❧To the Tune, who list a Souldiers life to Lead.
1
TO Sion most belov'd I sing,
of Babylon a Song; (J wot
Concerns you more: full well
then ye do thinke upon.
Belchazer Loe, behold the King
feasting his thousand Lords;
Phebus and Mars, prays'd on each string
every day records.
2
The vessels of Gods house in Them,
boldly they drinke about:
'Tis like His owne were made away,
bids holy Things bring out.
[Page 2] Praysing the Gods of gold and brasse,
of Jron, Wood, and Stone
VVhich heare nor see, Not out alas
in Court are prays'd alone.
3
A Hand appeared in his sight,
as he did drinke the Wine;
Vpon the Wall against the Light,
it Wrote about a Line.
Before his Lords, the Jmage like
of any gastly Skull;
In knees nor loynes, he had no might
not set an houre full.
4
In vaine to veiw, who could it read?
Belchazer he doth shout,
Cals for Magitians, in with speed
came in; as wise went out.
Caldeans and Southsayers sage,
this meaning he which can;
Of MENE, MENE, and so forth,
cloathed in purple the Man.
5
Thus now, when all at their wits end
wise men, all those Lords too,
A woman Loe to her they come:
to Learne what is to doe.
His Majestie forgets to Supp,
Nobles astonish'd all:
Musitians may their Pipes put up,
such gazing on the Wall.
6
When mildly came the gracefull Queene,
where no small noyse did Ring:
Comes to the Banqueting-house so wide,
said ever live O King.
Daniel he shall end this strife,
brought with no little speed:
VVas by the King saluted thus,
of Thee we stand in Need.
7
Excellent things have heard of thee,
how in my fathers dayes:
Inspired by the holy gods,
thy sayings truth alwayes.
[Page 4] VVhen vissions
divine sent him,
of future things most high:
Then by thy Skill deliverst Them,
decreed which were to die.
8
Make known this Thing, then if thou dost
as sayled Thou hast never:
VVeare gold and purple too, tis Thine,
choyse Make of whatsoever.
For Courtly phrase, returned plaine,
Sir Keepe your gifts in store:
High Offices let others gaine,
too much ye have given before.
9
Yet to the King make known I shall,
and read the Writing true:
As sure as in thy Treasure house,
where all the world may veiw.
The vessels of my God are brought,
also as J am one,
Of the Captivitie that mourne,
in BABYLON so Long.
10
For vessels which profand by Thee,
before the End: tis sent
Not ignorant of all those Things,
how payd that twelve-moneths Rent.
VVhich on thy Grandsir came to passe,
so carelesse yet for all:
As if a Feigned story but,
his miserable fall.
11
O King even
Thou, Nebuch: Signifies, a Grandfather, and a Father both.
the most
high God, unto Thy Grandsir bold:
Caldean Land a Nation fell,
gave them to have and hold.
The Royall Septer and the Crowne,
advanc'd whom hee would have:
And whom he would, he pul'd downe
could put to death and save.
12
But rays'd himselfe above the Starrs,
Names Not his god at all:
Pride thus forgetfulnesse begets;
Full Tydes Loe have their FALL.
departed 'twas and gone?
As much to say, but Bruitesh where
The End is unthought On.
13
Now whilst The Earth bedew'd with teares,
he Eates the heye which growes:
Bewayld of all dejected Soule,
Not knowes his friends from foes.
The Earth, who late made seem to daunce,
with Songs of Triumph Loud:
Then fleeth every wight as fast,
among the Beasts doth Crowde.
14
Nayles His over-grown from head to feete
and Hayre like hornes that stares:
His Scarfe turnd to a chaine of Brasse,
His lodgeing as he fares.
Of Divels Legions lead by them,
a Monarch made a Slave:
Till served out his seven times,
for rest in vaine to crave.
15
VValking in pride, depos'd at length,
driven from sonns of men:
Frighted was at the twelve-moneths End,
taken in his vaunting then.
No feigned Metamorphos'd one,
as Memory knowing well:
After that feast, how soone expell'd,
the wilde ASSE with did dwell.
