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BEAUTY, 49 
commonest of flowers. The same day that its 
beauty is perfected it dies ; but each spring 
restores it to us with renewed freshness, Poets 
have had fair opportunities for singing its praises, 
yet they have not rendered its eulogy common- 
place, but its name alone redeems their names 
from forgetfulness. Emblem of all ages,—inter- 
preter of all our sentiments,—the rose mingles 
in the gaiety of our feasts, in our happiness, 
and in our sorrows. It is also the ornament 
of beauty, and lends its soft carnation hues to 
the blush of modesty. It is given as the prize 
of virtue ; and is the image of youth, of inno- 
cence, and of pleasure. Venus is said to feel 
that she has a rival in the rose, as it possesses, 
like Sher, a grace which is more lovely than 
beauty itself, 
Anacreon, the poet of love, has celebrated 
the rose; and, perhaps, he has sung its praise 
more worthily than any of his successors. 
Moore has thus translated the Ode :— 
While we invoke the wreathed spring, 
Resplendent rose! to thee we ’ll sing ; 
Resplendent rose, the flower of flowers, 
Whose breath perfumes Olympus’ bowers; 
Whose virgin blush, of chasten’d dye, 
Enchants so much our mortal eye, 
When pleasure’s bloomy season glows, 
The Graces love to twine the rose ; 
The rose is warm Dione’s bliss, 
And flushes like Dione’s kiss! 
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