mighty Babylon again is free! 
 
 To celebrate their liberty, 
 Belsha/y.ar made a festival, 
 
 15
 
 A royal, grand reception 
 
 Unto his princes, dukes and lords. 
 
 And all without exception 
 
 Were invited by his honor at 
 
 This banquet to be present, 
 
 To revel in his luxuries 
 
 And spent the night so pleasant; 
 
 would feast and revel 
 And pass the glorious time 
 In praising loud their sovereign, 
 The royal, the sublime! 
 
 The night is clear, the gentle zephyrs sigh 
 
 The branches of the lofty trees among; 
 
 The sprightly birds their evening lays have sung; 
 
 A cloud is cradled near the setting sun, 
 
 Its parting rays in splendor to increase, 
 
 A long, eventful day is almost done, 
 
 All nature prophesies a night of peace. 
 
 16
 
 The princes, dukes and lords and mighty men 
 Begin to 'semble at the palace then, 
 The fluent orators and famous bards, 
 To sound his praise and pay their due regards; 
 The wise, the witty who could entertain, 
 The brightest fools within Belshazzar's reign, 
 The gayest women, bright society's lights, 
 Came to adorn the feast upon that night; 
 The great and greater gather side by side 
 With mingled love and malice, hate and pride. 
 
 The light of day ebbs, ebbs away; 
 The night comes swiftly on 
 And still the mass of revelers 
 Keeps surging, surging on. 
 
 The moon ascended to her throne 
 In heaven's dome so high, 
 And ushered out the myriad stars 
 In azure tinted sky. 
 
 - 13.
 
 Torch-light processions form in line 
 And march from street to street; 
 The crowds with songs and joyous shouts 
 Their daz/ling glories greet. 
 
 The flames of bonfires leap to heaven, 
 Chaldea's dark sky to meet, 
 As to defy the stars with them 
 In glory to compete. 
 
 Against such odds, it seems to them, 
 The orbs of heav'n grow pale 
 As on the dark blue sea of sky 
 Far o'er the scene they sail! 
 
 The moon pales at the gorgeous sight, 
 As she gazes on the scene; 
 The King of heaven veils her view 
 And hides her gentle sheen. 
 
 18
 
 Across the spangled canopy 
 
 lit- draws the leaden clouds, 
 
 And wraps the hills and valleys round 
 
 In night's mysterious shrouds. 
 
 Ah! what a grand array of braves 
 
 Now throng the streets; behold! 
 
 When battle's wrinkled brow is smoothed 
 
 How Babylon grows bold! 
 
 The soldiers, gaily dressed and armed 
 
 With implements of war, 
 
 Parade the streets, and laugh and shout, 
 
 For danger is afar! 
 
 This is a night for Babylon 
 To worship golden gods, 
 To sing the glory of their king 
 And kiss his iron rods! 
 
 19
 
 No songs of joy or voice of thanks 
 To heavens King they raise: 
 But all in one united choir 
 To Satan's imp give praise. 
 
 Ten thousand voices fill the air 
 And make the echoes ring: 
 "Hail to our mighty sovereign, 
 Belshazzar, noble king!" 
 
 The merry songs, the shouts of praise 
 Reach to an earthly throne, 
 Then, empty honors, fall like chaff 
 By th 1 ruthless weather blown. 
 
 Belshazzar takes his royal seat, 
 The palace portals open wide. 
 And soon the scenes upon the streets 
 Resemble th' ebbing of the tide. 
 
 20
 
 When the dim moon- light 
 
 Barely gilds the night, 
 
 Beware the enemy of light: 
 
 The tumult of day 
 
 Has died away 
 
 And now the devil seeks his prey. 
 
 The curtain rolls up on a dazzling scene, 
 
 One scarcely believes it but thinks it a dream; 
 
 The palace is seen with its spacious halls, 
 
 Its massive, decorated walls 
 
 Emblazoned with riches from near and from far, 
 
 The trophies of battles, the relics of w T ar, 
 
 The carvings, the sculptures of kings and of lords 
 
 Arrayed in their armour, with helmets and swords; 
 
 In the midst of the glory the sovereign's throne 
 
 Is set like in jewel the diamond stone, 
 
 Where in royal state and costly gown, 
 
 Belshazzar sits 'neath his heavy crown. 
 
 21
 
 Sweet arnazons, arrayed in costumes gay, 
 Like fairies to tlf enchanting music sway: 
 Their eyes are lu>tnnis as the luscious \viue. 
 Their fair forms sway witli east- and grace divine 
 As fair as Venus, each a beauty's queen, 
 They add new lustre to the brilliant scene: 
 Like sister nymphs, assembled in a ring, 
 They throw a goigeous halo round the king; 
 Hark to the gushing melodies so fail- 
 That burst upon the sweetly perfumed air: 
 Such songs as the enchanting siren sings 
 When harping on the h'eart's most tender strings: 
 
 (SQNG) 
 
 Come fairies fair, join in the dance, 
 Our noble king with love entrance 
 And make his heart in rapture dance 
 His happiness is ours 
 
 _ 22
 
 Live while you live ere fall death's shades 
 Pluck life's sweet flower ere it fades, 
 Join in the dance, ye glowing maids, 
 Beguile the fleeting hours. 
 
