Sweet William
William was eleven years old. Everybody who met him said that not even the Gods could have a sweeter smile than him. William constantly heard this and became boastful and proud. One day when the Goddess Venus was near, he said loudly, "Not even the Goddess Venus could have such a sweet smile as me."
When the Goddess heard this, she was outraged at the boy's audacity. She went to the Father God, Jupiter and demanded that he host a competition between William and her. Jupiter agreed. He and Venus came to William and Venus challenged him to the competition.
William agreed and several Gods and mortals gathered to see who would win. Pluto, the God of the Underworld, was appointed judge and so the competition began.
Venus smiled first and all the people watching thought of flowers and summer days and most of all love. Then it was the boy's turn. When he smiled, all thoughts were of innocence and purity and most of all, what Venus' had lacked, sweetness.
When Pluto announced that William was the winner Venus screamed in rage and roared, "A boy can not be so sweet! Only a flower could be!" and with that she hurled magic at William and in his place was a flower.
Venus looked at it and said, "This is a sweet William."
From then on William has done what he does best. Acting and looking sweet. And so was the origin of the flower Sweet William.