238 SOME FAMOUS GARDENS 



scruples of the Siamese, which make it sacrilege to 

 exterminate or even mutilate certain consecrated 



shrubs. 



X. B. SAINTINE. 

 (Translated.) 



THE GARDENS OF THE HESPERIDES 



(From " The Gardens of Epicurus ") 



WHAT the Gardens of the Hesperides were, we have 

 little or no account, further than the mention of 

 them, and thereby the testimony of their having 

 been in use and request, in such remoteness of 

 place, and Antiquity of Time. 



THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON 



Semiramis is the first we are told of in Story, that 

 brought gardens in use through her Empire, and 

 was so fond of them, as to make one wherever she 

 built, and in all, or most of the Provinces she sub- 

 dued, which are said to have been from Babylon as 

 far as India. The Assyrian Kings continued this 

 Custom and Care, or rather this Pleasure, till one of 

 them brought in the use of smaller or more regular 

 Gardens : For having married a Wife he was fond 

 of, out of one of the Provinces, where such Paradises 

 or Gardens were much in use, and the Country Lady 

 not well bearing the Air or Inclosure of the Palace 

 in Babylon to which the Assyrian Kings used to con- 

 fine themselves ; he made her Gardens, not only 

 within the Palaces, but upon Terraces raised with 



