' 



18 LUXURIOUS USE OF THE ROSE. 



tocratic blood into the face of a fair English girl, in one of 

 the carriages, whose blue eyes had been nearly closed by an 

 awkward cast of one of these petits bouquets from the hand of a 

 plebian performer. But we only recollect catching a glimpse 

 now and then, of a single ' rose or camellia, skilfully passed by a 

 cavalier below, into the hands of some dark-eyed beauty in the 

 balconies above ; the bright sparkle of whose eye convinced us 

 that the single flower was of value, and a mark of especial regard. 

 The Rose appeared to be valued as some rare exotic, and not 

 to be idly bestowed where there was small probability of its due 

 appreciation ; it was indeed a " rara flora in urbe" and quite 

 superseded by the very pretty and abundant violets. 



The modern Romans have not only lost many of the good 

 qualities of their early ancestors, but they have also escaped 

 much of the effeminate softness which characterized the Romans 

 under some of the later emperors ; and as belonging to this state 

 of luxury, the cultivation of the Rose has in modern times been 

 much neglected. The homage of the Romans is now reserved 

 for art, and the beautiful products of nature are in their opinion, 

 worthy only of secondary consideration. The Rose is now 

 mostly confined in that city to the residences of the wealthier 

 classes, and can scarcely be said to have resumed its old place in 

 Roman esteem, until it is again a favorite with the mass of the 

 people. 



When Cleopatra went into Cilicia to meet Marc Antony, she 

 gave him for several successive days festivals, in which she dis- 

 played a truly royal magnificence. She caused to be placed in 

 the banqueting hall twelve couches, each of which would hold 

 three guests. The walls were covered with purple tapestry, in- 

 terwoven with gold ; all the vases were of gold, admirably ex- 

 ecuted and enriched with precious stones. 



On the fourth day, the queen carried her sumptuousness so 

 far as to pay a talent (about six hundred dollars) for a quantity 

 of roses, with which she caused the floor of the hall to be covered 

 to the depth of eighteen inches. These flowers were retained by 

 a very fine net, in order that the guests might walk over them. 



