s THE BOOK OF ROSES 



Venus, brilliant with dew, when Pallas sprang forth 

 armed from the brain of Zeus, the earth brought forth 

 this admirable plant, a new masterpiece of nature. 

 Eager to hasten her blooming, the gods watered her with 

 nectar, and then this immortal flower elevated herself 

 majestically on her thorny column." 



India and Persia are almost the home of the Rose, and 

 the Persian poets are full of her praises. The imagery 

 of Omar Khayyam is wreathed throughout with the 

 flowers and thorns of the Rose, and it occurs with 

 almost wearisome reiteration in the Arabian and Persian 

 tales. Sadi, the author of the work called the " Rose 

 Garden" and one of the most famous of Persian poets, 

 held the Rose as his favourite flower, it is said on 

 account of the circumstances attending his liberation 

 from slavery. His master had often promised him his 

 liberty, but tarried in fulfilment of the promise, and 

 Sadi one day went to him with a rose in his hand. 

 " Do good," said he to his master, " while yet thou 

 hast the power, for time is fleeting, and the season of 

 power is often as transient as the duration of this flower. 

 Do not delay longer the fulfilment of thy promise, O 

 my master ! " The words so struck his master that he 

 liberated Sadi at once. 



The Rose and the nightingale are associated in 

 Persian poetry, the tradition being that the bird cries out 

 whenever a Rose is gathered, and will hover round the 

 flower in the Spring until overcome by its perfume. 



"With 'wine! 



Red wine I ' the nightingale cries to the rose, 

 That sallow cheek of hers to encarnadine." 



And until the nightingale calls to her to awaken, the 

 Rose will not open her buds. 



The Rose is the basis of many of our proverbs, and has 

 passed into the common speech in thousands of similes, 



