Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO BELSHAZZAR, by GEORGE GORDON BYRON


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TO BELSHAZZAR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Belshazzar! From the banquet turn
Last Line: Unfit to govern, live, or die.
Alternate Author Name(s): Byron, Lord; Byron, 6th Baron
Subject(s): Belshazzar


BELSHAZZAR! from the banquet turn,
Nor in thy sensual fulness fall;
Behold! while yet before thee burn
The graven words, the glowing wall.
Many a despot men miscall
Crown'd and anointed from on high;
But thou, the weakest, worst of all --
Is it not written, thou must die?

Go! dash the roses from thy brow --
Grey hairs but poorly wreathe with them;
Youth's garlands misbecome thee now,
More than thy very diadem,
Where thou hast tarnish'd every gem: --
Then throw the worthless bauble by,
Which, worn by thee, ev'n slaves contemn;
And learn like better men to die!

Oh! early in the balance weigh'd,
And ever light of word and worth,
Whose soul expired ere youth decay'd,
And left thee but a mass of earth.
To see thee moves the scorner's mirth:
But tears in Hope's averted eye
Lament that even thou hadst birth --
Unfit to govern, live, or die.





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