And fishing-boats of reed and bitumen,

Piled high with glistering barbel, freshly-caught;

And foreign craft, with many-coloured sails,

And laden deep with precious merchandise,

That, over wide, bewildering waters,

Across the perilous world,

The adventurous, dark-bearded mariners,

Who swear by unknown gods in alien tongues,

Bring ever to the gates of Babylon.

We crossed the drawbridge, round whose granite piers

Swirled strong, Spring-swollen waters,

Loud and tawny,

And, through great brazen portals,

Passed within the palace gates,

When first I saw afar the hanging-gardens,

Arch on arch,

And tier on tier,

Against a glowing sky.

Two strapping Nubians, like young giants

Hewn from blue-black marble

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