268 BRECK S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



entitled "Flora Domestica" all we desire under this head, we 

 give the following copious extracts, which may not be unaccept- 

 able to a portion of our readers at least : 



" The Rose is preeminently the flower of love and poetry, 

 the very perfection of floral realities. Imagination may have 

 flattered herself that her power cauld form a more perfect 

 beauty ; but, it is said, she never yet discovered such to mortal 

 eyes. This, however, she would persuade us to be a mere 

 matter of delicacy, and that she had the authority of Apollo for 

 her secret success : 



' No mortal eye can reach the flowers, 



And 'tis right just, for well Apollo knows 



'T would make the poet quarrel with the Rose.' 



It is, -however, determined, that until the claim of such veiled 

 beauty, or beauties, shall rest upon better foundation, the Rose 

 shall still be considered as the unrivalled Queen of flowers. 



' I saw the sweetest flower wild nature yields, 

 A fresh-blown Musk Rose.' 



" It is said, however, that the angels possess a more beauti- 

 ful kind of Rose than those we have on earth. David saw in 

 a vision a number of angels pass by with gilded baskets in their 

 hands. 



' Some as they went, the blue-eyed Violets strew, 

 Some spotless Lilies in loose order threw ; 

 Some did the way with full-blown Roses spread, 

 Their smell divine, and color strangely red ; 



Not such as our dull gardens proudly wear, 

 Whom weathers taint, and winds' rude kisses tear ; 

 Such, I believe, was the first Rose's hue, 

 Which at God's word in beauteous Eden grew; 

 Queen of the flowers that made that orchard gay, 

 The morning blushes of the spring's new day ' 



COWLEY. 



" The Rose, as well as the Myrtle, is considered as sacred to 

 the Goddess of beauty. Berkley, in his Utopia, describes lov- 

 ers as declaring their passion by presenting to the fair-beloved a 



