168 PARSONS ON THE ROSE. 



At Baiae, when fetes were given upon the water, the 

 whole surface of the lake of Lucina appeared covered 

 with roses. 



The custom of encircling the head, of surrounding the 

 neck, and also the breast, with crowns and garlands of 

 roses, on different occasions, and particularly during the 

 last days of a gay festival, when, after the solid dishes, 

 they passed to the dessert and the rare wines, is well 

 known by the odes of Anacreon, and from the writings 

 of several of the ancient poets. 



The voluptuous Horace, when he abandoned himself to 

 pleasures, was always supplied with roses. In congratu- 

 lating one of his friends on his safe return from Spain, he 

 recommended that these flowers should not be wanting at 

 the festival. On another occasion, he told his favorite 

 servant that he cordially disliked the pompous displays of 

 the Persians, and escaped them by searching in what 

 place the late Rose was found. Drawing a picture of 

 luxurious ease for his friend Hirpinus, he speaks of " lying 

 under the shade of a lofty Plane or Pine tree, perfuming 

 our spotless hair with Assyrian spikenard, and crowning 

 ourselves with roses." We can very well judge how 

 general had become the custom of making crowns of 

 roses, from the number of times which it is mentioned in 

 Pliny, and the frequency with which Martial speaks of it 

 in his epigrams. The latter author also informs us, that 

 in the very height of Roman luxury and reveling, the 

 most favorable time for soliciting and obtaining a favor 

 was when the patron was entirely given up to the pleas- 

 ures of the table and of roses.* 



Whatever doubt may exist of the use of crowns of 

 roses, as objects of luxury, it is well authenticated, that 



* " Haec bora est tua, dum furit L5'8eus 



Cum regnat Rosa, cum madent capilli, 

 Tunc me vel rigidi legant Catones." 



Lib. X., epig. 19. 



