ROSA GALLICA 275 



"Niebuhr, in his 'Description of Arabia,' mentions 

 likewise this habit of throwing rose-water on visitors 

 as a mark of honour." 



Nor did Moore overlook this queen of flowers. In 

 his poem, Lallah Rookh, frequent reference is made 

 thereto, of which the following will serve as an illus- 

 tration: 



"The floweret of a hundred leaves, 

 Expanding while the dew-fall flows, 

 And every leaf its balm receives." 



The legend of Tristram and Iseult beautifully illus- 

 trates the springing of a sprout of ivy from the grave 

 of each, to twine together when "it met its fellow at 

 the crown of the vaulted roof and there clasped it as 

 only ivy can." The same conception is found in the 

 old ballad of Fair Margaret and Sweet William, which 

 appears in many variations, from one of which we 

 extract as follows: 



"Margaret was buried in the low chanc61 



And William in the higher; 

 Out of her breast there sprang a rose, 

 And out of his a briar." 1 



In Gulistan, (meaning, Garden of Roses'), said to be 

 the finest poem ever written in the Persian language, the 

 author, Sadi, explains his motives for giving this name 

 to his work, as follows: 



"On the first day of the month of Urdabihisht (May), 

 I resolved with a friend to pass the night in my garden. 

 The ground was enamelled with flowers, the sky was 

 lighted with brilliant stars; the nightingale sang its 



' See The Sacred Tree, or The Tree in Religion and Myth, by Mrs. J. H. PhUpot, 

 1897. 

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