44 



canisters with all sorts of richest fruits; Venus was attended 

 with a train of smiles and graces ; Vesta promised wonders ; 

 and Bacchus supplied rivers of nectar, and crowned vast 

 goblets with that divine liquor. In this equipage they left 

 their celestial mansions, and repaired to the grotto, where 

 they saw the dead body of the nymph stretched along on a 

 soft couch of turf, and approaching it with profound awe and 

 silence, prepared to pay the sacred rites; and Flora, having 

 thrice bowed herself to the ground, was heard to pronounce 

 this prayer: * Almighty Jupiter, great ruler of the universe, 

 exert thy creating power, and from the dead corps of this 

 lovely nymph let a plant arise, and bear no less lovely flowers, 

 to be Queen of all thou hast already created.' Scarce had 

 she made an end, when, behold a wondrous change! the 

 nymph's extended limbs were turned into branches, and her 

 hair into leaves; a shrub sprung up, adorned with sprouting 

 buds, which straight unfolding, disclosed a fragrant and ver- 

 milion flower; a sudden light filled all the grotto, and the 

 well-pleased goddess breathed thrice on the new-born babe, 

 to spread it into life, and give it an odorous soul. Then 

 seeing the vegetable Queen adorned with every grace, she 

 kissed her thrice, and, breaking the general silence, revealed 

 her secret joy. * Approach,' said she, ' at my command, oh, 

 all ye flowers, and pay your grateful homage to your Queen, 

 the ROSE, for that is the name I give her.' Then taking a 

 crown in her hand, that had been made on purpose in hea- 

 ven, she placed it on the head of the new-made majesty; 

 while to complete the ceremony, the attending gods sung 

 joyful lo Pecans, amidst a symphony of flutes, harps, and all 

 other tuneful instruments, with which the air resounded, 

 while Flora and her bright celestial train ascended back re- 

 joicing into heaven."* 



* John Bauhine wrote a Treatise in 1591, De Plantis a Divis sanctisve 

 noraen habentibus. 

 Their Preface to the above Vol. ii. has this observation : " Plants, when 



