| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | September 5 | | On the Taking of Namur by the King of Great Britain | | By Matthew Prior (1664–1721) |
| | | | A Belgian town captured by the Allies under William III. from the French under Boufflers, on Sept. 5, 1695. |
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SAMBRE and Maese their waves may join; | |
| But ne’er can William’s force restrain; | |
| He’ll pass them both, who passed the Boyne: | |
| Remember this and arm the Seine. | |
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| Full fifteen thousand lusty fellows, | 5 |
| With fire and sword the fort maintain: | |
| Each was a Hercules, you tell us, | |
| Yet out they marched like common men. | |
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| Cannons above and mines below | |
| Did Death and tombs for us contrive; | 10 |
| Yet matters have been ordered so, | |
| That most of us are still alive. | |
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| If Namur be compared to Troy | |
| Then Britain’s boys excelled the Greeks; | |
| Their siege did ten long years employ; | 15 |
| We’ve done our business in ten weeks. | | | |
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