A violet stood upon the lea, Hunched o'er in anonymity; So amiable a violet! Along there came a young shepherdess Light paced, full of contentedness Along, along, The lea, and sang her song.
Ah!" thinks the violet, "were I just The fairest flower in the dust For just a little while yet, Until that darling seizes me And to her bosom squeezes me! For just, for just A quarter hour long!"
Ah! And alas! There came the maid And no heed to the violet paid, Crushed the poor little violet. It sank and died, yet filled with pride: And though I die, I shall have died Through her, through her, And at her feet have died."