Have you seen but a bright lily grow,Before rude hands have touched it?Have you marked but the fall o' the snowBefore the soil hath smutched it?...O so white! O so soft! O so sweet is she!

Summary

This quote expresses the beauty and delicacy of something pure and untouched. It highlights the enchantment one may feel towards a lily flower that hasn't been marred by human interference, or the pristine beauty of snow before it becomes dirty and loses its purity. The speaker's awe and admiration for this unspoiled beauty is conveyed through the exclamations of "O so white! O so soft! O so sweet is she!" This quote evokes a sense of appreciation for the fleeting nature of purity and the allure it holds.

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