194 Aster History; STRABUS 
the German, sent him as his ambassador into France to his brother 
Charles the Bald; on which journey Strabus died, 849, fide his 
own scholar Ermenric. 
Strabus’ poem indicates much familiarity * with Latin authors; 
parallel passages are exhibited by Reuss from Lucretius, Vergil, 
Ovid, Columella, Pliny, Sammonicus and Plinius Valerianus. 
He describes 23 plants, all such as were represented in Charle- 
magne’s garden, either in Cartulary or Breviary, and including his 
three ornamental flowers, ‘“ Gladiola, Lilium et Rosa,” beginning 
with sage, his “ Salvia”’ or “‘ Lilifagus, dulcis odore, gravis virtute,” 
which Perpetuo viridi-meruit gaudere juventa. 
Longest of his descriptions is that of his ‘ Cucurbita,” or gourd, 
52 lines; shortest his “ Raphanus,” 5 lines. 
A closing apostrophe + to the lily and the rose is followed by 
* Strabus himself says his poem rests upon current knowledge—opinio fe ees? = 
garis ; on far-sought reading in ancient books,—guaesita libris mec lectio priscts ; - 
on ‘‘labor et studium’’ in behalf of which he had deferred the regular business of 
many days—ocia Jonga dierum. Ue begins 
Plurima tranquillae insignia vitae,—7. ¢. 
“Many the trophies of. a tranquil life may be, and not the least is this 
knowledge], if one given to the Paestan art discerns how to treat the workings 
hid garden-god—curas tractare Priapi.”’ 
+ Among the flowers described with most evident enthusiasm in this early 
poem of the new west, are the lilies ; 
[plant- 
of the 
flower- 
‘* Not Parian marble, not nard in its odor, 
Rival our lilies ;’’ 
and his Gladio/a, 
** Bearing to me the beauty of purple blossom, 
Pleasant offerings of dark violet in early summer.”’ 
But he writes con amore of his Rosa especially ; 
“‘ Since Germania attains not the Tyrian shell, nor can broad Gallia includ 
her bounds the glowing murex, precious here blooms the branch of the rose, 
its yellow flowering yearly and its purples, fruitful only of blossom ;—rose€ whic 
to have surpassed all beauties of plants in virtue and odor, so by right aie te 
flower of flowers—florum flos.”” “ lilies 
Afterward, comparing the beauty and ecclesiastical significance of roses soe 
at length, he says of the lily, 
** Virginity shines in the flower, victorious in her blessed fame, 
and finally compares the flowers in these words : 
e withia 
h is said 
eld the 
** Pluck roses in war, but in peace gather glad lilies,’’ 
and 
‘* Highest victors’ palms grants our church to those through the ages 
Who pluck in the blood of the martyr the gifts of the roses, _ . 
And who bear glad lilies in the whiteness of their shining faith” 
