|
People have beenpassionateabout roses since the beginning of time. In fact, it is said that the floors of Cleopatra's palace were carpeted with delicate rose petals, and that the wise and knowingConfuciushad a 600-book library specifically on how to care for roses. Notepassionate adj. 充满热情的 Confucius 孔子 The rose is a legend on its own. The story goes that during the Roman Empire, there was an incredibly beautiful maiden named Rhodanthe. Her beauty drew manyzealoussuitors who pursued her relentlessly. Exhausted by their pursuit, Rhodanthe was forced to takerefugefrom her suitors in the temple of her friend Diana. Unfortunately, Diana became jealous. And when the suitors broke down her temple gates to get near theirbelovedRhodanthe, she became angry turning Rhodanthe into a rose and her suitors into thorns. Notezealous adj. 热心的 refuge n. 避难、庇护 beloved adj. 心爱的 In Greek legend, the rose was created by Chloris, the Greek goddess of flowers. It was just a lifeless seed of anymphthat Chloris found one day in aclearingin the woods. She asked the help of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who gave her beauty Dionysus, the god of wine, added nectar to give her a sweet scent, and the three Graces gave her charm, brightness and joy. Then Zephyr, the West Wind, blew away the clouds so that Apollo, the sun god, could shine and made this flower bloom. And so the Rose was born and was immediately crowned the Queen of Flowers. Notenymph n.（ 希腊、罗马神话中）居于山林水泽的仙女 clearing n. 空旷地 | 
