ENCAMPED around our city wall Stands the fierce foe in dense array! Save, save, our precious casks, I pray! Ye soldiers, haste and seize on all We have, and plunder as ye may, But spare our precious casks, I pray. After the war is done we yet By drink may drive our grief away: Save, save, our precious casks, I pray. The foe, if the first chance he get, No moderation will display: Our casks then let us drain, I pray. Though to the foe our town we yield, Let dregs alone his thirst allay: Our barrels let us drain, I pray. Though able nothing else to shield, Spare not the cider night or day, But drain the barrels bare, I pray. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE TWO SAYINGS by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING LEXINGTON [APRIL 19, 1775] by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SWITZERLAND by JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES THE ATLANTIDES by HENRY DAVID THOREAU THE GLASSES AND THE BIBLE by ST. CLAIR ADAMS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 17. ON A SERMON AGAINST GLORY by MARK AKENSIDE |