daniel comes and interrupts the words that translate to mean that: one, god has numbered belshazzar's days on earth. two, belshazzar has been weighed in the balance and been found wanting. three, belshazzar's kingdom will be a wasteland ravaged by his enemies when belshazzar dies. all this because belshazzar has profaned the sacred golden sacramental cups meant only to be used for the eucharist. death tells belshazzar know that there was “death,” or poison, in the cups. belshazzar cries out for idolatry to save him, but she cannot. he calls out to vanity to help him, but she cannot. belshazzar asks thought to help him, but thought reminds him that he did not take heed of the warnings he received. belshazzar finally calls on daniel. daniels says he is god's agent and belshazzar must take his punishment. belshazzar wonders who could save him – death says no one. death says “die, thou sinner,” draws his sword, and stabs belshazzar in the heart. as death and belshazzar wrestle, belshazzar calls out a warning to all men. idolatry lays down her worship of all other gods for god himself, asks for forgiveness for calderón's faults, and says that his intentions as the playwright was to point back to god.