FLORA'S LEXICON. 175 



OSE, HUNDRED-LEAVED. Rosa Cen- 



t if alia. This is the rose with which paint- 

 ers choose to represent Love and Hymen ; 

 but, why it is selected from amongst the 

 roses as the emblem of Grace we know not, 

 since the regularity of its petals renders it 

 less graceful than several other roses. 



GRACE. 



Emilia. — Of all flowers, 

 Methinks a Rose is best. 



Servant. — Why, gentle Madam 1 ? 



Emilia. — It is the very emblem of a maid : 

 For when the west wind courts her gently, 

 How modestly she blows, and paints the sun 

 With her chaste blushes ! When the north comes near her, 

 Rude and impatient, then, like Chastity, 

 She locks her beauties in her bud again, 

 And leaves him to base briars. 



Beaumont. 



Fair ladies mask'd are roses in their bud: 

 Dismask'd, their damask sweet commixture shown, 

 Are angels veiling clouds, or roses blown. 



Shakspeare. 



Her ivory-polish'd front with seemly cheer, 



Graced at the bottom with a double bow, 



Where all the Graces in their throne appear, 



Where love and awful majesty do grow, 



Expends itself, and shows a field more clear 



Than candid lilies or the virgin snow; 



Her eyes, like suns, shoot rays more sharp than darts, 



Which wound all flinty love-despising hearts. 



PORDAGE. 



