flowers better than any others," and 

 he names the lily first of all. There 

 is a Jewish legend which says that 

 Judith bound a wreath of white lilies 

 in her hair to avert evil when she 

 went to the tent of Holofernes. 



All the poets have sung the lilies' 

 praises. 



It is not growing like a tree 

 In bulk, doth make man better be ; 

 Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, 

 To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere ; 

 A lily of a day 

 Is fairer far in May, 

 Although it fall and die that night — 

 It was the plant and flower of Light. 

 In small proportions we just beauties see ; 

 And in short measures life may perfect be. 



Ben Jonson. 



Milton paints a pretty picture of Sa- 

 brina twisting lilies in her amber- 

 coloured hair. 



" Sabrina fair. 



Listen where thou art sitting 

 Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, 



In twisted braids of lilies knitting 

 The loose train of thy ambeif-drappiflg hair." 



78 



