328 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



even after death ; as the poet observes in the following 



passage : 



" And first of all, the rose; because its breath 

 Is rich beyond the rest ; and when it dies. 

 It doth bequeath a charm to sweeten death." 

 Barry Cornwall's Flood of Thessaly, page 2. 



But nothing has yet been said to prove the assertion 

 that poets forge chains of Roses ; and were this to be 

 omitted, many persons, considering their apparent fra- 

 gihty, might doubt the fact: to avoid so unpleasant a 

 catastrophe, Tasso shall appear and speak for himself. 



" Di ligustri, di gigli, e delle rose 



Le quai fiorian per quelle piagge amene. 

 Con nuov' arte congiunte indi compose 

 Lente, ma tenacissime catene : 

 Queste al coUo, alle braccia, a i pie gli pose." 



Tasso, Canto 14. 



" Oi privet, lilies, and of roses sweet, 

 AVhich proudly flow'red through that wanton plain. 

 All platted fast, well knit, and joined meet. 

 She framed a soft, but surely holding chain, 

 Wherewith she bound his neck, his hands, and feet." 



Fairfax's Translation. 



Fairfax translates ligustri woodbines : but when a foreign 

 witness is brought into court, as Tasso is upon this 

 occasion, it is but common justice to see that he is cor- 

 rectly interpreted. Suppose it had pleased the English 

 poet to change Roses into turnips, what would have be- 

 come of our cause ? 



We must indulge in one more quotation : 



" Ye lilies, and ye shrubs of snowy hue. 

 Jasmin as ivory pure. 

 Ye spotless graces of the shining field. 

 And thou, most lovely rose. 

 Of tint most delicate. 

 Fair consort of the morn ; 

 Delighted to imbibe 

 The genial dew of heaven, 

 Rich vegetation's vermeil-tinctured gem ; 



