rifice:
Then doth he tread the wine, purple and golden,
foaming deep in the west;
Shinar is spread for him, spread as a table, Assur
shall be his seat:
Bel, the prince, the king of kings.

"Bring him the fresh-slain flesh, roast it with fire,
with the savour of salt,
Pour him the strength of wine, chalice and goblet,
trodden for him alone:
Raise him the song of songs, cry out in praises, cry
out and supplicate
That he may drink delight, tasting our off'ring, hearing
our evening song:
Bel, the prince, the king of kings.

"So, in the gentle night, when he is resting,
peace descendeth on earth;
High in the firmament, where his steps led him,
gleam the tracks of his way:
Where the day felt his touch, there the night also
breaketh forth into stars,
These are the flowers of heaven, garlands of blossoms,
growing to weave his crown:
Bel, the prince, the king of kings.

"Hail! thou king of the earth, hail! Belteshazzar,
hail! and for ever live!
Born of the gods on high, prince of the nations,
ruling over the world:
Thou art the son of Bel, full of his glory, king over
death and life;
Let all the people bow, tremble and worship, bow
them down and adore
The prince of Bel, the king of kings."_

As the musicians played and the singers sang, they divided their ranks
and came and stood on each side of the broad marble staircase; and the
priests had done so before them, but the chief priest stood alone on the
lowest step.

Then, between the files of those who stood, advanced the royal
procession, like a river of gold and purple and precious stones flowing
between banks of pure white. Ten and ten, a thousand lords of Babylon
marched in stately throng, and in their midst rode Belshazzar the king,
high upon his coal-black steed, crowned with the great tiara of white
linen and gold and jewels, the golden sceptre of the kingdom in his
right hand. And after the lords and the king came a long procession of
litters borne by stalwart slaves, wherein reclined the fairest women of
all Assyria, bidden to the great feast. Last of all, the spearmen of
the guard in armour all chased with gold, their mantles embroidered with
the royal cognisance, and their beards trimmed and curled in the close
soldier fashion, brought up the rear; a goodly company of men of