LUXURIOUS USE OF THE ROSE. 165 



above, the bright sparkle of whose eye convinced us tliat 

 the single flower was of value, and a mark of especial re- 

 gard. The Rose appeared to be valued as some rare 

 exotic, and not to be idly bestowed where there was small 

 probability of its due appreciation ; it was, indeed, a 

 " vara flora in iirhe^'' and quite superseded by the very 

 pretty and abundant violets. 



The modem Romans have not only lost many of the 

 good qualities of tlieir early ancestors, but they have also 

 escaped much of the effeminate softness which character- 

 ized the Romans under some of the later emperors ; and, 

 as belonging to this state of luxury, the cultivation of the 

 Rose has, in modern times, been much neglected. The 

 homage of the Romans is now reserved for art, and the 

 beautiful products of nature are, in their opinion, worthy 

 only of secondary consideration. The Rose is now most- 

 ly confined in that city to the residences of the wealthier 

 classes, and can scarcely be said to have resumed its old 

 place in Roman esteem until it is again a favorite with 

 the mass of the people. 



When Cleopatra went into Cilicia to meet Mark An- 

 tony, she gave him, for several successive days, festivals 

 in which she displayed a truly royal magnificence. She 

 caused to be placed in the banqueting hall twelve couches, 

 each of which would hold three guests. The walls were 

 covered with purple tapestry, interwoven with gold ; all 

 the vases were of gold, admirably executed, and enriched 

 with precious stones. 



On the fourth day, the queen carried her sumptuous- 

 ness so far as to pay a talent (about six hundred dollars) 

 for a quantity of roses, with which she caused the floor 

 of the hall to be covered to the depth of eighteen inches. 

 These flowers were retained by a very fine net, in order 

 that the guests might walk over them. 



After the loss of the battle of Actium, Antony, not 

 wishing to survive his defeat, from fear of falling into 



