Under The Rose

[Michael Scotton]

Brian McCary wrote:

>Just out of curiosity, does anyone know where the phrase "under the rose"
>comes from?  Not only is it the title of one of TRP's short stories,
>but it pops up early on in V.

The phrase also appears in GR, when Slothrop first comes across Geli
Tripping as she sings that sad, sweet song:

        Though it's another year,
        Though it's another me,
        Under the rose is a drying tear,
        Under my linden tree...

Incidentally, the phrase 'sub rosa' is often associated with intelligence
activity, which - as we learn in the next paragraph - is also the occupation
of Geli's boyfriend Tchitcherine...

MS