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;

Proceeded 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 cannon-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 mine 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 informed, Honor 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."

Out Upon It! I Have Loved

Out upon it! I have loved

Three whole days together;

And am like to love three more,

If it prove fair weather.

Time shall moult away his wings,

Ere he shall discover

In the whole wide world again

Such a constant lover.

But the spite on't is, no praise

Is due at all to me:

Love with me had made no stays

Had it any been but she.

Had it any been but she,

And that very face,

There had been at least ere this

A dozen dozen in her place.