ONCE there reigned¹ a Queen，in whose garden were found the most glorious flowers at all seasons and from all the lands in the world；but especially she loved roses， and therefore she possessed² the most various kinds of this flower，from the wild dog－rose， with the apple－scented green leaves， to the most splendid Provence rose．They grew against the castle walls， wound themselves round pillars and window－frames， into the passages，and all along the ceiling in all the halls．And the roses were various in fragrance，form，and colour．

But care and sorrow dwelt in these halls：the Queen lay upon a sick－bed， and the doctors declared that she must die．

“There is still one thing that can save her，”said the wisest of them．“Bring her the loveliest rose in the world，the one which is the expression of the brightest and purest love；for if that is brought before her eyes ere they close，she will not die．”

And young and old came from every side with roses，the loveliest that bloomed in each garden；but they were not the right sort． The flower was to be brought out of the garden of Love；but what rose was it there that expressed the highest and purest love？

And the poets sang of the loveliest rose in the world，and each one named his own； and intelligence was sent far round the land to every heart that beat with love，to every class and condition，and to every age．

“No one has till now named the flower，”said the wise man．“No one has pointed³ out the place where it bloomed in its splendour They are not the roses from the coffin⁴ of Romeo and Juliet，or from the Walborg's grave，452though these roses will be ever fragrant⁵ in song and story．They ate not the roses that sprout⁶ forth⁷ from Winkelried's bloodstained lances， from the blood that flows in a sacred cause from the breast of the hero who dies for his country；though no death is sweeter than this， and no rose redder than the blood that flows then． Nor is it that

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1 reigned
vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）
参考例句：
Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 possessed
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。 He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

3 pointed
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。 She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 coffin
n.棺材，灵柩
参考例句：
When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。 The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 fragrant
adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的
参考例句：
The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。 The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

6 sprout
n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条
参考例句：
When do deer first sprout horns?鹿在多大的时候开始长出角？ It takes about a week for the seeds to sprout.这些种子大约要一周后才会发芽。

7 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

8 wondrous
adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地
参考例句：
The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。 We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

9 sleepless
adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的
参考例句：
The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。 One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上，我听说了一个传闻，把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。

10 petals
n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )
参考例句：
white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣 The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 dreary
adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的
参考例句：
They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。 She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

12 bishop
n.主教，（国际象棋）象
参考例句：
He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。 Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。