Page:The works of Anne Bradstreet in prose and verse.djvu/292

 2o6 Anne Bradjl reefs Works.

The coward King, whofe ftrength lay in his walls,

To banquetting and revelling now falls,

To fhew his little dread, but greater llore,

To chear his friends, and fcorn his foes the more.

The holy veffels thither brought long fince,

They carrows'd in, and facrilegious prince

Did praife his Gods of mettal, wood, and ftone,

Prote6tors of his Crown, and Babylon,

But he above, his doings did deride,

And with a hand foon dafhed all this pride.

The King upon the wall cafting his eye.

The fingers of a' hand writing did fpy,

Which horrid fight, he fears muft needs portend

Deftruftion to his Crown, to's Perfon end.

With quaking knees, and heart appalFd he cries,

For the Soothfayers, and Magicians wife;

This language ftrange to read, and to unfold;

With gifts of Scarlet robe, and Chain of gold,

And higheft dignity, next to the King,

To him that could interpret, clear this thing:

But dumb the gazing Aftrologers ftand.

Amazed at the writing, and the hand.

None anfwers the affrighted Kings intent.

Who Hill expe6ts fome fearful fad event;

As dead, alive' he fits, as onc^' undone:

In comes the Qiieen, to chear her heartlefs Son.

Of Daniel tells, who in his grand-fires dayes [90]

Was held in more account^ then now he was.

i hi.s. J As tlius amort. '^ all. I requeft.

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