Sappho loves the Rose, and crowns it ever with some praise, comparing the beautiful amongst the virgins with it.

Philostratus, Epist.

HYMNI ENCOMIA, ETC.

Πολλὰ μὲν κυδώνια μᾶλα ποτέρα

ριπτον ποτὶ δίφρον ἄνακτι,

Πολλὰ δὲ μύρσινα φύλλα,

Καὶ ῥοδίνους στεφάνους, ἴ

ων τε κορωνίδας οὔλας.

Stesichorus, fragm. xlvi.

Palinodia (Bergk).

Then they cast many Cydonian apples on the chariot seat of the King; and many myrtle leaves; garlands also of Roses and crisp (close-plaited) wreaths of violets.

[He seems to be describing the marriage of Helen and Menelaus.]

Many a golden quince was there,

Piled upon the regal chair;

Many a verdant myrtle bough;

Many a Rose-crown featly wreathed

With purple violets that grow

Where the breath of Spring has breathed.

Translation, by an old author.

Οὔποτε δουλείη κεφαλὴ εὐθεῖα πέφυκεν,

ἀλλ ̓ αἰεὶ σκολιὴ, καὐχένα λοξὸν ἔχει.

Οὔτε γάρ ἐκ σκίλλης ῥόδα φύεται, οὔθ ̓ ὑάκινθος,

Οὐδέ ποτ' ἐκ δούλης τέκνον ἐλευθέριον.

Theognis. Gnomæ 535.

Never is head of a slave right forward straight

as an arrow,

Crooked and slanting aside, curveth the nape of his neck.

Never from root of squill, groweth Rose or the bells of the hyacinth,

Never from bondmaid is born, freedom and liberty's child.

τότε βάλλεται, τότ' ἐπ ̓ ἀμβρόταν χθόν (al. χέρσον)

ἐραταί

ἴων φόβαι, ῥόδα τε κόμαισι μίγνυται,

Pindar, fragm.

(Heyne, Vol. II.)

Then, then, abroad are sprent

Over the Immortal land

The dear tufts of the dainty violet,
Then with the hair are Roses blent, .

*

*

*

*

Ρόδ ̓ ὀξυφεγγῆ κρίνεσιν ἀργεννοῖς ὁμοῦ

Charemon, fragm. (Thyestes.)

Keenly bright Roses with silvery lilies.

Κόμαισιν ὡρῶν στέμματ ̓ εὐανθῆ μόδα εἶχον, τιθήνημ' ἔαρος ἐκπρεπέστατον. Charemon, fragm.

On their hair the Hours' crowns, full flow'ring Roses had they, the most beautiful nursling of spring.

οἱ δ ̓ ἁπαλὴν πίνοντες ἀεξιφύτου δρόσον 'Ηους λειμῶνες γελόωσιν, ἀνοιγομένοιο ρόδοιο.

Meleager.

(Anthol. ΙΧ. 363.)

Now laugh the meadows, bright with opening

Rose,

As dawn's soft dew they quaff, kind to each plant that grows.

*Ηδη λευκόϊον θάλλει, θάλλει δὲ φίλομβρος
νάρκισσος, θάλλει δ ̓ οὐρεσίφοιτα κρίνα.
ἤδη δ ̓ ἡ φιλέραστος, ἐν ἄνθεσιν ὥριμον ἄνθος
Ζηνοφίλα Πειθοῦς ἡδὺ τέθηλε ῥόδον.