 Long live Belshazzar, mighty king! 
 'Tis to thy shrine our praise we bring; 
 May far resounding echoes -ring 
 With songs of jubilation. 
 Bright gleams the lustre of thy fame, 
 Great is the power of thy name, 
 Thy glory all the world proclaim: 
 "Belshazzar, king of nations!" 
 
 O Babylon, queen of all the world, 
 Who o'er all thy banner of beauty unfurled, 
 And thy enemies back to defeat hast hurled, 
 Thy daughters sing thy glory; 
 
 23
 
 Our tongues shall sing it o'er and o'er 
 Till to-day be called a day of yore: 
 When the songs we sing are heard no more, 
 New tongues shall tell thy story. 
 
 In mellow tones first sing the song, 
 Sing it through the night so long, 
 As we lightly dance along, 
 Softly now were singing, 
 Louder still ! Our merry tune 
 Seems to rise above the moon, 
 And the echoes soon, ah soon, 
 Shall set creation ringing! 
 
 The brilliant lights shine down upon 
 Young maids whose spring has just begun, 
 As gay and free as the mermaid's song, 
 And those whose glass is almost run: 
 
 24
 
 Both old arid young are full of glee,- 
 Old age can not the gayety mar, 
 For every heart is light and free. 
 But o'er them gleams a fatal star! 
 
 The tables now are set and they 
 Are waiting on the guests, 
 And slaves stand ready to obey 
 Their sovereign's requests. 
 Ah! what a treat for one and all; 
 The fruits arid luscious wines 
 How bright it sparkles in the cup 
 The maid's eyes it outshines! 
 Ah! yes 'tis sweet before the eye, 
 It works a mystic thrall: 
 Alas! how many find too late, 
 'Tis burning venom, gall! 
 
 But as the king sits down to sup, 
 And sips the nectar from his cup, 
 
 25
 
 Old Satan takes a seat beside, 
 As though he wished something to say; 
 But his intention's not to chide, 
 But instigate him on his way: 
 "Thou art a great and mighty king, 
 Free as the eagle on the wing, 
 Thy fort defies all other castles, 
 And lordly pi'inces are thy vassals; 
 On earth there's none can govern thee! 
 Thy will alone thy guide shall be!" 
 But conscience whispers, scarcely heard: 
 "Thou haughty, unrelenting fool, 
 Since thou hast heaven's king deferred, 
 Thou must obey the devil's rule!" 
 
 Meanwhile they feast and sup and drink, 
 And louder still the goblets clink: 
 Some praise their gods of silver, gold, 
 With words and actions manifold, 
 While others in their maddened glee
 
 Are tumbling like a surging sea, 
 Or like a vast and living ocean, 
 To keep the poetry of motion. 
 
 See yonder, dancing with a queen, 
 
 The king 'tis but to plainly seen, 
 
 By the expression of his eyne, 
 
 That he has drunk the glistening wine, 
 
 And now in his riches he thinks he may revel 
 
 But into his mouth he has ushered the devil 
 
 In one of the mildest disguises of Satan 
 
 ~ * 
 
 To rob him of senses, of thoughts and of brains: 
 Yes, Bacchus is murderer, thief and a villain; 
 His forehead is branded as sure as was Cain's. 
 
 Oh! now if Satan could be heard, 
 
 His blood would chill with every word: 
 
 "Be happy now O fool, while yet you may, 
 For soon, too soon, your soul shall pass away, 
 And ere the breaking of another day,
 
 For help in vain, in vain thou shall implore; 
 Beyond death's flood, on the grim and shadowy shore, 
 Thou shalt remain, my slave forevermore! 
 
 "A yawning hell, a terrible abyss 
 
 Where fiery, flame-tongued serpents sway and hiss, 
 
 And gone for aye is every earthly bliss 
 
 Yes, even now my cavern yawns for thee, 
 
 And soon, ah soon, thy captive soul shall be 
 
 A victim of th' eternal sulphury sea! 
 
 "Ha! ha! ha! ha! thour't tottering on the brink 
 Of hell itself! What? still another drink? 
 Ah fool, forge thou thy chain's last fatal link! 
 Drink on, let not the revelry abate; 
 Laugh on, thou fool, until I sing thy fate; 
 Fallen, fallen, fallen is Babylon, the great! 
 
 O wine, wine, strangle all his gloomy tho'ts, 
 Drown consciousness in seas of merry tho'ts 
 And hide his foe's deep laid and fatal plots; 
 
 28
 
 Choke piping conscience in his very throat: 
 When on the height of joy, extinguish hope 
 And let experience in darkness grope! 
 
 "Seest in thy merry madness naught but joy? 
 Ha! ha! 'tis well! on then without alloy; 
 Thy lease of life is short; thyself enjoy. 
 Think not, great king, of danger, till too late; 
 Awake not from thy dream to learn thy fate! 
 Dance on bright flowers to Inferno's gate. 
 
