| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Ben Jonson. 1573–1637 |
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| 187. The Shadow |
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| 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? | |
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| 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? | |
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