The Lily. 
(MAJESTY.) 
LTHOUGH this flower—dedicated to Juno, Queen of 
JT\. Heaven—is generally deemed typical of majesty , there 
are many varied meanings given to the numerous members of 
its family, and such significations will be either pointed out 
separately under their respective headings, or will be found 
altogether in their proper place at the end of this volume. 
The Lily is held in high esteem by many for the frequency 
with which it is alluded to in the Scriptures. The Jews enter¬ 
tained a great admiration for its elegant form, which they 
imitated in the decorations of their first magnificent Temple; 
and Christ Himself told them to “ consider the lilies of the 
field,” describing them to His listeners as more glorious in their 
unadorned simplicity than was their favourite monarch Solo¬ 
mon, when arrayed in all his most gorgeous apparel. Horace 
Smith thus avails himself of the text : 
“ ‘ Thou wert not, Solomon! in all thy glory, 
Arrayed,’ the lilies cry, ‘in robes like ours.’ 
How vain their grandeur! ah, how transitory 
Are human flowers!” 
The varieties of this graceful flower are extremely numerous, 
although, according to the old fabulists, originally there was 
only one kind of lily, and that was orange-coloured. They 
give some marvellous stories to account for its many shapes 
and tints, which, now-a-days, are as varied as are the hues of 
the rainbow. One legend tells that Jove, being desirous of 
rendering the infant Hercules immortal, caused Somnus to 
prepare a nectareous sleeping-draught, which he administered 
to Juno, who soon fell into a profound slumber. Whilst the 
Mother of the Gods was in this condition, Jove placed the 
babe to her breast, in order that it might imbibe the divine 
