Quote

Follow a shadow, it still flies you, Seem to fly, 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?

Ben Jonson

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Ben Jonson
Age: 65 †
Born: 1572
Born: June 21
Died: 1637
Died: August 6
Actor
Literary Critic
Playwright
Poet
Writer
City of Westminster
Benjamin Jonson
Men
Follow
Denies
Truly
Flies
Seem
Mistress
Alone
Shadows
Stills
Pursue
Seems
Deny
Women
Shadow
Styled
Still
Court
Wooing

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Words borrowed of Antiquity do lend a kind of Majesty to style, and are not without their delight sometimes. For they have the authority of years, and out of their intermission do win to themselves a kind of grace-like newness. But the eldest of the present, and newest of the past Language, is the best.
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Poor worms, they hiss at me, whilst I at home Can be contented to applaud myself, . . . with joy To see how plump my bags are and my barns.
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I do honor the very flea of his dog.
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Where it concerns himself, Who's angry at a slander, makes it true.
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Folly often goes beyond her bounds, but impudence knows none.
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To the old, long life and treasure To the young, all health and pleasure.
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Tell troth and shame the devil.
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I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Upon my flesh t'inflict another wound. Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death With holy Paul lest it be thought the breath Of discontent or that these prayers be For weariness of life, not love of thee.
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Indeed there's a woundy luck in names.
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