 "O, couldst thou gaze into that chasm below, 
 Into that murky, lurid, dismal glow, 
 And see my fettered fiends flit to and fro 
 Like ghastly shadows of myself, and there 
 Behold that haggard, woe-bespeaking glare 
 With which their brine- wrung eyes forever stare! 
 
 "These are my foul and blood-bedabbled ghouls, 
 Whose eyes gleam like eternal glowing coals, 
 Awaiting Death to bring more damned souls! 
 
 29
 
 They once were kings and princes, dukes and lords; 
 On earth's great stage as stars they've held the boards, 
 But now they are with my condemned hordes. 
 
 "Be thou a humble beggar or a king, 
 No odd.s to me, for from the sea of sin, 
 In my stout nets, all sorts I gather in. 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! I have thee in my grasp, 
 And now my part is but to hold thee fast, 
 And mine shall be the victory at last! 111 
 
 The orchestra strikes up its strains, 
 The rolling drum, the cymbal's jingle 
 O'erwhelm the voices of the throng 
 Which with the festive music mingle 
 And falls upon the quiet night, 
 Awakes the songsters in the trees 
 And drives the slumber from their eyes, 
 As't floats upon the swelling breeze. 
 And the din grows worse and worse 
 
 30
 
 While the liquor freely flows, 
 
 Now a prayer, now a curse, 
 
 And the time thus swiftly goes 
 
 But the music gay and light 
 
 Is heard by the wary foes 
 
 In the silent wake of night, 
 
 Where the campfire's dim light glows. 
 
 The midnight hour is almost flown 
 And still Belshazzar holds his throne. 
 
 "The raven sought the eagle nest: 
 Now, in despair seeks peace and rest! 
 Ha! ha! thus shall it ever be; 
 The weak must lose the victory 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! be gay and laugh 
 And to your king the rich wine quaff! 
 Bring forth," the drunken monarch cries 
 In voice like thunder from the skies, 
 "The vessels taken from the shrine 
 
 31
 
 Of Israel's God for they are mine 
 Bring forth, I hold the ruling rods, 
 That we may drink unto our gods! 
 Who dares encroach and say us nay'" 
 None while I live and here hold sway 
 For every yes and every no 
 My will dictates is law!" 
 
 When lo! 
 
 A flash of most prognostic light 
 Illumines now the halls. 
 Such that the sun ne'er shone so bright 
 Upon the castle walls! 
 'T is but a transient flash, again 
 As lightning it is gone! 
 An instant is enough to call 
 Th' attention of the throng. 
 
 Who had the mysterious power 
 Such revelry to stay:'
 
 The echo of the roaring din 
 And tumult dies away. 
 
 See, yonder, breaking through the clouds, 
 The ghastly midnight moon 
 Glares at the scene of revelry 
 Which died away so soon. 
 
 But ah! how pale and wan she looks, 
 Then hides behind a cloud: 
 Why thus withdraw and wrap the world 
 In midnight's darkest shroud? 
 
 Ah! is there not, in heav'n above, 
 A mystic, unseen pow'r 
 Who sways the constant nature's laws 
 To suit the purpose of the hour? 
 
 God hides the swift approaching foe 
 That they may not be seen 
 
 33
 
 Until they enter, armed for war, 
 Upon the brilliant scene! 
 
 That flash the revelry suppressed 
 And sent a chill through ev'ry breast: 
 Now all is silent as a grave, 
 All hush'd as if by death's cold wave 
 Subdued 
 
 A scarcely whisper d pray'r 
 
 Revives the deathlike calm, then here and there 
 Among the terror stricken throng 
 A shriek of frightened women loud and long 
 The awful silence breaks. 
 
 Again a spell, 
 
 And each one's bosom seems to fairly swell 
 With guilty fears which conscience will not quell; 
 Accusing conscience will not be suppressed, 
 But whispers: "Guilt" within each guilty breast. 
 
 34
 
 Behold upon that pale, white wall 
 
 A ghost! a spirit hand in mortal shape; 
 
 As pale as death, as white as snow, 
 
 And all must see it not one can escape! 
 
 Belshazzar saw the sudden light, 
 He turned, beheld the ghastly sight 
 Upon the wall. An oath he swore, 
 And dashed his goblet to the floor: 
 "What fiend from hell amongst us here 
 Dares with our banquet interfere? 
 That black magician to me bring 
 Who thus has dared to mock his king! 
 By mighty Jove, that slave shall burn! 
 My fool his ashes from an urn 
 Shall scatter at the feet of Bel 
 Who'll trample him to deepest hell!" 
 
 Is it ever treacherous wine 
 That shapes that awful stain? 
 
 - 35 -
 
 Or is it the fantastic work 
 
 Of a wild and reeling brain V 
 
 Is it despairing madness that 
 
 So makes the revellers start? 
 
 In heaven's name what else can strike 
 
 Such terror to the heart? 
 
 There with its finger, thin and white, 
 
 It writes upon the wall 
 
 With ink of a translucent light 
 
 Before the eyes of all! 
 
 Is it an evil omen, or 
 
 A message to the king? 
 
 What are the news this ghastly hand 
 
 His majesty would bring? 
 
