BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST*[1].
'Twas night in Babylon: yet many a beam
Of lamps, far-glittering from her domes on high,
Shone, brightly mingling in Euphrates' stream,
With the clear stars of that Chaldean sky,
Whose azure knows no cloud:—each whisper'd sigh
Of the soft night-breeze through her terrace-bowers
Bore deepening tones of joy and melody,
O'er an illumin'd wilderness of flowers;
But prouder mirth was in the kingly hall,
Where, midst adoring slaves, a gorgeous band!
High at the stately midnight-festival,
Belshazzar sat enthroned.—There Luxury's hand
Had shower'd around all treasures that expand
- ↑ * Originally published in Mrs. Joanna Baillie's Collection of Poems from living Authors.
