EARLY HISTORY OF THE ROSE. 11 



from this fable. According to the Language of Flowers ; " In a 

 curious fragment by the celebrated Persian poet Attar, entitled 

 Bulbul Namehj the Book of the Nightingale, all the birds appeal- 

 before Solomon, and charge the nightingale with disturbing their 

 rest, by the broken and plaintive strains which he warbles forth 

 all the night, in a sort of frenzy and intoxication. The' nightin- 

 gale is summoned, questioned, and acquitted by the wise king ; 

 because the bird assures him, that his vehement love for the Rose 

 drives him to distraction, and causes him to break forth into 

 those passionate and touching complaints which are laid to his 

 charge." The same work also mentions that the Persians assert, 

 that " the nightingale, in spring, flutters around the rose-bushes, 

 uttering incessant complaints, till, overpowered by the strong 

 scent, he drops stupified on the ground. The invention of these 

 fables, extravagant as they are, evince the Persian fondness for 

 this beautiful flower. The Ghebers, or Persian fire-worshipers, 

 believe that Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, when 

 the flame turned into a bed of roses. According to the Hindoo 

 mythology, Pagoda Siri, one of the wives of Vishnu, was found 

 in a rose. 



Among the many stories of roses in the East, is that of the 

 philosopher Zeb, related by Madame de Latour. " There was at 

 Amadan, in Persia, an academy with the following rules : Its 

 members must think much, write a little, and be as silent as pos- 

 sible. The learned Zeb, celebrated through all the East, learning 

 that there was a vacancy in the academy, endeavored to obtain 

 it, but arrived, unfortunately, too late. The academy was 

 annoyed because it had given to power what belonged to merit, 

 and the president, not knowing how to express a refusal without 

 mortifying the assembly, caused a cup to be brought, w r hich he 

 filled so full of water, that a single drop more would have made 

 it run over. The wise philosopher understood, by that emblem, 

 that no place remained for him, and was retiring sadly, when he 

 perceived a rose petal at his feet. At that sight, he took courage, 

 seized the petal, and placed it so delicately on the water, that not 

 a single drop escaped. At this ingenious allusion to the rules of 



