Classic Poem

'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 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 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, Honour was there,
And did command in chief.

"March, march', quoth I, "the world 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.'