HISTORY OF THE ROSE. 157 



is appropriated to a particular angel, and that the hund- 

 red-leaved Rose {Eosa centifoUa) is consecrated to an 

 archangel of the highest order. Basil, one of the early- 

 fathers, had undoubtedly seen these passages in oriental 

 works, when he related that at the creation of the world 

 the Rose had no thorns, and that it was gradually fur- 

 nished with them as mankind became more corrupt. 



The oriental writers also represent the nightingale as 

 sighing fur the love of the Rose ; and many beautiful 

 stanzas have arisen from this fable. According to the 

 Language of Flowers ; " In a curious fragment by the cele- 

 brated Persian poet. Attar, entitled Bulhul N'ameh^ the 

 Book of the Nightingale, all the birds appear before Solo- 

 mon, and charge the nightingale with disturbing their rest 

 by the broken and plaintive strains which he warbles forth 

 all the night in a sort of frenzy and intoxication. The 

 nightingale is summoned, questioned, and acquitted by 

 the wise king ; because the bird assures him that his ve- 

 hement love for the Rose drives him to distraction, and 

 causes him to break forth into those passionate and touch- 

 ing complaints which are laid to his charge." The same 

 work also mentions that the Persians assert that " the 

 nightingale, in spring, flutters around the rose-bushes, ut- 

 tering incessant complaints, till, overpowered by the 

 strong scent, he drops stupefied on the ground." The in- 

 vention of these fables, extravagant as they are, evince 

 the Persian fondness for this beautiful flower. The Ghe- 

 bers, or Persian fire-worshipers, believe that Abraham was 

 thrown into the fire by Nimrod, when the flame turned 

 into a bed of roses. According to the Hindoo mytholo- 

 gy. Pagoda Siri, one of the wives of Vishnu, was found 

 in a rose. 



Among the many stories of roses in the East, is that 

 of the philosopher Zeb, related by Madame de Latour. 

 " Tliere was at Amadan, in Persia, an academy with the 

 following rules : Its members must think much write a 



