o6 AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF 



Fabulous authors also account for the delicious perfume of the 

 Rose^ by telling us that Love, in a feast of Ol^mipus, in the midst 

 of the gaiety of a light and lively dance, overthrew, with a stroke 

 of his wing, a cup of nectar, which precious liquor falling on the 

 rose embalmed it with that heavenly fragrance which it still retains. 



Mythological writers also relate that Ehodante, Queen of Corinth, 

 to avoid the pursuit of her lovers, fled to the temple of Diana to 

 conceal herself ; but being besieged by them, and obliged to appear, 

 she called on the people for assistance, who, on beholding her beauty, 

 threw down the statue of Diana, and declared her to be the goddess 

 of the temple ; upon which Apollo changed her into a rose. Yet 

 another classical legend runs that the Rose was at first of a pure 

 white colour, but a Rose thorn piercing the foot of Venus when she 

 was hastening to protect Adonis from the rage of Mars, the blood 

 which flowed from the wound dyed the blossom. 



Here is Dr. Hooker's account of the origin of the Red Rose : — 



' To sinless Eve's admirmg sight 

 The Rose expanded snowy white, 

 When in the ecstacy of bliss 

 She gave the modest flower a kiss : 

 And instantaneous, lo ! it drew 

 From her red lip its blushing hue 

 While from her breath its sweetness found 

 And spread new fragrance all around.' 



In the luxurious days of the ancients, even the warriors crowned 

 themselves with garlands of roses during their principal repasts ; and 

 riiny states that their delicate meats were either covered with the 

 petals of these fragrant flowers, or sprinkled with its odorous oils. 

 At a feast which Cleopatra gave to Anthony, the royal apartments 

 were covered with perfumed rose-leaves to a consideral^le depth. 



The Rose is mentioned by Homer and Columella, by the former 

 in the hymn to Ceres, by the latter in one of his books ; through 

 which we learn that it was a flower remarkable for the beauty of 

 its petals ; that it grew amidst thorns ; that it had a divdne fragrance. 



Here is a fragment from Moore's version of the Ode by the Lesbian 

 Poet Anacreon ; — 



' If Jove would give the fragrant bowers 

 A queen for all their world of flowers. 

 The Rose would be the choice of Jove 

 xVnd blush the queen of every grove.' 



Thcophrastus and Pliny state that Roses may be distinguished 

 one from another by the roughness, smoothness, colour, agreeable 

 scent, and the greater or smaller number of their floral leaves or 



