Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Ben Jonson. 15731637187. 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, | 5 |
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. | 10 |
Say, are not women truly, then, | |
Styled but the shadows of us men? |