The Rose. 
43 
of the ancient tree runs thus: Louis the Pious came to the 
district on a hunting expedition, and after the sport ordered 
Mass to be said in the open air. On retiring to his habitation, 
the priest who had officiated at the ceremony missed the Holy 
Image, and his search for it proving fruitless, he returned to 
the spot, and to his surprise beheld it between the branches of 
a wild rose-tree. Attempting to regain it, he was awe-stricken 
to find that it eluded his grasp, and, after several vain efforts 
to obtain the sacred object, he went back to Louis, and informed 
him and his Court of what had taken place. All rushed forth 
and fell on their knees before the miraculous tree, over which 
the superstitious monarch ordered a cathedral to be built. Dr. 
Grashop, of Hildersheim, gives the following description of its 
present condition : The roots are buried in a sort of coffin¬ 
shaped vault under the middle altar of the crypt, which crypt 
is proved by known documents to have been built in the year 
818, and to have survived the burning of the other parts of the 
cathedral on the 2ist of January, 1013, and the 23rd of March, 
• 1146; so that there can be little doubt that the claim of this 
rose-tree—which, despite its thousand years of age, still blos¬ 
soms profusely—to be the oldest in the world, is just. 
The affection entertained in all countries for the rose, and 
its constant association with humanity, have caused its various 
developments from bud to scattered bloom, to be universally 
deemed emblematic of man’s transitory existence, as also of 
“ the course of true love.” Berkeley, in his “ Utopia,” describes 
lovers as declaring their passion by presenting to the fair be¬ 
loved a rose-bud just beginning to open, our symbol of a con¬ 
fession of love. If the lady accepted and wore the bud, she 
was supposed to favour his pretensions. As time intensified 
the lover’s affection, he followed up the first present by that 
of a half-blown rose, significant of love; and this was again 
followed by one full blown, typical of engagement; and if the 
lady wore this last, she was considered as engaged for life. 
Leigh Hunt, in his “ Descent of Liberty,” thus alludes to 
the infant loveliness of this flower: 
“Of the rose, full-lipped and warm, 
Round about whose riper form 
Her slender virgin train are seen 
In their close-fit caps of green.” 
