"Let the men of lore appear, "The wisest of the earth, "And expound the words of fear, "Which mar our royal mirth." IV. Chaldea's seers are good, But here they have no skill; And the unknown letters stood Untold and awful still. And Babel's men of age Are wise and deep in lore; But now they were not sage, They saw-but knew no more. V. A captive in the land, A stranger and a youth, He heard the king's command, He saw that writing's truth. The lamps around were bright, The prophecy in view; He read it on that night,— The morrow proved it true. VI. Belshazzar's grave is made, "His kingdom passed away, "He in the balance weighed, "Is light and worthless clay. "The shroud, his robe of state, "His canopy, the stone; "The Mede is at his gate! "The Persian on his throne!" SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS! SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS! melancholy star! So gleams the past, the light of other days, Which shines, but warms not with its powerless rays; A night-beam Sorrow watcheth to behold, Distinct, but distant-clear-but, oh how cold! |