 Is it the hand of death that writes 
 
 The message of his doom? 
 
 Or is't, perchance, an epitaph 
 
 To place above his tomb? 
 
 Is it a harbinger of death? 
 
 3fi
 
 The masses stand and hold their breath: 
 Ah! certain 'tis 'tis not a dream, 
 Although to some it thus may seem, 
 For hundreds saw the self-same sight, 
 The silent hand, the blaze of light 
 Had met a thousand sleepless eyes 
 And made them start with dread surprise! 
 
 The hand of fate still moves and writes 
 
 Then disappears from human sight 
 
 As suddenly as it had come! 
 
 The silent messenger is gone 
 
 But leaves his message there, 
 
 And everyone to stare, 
 
 For not a soul could read it! 
 
 The monarch trembles and his eyes do start 
 As though they fain like stars from place would dart; 
 His countenance is changed, his face grows pale, 
 His form, so full of streught, begins to quail; 
 
 37
 
 Despair lends strenght! he hates this dread suspense; 
 
 He'll know the worst; he'll pierce this myst'ry dense! 
 
 "Ye pow'rs of heav'n and hell, explain, explain! 
 
 Are any here who read, read not in vain? 
 
 O ye all-seeing prophets, soothsayers, come! 
 
 If you have aught to say, remain not dumb! 
 
 Ye midnight-piercing hags, ye learned men, 
 
 Approach, unveil the message of this pen! 
 
 He who unfolds to me the secret tale, 
 
 Tears from my eager eyes th' impending veil, 
 
 Him shall I make the greatest of my lords, 
 
 Wealth, title his, all that my pow'r affords; 
 
 In scarlet shall he dress, and wear a chain, 
 
 And with myself shall o'er a kingdom reign!" 
 
 Thus spoke the aged queen: "Art thou a man? 
 A soldier who would stand in the battle's van, 
 Who, beard to beard, would meet the enemy, 
 Fight like a fiend to death or victory? 
 And now a shadoAV makes you quake with fear, 
 
 38
 
 And all your manly instincts disappear! 
 
 Thou growest pale as one who is not well! 
 
 Come, come, this piping voice of conscience quell; 
 
 God grant thee health and life and prosp'rous reign, 
 
 And grant that some one may this sight explain. 
 
 Look! these Chaldeans stand and gaze as fools, 
 
 They cannot read! It is beyond their rules; 
 
 Magicians and the pow'rs of hell stand back. 
 
 This task is one too great! The brains they lack! 
 
 Out on them all, impostors! I know one 
 
 Who'll shame them at their own trade! Hark, my son, 
 
 Within your kingdom is a man who reads 
 
 Mysterious signs, and, seeing fortune's seeds, 
 
 Tells if they do possess the power to grow; 
 
 If signs like this have any weight or no; 
 
 Explains mysterious prophesies and dreams, 
 
 And looks into the future's dark extremes: 
 
 His name was Daniel, Beltesazar now, 
 
 One of the Jewish prisoners, I trow. 
 
 Astronomers and men of wisdom came 
 
 39
 
 Before the king and sought the wreath of fame; 
 
 Chaldean soothsayers with each other vied, 
 
 And oracles who nature's laws defied: 
 
 Thy father put their genius to the test 
 
 But Beltesazar far outshone the rest: 
 
 The king, thy father placed him o'er them all! 
 
 Have him explain the writing on the wall. 
 
 Speak, speak the word and I will have him called!" 
 
 Belshazzar listens calmly to the end, 
 Then bids his mother for the prophet send. 
 "I will! yes, bring him here without delay; 
 He shall relieve my heart of this dismay! 
 O hasten, time, fly swiftly on your wings!" 
 No! time is not a slave, not e'en to kings! 
 Swift messengers are sent at once to bring 
 The learned seer before the anxious king. 
 
 The moments pass, each seems a leaden hour 
 Beneath whose weight the monarch seems to cower- 
 
 40
 
 Ere long, attended by the royal queen, 
 The prophet Daniel enters on the scene. 
 The king falls like a subject to his feet, 
 1 And thus the learned seer doth he entreat: 
 "O seer, I'm in distress so great and deep! 
 My wisest men all fail to answer me 
 The meaning of this monstrous waking dream; 
 O give me of the future but a gleam 
 That I no longer may uncertain be. 
 Dive, if thou canst, into the secret's sea 
 And fathom this unnatural mystery. 
 The king doth offer thee a brother's hand, 
 And thou shalt be third ruler of the land! 
 
