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'.