8 THE ROSE GARDEN. 



in their cups of wine. In times of public rejoicing the streets were strewed with 

 flowers, and the statues of their deities were adorned with crowns and garlands of 

 Roses. Cleopatra, in a feast given to Marc Antony, is said to have expended a 

 talent in their purchase ; and the room of entertainment was strewed with them to 

 a considerable depth. Suetonius, the Latin historian, relates of the Emperor 

 Nero that he spent four millions of sesterces, amounting to more than 30,000/., in 

 procuring Roses for one feast. Alas, that these gems of earth should have been 

 so perverted from their just use ! Here, instead of opening up a source of pure 

 and intellectual enjoyment, we see them debased, and administering to the lust of 

 a luxurious people. 



It was customary with both Greeks and Romans to bring in flowers, Roses 

 especially, at their Bacchanalian feasts, placing them on the tables, and orna- 

 menting their persons with them, believing they preserved them from the intoxi- 

 cating influences of wine. It is said that the Esquimaux and the Georgians, in 

 the present day, decorate their hair with the flowers of the wild kinds which 

 adorn their respective countries. 



We have heard Anacreon's tale of the origin of this flower ; and writers subse- 

 quent to him, struck probably by the beauty of his composition, or willing to keep 

 up so agreeable a delusion, have also attributed to it a supernatural origin. They 

 do not, however, agree as to the source from whence it sprung. Bion, in the 

 Epitaph of Adonis, tells us it arose from the blood of this lovely youth, who was 

 destroyed by a wild boar. Others of the ancient poets say it was changed from 

 white to red by being stained with the blood of Venus, whose feet were lacerated 

 by its thorns in her endeavours to save Adonis. Spencer makes a beautiful allu- 

 sion to this latter fancy in the Daphnaida : 



White as the native Rose hefore the change 

 Which Venus' blood did in her leaves impress. 



But of the English Poets hereafter. 



From the fall of the Roman empire there exists a chasm in the history of gar- 

 dening which cannot be filled up. The world, sunk in a state of barbarism, had 

 neither inclination for, nor opportunity of, enjoying pursuits of this kind ; and 

 Roses share in the general oblivion. As, however, mankind emerged from this 

 state — as wars became less frequent, and men felt the blessings of peace — they 

 found time to attend to the comforts and enjoyments of life. Charlemagne, who 

 flourished in the beginning of the ninth century, enumerates the Rose, among 

 other flowers, and shews his fondness of it by desiring it to be grown in his 

 garden. 



The Rose was the favourite flower with the Moors of Spain, and they paid 

 considerable attention to its cultivation. They sowed the seeds; and it has 

 been said they had blue Roses, which were obtained by watering the plants with 

 indigo water. That they had such cannot for a moment be supposed ; and the 

 means by Avhich it has been said they obtained them are still more questionable. 

 Nevertheless, a French writer (Marquis D'Orbessan, Essai sur les Bases) states 



