372 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



the Feast of Roses, for the floor of the great hall, or open- 

 fronted talar, was spread in the middle, and in the recess 

 with roses forming the figures of cypress-trees ; roses deco- 

 rated all the candlesticks, which were very numerous. The 

 surface of the hawz, or reservoir of water, was completely 

 covered with rose-leaves, which also were thickly scattered 

 on the principal walks leading to the mansion.'" 



He says that the surface of this reservoir was so en- 

 tirely covered with rose-leaves, that the water was visible 

 only when stirred by the air, and that the servants during 

 the entertainment were continually scattering fresh roses 

 both upon the waters and the floor of the hall *. 



Lord Byron has taken advantage of the various fictions 

 and customs connected with the Rose; and has made it 

 spring and flourish over the tomb of Zuleika : while the 

 nightingale soothes his beloved with his sweet and plaintive 

 notes : 



" A single rose is shedding there 



Its lonely lustre meek and pale : 

 It looks as planted by despair 



So white, so faint the slightest gale 

 Might whirl the leaves on high; 



And yet though storms and blight assail, 

 And hands more rude than wintry sky 



May wring it from the stem in vain 



To-morrow sees it bloom again ! 

 The stalk some spirit gently rears, 

 And waters with celestial tears ; 



For well may maids of Helle deem 

 That this can be no earthly flower, 

 Which mocks the tempest's withering hour, 

 And buds unsheltered by a bower ; 

 Nor droops through spring refuse her shower, 



Nor wooes the summer beam : 

 To it the livelong night there sings 



* See Sir W. Ouseley's Travels in the East, Vol. lii. p. 352 and 

 35S. 



