Quote: 'my source* says it was originally the French song "Plaisir d'Amour", composed in 1785 by Jean Pierre Claris de Florian and Jean Paul Egide Schwarzendorf (alias Martini il Tedesco), who initially named it "La Romance du Chevrier". '
source: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7980/looseends1.htm

Peter, I've no idea whether this is reliable, but it sounds good.

Wolfgang