"Why art thou what thou art?
"Whether another's or mine, if only I had never seen thee!
"Either love me in return, or do not ask me to love thee at all.
"Be either cold or warm, but not lukewarm.
"If in passing me, thou didst neither look at me, nor turn away, that would be good too: if sitting beside me thou shouldst draw me to thee, thou wouldst make me happy:—thou comest, smilest into mine eyes, graspest my hand, speakest tenderly to me, and then passest by.
"A hundred times I think that, if thou dost not address me, I shall address thee: if thou dost not ask me, I shall look into thine eyes, and shall ask thee:
"'Dost thou love me?'
"If thou lovest, love truly.
"Why, I do not ask thee to bring down the moon from the heavens to me: merely, to pluck the rose from the branch.
"If thou pluckest it, thou canst tear it, and scatter its leaves upon the earth, thou must not wear it in thy hat, and answer with blushes, if they ask thee who gave it thee. Thou canst destroy it and tear it. A gypsy girl gave it.