--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a…" description: "\"“ The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a smiling Rose When Virgins hands have drawn O’r it a Cobweb-Lawne: And here, you see, this Lilly shows, Tomb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg" --- # The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a smiling Rose… ![“The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a smiling Rose When Virgins hands have drawn O’r it a Cobweb-Lawne: And here, you see, this Lilly shows, Tomb’d in a Christal stone, More faire in this transparent case, Then when it grew alone; And had but single grace. You see how Creame but naked is; Nor…” quote by Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg) > ““ The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a smiling Rose When Virgins hands have drawn O’r it a Cobweb-Lawne: And here, you see, this Lilly shows, Tomb’d in a Christal stone, More faire in this transparent case, Then when it grew alone; And had but single grace. You see how Creame but naked is; Nor daunces in the eye Without a Strawberrie: Or some fine tincture, like to this, Which draws the sight thereto, More by that wantoning with it; Then when the paler hieu No mixture did admit. You see how Amber through the streams More gently stroaks the sight, With some conceal’d delight; Then when he darts his radiant beams Into the boundless aire: Where either too much light his worth Doth all at once impaire, Or set it little forth. Put Purple Grapes, or Cherries in- To Glasse, and they will send More beauty to commend Them, from that cleane and sbutile skin, Then if they naked stood, And had no other pride at all, But their own flesh and blood, And tinctures natural. Thus Lillie, Rose, Grape, Cherry, Creame And Straw-berry do stir More love, when they transfer A weak, a soft, a broken beame; Then if they sho’d discover At fulltheir proper excellence; Without some Scean cast over, To juggle with the sense. Thus let this Christal’d Lillie be A Rule, how far to teach, Your nakednesse must reach: And that, no further, then we see Those glaring colours laid By Arts wise hand, but to this end They sho’d obey a shade; Lest they too far extend. So though y’are white as Swan, or Snow, And have the power to move A world of men to love: Yet, when your Lawns & Silks shal flow; And that white cloud divide Into a doubtful Twi-light; then, Then will your hidden Pride Raise greater fires in men. ”” [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem uses floral imagery to warn against excessive pride and the need for modesty, suggesting that natural beauty shines best when unadorned. **In simple terms:** Pride blinds; humility lets true beauty show. Key Takeaway Embrace humility, avoid over‑embellishment. Themes pride humility beauty nature Mood reflective cautious Type literary advisory When to use this quote - art criticism - personal branding - public speaking Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - How does modesty enhance credibility? - When might embellishment be advantageous? A Different Perspective Over‑decorating can obscure genuine merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty-in-nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-in-nature/) [Flesh and blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-and-blood/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose/) [Rose Virgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose-virgins-1905228/) [Single Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-grace-1905230/) [Too far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-far/) [Virgins Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgins-hands-1905229/) ## Related quotes > [I realized then that even though I was a tiny speck in an infinite cosmos, a blip on the timeline of eternity, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-realized-then-that-even-though-i-was-a-tiny-speck-in-an-infinite-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Treasure the beauty of youthful life and the wisdom of adulthood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/treasure-the-beauty-of-youthful-life-and-the-wisdom-of-adulthood/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“It seemed as if the valley were not always girded by woods, growing on the surrounding hills and facing away from the horizon, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/it-seemed-as-if-the-valley-were-not-always-girded-by-woods-growing-on/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [“At the time of Lewis and Clark, setting the prairies on fire was a well-known signal that meant, ‘Come down to the water.’ It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/at-the-time-of-lewis-and-clark-setting-the-prairies-on-fire-was-a/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“There are reasons we congregate in these hot spots- to worship beauty and to feel its effects light up the electrolytes in the bloodstream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/there-are-reasons-we-congregate-in-these-hot-spots-to-worship-beauty/) [Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/) > [“A society where feminine beauty is defined not by the human self on genuine intellectual and sentimental grounds, but by a computer software on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/a-society-where-feminine-beauty-is-defined-not-by-the-human-self-on/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The varicolored cloud dust that the sun has stirred up in the sky was settling by slow degrees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/the-varicolored-cloud-dust-that-the-sun-has-stirred-up-in-the-sky-was/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [“The sunlight, penetrating the gaps in the tall trees, plays chess on the gravestones, shifting slowly and thoughtfully across the worn old stones. 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Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/hast-thou-attempted-greatnesse-then-go-on-back-turning-slackens/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Attempt the end and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard, but search will find it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/attempt-the-end-and-never-stand-to-doubt-nothing-s-so-hard-but-search/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [The readiness of doing doth expresse No other but the doer's willingnesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-readiness-of-doing-doth-expresse-no-other-but-the-doer-s/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) [Explore all 140 Robert Herrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) ## More Beauty-in-nature quotes > [“Take the time to observe the simple and ponder upon the seemingly insignificant. 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You see how Creame but naked is; Nor daunces in the eye Without a Strawberrie: Or some fine tincture, like to this, Which draws the sight thereto, More by that wantoning with it; Then when the paler hieu No mixture did admit. You see how Amber through the streams More gently stroaks the sight, With some conceal’d delight; Then when he darts his radiant beams Into the boundless aire: Where either too much light his worth Doth all at once impaire, Or set it little forth. Put Purple Grapes, or Cherries in- To Glasse, and they will send More beauty to commend Them, from that cleane and sbutile skin, Then if they naked stood, And had no other pride at all, But their own flesh and blood, And tinctures natural. Thus Lillie, Rose, Grape, Cherry, Creame And Straw-berry do stir More love, when they transfer A weak, a soft, a broken beame; Then if they sho’d discover At fulltheir proper excellence; Without some Scean cast over, To juggle with the sense. Thus let this Christal’d Lillie be A Rule, how far to teach, Your nakednesse must reach: And that, no further, then we see Those glaring colours laid By Arts wise hand, but to this end They sho’d obey a shade; Lest they too far extend. So though y’are white as Swan, or Snow, And have the power to move A world of men to love: Yet, when your Lawns & Silks shal flow; And that white cloud divide Into a doubtful Twi-light; then, Then will your hidden Pride Raise greater fires in men. ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Herrick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld-a-smiling-rose-when-virgins/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beauty-in-nature" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld-a-smiling-rose-when-virgins/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/robert-herrick-3088_beauty-in-nature_the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld_1786278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Lilly in a Christal You have beheld a smiling Rose When Virgins hands have drawn O’r it a Cobweb-Lawne…” — Robert Herrick", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Herrick", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“ The Lilly in a Christal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld-a-smiling-rose-when-virgins/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/the-lilly-in-a-christal-you-have-beheld-a-smiling-rose-when-virgins/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```