44 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
WEEPING WILLOW. 
MOURNING. 
The Weeping Willow is a native of the East, 
where it was not only planted near the water, 
but also near the graves of the dead, over which 
its branches drooped as in token of mourning 
and affliction, producing an appropriate and 
picturesque effect. It is called by Linneus the 
Willow of Babylon (Salix Babylonica ), in allu¬ 
sion to that affecting passage in the 137th Psalm, 
where the captive children of Israel are repre¬ 
sented as hanging their harps upon the willows, 
and sitting down beside the waters of Babylon to 
weep the separation from their beloved country. 
Silent their harps—each cord unstrung, 
On pendent willow-branches hung. 
Boorer. 
On the willow thy harp is suspended— 
O Salem! its sound should be free, 
And the hour when thy glories were ended 
But left me that token of thee ; 
And ne’er shall its soft notes be blended 
With the voice of the spoiler by me. 
Byron. 
