CLASSIC PLEASURE GROUNDS 9 



hung by several rows of trees. Another, sketched in 

 the illustration, depicts a similar pond on a smaller 

 scale, where fish and ducks disport themselves among 

 the sacred lotuses. 



In ancient Egyptian literature, gardens are often 

 poetically described as the meeting place of lotus- 

 eating lovers, whose " flowery food caused sweet for- 

 getfulness." The following extract is from a poem 

 written about 1300 B.C. 



A poetical 

 " She led me, hand in hand, and we went into her garden to converse description. 



together. 



There she made me taste of excellent honey. 



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

 There were currant trees and cherries redder than rubies. 

 The ripe peaches 1 of the garden resembled bronze, and the groves had 



the lustre of the stone nashem? 

 The tnennt 3 unshelled like cocoanuts they brought to us ; 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. Fran?ois Chabas 

 (" Records of the Past," Egyptian texts). 



Assyrian 

 . . . and Persian 



The Assyrians and Persians, whose intercourse with influence, 

 the Egyptians was intimate at least fourteen centuries 

 before Christ, were celebrated for their marvellous 



1 The Persea fruit, a species of sacred almond. 



2 Green felspar. 3 An unknown fruit. ( 