 He bows, and thus he speaks unto the king 
 In voice that makes the silent-.palace ring: 
 "O king, thy honored gifts I do decline; 
 My humble services are ever thine: , 
 Though all thy men of wisdom read in vain, 
 The writing on yon wall I will explain: 
 
 41
 
 The words are: Mone, Tekel, Upharsin. 
 Hark! for I will explain what lies therein: 
 God placed thy father on a dizzy height! 
 Crowned him with glory, majesty and might, 
 Gave him the ruling sceptre in his hand 
 And made him sovereign of a mighty land; 
 But he, ungrateful for a gift so great, 
 Abused his pow'r and justly met his fate; 
 Denied the presence of God's aiding hand 
 In making him sole ruler of the land; 
 Insulted and blasphemed his holy name, 
 And lived in base idolatry aud shame; 
 Whom he desired he bade his vassals kill 
 And there was none to contradict his will. 
 He ruled, a tyrant in his royal seat 
 While humble subjects trembled at his feet: 
 Great nations bowed before him and revered 
 A king whose arrogance to heaven reared. 
 But 'tis no need that I his tale should tell, 
 The story of his fall thou knowest well: 
 
 42
 
 God took from him the kingdom that he gave 
 
 And placed him lower than the basest slave; 
 
 His sole companions were the ox and ass, 
 
 The forest his abode, his food was grass: 
 
 Thy haughty father lived to sadly learn 
 
 The power of Him whose love he dared to spurn; 
 
 And thou, his son, still followed in his path 
 
 Not heeding the Inevitable's wrath, 
 
 Thou still defied His power, scorned His love, 
 
 Yes, hurled defiance to the King above. 
 
 Thou hast ignited heaven's wrath for spite, 
 
 And heaven's King says it shall burn to-night! 
 
 The Lord shall take thy kingdom from thy hand 
 
 A Persian king shall thy successor be, 
 
 Grim Death shall on thy f'orhead place his brand, 
 
 And thou more ghastly spirits soon shall see. 
 
 On you bright wall of thy last earthly room, 
 
 Read, Babylon's king, the record of thy doom!" 
 
 43
 
 Like thunder following the flash 
 The words of doom fell from the seer: 
 New terror wakes on every side, 
 And every soul is full of fear. 
 
 An awful quiet reigns supreme 
 Upon the scene of mirth, 
 An ill forboding stillness as 
 Precedes a cyclojie's birth. 
 Like statues rooted to the floor, 
 Pale, haggard, motionless they stand, 
 Amazed and speechless now as stones, 
 Their mind's eye gazing on that hand. 
 
 The monarch, trembling listens, then he starts 
 As though his mind were pierced with sudden darts; 
 Imaginary lines begin to form, 
 Imaginary battles rage and storm, 
 
 Imagination's ghosts flit to and fro, 
 t 
 
 Anon, he thinks he hears th' approaching foe: 
 
 44
 
 "Methinks I see the glitt'ring weapons flash! 
 Hark! was not that the saber's hostile clash? 
 Arm, men, like human devils brave the fight 
 Sell life for life for we must die to-night!" 
 
 But if one chance 
 To leave the castle for a while, 
 And towards the river roam, 
 The still Euphrates, Babylon's Nile, 
 Where, soft winds sigh and moan, 
 There's to be seen another sight; 
 Another army gather'd here, 
 Not drunken revelers of the night, 
 But warriors, earnest and sincere. 
 
 Hark! listen to the murmur of the what? 
 Is that the thunder from the distant skies? 
 No! one reflection tells us it is not 
 Though 'tis as near as one might first surmise; 
 But 'tis the ill forboding of a storm, 
 
 45
 
 The clouds with fury threaten soon to burst 
 
 A long and awful night before the morn! 
 
 A dreary fight and blood for those who thirst! 
 
 Now, while the moon sails out between the clouds 
 To pierce the darkness with her gentle beams 
 And lift from earth a moment those dark shrouds, 
 As if to rob young nature of her dreams, 
 Behold! upon the dark Euphrates' banks, 
 Deserted but a few short hours ago, 
 A formidable phalanx lines it now - 
 The army of the unexpected foe! 
 
 Thus, while they revel in sweet fortune's lap, 
 
 The enemy prepare the fatal trap 
 
 Through which the king must fall from such a height 
 
 Into the dark and unknown cave of night! 
 
 They've labored while their victims were at play, 
 
 Improved each moment to avoid delay: 
 
 The work goes bravely on without a pause 
 
 46
 
 With patient toil they mean to gain their cause: 
 
 In their designs no rash act they employ 
 
 Which might the fruits of all their work destroy; 
 
 As one man they all work, no effort save 
 
 In digging king Belshazzar's early grave! 
 
 They work as though their lives depended on 
 
 (Perhaps it does) how soon this work is done. 
 
 The hour draws nigh when fortune's wheel shall turn 
 
 And Babylon her vanity must learn! 
 
 Hist! all is quiet, 
 The w r ork is done 
 Long ere the rising 
 Of the sun! 
 
 Look! now the river 
 Has changed its course, 
 The mighty current 
 Has lost its force! 
 
 47
 
 More than rushing, rolling waters, 
 
 Scarce a sound is heard; 
 
 Something like a distant humming, 
 
 But not one plain word: 
 
 And the dim lights growing dimmer, 
 
 Are not noticed as they glimmer, 
 
 But there's an entrance neath the walls 
 
 Surrounding Babylon's castle halls! 
 
 The way prepared, the massive army halt 
 
 While Cyrus gives instructions for th' assault. 
 
 "Sleep now, Belshazzar's sentinels, 
 On Babylon's turret peaks, 
 Nor wake until ye're in my power!" 
 Thus now the leader speaks. 
 
