The Beauty of a Lily in May
When is a lily said to be the most beautiful?
a) A lily in May is beautiful.
b) A lily is never fair.
c) A lily in May is less fair.
d) A lily in May is the fairest.
Answer:
The statement means a d) A lily in May is the fairest.
The phrase, 'A lily of a day is fairer far in May', is a way of expressing that a lily in May is the fairest. The phrase comes from a poem by Ben Jonson and the line is using metaphorical language to express that something is at its most beautiful or 'fairest' at a specific time or in certain conditions. In this case, a lily flower is typically at its most beautiful in the month of May, hence why the phrase says it is 'fairer far'.