Eternity

Ralph Vaughan Williams

He who binds to himself a Joy

Doth the wingèd life destroy;

But he who kisses the Joy as it flies

Lives in Eternity's sunrise.

The look of love alarms,

Because it's fill'd with fire;

But the look of soft deceit

Shall win the lover's hire.

Soft deceit and idleness,

These are Beauty's sweetest dress.