16
To schoole sent to the OXE to learne,
that owner knowes of his:
Fowles also their appointed time,
more senslesse sure he is.
That's mindlesse of the time to Come,
and beating needeth more:
Wilfullnesse brother of the foole,
then bend, will breake before.
17
Woodes all for woe, as well as Men
ring out, and Echos call:
For mercy on this savage King,
in Holy Temples all.
[Page 8] Who gave by Stare-light
for device,
A Harte in silver fielde:
An Eagle mounted on the Crest,
graven upon His Shield.
18
Both depos'd thus; Thou knowest well:
Belchazer O his Sonne,
And of deliverance renownd so;
how to his glory turnd.
A day a Trumpet made to sound,
To generations all:
Heavens hand solemnizd with a feast,
that No Time might recall.
19
The memory of such an Act,
yet as it had not been;
Who are Thy favourites more this day;
or Matched to thy Kinn?
Then those adoreing Wood and Stone,
for Statutes most divine:
Meditate Carved statues on,
in faction dost Combine.
20
VVith Enemies of God most high,
to thrust Him from his Throne:
And thus hast lifted up thy selfe;
so facile and so prone.
Against the Lord of heaven thy King,
not humbling of thy heart:
But stiffned hast with Pride thy necke,
unto thy future smarte.
21
Besides polluting holy Things,
with Sabaths so divine:
Jdolatry and Revels in,
That Day and Night made thine:
But he in whose hand thy Life is,
thy Breath, and thy Wayes all:
Hast Thou not glorified Him,
hath sent This on the Wall.
22
Thy Kingdome GOD hath finished,
by Proclamation here;
How light soever made thereof,
He that sees farre and neere.
and as Thy weightlesse gold;
Loe thou his Image wanting: found
more light then can be told.
23
Devided Thy kingdome here given,
unto the Medesis;
At hand no doubte The Hand it shewes,
Darius partly His.
Standing devided like Thy minde,
so Mene Mene then:
Bids Thee beware the Judgement day,
at Hand, Amen, Amen.
24
His fathers Sonne wilde over-growne,
as Daniel reprov'd his Sinne:
VVho might by no meanes moved be,
glory to render Him.
Ignorance with; not to be Cloak'd,
but Prid and Malice high:
So hast not Thou Sir, done just so,
And finding it no Lye.
25
Of Mene Mene to Thee sent,
Even twise fullfil'd to bee:
The Hand pointing at Twenty-five,
Heavenly Palmistry.
Which Yeare reveald GODS Dreadfull day,
whose Hand-mayd for a Signe:
Our Troubles fore-told as come to passe,
how never such a Time.
26
Then is not He Belchazer right,
when all, and more then all;
Which could be thought, though fulfil'd since,
Mindlesse on GOD to Call.
The Faithlesse Steward rather then,
Michael who's like GOD:
Dan. 12.
Become like one of us This Man,
shall cause Him Kisse the RODD.
27
When Death for one as tis no lesse,
by Statute Law of Late:
To have two Wifes at once, yet thine
owne Case or present State.
What is it but to say the Truth?
the Beame doth not Espie;
Rather to be plucked out Then,
a Mote in others Eie.
28
Which Hand as here betokn's a Blowe,
The Ballance who knowes not:
Cruelty and Injustice shew,
SIR AMEND You know what.
And so goe Little Booke to bee,
Sung as a pleasant Song:
The Times at hand, another Note
Great Brittaine sings ere Long.
29
Drunkards also, Here's to You,
beware the Trumpets Call:
For from Pride yours, and surfeiting,
proceeds our Troubles all.
Praying down with your Twelse-tyde-Shews,
Stage-Playes and Foolery then,
Lest in a Moment chang'd as He,
Turn'd into Divels from MEN.
30
So Cruelty and Pride farwell,
That great Assyrians fall:
who meant at once to put to Death,
his wise Men even All.
Neither regards His GOD nor Man,
driven out as those that Braye:
The DIADEM as well fitts Thee,
GOE ASSE, as much to say.
DANIEL : J End ALL.