There is one romance that is told 'twill never grow old
So long as the moon's above,
Tho' it may be told by a knave, a fool, or a king,
The end of it all is love.
So it is that women sigh and heroes die
For just no more than this,
It may be the glance of two eyes where passion lies,
A smile! a touch! a kiss!
Now that I have set all your hearts aglow
You'll be glad to follow where-e'er I go.
Chorus:
Ah! live for love! for love!
and the world's at your feet,
For all-conquering love makes each moment complete.
Be but one heart sighing for you all alone,
Then youth may be dying, the world is your own!
Trap the passing dream while the night is of gold,
For Youth is a flower that must fade and grow old.
Drain the cup this once to your star above,
Give your life for a moment of Love!
If you have a passion to live and kisses to give,
Don't worry or count the cost.
If you can but live for a day in passionate sway
Ah! then is the world well lost.
If you can but crush the flow'r for one mad hour
Before it's [sic] petals fall
Then you would have lived at the close for Love's own rose,
The fairest flow'r of all!
Now that I have set all your hearts aglow
You'll be glad to follow where-e'er I go.