HOW THE ROSE BECAME RED. ' 83 
sprung up a flower, which the earth had never before 
borne, and that was the Lily of the Valley; and 
wherever a ruddy drop had fallen from the death- 
wound of Adonis, sprung up the red flower which still 
beareth his name. Even the white apple-blossoms, 
which he clutched in his agony, ever after wore the 
ruddy stain which they caught from his folded fingers ; 
and the drowsy Poppy grew up everywhere around 
the spot, as if to denote that the only consolation which 
can be found for sorrow is the long, unbroken sleep of 
death. Thus the Rose, which was before white, be¬ 
came red, and was ever after dedicated to Beauty 
and Love. And the Lily of the Valley ever after 
came up with the earliest flowers of spring, proclaim¬ 
ing that Happiness may again return, even after the 
long silence of Death’s unbroken, wintery sleep. 
The Rose is the queen of flowers, and neither in 
beauty nor fragrance has she an equal throughout the 
wide range of the whole floral world. There are now 
above an hundred varieties of the common or Provence 
Rose, which were first brought from the East many 
