Classic Era.

SEMIRAMIS,

QUEEN OF ASSYRIA.

B. C. 1215. (?)

ALTHOUGH the empire of Assyria was one of the most extensive and powerful of the ancient dynasties, its records have been so involved in obscurity, until the recent discoveries by Mr. Layard, as to render it extremely difficult to separate, in the accounts of its distinguished kings, truth from fable. Indeed, it is the peculiarity of all nations in their infancy to be infected by so great a love for the marvelous as to overlay even accounts which originally appear to have been accurately given, with the exaggeration of their own fancy. Nevertheless, we must always remember, that though the history may be fabulous in its details, it may still contain certain unquestionable facts; and these, as far as they can be ascertained, we shall endeavor to follow with respect to the account of Semiramis.

This, "the earliest female sovereign upon record, who ever held undivided empire," was born at As

calon under circumstances of some mystery; for she is reported to have been descended from the celebrated Syrian goddess Derceto, who, persecuted by Venus, was driven to expose her child, and to throw herself into a lake, where she was immediately transformed into a fish. The infant, it is said, was fed by a flock of doves with milk, the birds sheltering it with their wings; and when it grew stronger, the king's shepherd, Simma, having seen them carry cheese to a particular spot, discovered the child, and adopted her under the name of Semiramis, which signifies "doves," or "pigeons." Tradition states that her beauty was only equaled by her talents, and that Menon, one of the Assyrian monarch's principal officers, having seen her at the house of Simma, whither he had come to inspect the flocks, took her to Nineveh, and married her, and that she ever afterward directed her husband's councils by her own sagacity.

Insecurity constitutes one great evil incident to despotism, and the happiness of no subject can be assured under the rule of an irresponsible monarch. Hence when Ninus the king besieged Bactria, Semiramis visited her husband's tent, and there gave such free and courageous advice with respect to attacking the citadel, as to attract the admiration of the sovereign. She even caused him to appoint her to the command of a picked division, with which she seized the citadel, and enabled the Assyrians to

enter.