262 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



pathetically expressed in the following beau- 

 tiful lines : 



" By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we 

 wept, when we remembered Zion. 



We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst 

 thereof." Psalm cxxxvii. 



The Jews were commanded by the Leviti- 

 cal laws, to keep the festival of the new 

 moon after the harvest, in which they were 

 directed to hold a branch of the willow of the 

 brooks in their hands, singing Hosannah.* 



We still retain the appellation of the har- 

 vest moon in our almanacks, but our praises 

 and thanksgivings for the bounteous gifts of 

 nature are but feebly and rarely sung in these 

 days of refinement. 



/The religion of the ancients consisted 

 greatly in national and public praise and 

 thanksgiving, which must appear on reflection 

 equally desirable with public prayer, since we 

 know not what to ask for our good ; but we 

 may always be assured that our joyful expres- 

 sions of gratitude must be acceptable to the 

 Giver of all good things. 



It is related, that Alexander the Great, 

 whilst at Babylon, amused himself in a boat 

 on the waters of the Euphrates, which ran 

 through that city ; and that as the boat passed 



* Levit. xxiii. 40. ' 



