36 The Rose Garden. 



Again, in the " Shepherd's Calendar " (Eclogue 4), we meet with the following : 



See where she sits upon the grassy green 



(O seemly sight !) 

 Yclad in scarlet, like a maiden queen, 



And ermines white ; 

 Upon her head a crimson coronet, 

 With damask Roses and Daffodillies set ; 



Bay leaves between 



And Primroses green 



Embellish the sweet Violet. 



In the next verse he speaks of 



The red Rose meddled with the white yfere. 



In the " Fairy Queen," especially in the second Book, he makes several allusions 

 to it, and also in the " Epithalamion." 



Shakspeare often introduces the Rose in his writings. 



I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows, 

 Where oxslips and the nodding violet grows, 

 Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, 

 With sweet musk Roses and with eglantine. 



" Midsummer Night's Dream," Act II., Scene 2. 



In " Richard III." the lips of the murdered babes are compared to Roses 



. . . . girdling one another, 

 Within their alabaster innocent arms ; 

 Their lips were four red Roses on a stalk 

 Which in their summer beauty kissed each other. 



Act IV., Scenes. 



In one of his sonnets the comparisons of the greatest English poet are obviously 

 so much to the advantage of our favourite, that I cannot help inserting it 



O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem, 

 By that sweet ornament which truth doth give ! 

 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 unwooed, and unrespected fade 

 Die to themselves. Sweet Roses do not so ; 

 Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made. 

 And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth, 

 When that shall fade, my verse distils your truth. 



IN THE TEMPLE GARDEN. 



Plantagenet Let him that is a true-born gentleman, 

 And stands upon the honour of his birth, 

 If he suppose that I have pleaded truth, 

 From off this briar pluck a white Rose with me. 



