Shepherd's daughter (1)/Foolish fort, a heart

FOOLISH FORT, A HEART.

’Tis now since I sat down before,
⁠this foolish Fort, a Heart,
(Time strangely spent) a year or 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 whisp’ring 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 resolv’d to starve the place,
⁠by cutting off all kisses;
Praising and gazing on her face,
⁠with all such little blesses.

To draw her out, and from her strength,
⁠I drew all battries 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 smil’d 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.

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Printed by J. & M. Robertson, Saltmarket, 1799.