66 WITH HERBS AND FLOWERS 



And bade them bloom, the flowers divine 

 Of him who sheds the teeming vine ; 

 And bade them on the spangled thorn 

 Expand their bosoms to the morn. 



ANACREON. 

 (MOOBK'S translation.) 



THE ROSE 



(From. " Hassan Ben Khaled ") 



" THEN took the generous host 

 A basket piled with roses. Every guest 

 Cried, ' Give me roses ! ' and he thus addressed 

 His words to all : 'He who exalts them most 

 In song, he only shall the roses wear.' 

 Then sang a guest : ' The rose's cheeks are fair ; 

 It crowns the purple bowl, and no one knows 

 If the rose colours it, or it the rose.' 

 And sang another : ' Crimson is its hue, 

 And on its breast the morning's crystal dew 

 Is changed to rubies ! ' Then a third replied : 

 ' It blushes in the sun's enamoured sight, 

 As a young virgin on her wedding-night, 

 When from her face the bridegroom lifts the veil. 

 When all had sung their songs, I, Hassan, tried. 

 ' The rose,' I sang, ' is either red or pale, 

 Like maidens whom the flame of passion burns, 

 And love or jealousy controls, by turns. 

 Its buds are lips preparing for a kiss ; 

 Its open flowers are like the blush of bliss 



