Love Came to Flora Asking for a Flower

Love came to Flora asking for a flower
 That would of flowers be undisputed queen,
 The lily and the rose, long, long had been
 Rivals for that high honor. Bards of power
 Had sung their claims. "The rose can never tower
 Like the pale lily with her Juno mien" -
 "But is the lily lovelier?" Thus between
 Flower-factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.
 "Give me a flower delicious as the rose
 And stately as the lily in her pride" -
 But of what color?" - "Rose-red," Love first chose,
 Then prayed - "No, lily-white - or, both provide;"
 And Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed,
 And "lily-white" - the queenliest flower that blows.