148 
LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
LILY. 
MAJESTY. 
The Lily’s height bespake command— 
A fair, imperial flower; 
She seemed designed for Flora’s hand, 
The sceptre of her power. 
The beauty and delicacy of the Lily have been 
celebrated by the writers of all ages. So highly 
was it esteemed by the Jews that they imitated 
its form in the decorations of their first magni¬ 
ficent temple; and Christ himself described it as 
being more splendid than the great King Solo¬ 
mon in his most gorgeous apparel.. 
Observe the rising Lily’s snowy grace, 
Observe the various vegetable race; 
They neither toil nor spin, but careless grow : 
Yet see how warm they blush, how bright they glow, 
What regal vestments can with them compare ! 
What king so shining, or what queen so fair! 
Thomson. 
According to the heathen mythology, there 
was originally only one species of Lily, namely, 
the orange-coloured; and the white was pro- 
