THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



CHAPTER I 



ANCIENT EGYPTIAN, HEBREW, PERSIAN, SYRIAN, GREEK AND 



ROMAN GARDENS 



QHE led me, hand in hand, and we went into her garden to EGYPTIAN 



^ converse together. J^S- 



.r., , 1 r 11 . 1 (^9^^ Dynasty, 



There she made me taste of excellent honey. b^c, 1300). 



The rushes of the garden were verdant, and all its bushes flourishing. 



There were currant trees and cherries redder than the ruby.^ 



The ripe peaches - of the garden resembled bronze, 



and the groves had the lustre of the stone nashem.^ 



The 7ne7ini^ unshelled like cocoa-nuts they brought to us, '7 



its shade was fresh and airy, and soft for the repose of love ; 



' Come to me,' she called unto me, 



'and enjoy thyself a day in the room of 



a young girl who belongs to me, 



the garden is to-day in its glory ; 



there is a terrace and a parlour.' 



' The Tale of the Garden of Flowers^ translated by M. 

 Francois Chabas {^^ Records of the Past^^ Egyptian Texts). 



Cardens are frequently represented in the tombs of Thebes y 

 and other parts of Egypt, many of which are remarkable for ''' 

 their extent. The one here introduced is shown to have been 

 surrounded by an embattled wall, with a canal of water passing 

 in front of it, connected with the river. Between the canal and 

 the wall, and parallel to them both, was a shady avenue of various 

 trees ; and about the centre was the entrance, through a lofty door 



^ Fruits termed Kaion and Tipau, which probably had nothing in common 

 with cherries and currants except their colour. 

 - The Persea fruit, a species of sacred almond. 



^ Green felspar, or Amazon stone. "* An unknown fruit. 



A 



