ROSE TRIBE 249 



word by rose, which refers to some other tlower, and though the rose of 

 Sharon is probably a species of Cistus, yet there is no doubt that the Rose 

 itself is occasionally referred to by the prophetic writers, and that when the 

 writer of the "Wisdom of Solomon" said, "Let us crown ourselves with 

 rose-buds before they be withered," he referred to the Queen of Flowers. 

 Old Jewish authors tell us that Jerusalem was distinguished from all the 

 other towns of Judaea, as by several other particulars, in having no gardens 

 nor any planted trees, excepting some Rose-bushes, which had existed there 

 since the days of the ancient prophets. Beautiful wild roses have been seen 

 in some parts of Palestine, expanding as early as the close of March ; and 

 Doubdan relates, that at the end of April roses were so plentiful in that land, 

 that in some religious processions sacks full of rose-leaves were brought, from 

 which handfuls were thrown on the people. 



The Rose seems to have been cultivated from the most remote time in our 

 own country ; and records tell that early in the thirteenth century King John 

 sent a wreath of roses to his lady, "pa7- amour," at Ditton. " Roses and 

 lilies," says Mr. T. Hudson Turner, " were among the plants bought for the 

 Royal garden at Westminster in 1276. The annual rendering of a rose is 

 one of the commonest species of quit-rent named in ancient conveyances. The 

 extent to which the cultivation of this flower had been carried between the 

 fourteenth and sixteenth century may be estimated by the varieties enumer- 

 ated by Lawson — they are red damask, velvet, double Provence Rose ; the 

 sweet Musk Rose, double and single ; and the double and single White Rose." 



Elizabeth Barrett Browning, in her beautiful little poem, " The Deserted 

 Garden," alludes to the flower : — 



" Old garden Rose-trees hedged it in, 

 Bedropt with roses waxen white, 

 Well satisfied with dew and light, 

 And careless to be seen. 



*' Long years ago it might befal, 



When all the garden flowers were trim, 

 The grave old gardener prided him 

 On these the most of all. 



" And lady stately over much^ 



That moved with a silken noise, 

 Elush'd near them, thinking of the voice 

 That liken'd her to such. 



" Ah, little thought that lady proud 



A child should watch her fair white rose, 

 "When buried lay her whiter brows, 

 And silk was clianged to shroud. 



" Nor thought that gardener, full of scorns 

 For men unlearn'd and simple phrase, 

 A child would bring it all its praise 

 By creeping through the thorns." 



It would be a vain attempt were we to seek to enumerate all the species 

 and varieties of Rose which in our own days render the garden so fragrant 

 and beautiful, growing within the cottage palings, or decking the parterre of 

 the palace, thriving best in the country, far away from smoke, of which they 

 are very intolerant, some of them, as most of the yellow roses, refusing 

 altogether to grow in town gardens. Several of these, like the white varieties 



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