THE WEEPIXG IVILLOV/. 



THE WEEPING WILLOW {Salix babylonica).— 

 Melancholy. 



This noble tree never meets our eye, but wc call to mind 

 the melancholy, but beautiful words of the sacred poet, " By 

 the waters of Babylon w^e sat down and wept, when we 

 remembered thee, O Sion ! As for our harps, we hanged them 

 up, upon the willows that are therein." Thus mournfully 

 bewailing their beloved Sion, whence they had been led 

 captive, beneath the pendulous branches of this graceful tree, 

 they have caused it ever since to be regarded as the emblem 

 of Melancholy. Bidlake looks upon it as ever sorrowful : 



" The Willow tribes that ever weep, 

 Hang drooping o'er Iht glassy-bosomed wave." 



The association of melancholy feelings with the Willow of 

 Babylon, seems to be communicated to others of the tribe. 

 We well remember the saddening, but pleasing influence 

 which a long row of silver-leaved Willows, growing on the 

 grassy bank of the silvery Dearne, in Yorkshire, had upon us. 

 Often did we, in our boyish days, stand or recline under their 

 .shade, in the glowing heat of summer, and, looking on the 

 water, feel refreshed. There, too, in sweet interchange of 

 thought with one wlio has long since entered into his rest, 

 we conversed, ever and anon quoting passages from favourite 

 poets, whose words seemed to ring out with a [)eculiar cliarm 

 and freshness in that pleasant spot. 



Among the many interesting specimens of this tree is one 







