The Historical Rose 



The Rose doth deserve the chiefest and most 

 principall place among all flowers whatsoever ; being 

 not only esteemed for his beautie, vertues, and his 

 fragrant smell, but also because it is the honour and 

 ornament of our English Sceptre. 



John Gerarde, 1560. 



" The brawl to-day 



Grown to this faction in the Temple Garden 

 Shall send, between the red Rose and the white, 

 A thousand souls to death and deadly night." 



Shakespeare. 



The White Rose 



Sent by a Yorkish Lover to his Lancastrian Mistress 



If this fair rose offend thy sight, 



Placed in thy bosom bare, 

 'Twill blush to find itself less white, 



And turn Lancastrian there. 



But if thy ruby lip it spy, 



As kiss it thou mayest deign, 



With envy pale 'twill lose its dye, 



And Yorkish turn again. Anonymous . 



The Floweret of a Hundred Leaves 



The joyous time when pleasures pour 

 Profusely round, and in their shower 

 Hearts open like the season's Rose 

 The Floweret of a Hundred Leaves, 

 Expanding while the dew-fall flows, 

 And every leaf its balm receives. 



Thomas Moore. 



