So short is life, that every peasant strives,
In a torn house, or field, to have three lives;
And as in lasting, so in length is man,
Contracted to an inch, who was a span.
But the punctuation of 1633 is careful and correct. A new paragraph begins with 'And as in lasting, so, &c.' From length of years Donne passes to physical stature. The full stop is at 'lives', the semicolon at 'span'. Grosart and the Grolier Club editor punctuate correctly.
l. 144. We'are scarce our Fathers shadowes cast at noone: Compare:
But now the sun is just above our head,
We doe those shadowes tread;
And to brave clearnesse all things are reduc'd.
A Lecture upon the Shadowe.