From Bai Juyi's (
白居易) Tang poem 《
钱塘湖春行》 (Spring Walk at Qiantang Lake). The couplet reads:
乱花渐欲迷人眼,
浅草才能没马蹄 — 'Riotous flowers are about to dazzle the eye; shallow grass has just begun to cover the horse's hooves.' Originally a joyful spring scene of West Lake; now used for anything overwhelming through sheer variety.