Ben Jonson

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?