Belshazzar

EXTENUATIONS

BELSHAZZAR

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Were offered to the fiery-furnace glow-

But not by me.

Nor was it I, again,

Who sentenced Daniel to the terrors, when

He paced the night within the roaring den.

Thus did my father and my predecessor-

Thus did Darius, conquering aggressor.

Thus did not I, so were my faults the lesser.

I drank from vessels taken in fair fight;

I sang my country's gods, as was my right:

These my offences, were they grave or slight?

Why then the Finger? Why the message taunting?

Why all these ages of dramatic flaunting-

Belshazzar's weighing and Belshazzar's wanting?

And even when my death and doom were told,

I decked the prophet in my robes and gold;

Keeping my word, though his word struck me cold.

Give me my day in any modern court

And cite this item to my good report-

And who denies me as a good square sport?