“Endless it were to tell what I have done In arms, or council, since the siege begun: The first encounter’s pass’d, the foe repell’d, They skulk’d within the town, we kept the field. War seem’d asleep for nine long years; at length Both sides resolved to push, we tried our strength. Now what did Ajax, while our arms took breath. Versed only in the gross mechanic trade of death? If you require my deeds, with ambush’d arms I trapp’d the foe, or tired with false alarms; Secured the ships, drew lines along the plain, The fainting cheer’d, chastised the rebel train. Provided forage, our spent arms renew’d; Employ’d at home, or sent abroad, the common cause pursued.