SECTION XCVIII.

BELSHAZZAR-IMLAH-ADONIJAH.....Ibid.

Belshazzar. 'Tis come at last! the barbed arrow drinks, My life blood. Mid the base abode of slaves I seem to stand: not here-my fathers set Like suns in glory! I'll not perish here, And stifle like some vile, forgotten lamp! Oh, dreadful God! is't not enough-My state

I equall'd with the heavens-and wilt thou trample me
Beneath theseWhat are ye that crowd around me?
I have a dim remembrance of your forms

And voices. Are ye not the slaves that stood
This morn before me? and-

Imlah.
Thou spurn'dst us from thee.
Bels. And ye'll revenge you on the clay-cold corpse.
Iml. Fear not our God, and this world's cruel usage,
Hath taught us early, what kings learn too late.

Bels. Ye know me then-ye know the king of BabylonThe king of dust and ashes? for what else

Is now the beauteous city-earth's delight?
And what the king himself, but-dust and ashes?
Mine eyes are heavy, and a swoon, a sleep,
Swims o'er my head :—go, summon me the lutes
That used to sooth me to my balmiest slumbers;
And bid the snowy-handed maidens fan

The dull, hot air around me. 'Tis not well-
This bed-'tis hard and damp. I gave command
I would not lie but on the softest plumes

That the birds bear. Slaves! hear ye not?-'Tis cold— 'Tis piercing cold!

Iml.

Alas! he's little used

To feel the night winds on his naked brow:

He's breathing still-spread o'er him that bright mantle ; A strange, sad use for robes of sovereignty.

More pale, and more intent, he looks abroad

Into the ruin, as though he felt a pride

Even in the splendour of the desolation!

Bels. The hand-the unbodied hand-it moves-look

there!

Look where it points !-my beautiful palace

Iml.

The temple of great Bel

Look

Bels.

Our halls of joy!

Adonijah. Earth's pride and wonder!

Iml.
Ay, o'er both the fire
Mounts like a conqueror: here, o'er spacious courts,
And avenues of pillars, and long roofs,

From which red streams of molten gold pour down,
It spreads, till all, like those vast fabrics, seem
Built of the rich clouds round the setting sun-
All the wide heavens, one bright and shadowy palace!
But terrible here-th' Almighty's wrathful hand
Everywhere manifest!-There the temple stands,
Tower above tower, one pyramid of flame;
To which those kingly sepulchres by Nile,
Were but as hillocks to vast Caucasus!
Aloof, the wreck of Nimrod's impious tower
Alone is dark and something like a cloud,
But gloomier, hovers o'er it. All is mute :

Man's cries, and clashing steel, and braying trumpet-
The only sound the rushing noise of fire!
Now, hark! the universal crash—at once
They fall-they sink-

Adon.

And so do those that ruled them!

The palace, and the temple, and the race
Of Nabonassar, are at once extinct!

Babylon and her kings are fall'n for ever!

Iml. Without a cry, without a groan, behold them,
Th' imperial mother and earth-ruling son,
Stretch'd out in death! Nor she without a gleam
Of joy expiring with her cheek on his :
Nor he unconscious that with him the pride
And terror of the world is fall'n-th' abode
And throne of universal empire-now,
A plain of ashes round the tombless dead!
Oh, God of hosts! Almighty, Everlasting!
God of our fathers, thou alone art great!

SECTION XCIX.

DEATH OF ISAIAH.....David Lindsay.

THEN,

"Wilt thou not speak to me?" Manasseh said; "I sent for thee, that thou might'st witness how

I mock the jealousy of him thou serv'st-
Lo! here Baalim-in thy temple's domes
Upon the very ark, where he may be
O'ershadow'd by the cherubim, I will,
My people, place this image-if thy God,
Indeed, has chosen Solomon's high seat
For his especial throne, let him come down
And banish hence th' intruder."

Then the form

Of stern Isaiah with the mighty spirit
Of an avenging god grew terrible-
The drops of agony stood on his brow-
The spark, that lay still sleeping in his eye,
Burn'd up like Sinai's lightnings, his broad breast
Heaved, and his garments rustled loud, and waved
As though a mighty wind was round him, though
There was not air enough within that dome
To beat the cloud of incense down, which roll'd
Its perfumed curls before the sinful king-
Forth did he stretch his mantled arm, and strove
To speak, but yet he could not.

