GARLANDS OF ROSES 103 



paid him by the Florentine people. . . . Our 

 Signoria then returned to their palace with all 

 the court of Cardinals and Prelates and the afore- 

 said rose bush, which was a golden branch with 

 leaves of fine gold. On it were nine roses, and 

 a little bud on top of the nine, which contained 

 spices, myrrh and balsam.' ' 



Sometimes the ' rose ' was a whole rose bush 

 about two feet high and covered with leaves and 

 flowers. Two such bushes, one thornless, the 

 gift of Pope Alexander VII, and the other, 

 with long sharp thorns, though curved harm- 

 lessly downward, presented by Pius II, are still 

 treasured by grateful Siena. 



' Opera del Duomo. 



