Full Lyrics
Fleetwoods, young generous pair,
Despise the joys that fools pursue;
Bubbles are light and brittle too.
Born of the water and the air.
Tried by a standard, bold and just.
Honour and gold, and paint and dust;
How vile the last is, and as vain the first!
Things that the crowd call great and brave,
With me how low their value's brought!
Titles and names, and life and breath,
Slaves to the wind, and born for death;
The soul's the only thing we have
Worth an important thought.
The soul! 'tis of the immortal kind,
Nor formed of fire, or earth, or wind.
Outlives the mouldering corpse, and leaves the globe behind.
In limbs of clay though she appears,
Arrayed in rosy skin, and decked with ears and eyes.
The flesh is but the soul's disguise.
There's nothing in her frame 'kin to the dress she wears.
From all the laws of matter free,
From all we feel, and all we see,
She stands eternally distinct, and must forever be.
