Mignonne

In the sad evening of my life,
A single star upon me smiles,
And makes the world's turmoil and strife
Seem distant from me many miles,—
The Star of one great love, that gleams
My solitary way upon;—
I love once more, and in my dreams
I whisper one dear name—MY DARLING, CHERE
MIGNONNE!

I love you with a man's great love,
A loyal love, profound and true,
Pure as the star-light that above
The low earth loves to shine on you:
A love that all my being fills,
And cannot wane till life is done,
Whose passionate ardour through me thrills,
And makes me all thy slave, MY DARLING,
CHERE MIGNONNE!

No fancy 't is, no mere desire,
No furious and fickle flame;—
Such love did Petrarch's soul inspire,
And make immortal Dante's name:—
A love that finds its recompense
In serving the beloved one,— So pure, so perfect, so intense,
My deathless love for you, MY DARLING, CHERE
MIGNONNE!

Your passionate love I cannot win;
Life's Autumn cannot be so blest:—
Lock up my secret, Darling! in
The sanctuary of your breast!
Let none my idle passion know!
No answering love I count upon,
Yet cannot help but love you so,
And wish for youth once more, MY DARLING,
CHERE MIGNONNE!

And if I sometimes chafe, because
You are indifferent and cold,
And Nature will not change her laws,
And teach the young to love the old;
I do not love you less, but more:
Of all the world of women none,
Though I have often loved before,
Has been so loved as you, MY DARLING, CHERE
MIGNONNE!

AM I ungenerous?—It is wrong;
But love that doubts is always so.
I bear the burthen, when the long,
Still watches of the sad night go
With slow steps by my sleepless eyes,
While your sweet kisses linger on
My lips, almost like agonies,
Because I cannot win MY DARLING, CHERE
MlGNONNE!

O Darling! love me lest I die!
Let not the cloud between us stay!
One kiss will chase it from my sky,
And make the dark night joyous day.
You are my love, my life, my all,
Yet never to be all my own;
For me the leaves of Autumn fall,
For you the Spring-flowers bloom, MY DARLING,
CHERE MIGNONNE!