THE KOSE. 235 



are sweetest which have stinking weeds growing 

 near them." And Montaigne has the following pas- 

 sage : " les roses et violettes naissent plus odorife'- 

 rantes pres des aulx et des oignons, d'autant qu'ils 

 succent et tirent a eux ce qu'il y a de mauvaise 

 odeur en la terre." 



I cannot turn from the recollections of the 

 poetical and historical associations connected with 

 the flower, without a glance at the oft-told tale of 

 the Eastern philosopher, who so beautifully, yet 

 silently, expressed the quiet hopeful determination 

 of his own character through the allegorical medium 

 of a simple rose-leaf. 



Having applied for a certain professorship, to 

 which he felt that he could do every justice, the 

 authorities, with whom the appointment rested, 

 handed to him a cup filled to the brim with water ; 

 thus, in the true oriental manner, indicating to him 

 that the office was already filled, and that no vacancy 

 remained for him. The philosopher on receiving the 

 silent answer, took up one of the rose-leaves (which 

 we may presume lay scattered, as before described, 

 around him) and gently placing it on the surface 

 of the water, as silently returned the cup to the 

 heads of the assembly. Ingenuity, and a happy 

 and graceful mode of pointing a moral, or convey- 

 ing a lesson, were qualities most highly valued in the 

 ancient philosopher and preceptor, and it is almost 

 needless to add that the task which he sought to under- 

 take was without further hesitation awarded to him. 



Byron celebrates the beauty of Eastern vegeta- 

 tion somewhat at the expense of our own : 



