"Oh! Sion.' But the trump and cornet bray! "It is Belshazzar's midnight feast! He sits,

"A God, among his lords and concubines.

"A thousand torches flame aloof! the songs "Of wantonness and blasphemy go up!

"And are those golden vessels, from the shrine "And temple of the living God, brought forth, "In impious derision? Does the hymn "Resound to Baal, and the gods of gold?

"And at this hour, do all the princes rise?

"Is the wine pour'd from vessels which the Lord "Had consecrated? Do they drink, and cry,

"THE KING SHALL LIVE FOR EVER?' Ah! how

"chang'd

"His countenance! he trembles! and his knees, "Smite one against the other! Look, how chang'd!

"God of eternal Justice, what is that?

"The fingers of a man, against the wall,

"Moving in shadow, and inscribing words

"Of dreadful import, but which none may read. "Call the Chaldeans and Astrologers!

"Are they all mute? Call the poor captive slave, "Daniel, the Prophet of the Lord! The crowd "All turn their looks in silence, with their breath "Hush'd by their terrors. Has he spoken? Yes! "Thy sceptre is departed! Hear, oh! King.' "He hears and trembles; and that very night, "He who blasphem'd, is gone to meet his Judge! "Proclaim the conq'ring Persian it was God "Who led his armies forth, who call'd his name

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Cyrus; and under him, again shall rise

"The temple at Jerusalem-shall rise

"In beauty and in glory, till the day

"Of tribulation smite it to the earth,

"As we have seen! Weep for Jerusalem;

"But in the light of heav'n the Church of Christ

"Shall lift its battlements, till He shall come,

"With all his jubilant, acclaiming hosts,

"Amid the clouds!"

The Old Man rais'd his eyes,

And on his forehead plac'd his wither'd hand,
A moment musing-then he turn'd his look
Again to his companion at his side.

Ah! he is gone; but, hark! a rustling sound
Is heard, and, bright above the eastern cliffs,
Behold, a glorious Angel's pennons spread.
Look! he ascends into the azure depth

Of light-he still ascends, till the blue sky

Is only interrupted by some clouds

Of lightest brede and beauty, o'er the sea

Transparent hung; John gaz'd with hands out

spread,

But nothing in the airy track was seen,

Save those small clouds. Then pensive he sat

down,

His wither'd hands extending as in pray'r.

But, lo! the vessel drops its sail-a boat

Is hurrying, smooth and rapid, thro' the sprayThe sounds of men are heard-see, they approach. Yes, they are messengers of peace! they come

With tidings to the lonely habitant.

Two Elders of the Church of Ephesus

Greet him with salutations, from the ship

Whose banner streams-the banner of the cross

Beneath the rocks of Patmos : from the beach

The Elders slow advanced, and one thus spoke

"Hail, Father! Cæsar is no more! Thy

"Church

"At Ephesus again, by us, implores

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Thy presence and thy guidance; and, behold,

"The bark now waits to bear thee o'er the deep, "For Nerva has revers'd the stern decree

"Pass'd for thy banishment: arise-return-
"Return, for now the light of heav'n again
"Gleams on the temple of our infant faith-

"The radiance of the golden candlestick,'

"That shone, in the deep darkness of the earth, "Shall flame more bright. Arise-arise-return."

John took their hands, and, blessing them, gave

thanks

To God who rules above; then cried--" I

I go

"With many thronging thoughts-back to the

"world,

"To wait how heav'n may yet dispose my lot,

"Till the grave close upon my pilgrimage.

"Yet would I stay awhile, to bid farewell