_Sonnet_ xciv.

(20)

Nor did I wonder at the Lily's white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion of the Rose.

_Ibid._ xcviii.

(21)

The Lily I condemned for thy hand.

_Ibid._ xcix.

(22)

Their silent war of Lilies and of Roses
Which Tarquin view'd in her fair face's field.

_Lucrece_ (71).

(23)

Her Lily hand her rosy cheek lies under,
Cozening the pillow of a lawful kiss.

_Ibid._ (386).

(24)

The colour in thy face
That even for anger makes the Lily pale,
And the red Rose blush at her own disgrace.

_Ibid._ (477).

(25)

A Lily pale with damask die to grace her.

_Passionate Pilgrim_ (89).

(26)

Full gently now she takes him by the hand,
A Lily prison'd in a jail of snow.

_Venus and Adonis_ (361).

(27)

She locks her Lily fingers one in one.

_Ibid._ (228).

(28)

Whose wonted Lily white
With purple tears, that his wound wept, was drench'd.

_Ibid._ (1053).

Which is the queen of flowers? There are two rival candidates for the
honour--the Lily and the Rose; and as we look on the one or the other,
our allegiance is divided, and we vote the crown first to one and then
to the other. We should have no difficulty "were t'other fair charmer
away," but with two such candidates, both equally worthy of the honour,
we vote for a diarchy instead of a monarchy, and crown them both.[142:1]
Yet there are many that would at once choose the Lily for the queen,
and that without hesitation, and they would have good authority for
their choice. "O Lord, that bearest rule," says Esdras, "of the whole
world, Thou hast chosen Thee of all the flowers thereof one Lily."
Spenser addresses the Lily as--

"The Lily, lady of the flow'ring field"--_F. Q._, ii, 6, 16,

which is the same as Shakespeare's "mistress of the field," (8), and
many a poet since his