442 bkeck's new book of flowers. 



and though there was a great profusion of meat and fruit 

 at this entertainment, 'it might,' he says, 'have been 

 styled the Feast of Roses, for the floor of the great hall, 

 or open-fronted talar^ was spread in the middle, and in the 

 recess, with Roses forming the figures of cypress-trees ; 

 Roses decorated all the candle-sticks, which were very 

 numerous. The surface of the hawz^ or reservoir of wa- 

 ter, was completely covered with rose-leaves, which also 

 were scattered on the principal walks leading to the man- 

 sion.' 



" He says that the surface of this reservoir was so en- 

 tirely covered with rose-leaves, that the water was visible 

 only when stirred by the air, and that the servants, during 

 the entertainment, were continually scattering fresh Roses 

 both upon the waters and the floor of the hall.* 



" We must not dismiss the subject of the Rose, without 

 recalling to the minds of our readers those beautiful lines 

 from Milton : — 



Eve separate he spies, 



Veiled in a cloud of fragrance where she stood, 

 Half spied, so thick the Roses blushing round 

 About her glowed ; oft stooping to support 

 Each flower of tender stalk, whose head, though gay 

 Carnation, purple, azure, or speck'd with gold. 

 Hung drooping unsustained ; them slie upstays 

 Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while 

 Herself, though fairest unsupported flower. 

 From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh.' 



" In two difierent poems, where Venus is represented, 

 she has a crown of white and red flowers : — 



' 1 saw anone right her figure 

 Nakid yfletyng in a se. 

 And also on her liedde parde 

 Her rosy garland white and redde.' 



' Then father Anoiiises decked a capacious bowl witli garlands, and filled it 

 up with wine.' — \UavidsorCs Translation.) 



See Sir W. Ouseley's Travels in the East, vol. iii., pp. 352 and 353. 



