JUNE. 231 



from the mention of the " Eose of Sharon" in Scrip- 

 ture ; and there was formerly a ceremonial of blessing 

 the rose at Rome, on a day denominated " Dominica 

 in Eosa," on which occasion golden roses prepared for 

 the occasion received the benediction of the Pope, and 

 were then sent to the princes of Christendom as 

 marks of high distinction. The Eose was a very 

 common ornament in Gothic architecture, and, as a 

 badge of royal houses, is frequently seen in old stained 

 glass. Lands have been frequently held from a feudal 

 superior by the acknowledgment of a rose at Christ- 

 mas, which in mediaeval times was not so easily 

 procurable as it is at present, nor at so low a rate ; 

 for it appears by a MS. in the Eemembrance Office, 

 signed by King Henry the 7th, that in his reign a red 

 rose actually cost two shillings a considerable sum 

 at that time. 



The Eomans delighted in their amphorae being 

 garlanded with roses at their banquets, and being 

 themselves crowned with their flowers, so that the 

 great demand for them required roses to be cultivated 

 to blow as well in winter as in summer. This sur- 

 prised the Egyptian deputation, who arrived at Eome 

 during the reign of Augustus, with bouquets of roses 

 for the emperor at Midwinter. But they found plenty 

 of roses in full bloom at Eorne, and MAETIAJL, who 

 alludes to the circumstance in one of his odes, says 

 that the streets of Eome at that time were so brilliant 

 with garlands of fresh roses, that they equalled the 

 glory of the fields of the Psestum, famous of old for 

 their twice flowering roses. " Thou, O Nile J" says 

 the poet, " must yield to the fogs of Eome. Send us 

 thy harvests, and we will send thee roses." So might 



