| John Donne (1572–1631). The Poems of John Donne. 1896. | | | | Songs and Sonnets | | A Lecture upon the Shadow |
| | | STAND still, and I will read to thee | |
| A lecture, Love, in Love’s philosophy. | |
| These three hours that we have spent, | |
| Walking here, two shadows went | |
| Along with us, which we ourselves produced. | 5 |
| But, now the sun is just above our head, | |
| We do those shadows tread, | |
| And to brave clearness all things are reduced. | |
| So whilst our infant loves 1 did grow, | |
| Disguises did, and shadows, flow, | 10 |
| From us and our cares; but now ’tis not so. | |
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| That love has not attain’d the highest degree, | |
| Which is still diligent lest others see. | |
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| Except our loves at this noon stay, | |
| We shall new shadows make the other way. | 15 |
| As the first were made to blind | |
| Others, these which come behind | |
| Will work upon ourselves, and blind our eyes. | |
| If our loves faint, and westwardly decline, | |
| To me thou, falsely, thine | 20 |
| And I to thee mine actions shall disguise. | |
| The morning shadows wear away, | |
| But these grow longer all the day; | |
| But O! love’s day is short, if love decay. | |
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| Love is a growing, or full constant light, | 25 |
| And his short minute, after noon, is night. | |
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