The Siege

'Tis now, since I sat down before
That foolish fort, a heart,
(Time strangely spent!) a year, and more;
And still I did my part.

Made my approaches, from her hand
Unto her lip did rise;
And did already understand
The language of her eyes.

Proceeding on with no less art,
My tongue was engineer;
I thought to undermine the heart
By whispering in the ear.

When this did nothing, I brought down
Great canon-oaths, and shot
A thousand thousand to the town,
And still it yielded not.

I then resolved to starve the place,
By cutting off all kisses,
Praising and gazing on her face.
And all such little blisses.

To draw her out, and from her strength,
I drew all batteries in:
And brought myself to lie at length,
As if no siege had been.

When I had done what man could do,
And thought the place my own,
The enemy lay quiet too,
And smiled at all was done.

I sent to know from whence, and where,
These hopes, and this relief?
A spy inform'd, Honour was there,
And did command in chief.

March, march (quoth I), the word straight give,
Let's lose no time, but leave her;
That giant upon air will live,
And hold it out for ever.

To such a place our camp remove
As will no siege abide;
I hate a fool that starves her love,
Only to feed her pride.