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 honour. 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 colour?" — "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

Who came to Flora for choosing the queen of flowers?

Question

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 honour. 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 colour?" — "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

Who came to Flora for choosing the queen of flowers?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Detailed explanation of why it is correct:

The question asks who approached Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, to choose the undisputed queen of flowers. To answer this, we must closely read the opening line of the poem: "Love came to Flora asking for a flower / That would of flowers be undisputed queen." This line explicitly names "Love" as the entity who initiated the request to Flora. In Greek and Roman mythology, Love is often personified, frequently represented by the god Eros (Cupid/Amor), symbolizing the universal desire for beauty and perfection. The poem centers on this pursuit of the perfect flower—one that combines the beauty of the rose and the stateliness of the lily. Love acts as the judge or commissioner in this quest, seeking Flora's help to settle the long-standing rivalry between the two flowers, ultimately leading to the creation of the Lotus. The entire narrative hinges on Love's initial action, making Love the one who came to Flora for the selection.

The incorrect option is 1:

Detailed explanation of why it is incorrect:

The Rose is one of the two main rivals for the title of "undisputed queen," but it is a claimant, not the one who approaches Flora. The poem states that the lily and the rose "had been Rivals for that high honour." Although the Rose is central to the conflict, it is passively being judged by Love and Flora, and it did not initiate the request to Flora.

The incorrect option is 3:

Detailed explanation of why it is incorrect:

The Lily, like the Rose, is a direct competitor for the title of queen. The poem describes the "strife" between the "Flower factions," meaning the Lily is involved in the rivalry. However, the first line clearly states that "Love came to Flora," confirming that the Lily was an object of the search, not the seeker.

The incorrect option is 4:

Detailed explanation of why it is incorrect:

The Bards are mentioned in the poem as those who "Had sung their claims," meaning they celebrated and publicized the claims of the lily and the rose to be the queen. While they play a role in promoting the rivalry, they are commentators and chroniclers of the dispute, not the central figure who petitioned Flora to resolve it.