[Of the City guard: viz. Militia, dragoons, and bombardiers, and their commanders.] Then every city ward established a guard, Diurnal and nocturnal: Militia volunteers, light dragoons, and bombardiers, With an alderman for colonel. [Of the majors and captains.] There was muster and roll-calls, and repairing city walls, And filling up of fosses: And the captains and the majors, gallant and courageous, A-riding about on their hosses. [The fortifications and artillery.] To be guarded at all hours they built themselves watch-towers, With every tower a man on; And surely and secure, each from out his embrasure, Looked down the iron cannon! [Of the conduct of the actors and the clergy.] A battle-song was writ for the theatre, where it Was sung with vast enérgy And rapturous applause; and besides, the public cause, Was supported by the clergy. The pretty ladies'-maids were pinning of cockades, And tying on of sashes; And dropping gentle tears, while their lovers bluster'd fierce, About gunshot and gashes; [Of the ladies;] The ladies took the hint, and all day were scraping lint, As became their softer genders; And got bandages and beds for the limbs and for the heads Of the city's brave defenders. [And, finally, of the taylors.] The men, both young and old, felt resolute and bold, And panted hot for glory; Even the tailors 'gan to brag, and embroidered on their flag, "AUT WINCERE AUT MORI." X. [Of the Cossack chief,--his stratagem;] Seeing the city's resolute condition, The Cossack chief, too cunning to despise it, Said to himself, "Not having ammunition Wherewith to batter the place in proper form, Some of these nights I'll carry it by storm, And sudden escalade it or surprise it. [And the burghers' sillie victorie.] "Let's see, however, if the cits stand firmish." He rode up to the city gates; for answers, Out rushed an eager troop of the town élite, And straightway did begin a gallant skirmish: The Cossack hereupon did sound retreat, Leaving the victory with the city lancers. [What prisoners they took,] They took two prisoners and as many horses, And the whole town grew quickly so elate With this small victory of their virgin forces, That they did deem their privates and commanders So many Caesars, Pompeys, Alexanders, Napoleons, or Fredericks the Great. [And how conceited they were.] And puffing with inordinate conceit They utterly despised these Cossack thieves; And thought the ruffians easier to beat Than porters carpets think, or ushers boys. Meanwhile, a sly spectator of their joys, The Cossack captain giggled in his sleeves. [Of the Cossack chief,--his orders;]