BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST. OVER Babylon's sandy plains And we and our queens will drink from them." And the vessels are brought, of silver and gold, Of stone, and of brass, and of iron old, And of wood, whose sides like a bright gem shine, And their mouths are all filled with the sparkling wine. Hark! the king has proclaimed with a stately nod, "Let a health be drunk out unto Baal, the God."They shout and they drink:-but the music moans, And hushed are the revellers' loudest tones: Per a hand comes forth, and 'tis seen by all To write strange words on the plastered wall! -The mirth is over-the soft Greek flute And the voices of women are low-are mute: The Bacchanals' eyes are all staring wide: And where's the Assyrian's pomp of pride? That night the monarch was stung to pain. That night Belshazzar, the king, was slain. med with a stately nod, anto Baal, the God." -but the music moans, ='loudest tones: 'tis seen by all me plastered wall! ft Greek flute low-are mute: staring wide: omp of pride? stung to pain. ing, was slain. justly dear, nee; the starting tear, in; rting hour, gain? geye iring sigh, von. led, e be shed, thine! HUMAN LIFE. ROGERS. THE lark has sung his carol in the sky, The bees have humm'd their noon-tide lullaby; A few short years, and then these sounds shall hail The day again, and gladness fill the vale; So soon the child a youth, the youth a man, Eager to run the race his fathers ran. Then the huge ox shall yield the broad sirloin; The ale, now brew'd, in floods of amber shine; And, basking in the chimney's ample blaze, 'Mid many a tale told of his boyish days, The nurse shall cry, of all her ills beguiled, "'Twas on these knees he sat so oft and smiled." And soon again shall music swell the breeze; Soon, issuing forth, shall glitter through the trees, Vestures of nuptial white; and hymns be sung, And violets scattered round; and old and young, In every cottage-porch with garlands green, Stand still to gaze, and, gazing, bless the scene, While, her dark eyes declining, by his side, Moves in her virgin veil the gentle bride. And once, alas! nor in a distant hour, Another voice shall come from yonder tower; When in dim chambers long black weeds are seen, And weeping heard where only joy has been; 257 When, by his children borne, and from his door, He rests in holy earth with them that went before. And such is human life; so gliding on, It glimmers like a meteor, and is gone! Yet is the tale, brief though it be, as strange, As full, methinks, of wild and wondrous change, As any that the wandering tribes require, To minstrel-harps at midnight's witching hour! and from his door, more, em that went before. gliding on, is gone! be, as strange, wondrous change, bes require, heir evening fire; bower, s witching hour! rayer; stay, me of care, f strife e!" rears ss flowers; and tears murs forth? When the bright summer-sky of time, But when his sun no longer beams, As a flower bent beneath the storm So when dark clouds life's heaven deform, And when the winter of his age Then, as he finds his strength decline, ENJOYMENTS OF THE BELIEVER. TOPLADY. WHEN languor and disease invade SACRED HARMONY. Sweet to look inward, and attend The whispers of His love; Sweet to look back and see my name In life's fair book set down: Sweet to look forward and behold Sweet to reflect how grace divine Sweet to remember that His blood Sweet on his righteousness to stand, Sweet is the confidence of faith, 259 Sweet to rejoice in lively hope, If such the views which grace unfolds, |