36 REMARKS ON THE SHRUBBERY. 



this have been copied the plantation, the park, and shrubbery, 

 so justly the pride of the nation, and so properly the abode of its 

 beauty. The Greeks devoted their terrestrial groves, as well 

 as their celestial gardens, to the gods ; but the Mahometans re- 

 serve their flowery lawns and umbrageous bowers for scenes of 

 future bliss to mortal believers. We, however, more prudent, 

 should wish to collect all such blessings, which bounteous nature 

 has scattered over the globe, and in this present life form a mo- 

 dern garden, worthy of the Hesperides, and deserving of, though 

 not requiring a dragon to guard it. 



Some of the pleasure gardens of antiquity were created for, 

 and devoted to, the pleasure of the softer sex. Solomon has 

 celebrated those of Jerusalem in song, and the extraordinary 

 gardens of Babylon appear to have been formed by Nebuchadnez- 

 zar for his Median queen, who, we are told, could not become 

 reconciled to the flat and naked appearance of the provinces of 

 Babylon ; but frequently regretted each rising hill, and scattered 

 forest which she had formerly delighted in, with all the charms 

 they had presented to her youthful imagination. The king to 

 gratify his consort, within the precincts of the city raised ter- 

 races and planted woods, in imitation of those that diversified 

 the face of his queen's native country. Thus we are told 

 originated those gardens, which for their singularity and com- 

 parative extent, were considered one of the wonders of the 

 world. Their base covered four acres of land, and the height 

 of them was so considerable that they resembled a pyramidal 

 mountain covered by a forest. The upper area, which was about 

 thirty feet square, was about three hundred feet distant from the 

 river Euphrates, that washed the base of that stupendous su- 

 perstructure, 



This towering pleasure ground overlooked the whole city 

 and surrounding country, as far as the eye could reach. Each 

 terrace was covered with earth and planted with trees, so as to 

 form a series of ascending groves : and every platform sup- 

 ported rural seats, fountains, and sumptuous banqueting rooms, 

 on which all the splendour and luxury of eastern magnificence 

 were lavished. 



(To be continued. J 



