The Butterfly

Once, there existed a butterfly who desired to have a partner, and naturally, he hoped to select a very attractive one from among the flowers. He looked at the flower-beds carefully and noticed that the flowers were arranged neatly on their stems, resembling well-behaved unmarried girls. However, due to the large number of flowers, he felt that his search would be tiring. The butterfly was lazy and didn't want to make an effort, so it flew away to visit the daisies. In French, this flower is known as "Marguerite," and according to them, the small daisy has the ability to predict things. Couples remove the leaves one by one, and with each leaf they remove, they inquire about their significant other, asking questions like "Do they love me passionately? Obsessively? Deeply? Slightly? Or not at all?" Each person expresses these words in their own individual tongue. The butterfly approached Marguerite as well, but instead of plucking her leaves, he gently kissed each one, believing that there was always more that could be accomplished through acts of kindness.

"Darling Marguerite daisy," he spoke directly to her, "out of all the flowers, you are the most intelligent woman."

Please inform me of which flower I should select as my future wife. Who shall be my betrothed? As soon as I know, I will promptly fly to her and propose.

Marguerite remained silent in response to his comment because she felt insulted that he referred to her as a women when in fact she was still a girl, and this distinction was significant. He inquired from her again for the second and then the third time, yet she remained silent and did not respond at all. After that, he didn't want to wait anymore, and immediately flew away to begin his courtship. It was during the beginning of spring, when the crocus and snowdrop flowers were in complete blossom.

The butterfly considered, "They are truly beautiful; delightful little ladies; however, they appear to be quite proper.

Subsequently, like many young men, he searched for older girls. He then traveled to the anemones, but they were too tart for his liking. As for the violets, they were a little too sentimental. The lime-blossoms were too petite, and besides, there was an extensive group of them. The apple-blossoms resembled roses in appearance but were only in bloom for a brief period, and with the first gust of wind, they would scatter away. He believed that a union with one of them might not last long enough. Out of all the flowers, the pea-blossom caught his eye the most. She possessed a combination of white and red colors, was slim and elegant, and belonged to the type of household maids who have an attractive look while also being helpful in the kitchen. He was about to propose to her when he noticed a pod with a faded flower hanging nearby the maiden.

"Who is that?" he inquired.

"The one next to me is my sister," responded the pea-blossom. "Ah, I see; you will be just like her one day," he commented before quickly flying away, feeling quite unsettled.