“TOUJOURS LE MEME” WAS ENGRAV'D ON THE
TOKEN.
I
“Toujours le même” was engrav'd on the token,
The ring Rosa gave to the youth she preferr'd;
Sadly she gazed from her casement, heart-broken,
And wav'd a farewell,—but she spoke not a word.
He sigh'd adieu, and she thought sigh'd sincerely,
Whilst fondly he cried, “Oh remember my name;
“When far away, I shall love thee as dearly,
“As fondly, as faithfully, toujours le même!”
II
When he was gone, for a time he roved blindly
'Midst beauties, and sigh'd at the liveliest ball;
But when fair maids on his sadness look'd kindly,
The sad one had smiles to bestow on them all!
If on the past the gay youth e'er reflected,
New pleasures were sought to drown sorrow and shame,
Soon he forgot Rosa's smile, and neglected
Her ring—and its motto of toujours le même.
III
Rosa was sad; for a time she persuaded
Her fond heart that chance his return might defer;
But when the hopes she had cherish'd, all faded,
His coldness, his falsehood, were fatal to her.
Ah! is it strange while men wildly are roving,
Their thoughts and their vows are not ever the same?
Man loves again, and ne'er suffers from loving;
But woman, sweet woman, is toujours le même.
