26 
The Rose. 
minent position is assigned to the Rose Garden of Worms : 
the fragile rampart that surrounded that famous garden was 
nothing more than a silken thread. Being attacked by giants, 
it was triumphantly defended by a band of knights, to each of 
whom Princess Chrymhilde assigned a chaplet of roses and a 
kiss as a reward. It is said that one of the knights, named 
Hildebrandt, whilst accepting the chaplet, declined the salute ; 
but that another, who was a monk named Ilsan, was so pleased 
with the proffered recompense that he begged for the bestowal 
of similar favours upon each of the fifty-two monks inhabiting 
the convent to which he belonged. His request was granted, 
but not until he had slain fifty-two of the gigantic offenders. 
Roses were more highly prized by the Romans than any 
other flower : they considered them emblematic of joy, and, in 
conformity with that idea, represented Comus, the God of 
Feasting, as a handsome young man, crowned with a garland 
of roses, whose leaves glistened with dew-drops. Milton, ever 
apt at classic lore, causes this sylvan deity to bid his attendant 
sprites 
“ Braid your locks with rosy twine, 
Dropping odours, dropping wine.” 
In the reign of Domitian, the Egyptians thought of offering 
to that emperor’s court, as a magnificent present, roses in the 
middle of winter ; but the Romans, who had already attained 
the means of forcing flowers, smiled at the proffered gift, so 
abundant were roses in Rome at this season. “In every 
street,” says Martial, “the odour of spring is breathed, and 
garlands of flowers, freshly gathered, are displayed.” “ Send 
us corn, Egyptian ! and we will send you roses,” ironically ex¬ 
claims this poet. 
The extravagant use of flowers by the Romans was con¬ 
tinually subjecting them to the reproofs of their philosophers. 
They were accustomed to strew their streets with roses at their 
chief festivals. Heliogabalus had his bed, apartments, and 
porticoes strewed with the rarest flowers ; and, before him, 
Cicero reproached Verres with having travelled through Sicily, 
seated on roses, with a crown of flowers on his head, and a 
garland round his neck. The Roman physicians, whose duties 
were multitudinous, determined what kinds of plants were pro¬ 
per to be admitted into the floral crowns designed to be placed 
