14 The Rose. 



foliage. The stem is beset with short bristly prickles. The 

 flowers are very large, with obcordate widely spreading petals, 

 which are of a rich crimson color, and less numerous than in the 

 other species. The fruit is oval, shining, and of a firm consis- 

 tence. It is much cultivated in our gardens. The petals, which 

 are the parts employed, should be gathered before the flower has 

 blown, separated from their claws, dried in a warm sun or by the 

 fire, and kept in a dry place. The odor improves by drying. 

 Their sensible properties and medicinal virtues are extracted by 

 boiling water. They are an elegant vehicle in the form of infu- 

 sion or tea, for tonic and astringent medicines, (W. and B.) 

 This Rose was formerly white, it sprang from the tears of Venus 

 on the death of Adonis, but was changed to red by Cupid 

 overthrowing a bowl of nectar, which, failing to the earth, stained 

 the rose. These roses were emblems, the white of the Yorkists, 

 and the red of the Lancastrians, in the civil wars of England. 

 Hay Drummond presented a lady of the Lancaster party with a 

 white rose, saying 



If this pale rose offend thy sight, 



It in thy bosom wear, 

 'Twill blush to find itself less white, 



And grow Lancastrian there. 



Clemence Isaure, who instituted the floral games, awarded a 

 single rose as the prize for eloquence. It was also given by 

 Cupid to Harpocrates, the god of silence, as a bribe ; whence 

 originated the saying, " under the rose." It was formerly the 

 custom to place a rose over the dining table, or at the doors of 

 temples, or any place where secresy was intended. A golden 

 rose used to be consecrated by the Popes on Good Friday, and 

 presented to some crowned head, none but such being considered 

 worthy to receive it It was the seal of Luther. The flower 

 itself they considered an emblem of the mortality of the body, 

 and the metal of which it was composed of the immortality of 

 the soul. The Roman emperors used to allow their famous 

 generals to add a rose to the other quarterings of their shields, 

 some of which may be seen to this day in the armorial bearings 

 of many of the noble families of Europe. It perhaps became in 

 this way the national badge of England. 



The Rose is universally allowed to claim precedence over all 

 other flowers ; now its own Queen, the head of the genus, the 



