When Beatrice's work was done
There was a creeping briar there
So green beneath the morning sun
She followed it all down the stair
Away across the sea of stones
There was a creeping briar there
It led her to her lover's bones
Where sweet Sophia had been laid
Away across the sea of stones
"How long have I my love betrayed
That there has grown such thicket here
Where sweet Sophia had been laid?"
"How long since I last held her dear
Could she have missed and longed for me
That there has grown such thicket here?"
"I do not know how that could be
But the dead do not dream, so how
Could she have missed and longed for me?"
"If I could, then I'd go right now
I'd once more be again with her.
But the dead do not dream, so how?"
"I pray my bones here to inter
That future storytellers say
I'd once more be again with her"
"The dead know not of night or day
Our love will be but one of those
That future storytellers say"
"And from my grave will grow a rose
Like rose and briar stories past
Our love will be but one of those"
And all this happened, to the last
And the rose grew round the briar
Like rose and briar stories past
Grew till they could grow no higher
All green beneath the morning sun
And the rose grew round the briar
When Beatrice's work was done
There was a creeping briar there
All green beneath the morning sun