Methinks these are the most tremendous words,

Since "Mene, Mene, Tekel," and "Upharsin,"

Which hands or pens have ever traced of swords.

Heaven help me! I'm but little of a parson:

What Daniel read was short-hand of the Lord's,

Severe, sublime; the prophet wrote no farce on

The fate of nations;—but this Russ so witty

Could rhyme, like Nero, o'er a burning city.