Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900/The Shadow

by Ben Jonson

For works with similar titles, see The Shadow.

FOLLOW a shadow, it still flies you;
⁠Seem to fly it, it will pursue:
So court a mistress, she denies you;
⁠Let her alone, she will court you.
⁠Say, are not women truly, then,
⁠Styled but the shadows of us men?

At morn and even, shades are longest;
⁠At noon they are or short or none:
So men at weakest, they are strongest,
⁠But grant us perfect, they're not known.
⁠Say, are not women truly, then,
⁠Styled but the shadows of us men?

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