Beatrice's Song

False friend, wilt thou smile or weep

When my life is laid asleep?

Little cares for a smile or a tear,

The clay-cold corpse upon the bier!

Farewell! Heigh-ho!

What is this whispers low?

There is a snake in thy smile, my dear;

And bitter poison within thy tear.

Sweet sleep! were death like to thee,

Or if thou couldst mortal be,

I would close these eyes of pain;

When to wake? Never again.

O World! farewell!

Listen to the passing bell!

It say, thou and I must part,

With a light and a heavy heart.