ROSA
Love is but a word that wandered here from pastures green
Where it was rarely said or seen and seldom sung
Innocent enough, it was intended to be used on rare occasions
Not abused by every tongue
Rarely has a word been ever taken so in vain -
What little meaning might remain is quickly blurred
Never has there been so quite exhausted such a term -
Your sighs and syllables confirm how drained this word

ROSA / JASPER
You call it love. / I call it love
I call it rude. / You call it rude
I call it lust. / You think me just
I call it lewd. / A bit too crude
I call it cruel. / And I the fool
I cannot bear / Yet I still dare
To call it love. / To call it love

I think it foul. / I see you scowl
I think it vile. / You see me smile
No more I'll take / 'Tis you I'll break!
Of cunning guile. / I've no denial
You're worse than bad: / My words are mad:
You give to sin / I speak them in
The name of love. / The name of love
ROSA
Rose Bud, the dainty little face whose every curl
Confirms that she's a child, a girl, a neophyte:
Rosa is the only soul in Cloisterham, it seems
Who senses just the sort of dreams you dream at night
Did you think your stare would stop my seeing?
Every fibre of my being told me since I was betrothed
That your most unnatural attention
Conjures words I dare not mention
You must know how much I loathed

ROSA / JASPER
To know your wants. / You know my wants
To see your clutch. / to need not clutch
To hear your voice / You have no choice
To feel your touch / Is it so much
A dreadful task / For me to ask?
To even speak / I only seek
The name of love. / The name of love

I will not fear / I love to hear
My tragic plight! / The angry bite
I have a choice - / of your fair voice!
I'll take to flight! / One blazing night
I'll not permit / You will submit
You to desecrate / And give your fate
The name of love! / The name of love!
And in the moonfall, / And in the moonfall
Can you not see this victim, / Can you not free this victim
And lo, his slave / You so enslave?
Save me - / Save me
And yet he seems so in pain! / And let these dreams remain
John, you make me like stone, / Awake my own
Transfixed with wonder, / Transfixed with one...
Mixed with the thunder / Of this love
Of this love. / My all, my love
Your name of love / Your name is love
Is chilling to me! / And thrilling to me!

ROSA & JASPER
Beneath these skies one night unknown
Would (s)he dare?
Between our eyes one sight alone we share:
The sight of moonfall
As it comes into view...

ROSA / JASPER
So that / So I promise that you shall be
Soon I / Soon a golden idol whom I
Only see but / Own and love and lead into a
Sea of light! 'Tis but the falling
You! / Moon!