 "O fools! when fortune's goddess smiles, 
 Be wary! soon perhaps you'll grieve, 
 For she is fickle, full of wiles, 
 And only smiles but to deceive. 
 
 48
 
 -When dazzled, dazed and beastly drunk, 
 Come death, without a warning. 
 And make Belsha/xar's gayest night 
 A night without a morning! 
 
 "The river, friends, has yielded us a passage; 
 
 The greatest obstacle is now removed. 
 
 And with (rod's aid well play the rivers' 1 s part 
 
 And enter neath the walls of Babylon! 
 
 Now, when we enter, friends, fear naught within: 
 
 Be valiant and fight and we must win: 
 
 Consider this: The foes we now shall meet 
 
 Are those whom once before we did defeat 
 
 When they were sober, wide awake, prepared. 
 
 Awaiting our attack with weapons bared. 
 
 Their allies by their side upon the field, 
 
 And face to face we forced their lines to yield. 
 
 We now shall fall upon them unexpected, 
 
 At such a time when fiend intoxication 
 
 Has muddled many brains and made the victims 
 
 49
 
 Unfit to meet emergencies and danger; 
 While many are in swinish sleep reposing, 
 Arid revellers are merrily carousing, 
 Ne'er thinking of the peril pending o'er them, 
 Far from suspecting what to-night's transpired. 
 When they discover suddenly the danger, 
 When they behold our army in the city, 
 Their consternation will outdo itself 
 And all the more unfit them for the task. 
 
 "But, if perchance, they apprehend our plot, 
 
 They'll mount upon their places of abode 
 
 And hurl death-dealing missiles on our heads 
 
 From every side; but have no fear of this, 
 
 For fortune is against them even here: 
 
 Their houses are of palm-trees built, their walls 
 
 Anointed with bitumen all around: 
 
 These facts speak boldly in our favour now; 
 
 When from their roofs they hurl their missiles down, 
 
 Set fire to their dwellings! burn them down! 
 
 50
 
 The people will be forced to leave at once 
 Or perish for their rashness, in the flames! 
 Then spread destruction round you far and wide; 
 The fire-god, Vulcan, fights upon our side! 
 
 ''Gobryas, now shalt thou onr captain be 
 
 To lead our forces on to victory, 
 
 For thou art best acquainted with the way; 
 
 Make no unnecessary, rash delay, 
 
 But once within the walls, conduct us straight. 
 
 The nearest way unto the palace gate." 
 
 lie answers thus: U I will! and I've no doubt 
 But we shall find the palace doors unbarred, 
 For revelry is holding sway to-night, 
 The sentinels most likely drinking hard: 
 But we must fall upon them suddenly 
 Lest they detect our plot and be on guard." 
 
 51
 
 "Then march at once! The precious moments fly: 
 Let not another pass us idly by: 
 Come, give them not a moment to prepare, 
 To-morrow Babylon's wealth the Persians share!" 
 
 The soldiers form in solid ranks 
 Where lately were a river's banks: 
 Avenging looks this midnight band, 
 As, sword in girdle, spear in hand. 
 Stealthily they forward march 
 Underneath the massive arch. 
 Swiftly stealing on their prey, 
 Who, had this been open day, 
 Might have escaped, but fate said, no! 
 And heaven would not have it so. 
 For mighty Babylon's doom was sealed, 
 As was on that same night revealed. 
 
 52
 
 Within the walls at last, they climb the banks 
 
 To learn if they could foi'ce the gates of brass 
 
 Which boldly face the river on each side: 
 
 They yield! and through these passage ways they pass! 
 
 King Cyrus sends his faithful spies about 
 To clear the facts which, shrouded now in doubt. 
 When brought to light their weakness would expose 
 And aid them in the capture of their foes. 
 
 As one by one the trusty scouts return, 
 Delivering the news which they could learn, 
 Shrewd Cyrus builds the ladder to success, 
 Aud thus his generals doth he address: 
 
 "The palace doors are locked; we can not enter 
 Unless by stratagem we gain our cause; 
 We can not wait for sluggard time's assistance 
 We must be brief! 'tis danger now to pause! 
 
 63
 
 "Look there, round yonder blazing campfire gathered, 
 The sentinels, drunk and maddened by the wine, 
 Enjoying life as kings and not as vassals, 
 And no more fit for war than muddled swine! 
 
 "They'll never think of swift approaching danger, 
 Nor dream of aught but wine and revelry. 
 But, merrily carousing, dancing, drinking. 
 
 Will prove tame victims for their enemy. 
 
 \J 
 
 "Gobryas, thou shalt cautiously approach 
 Yon camp-fire and attack the sentinels there; 
 Slay some and thus strike terror to them all: 
 Let cries of terror pierce the midnight air! 
 
 Meanwhile, I with Gadatas and his forces 
 Will march with all haste to the palace gate 
 (All must be done with the least commotion) 
 Then we'll surround the entrances and wait. 
 
 54
 
 When you attack the guards around the tire, 
 Th' assault will strike such fear to every heart 
 That they will raise an outcry for assistance; 
 Then from their pleasant dreams the lords will start! 
 