Then the fiend,

Which was Manasseh's angel whisper'd him,
And said, "Strike-strike the accursed-he will turn
Thy people from their purpose; thou wilt be
The scorn'd before all Judah,-strike him dead,
Or haste to raise the image."

Then the

eye

Of the God fraught, turn'd on the speaker's face,
Who stood beside the king; he did not die,
But vanish'd suddenly-there was a groan!
A shriek!-then there was nothing!-vacancy
Where he had been-they look'd upon the spot
And shudder'd-then they turn'd them to the brow,
Th' annihilating eye-their souls grew sick-
They look'd toward the king.

But then Isaiah spoke!" The sound I hear
Is of the vulture and the wolf-howl! howl!
Your banquet is preparing; even now
The slaughterers are rising- Kill and slay!'
Then feed ye unto loathing-hear, thou King!

Thou sitter on the everlasting throne,
Thou wearer of the bright, eternal crown,
One sinks beneath thee, and into the dust
Tumbles the diadem!"

Hear, ye rebellious-hear and tremble-lo!
Thus saith the 'Wonderful,' whose unknown name
Is written by the stars upon the heaven.
I speak no more in mystery, but declare
Aloud the horrors of your fate.
She comes,

Purple Assyria, with her hand of steel,
And heart of fire, and eye of blood, and soul
Harden'd from tears and pity; round the steps
Of her white courser float the shrieking shades
From Hinnom's fire-lit valley. Judah's sons
Watching the day of vengeance-Judah's sons,
Manasseh's children-o'er whose fire-scorch'd heads
David looks down, from his abodes of bliss,
And shuddering weeps."

Then said the furious king,

Now, from my inmost soul, I hate thy face,
Thou son of Amos. Nought of good, or bliss,
Wishest thou unto me, or David's house,

Which thy foul lip hath cursed. Thou shalt die ;
Thou shalt not see the evil which thou deem'st
Shall fall upon our land. A lying spirit
Hath entered in thee, and declareth ill
Where all is bliss around thee. Are we not
Blessed above all nations? If the Chaldean
Cometh as thou hast said, may he not fear
The doom, such as within my father's days
O'ertook his mighty host?"

The seer replied,

"Thy father's heart was at Jehovah's foot,

But thou hast turn'd from him who fought that fight, And now he aids thee not."

"Baalim then,"

Said the proud king, "will bless our mighty arms, Or by supernal power destroy our foe,

And strike his favour'd chiefs-thy words are false; Thyself a lie-they will not, dare not come;

Pay they not tribute? Judah's sacred soil,
Shall never be polluted by the tread
Of hostile warriors."

"Did Nisroch save the king," Isaiah said,
"Or Baal, that thus ye bow the knee before
His filthy godhead, in his temple's courts
He died in worshipping-beware-beware!
Cease your blasphemous songs: they are to me
Convulsive laughters of a dying man—
Wo to the crown of pride-to Ariel wo!
Round thee the fierce Assyrian draws his lines,
Thunders upon Judea, death and chains-
Cry out, oh land! fear, and the pit, and snares
Are fall'n upon thee-Majesty is dead!
Chains for the king Manasseh."

Then the king

Leap'd from his seat, and with his terrible sword,
Smote to the heart Isaiah. He fell down
Prostrate before the king, and cried aloud,—
"Cover, oh earth, my blood, nor let it rise
In judgment 'gainst my people-cover it
Until the day of consummation fill

The red cup to the brim-and hark! the cry
Of the press'd billows as they groan beneath
The winged ships of Chaldea-on thy shores
Lodge they their steeled burthen-chains and death-
Chains for the king Manasseh !"

Then he bow'd

His head and died. And then around him bent
The weeping priests, regardless of the wrath
Of stern Manasseh-and the inspired theme
Rose with Isaiah's spirit from the dust,

And sat upon them, as with solemn song

They graced his corse, and mock'd the tyrant's rage.

SECTION C.

TITUS BEFORE JERUSALEM.....Rev. H. H. Milman.

IT must be

And yet it moves me, Romans! it confounds