THE ROSE. 223 



But he's none of Flora's friend 

 That will not the rose commend. 



Strow about ! strow about ! " 



In old days the phrase "you have spoken roses" 

 the equivalent of the graceful French expressions 

 " dire des fleurettes " was the sweetest praise 

 which could fall on the ear of the poet, or the 

 orator ; and perhaps, too, on an humbler ear which, 

 in the quietude of its own home listened to the 

 gentle approbation of some loved and dearly 

 cherished voice. " Conter des fleurettes/' too, signi- 

 fies to " make pretty speeches," or " to play the 

 agreeable/' 



Before quitting roses in connection with poets, we 

 must not omit a passing glance at the fabled love of 

 the nightingale for the flower ; 



" The young rose I give thee, so dewy and bright, 

 Was the floweret beloved by the bird of the night ; 

 Who oft, by the moon, o'er her blushes hath hung, 

 And thrilled every leaf, with the wild lay he sung ;" 



says Moore ; while Mesihi, the Hindu poet, as trans- 

 lated by Sir William Jones, thus alludes to the idea: 



" Come charming maid, and hear thy poet sing, 

 Thvself the rose, and he the bird of spring." 



One Persian poet declares, that, " when roses fade, 

 when the charms of the bower are passed away, the 

 fond tale of the nightingale no longer animates the 

 scene." And another exclaims : 



# * The rose o'er crag and vale, 

 Sultana of the nightingale. 



The maid for whom his melody 



His thousand songs are heard on high, 



Blooms, blushing, to her lover's tale." 



