Read "A Lecture Upon the Shadow" by John Donne online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
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. / 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 did grow, / Disguises did, and shadows, flow, / From us and our cares; but now 'tis not so.
That love has not attain'd the highest degree, / Which is still diligent lest others see.
Except our loves at this noon stay, / We shall new shadows make the other way. / 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 / 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.
Love is a growing, or full constant light, / And his short minute, after noon, is night.