LECTURES ON THE EASTERN WORLD. 181 



It consists of square buildings one upon another. The 

 present account corresponds with the account given by 

 Herodotus. The three lower tier of buildings can now 

 be distinctly traced. The lower part is 400 feet high, 

 and all above about 200 feet. So that if the common 

 conjecture be correct, there are now standing 6QO feet 

 of' the tower of Babel. 



Adjoining to the new palace or the citadel, were the 

 famous hanging gardens, (pensiles horti.) According 

 to Pliny, XIX. 4. s. 19. these were either the work of Se- 

 miramis or Cyrus,* These were gardens raised on terra- 

 ces, in order to afford a cool and shady retreat which must 

 be very acceptable in a warm climate. It cannot be 

 supposed that any of the plants now remain, but there 

 is one solitary tree of the willow kind remaining ; it is 

 imlike any of our trees, but is certainly very old, the trunk 

 is entirely eaten out, and the wind whistles through it 

 producing sounds very like those which come from the 

 ^Eolian harp. We know that Babylon abounded with 

 willows, and we are told in the Psalms that when the 

 Israelites were sent into captivity, they hung their harps 

 upon the willows of Babylon. 



Perhaps the following lines suggested by ,Mr. Buck- 

 ingham's description of the hanging gardens, and of 

 the solitary tree which he found there may be accept- 

 able to some of your readers. 



" Where mirth and joy led on the hours 



In gay parterre and hall, 

 Now Silence broods amid those bowers 



And Ruin spreads her pall. 



till the Kings of Babylon (afterwards grown more powerful) com- 

 pleted it. " 



* Curtius and Diodorus Siculus tell us that these gardens were 

 the work of a Syrian King. And we are told by Josephus, on the 

 authority of Berosus, Aut. Jud. x. 2, et contra Apion. I. 19. that 

 this King of Syria or Assyria was Nebuchadnezzar, who reared this 

 structure to please his wife who came from Media. 



