368 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



The Red-Rose is said to have been indebted for its 

 color to the blood which flowed from the thorn-wounded 

 feet of Venus, when running through the woods in despair 

 for the less of Adonis : as the White- Rose is also said to 

 have sprung from the tears which the goddess shed upon 

 that occasion. Ample reasons these for dedicating them 

 to her. 



" White as the native rose before the change, 

 Which Venus' blood did in her leaves impress." 



SPENSER. 



Anacreon tells us that it was dyed with nectar by the 

 gods when it was first formed ; he speaks of it, too, as the 

 flower of Bacchus : 



" With nectar drops, a ruby tide, 

 The sweetly orient buds they dyed, 

 And bade them bloom ; the flowers divine 

 Of him who sheds the teeming vine." 



MOORE'S ANACREON. 



Some say they were dyed with the blood of Cupid ; and 



" Tis said, as Cupid danced among 



The gods, he down the nectar flung ; 

 Which, on the white rose being shed, 

 Made it for ever after red." 



HERRICK. 



But the general opinion is, that the Rose is indebted to 

 Venus for its beautiful blushes. 



Authors have written of a sky-blue colored Rose, and by 

 art they have been produced green, and even black ; but 

 surely it must be a strange perversion of taste that would 

 use art to produce such a change. 



So universally as the Rose has been celebrated in full 

 blown beauty, few have done justice to its infant love- 

 liness. 



" Of the rose full lipped and warm, 

 Round about whose riper form 



