154 THE POETRY OF FLOWERS 
MELANCHOLY. 
WEEPING-WILLOW. 
By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we re¬ 
membered thee, O Sion! As for our harps, we hanged them up upon 
the willows that are therein. 
Psalms. 
"We cannot conceive a more touching appeal to human sym¬ 
pathy, than the mournful complaints of the daughters of Jeru¬ 
salem. Their Babylonish conquerors having led them away 
captive, required of them “ a song, and melody in their heavi¬ 
ness; ‘Sing us one of the songs of Sion.’” But the hearts of 
her children were surcharged with grief, and they asked : 
“ How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land ?” They 
were oppressed with sorrow — they were bowed down with 
affliction — they “ hanged their harps upon the willows, and 
sat down and wept.” Is not then the weeping-willow a sacred 
emblem of melancholy ? 
My gentle harp ! once more I waken 
The sweetness of thy slumbering strain; 
In tears our last farewell was taken, 
And now in tears we meet again. 
No light of joy hath o’er thee broken, 
But—like those harps, whose heavenly skill 
Of slavery, dark as thine, hath spoken — 
Thou hangst upon the willows still. 
The weeping-willow is a native of the East, and is greatly 
admired for its drooping pendulous branches, waving over our 
lakes and streams. 
Thus o’er our streams do Eastern willows lean 
In pensive guise ; whose grief-inspiring shade, 
Love has to melancholy sacred made. 
1 
Delille. 
