Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SIEGE, by JOHN SUCKLING Poet's Biography First Line: Tis now, since I sat down before Last Line: Only to feed her pride. Variant Title(s): Loves 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 informed, 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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SUPPLEMENT OF AN IMPERFECT COPY OF VERSES OF MR. WILL. SHAKESPEARE'S by JOHN SUCKLING UPON MY LADY CARLISLE'S WALKING IN HAMPTON COURT GARDEN by JOHN SUCKLING A PEDLAR OF SMALL-WARES by JOHN SUCKLING A PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR'S TO A MASQUE AT WHITTON by JOHN SUCKLING |
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