Classic Poem

The stainless sun arose and with warm rays
Bathed Babylon in fluttering waves of gold,
While through the fertile plains of palm and grain
The reedy Araxes like a snake of steel
Crawled, with its ripples breaking into blue.
Huge Imgur-Bel, the vast and inner wall
Made lustrous by the warriors' shining shields,
Thrust to the sky in overwhelming pride
Its haughty bastions peopled like a hive,
And, from the outer works, Nimetti-Bel,
The bearded guards looked down upon the roads,
Watching the loading of an hundred mules.
With neighing steeds, and camels gaunt, in lines
That reached unto Borsippa, for the time
For caravans had come, and from the town
Each day in stately numbers they went forth
To Bactria, Media and to Persia, where
They sold and bartered Babylonia's wealth.
Then oxen, panting by the wooden goad,
Passed slowly through the city's brazen gates,
With tearful eyes appealing to the slaves;
From Calah came they, laden with fresh figs
From Erech, Opis and Rehoboth too,
Dragging rich grain, and lettuce, and sweet fruit.
Ay, and from Surripac, and from Nipur,
From Resen and Arbela, and Accad,
And from great Nineveh, the sister town.
Swift cedar-boats upon the Libil passed,
And, on the Naharmalcha, known to all
As the canal of great Bel-shar-uzzur,
Innumerable vessels steered by slaves
Were rowed with jests and curses to the marts.
The marts colossal of the mighty town;
Deep in its leafy heart of cedar groves,
Near Ai-ipur-sabu, the reservoir
That yielded water for the eager throats
Of sweating captives building in the sun.
From Sittacè they came, and from Ashur,
And from Sargina and Nitocris lake,
Reeking with heavy odors of hot spice
Sweet unto the fragrance of unnumbered flowers,
Burdened with melons and the dainty date.
Then in the booths and corners of the mart
The pleasant wares were garnered, and the crowds
With money in their palms walked to and fro,
Tasting and handling ere they purchase made,
And as they passed and sneered at perfect things
Made for their delectation by the gods,
The market women called to them and sang.