76 Tall Bearded Iris 



Proud Prussia's double bird of prey 

 Tame as a spatch cock, slunk away; 

 While — just like France herself, when she 

 Proclaims how great her naval skill is — 

 Poor Louis' drowning Fleurs-de-lys 

 Imagin'd themselves water-lilies. 



Thomas Moore: Dissolution of the Holy Alliance. 



"Lis" is French for "lily", and it has been claimed 

 by some that the Iris was called "Fleur-de-lis", 

 "Flower of the lily", from resemblance of its flower 

 to that of the lily, though botanically the Iris and 

 the lily are widely separated. 



The golden figures on the arms of royal France 

 have sometimes been referred to as the "Lilies of 

 France", and such use of "Lily" instead of "Iris", 

 either through ignorance or disregard of the botanical 

 distinction, or because "lis" is French for "lily", was 

 formerly not uncommon. Thus : 



Now by the lips of those you love, fair gentlemen of France, 

 Charge for the Golden Lilies; upon them with the lance. 



A War Cry of Chivalry. 



I would I had some flowers o' the spring, that might 

 Become your time of day; 



* * * lilies of all kinds, 



The Flower-de-luce being one! O, these I lack. 

 To make you garlands of. 



Shakespeare: Winter's Tale. 



