Sweetheart, let us see if the rose

Édouard Moullé

Sweetheart, let us see if the rose

that only this morning unfolded

its scarlet dress in the sun

has lost, at vesper-time,

the folds of its scarlet dress

and its colour, so like yours.

Alas! See how rapidly,

Sweetheart, she has let

her beauty fall all over the place!

Nature is truly a cruel stepmother

when such a flower only lasts

from dawn to dusk!

So if you hear me, Sweetheart,

while your age flowers

in its greenest newness,

gather, gather your youth.

Age will tarnish your beauty

as it has faded this flower.