A [1] hand Appears, lo in his sight,
as he did drink the wine,
Upon the Wall against the light
it wrote about a line
In presence of his numerous Peers,
not set a hour full,
In loins nor knees had he no might,
chang'd as a ghastly skull.
Who might it read, alas, the thing,
Belshazzar[2] loud did shout;
Calls for Magicians all with speed
came in, as wise went out,
Chaldeans and Soothsayers sage,
the meaning whoso can
Of Mene Mene third Realms Peer
in Scarlet Robe the man.
His [3] majesty forgets to Sup,
Nobles astonish'd all;
Musicians may their pipes put up,
Stood gazing on the Wall.
The [4] pleasant Wine at length as sharp,
too late till thought upon
Division [5] of another strain
unfolds the figures long.
When [6] to the Banqueting house so wide,
- ↑ Here she prophecied of the Kings death, which fell out true For the heads-man took the hatchet in his hand wherewith he was be-headed, on the wall of the Banqueting house, after the King had drank a glass of wine, at one blow or line of blood, in presence of his then Equals, for he died as Charles Stuart. After he had been scarce an hour upon the Scaffold, he fell down on his knees, and so laid his neck on the block, with a pale ghastly countenance, without any opposition.
- ↑ Here she speaks of the High Court Justice, where the King pleaded hard, and so did the 3 Lords, but they were sentenced for their Treasons, &c. and put to death, according to judgment denounced by the Lord President in Scarlet.
- ↑ The King did eat no Supper the night before he died.
- ↑ He drank a glass of wine a little before he came to execution.
- ↑ His head was divided from his body.
- ↑ Here she names the Banqueting-house, the very place where he should be executed, and that before the host or Army. And this did befal him, for being led by his Queen.
