380 FLOllA DOMESTICA. 



Roses, wlien they are associated with a moral meaning, 

 are generally identified with mere pleasure ; but some 

 writers, with a juster sentiment, have made them emblems 

 of the most refined virtue. In the Orlando Innamorato, 

 the famous Orlando puts Roses in his helmet, which 

 guard his ears against a syren ; and in Lucian, a man who 

 has been transformed into an ass recovers his shape upon 

 eating some Roses*. 



Many species of the Rose preserve their sweet perfume 

 even after death ; as the poet observes in the following 

 passage : 



" And first of all, the rose ; because its breath 

 Is rich beyond the rest ; and when it dies, 

 It doth bequeath a charm to sweeten death." 



BARRY CORNWALL'S FLOOD OF THESSALY, page 2. 



The very essence of this sweet perfume is extracted from 

 the flowers ; and the altar of Roses is far dearer than 

 gold: 



" The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem 

 For that sweet odour which doth in it live. 

 The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye 

 As the perfumed tincture of the roses, 

 Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly, 

 When summer's breath their masked buds discloses. 

 But, for their virtue only is their show, 

 They live unmoved, and unrespected fade ; 

 Die to themselves ; sweet roses do not so ; 

 Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made." 



SHAKESPEARE. 



But nothing has yet been said to prove the assertion 

 that poets forge chains of Roses ; and were this to be 

 omitted, many persons, considering their apparent fra- 

 gility, might doubt the fact : to avoid so unpleasant a 

 catastrophe, Tasso shall appear and speak for himself : 



* Orlando Innamorato, Canto 33, Stanza 33 ; and Francklin's Lucian, 

 vol. iii. page 236. 



