This text comes from Songs of French Canada, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.
As by the crystal fount I strayed,
On which the dancing moonbeams played,
The water seemed so clear and bright
I bathed myself in its delight:
I loved thee from the hour we met,
And never can that love forget.
The water seemed so clear and bright,
I bathed myself in its delight;
The nightingale above my head,
As sweet a stream of music shed:
I loved thee from the hour we met,
And never can that love forget.
The nightingale above my head,
As sweet a stream of music shed:
Sing, nightingale! thy heart is glad!
But I could weep, for mine is sad!
I loved thee from the hour we met.
And never can that love forget.
Sing, nightingale! thy heart is glad!
But I could weep, for mine is sad!
For I have lost my lady fair,
And she has left me to despair:
I loved thee from the hour we met,
And never can that love forget.
For I have lost my lady fair,
And she has left me to despair,
For that I gave not, when she spoke,
The rose that from its tree I broke:
I loved thee from the hour we met,
And never can that love forget.
For that I gave not, when she spoke,
The rose that from its tree I broke:
I wish the rose was on its tree,
And my beloved again with me!
I loved thee from the hour we met,
And never can that love forget.