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 XIII. ? 

 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 