 'The king in haste will open wide the portals 
 To ascertain the cause of such a din, 
 And in that dire moment of confusion. 
 Without delay our soldiers shall rush in!" 
 
 These orders given, each force resumes its task, 
 And hid behind the midnight's raven mask, 
 In strenght a host, in heart a single man, 
 They set to work to execute the plan. 
 
 They seperate: Gadatas with king Cyrus 
 On conqueror's wings toward the palace hies, 
 (Tobryas to the camp, as Cyrus ordered, 
 To raise a panic by his victims' cries. 
 
 55
 
 As silently the armies move along 
 No sound prevails, save revellers dying song: 
 All's peaceful silence, now, save here and the IT 
 A drunken laughter falls upon the air. 
 Then all is ominous, still and dark 
 Another sound! but oh how different! 
 
 Hark! 
 
 A cry of terror breaks the awful stilhie! 
 Another follows, then a general wail! 
 The dreadful plan shall lack no execution! 
 The awful clamor says it shall not fail! 
 
 The palace-doors are suddenly tiling open! 
 The guests rush out! Out? No! it is in vain! 
 For they are driven back in wild confusion; 
 The few who gain the open air are slain! 
 
 Before us lies the last sad scene: 
 Not flowers sweet nor forests green, 
 
 56
 
 With rippling waters on a night serene, 
 But the king's domains again are seen. 
 
 The selfsame scene on which our dazzled gaze 
 
 Beheld the highest pinnacle of bliss 
 
 But few short hours ago: 
 
 Alas, now look what different phase! 
 
 Whose hand has changed that scene of happy bli> 
 
 To deepest depths of woe? 
 
 Fickle fortune's wheel is turned 
 And ended is the gayety and mirth, 
 And now the king would gladly give 
 His kingdom for another day on earth 
 But no! alas, 't would not be granted, 
 For now the sins which he had planted 
 Were ripe and ready reaped to be. 
 And, sown in sorrow reaped in gladness, 
 Sown in glory, reap'd in sadness, 
 O say, what shall the harvest be? 
 
 57
 
 Still fear and anger rage within the king: 
 Like one who's doomed to fill an early grave, 
 Of all his self-possession he's deprived; 
 Accusing conscience has him now a slave: 
 "Where shall I hide from God almighty's face? 
 What shall I do? Prepare at once to fly? 
 Where? No! On earth there is no hiding place 
 And heav'n is locked to me and 1 must die! 
 
 What! Must I die? Who says to me, "Thou must!" 
 
 Am I a king? A slave tells me I must, 
 
 And bids me tremble! I have men to tight. 
 
 Brave soldiers to defend a sovereign's right! 
 
 I tremble? No! down, coward conscience, down! 
 
 I still possess a kingdom and a crown!" 
 
 The chain is forged! O fatal links! 
 
 Like death-knells sound the goblets' clinks! 
 
 Instead of wines and royal drinks, 
 
 The clash of the sabre, the helmets clang,
 
 The blood from the heart-fount, the terrible pang 
 
 Felt only when death sticks his poisonous fang 
 
 Deep into his victim to seek for his life! 
 
 The battle-spear, saber, the lance and the knife 
 
 Play their terrible parts in the tight for life; 
 
 Great crimson floods reek on the floor. 
 
 And everywhere are stains of gore; 
 
 And in the light that gloated o'er 
 
 That horrid sight the weapons gleam 
 
 While frightened women fly and scream 
 
 As though awakened from a dream! 
 
 And sadly swells the dying groan, 
 
 Hearts anguish-riven wail and moan, 
 
 Air castles to the air are blown! 
 
 Belshazzar, full of fear and rage, 
 Like a fearful demon stands, 
 He fiercely howls: "I am yoiir king! 
 Obey ye my commands!'' 1 
 
 - 59 -
 
 His hair stands like the lions mane, 
 His eyes glare as the sun! 
 He knows the curtain soon must drop 
 1 1 is part is almost done! 
 
 "No hope for bloodless peace remains 
 And mercy's hour is past! 
 Escape is vain, but lose or gain, 
 The die must now be cast! 
 
 -Imagination shows two fates 
 To die, or live a slave! 
 Arouse, ye fools and fight like fiends 
 Or fill a coAvard's grave! 
 
 "'Upon the cowards! Drive them back 
 To their mothers' breasts again 
 Or smear our sabers with their blood! 
 Like dogs let them be slain!" 
 
 60
 
 The soldiers hear and rush to war. 
 The battle trumpets sound, 
 And in the conflict's roar and din 
 The monarch's voice is drowned. 
 
 The lightning flashes from the swords: 
 The soldiers fight pell-mell: 
 If they must die by Persian hands, 
 Their lives they'll dearly sell. 
 
 Like brutal beasts and not like men 
 They meet and fight the foe 
 As hand to hand and beard to beard 
 They strike the fatal blow: 
 
 They scatter dead and dying side by side 
 Belshazzar's throne with blood is deeply dyed! 
 
