What do the roses say in their dreams?
Let us hark and hear! Let us hark and hear!
Do they echo the songs of the eager streams,
Running so near, running so clear?
Or have they a murmur of love and fear
For the bliss of the wandering breeze's ear? Do they murmur of skies and the longing stars?
Let us hark and hear! Let us hark and hear!
Are their rich hearts full of the glory of Mars,
With his blood red shield, and his golden spear?
Or doth the thought of some softer sphere
Well up from their depths in a tremulous tear? I would know! I would know! How they tremble and burn!
Hark, then, and hear! Hark, Love, and hear!
By the stir at their hearts we shall surely learn
In an instant now what hope or fear,
What rapture or pain, what sorrow or cheer
Thrills through the breast of each beauty here. Then, Love, stoop close. No rosier bud
Doth nestle here than thy rose ear.
Stoop close! Such beauty can ne'er intrude.
And now what is it they say, my dear?
You blush, Sweet-heart. Ah! Didst thou fear
Aught else but thine own name to hear?