To Belshazzar by Lord Byron (1823)
The poem tells the story of a king who holds a lavish feast and orders his servants to bring out the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem. He uses them for idolatrous purposes, but during the feast, a mysterious hand appears and writes on the wall, foretelling the fall of Babylon. The king is unable to interpret the message, and it is left to Daniel to decipher its meaning.
By Lord Byron · First published 1823 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Religious · 249 words
First lines
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!
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To Belshazzar is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1823 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1823 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Religious, Tragedy, Satire
- Length: 249 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetic expression.
- Historical — The poem references the historical figure Belshazzar, drawing on historical themes and events.
- Religious — The poem alludes to biblical narratives and themes, particularly the story of Belshazzar from the Book of Daniel.
- Tragedy — The themes of downfall, mortality, and the consequences of hubris align with the elements of tragedy.
Tags
Poetry · Narrative · Historical Fiction · Romanticism · Byronic Hero · Satire · Social Commentary · Politics · Religion · Prophecy · Apocalypse · Drama