IIISTOKY OF THE ROSE. 



157 



is appropriated to a particular angel, and that the hund- 

 red-leaved Rose {Rosa centifoUa) is consecrated to an 

 archangel of the highest order. Basil, one of the early 

 fathers, had undoubtedly seen these passages in oriental 

 works, Avhen he related that at the creation of the world 

 the Rose had no thorns, and that it was gradually fur- 

 nished with them as mankind became more corrupt. 



The oriental writers also repres'ent the nightingale as 

 sighing for the love of the Rose ; and many beautiful 

 stanzas have arisen from this fable. According to the 

 Language of Flowers ; " In a curious fragment by the cele- 

 brated Persian poet, Attar, entitled JBulbul Nameh^ the 

 Book of the Nightingale, all the birds appear before Solo- 

 mon, 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 

 nightingale is summoned, questioned, and acquitted by 

 the wise king ; because the bird assures him that his ve- 

 hement love for the Rose drives him to distraction, and 

 causes him to break forth into those passionate and touch- 

 ing 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, ut- 

 tering incessant complaints, till, overpowered by the 

 strong scent, he drops stupefied on the ground." The in- 

 vention of these fables, extravagant as they are, evince 

 the Persian fondness for this beautiful flower. The Ghe- 

 bers, 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 mytholo- 

 gy. 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 



