THE ROSE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 37 



and in sincerity advance such opinions and state such facts as 

 the above ; and it is but an additional proof, if such were want- 

 ing, that nothing can be advanced too monstrous or too incredi- 

 ble to be entirely without believers. 



If the sight of roses, or their delicate fragrance, has been gene- 

 rally delightful and pleasing, there have also been those who 

 could not endure them. Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIIL, 

 of France, although otherwise very fond of perfumes, had such 

 an antipathy to the rose, that she could not bear the sight of 

 one even in a painting. The Duke of Guise had a still stronger 

 dislike, for he always made his escape at the sight of a rose. 

 Dr. Ladelius mentions a man who was obliged to become a re- 

 cluse, and dared not leave his house, during the season of roses ; 

 because, if he happened to imbibe their fragrance, he was imme- 

 diately seized with a violent cold in his head. 



The odor of the rose, like that of many other flowers, has 

 often occasioned serious injury, particularly in closed apartments ; 

 and no one should venture to sleep with them in his chamber. 

 Some authors of credibility mention instances of death caused 

 by a large quantity of roses being left during the night in a 

 sleeping apartment. Thus it is, that the most beautiful things 

 in life contain the elements of death. 



4 