 But look into the thickest of the tight! 
 The king, with enemies to left and right,
 
 With wrinkled brow and fearful, angry mien 
 Stands like one 'wakened from a hideous dream. 
 
 At last the monarch draws his sword to kill; 
 
 He'd fain escape but tights against his will: 
 
 All hope within his bosom now is dead, 
 
 And on his brow are marks of fear and dread. 
 
 His hope is gone experience is left, 
 
 But what is day when of a sun bereft? 
 
 All dark despair, no vision of a heaven: 
 
 Therefore, in death, his soul is anguish-riven! 
 
 No hope for earthly bliss; that awful hand 
 
 Had grasped that hope that was so bright and grand! 
 
 The guiding star of life torn from his sky, 
 
 He rushes to destruction he must die. 
 
 With maddened frenzy he pursues the fight 
 His men are slain before his very eyt -: 
 His madness still increases at the sight 
 And all the world in anger he defies. 
 
 62
 
 The fight grows hot, the arrows fly around 
 The king and threaten to fulfill his doom: 
 The dying groan blends with the helmet's sound; 
 Ah, many homes will now be filled with gloom. 
 
 Alas! Belsha/zai's bound by Bachus' chains; 
 But still he fights, and every nerve he strains, 
 To gain again possession of his mind; 
 Confused with fear and rage, like brute that's blind, 
 He sees no friend but strikes both friend and foe, 
 And though he weakens at each serveral blow, 
 His weapon meets his enemy's and wards 
 Off blow by blow Alas! he's off his guard! 
 His actions fail! his enemy's point is pressed 
 Against his heart, now buried in his breast! 
 An awful shriek a smother'd cry of pain. 
 And then he seems to see his glory wane. 
 
 kk O death! wouldst thou convey a soul to hell':' 
 Alas! my kingdom, life and all, farewell!" 
 
 63
 
 A smothered curse is cast upon the air, 
 The last word uttered in his deep despair. 
 
 He tries to raise his sword again in vain: 
 He writhes and shows deep signs of heavy pain: 
 Ah, sweet revenge! so near and yet so far! 
 Yes, out of reach; his foe he can not mar. 
 His eyes afire for blood they seem to thirst. 
 His bosom heaves as though it fain would burst: 
 Death steps before him with his poisonous dart 
 To help him on hi* dreary journey start: 
 
 The ferry-man is waiting at the boat 
 For him that he may set his craft afloat, 
 Awaiting but the capture of his ghost 
 To waft him o'er to Pluto's dreary coast. 
 
 Ptrhaps the king now sees his awful fate 
 Alas! too well, ves too well, and too late! 
 
 64
 
 He stands a moment as in dread suspense 
 As though, if death approach, to brave defence! 
 
 He feels death's cold hand reach to clog his throat! 
 He seems to see grim Satan grin and gloat! 
 He gathers all his strength and powers of will, 
 Strains every nerve to shake that awful chill: 
 
 In Vain! in vain! That grasp grows firm and fast! 
 
 An everlasting prisoner at last! 
 
 He staggers, falls in agony of death, 
 
 And struggles still in vain to gain his breath; 
 
 Death rattles in his throat; he's sinking fast 
 
 The shades of death his wrinkled brow o'ercast; 
 
 Cold death has almost frozen every vein 
 
 And still he strives to raise his head again! 
 
 His pale lips quiver ah, perhaps he tries 
 
 To bid a kingdom for a life he dies! 
 
 65
 
 "No! down to deepest hell thou sinking wreck! 
 Ten thousand kingdoms can not buy thee back! 
 Thus far thou goest, now the word is "Stay!" 
 Thy cup of life must now be ta'en away 
 And handed to another with thy crown; 
 Fools drink their cup too suddenly and drown! 
 Go! join thy fellow-revellers in sin 
 Ha! ha! ha! ha! Thus do I rake them in!" 
 
 Prostrate he lies, his body is asleep: 
 
 Ah what a slumber, awful, heavy, deep! 
 
 The sun that sank shall never show its light, 
 
 For this begins a dark, uncertain night, 
 
 A night of dreams, O, who can tell what dreams 
 
 But he who sleeps, till doomsday's bright sunbeams 
 
 Shall break the night of death when time is past 
 
 And scatter all dark shades which death had cast? 
 
 When the veil of night's forever drawn aside 
 
 And the portals of the morning open wide, 
 
 O, will not all the dreams of death come true 
 
 66
 
 And then present themselves in brighter view? 
 Will then Belshazzar start from out that sleep, 
 With trembling fear, lest dreams their promise keep, 
 To heai above all other noise and din 
 That awful; Mene! Tekel! Upharsin! 
 
 No matter! long he's rested 'neath the sod 
 And to an unknown land his soul has flown; 
 Whate'er his fate, leave to the Judge above; 
 Its secret depths no mortal's ever known. 
 
 A Median king sits on th' Assyrian's throne; 
 The king that was where's he? look! dead as stone, 
 There at his feet, with dim and upturned eyes, 
 Cold, blood-bespattered, dead, Belsha/zar lies! 
 His doom's fulfilled! The battle's lost and won! 
 The curtain drops, the tragedy is done. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 67
 
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