Again and again I have begged your brother Bartja to repeat the story of these gardens, and the love of the king who raised that verdant and blooming hill, pleased us better than all the other glories of your vast domains." "To-morrow," answered the king, "you can enter your new abode.

But tell me now how my messengers pleased you and your countrymen." "How can you ask?
Who could know the noble Croesus without loving him?
Who could fail to admire the beauty of the young heroes, your friends?
They have all become dear to us, but your handsome brother Bartja especially, won all hearts.

The Egyptians have no love for strangers, and yet the gaping crowd would burst into a murmur of admiration, when his beautiful face appeared among them." At these words the king's brow darkened; he struck his horse so sharply that the creature reared, and then turning it quickly round he gallopped to the front and soon reached the walls of Babylon.
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Though Nitetis had been brought up among the huge temples and palaces of Egypt, she was still astonished at the size and grandeur of this gigantic city.
Its walls seemed impregnable; they measured more than seventy-five feet--[Fifty ells.

The Greek ell is equal to one foot and a half English.]--in height and their breadth was so great, that two chariots could conveniently drive abreast upon them.

These mighty defences were crowned and strengthened by two hundred and fifty high towers, and even these would have been insufficient, if Babylon had not been protected on one side by impassable morasses.