He could harass the besiegers, or attack them, should opportunity offer, and either raise the siege or so protract it that they would be forced by approaching winter to sail homeward, robbed of the fruit of their victory.
The nature of the country was another cause that helped to protract the contest.
His plan was to avoid a general battle, run no risks, and protract the defence till the resources of the enemy were exhausted, or till approaching winter forced them to withdraw.
He said it was a plan of the aristocratic party to protract the war, in order to put themselves in high offices, and perpetuate their importance and influence.
He wishes to protract the war, that he may the longer continue to enjoy the supreme and unlimited authority with which we have intrusted him.
He believed that the object of the French was to trifle with the States, to protract interminably their negotiations, to prevent the English government from getting any hold upon the Provinces, and then to leave them to their fate.
Campeggio heard these doctrines with great impatience; and notwithstanding his resolution to protract the cause, he was often tempted to interrupt and silence the king's counsel, when they insisted on such disagreeable topics.
We're all deluded, vainly searching ways To make us happy by the length of days; For cunningly to make's protract this breath, The Gods conceal the happiness of Death.
It had been better to die young in a foreign land, while all the stars of hope were beaming above me, than to protract a miserable, obscure life here, and see all the stars fade out one by one!
Yet I do not believe that this will occur, but consider it possible that the boy will protract his unfortunate life a full year after his mind has entirely passed away, and nothing is left of him but his body.
This early date was appointed for the convocation of the estates, in order to be able to protract as much as possible the ceremonial proceedings.
When had that (our) side of the Senate ever sought to protract discussion unnecessarily?
On the contrary, it would encourage Mexico to persevere, and tend to protract it indefinitely.
But it was not in Elizabeth's nature to protract a vain resistance; she rose, and passed on, and as she approached the room intended for her, the heavy doors along the corridor were locked and barred behind her.
Some vague indication that he might yield had been communicated to Pole by Soto before Christmas,[531] and the struggle which had evidently commenced was permitted to protract itself.
He lived very quietly in Paris, and was closely watched by the police, for it was supposed that as he had come against his will he would not protract his stay so long as Napoleon wished.
My pride shall ne'er protract my country's woes; Succeed, my friend, unenvied by Leontius.
Haste, Murza, to the palace, let the sultan [To one of her attendant Despatch his guards to stop the flying traitors, While I protract their stay.
Would'st thou my lot, life's dreariest years amid, Protract and doom?
He was thus, against his will, compelled to protract his residence in Italy; and at his request I also resolved to postpone my departure for some time longer.
To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not.
To spin out to too great length; to protract unduly.
The arrogant pretensions of Glengarry contributed toprotract the discussion.
If you sell one another, why should not I sell this here Elixir of Long Life, which, if properly used, will protract your days till you shall have seen your country ruined.
Cordials were administered to keep up her spirits; and she found it necessary to protract the use of them to blunt the edge of grief, by overwhelming reflection, and remove the sense of uneasiness arising from a disorder in her stomach.
To elucidate this matter, we made numerous experiments, the detail of which would protract this letter too much, therefore I shall relate only the principal results.
Mere curiosity would have found ample employment for reverie, even if no deeper and fonder interest were at hand to protract it.
But Randolph managed to protract the subsequent promenade.
The council at the hotel of Talleyrand did not protract its sitting.
But" (he added, after a pause) "it is better to submit than to protract dissension for ever.
Buonaparte well knew the secret motive which induced Cobentzel, the emperor's chief envoy, to protract and multiply discussions of which he by this time was weary.
Despair mightprotract the contest, but the utter exhaustion of Southern resources was only a question of time.
Little did they imagine that in this terrible law their rulers had found a weapon which would enable them to repulse the Northern armies at every point, and protract the war for three years longer!
The sloth with which things move is a daily source of vexation to me, as tending to protract the session.
I repeatedly stated to many gentlemen with whom I was acting that it was a vain thing to protract the election, as it had become manifest that Mr. Burr would not assist us, and as we could do nothing without his aid.
The victorious arms of the present ministry in Parliament will make me protract my stay here, lest it should be thought I awaited the decision of the event; next to successful enemies, I dread triumphant friends.
Lord Byron's foolish trial is likely to protract the session a little; but unless there is any particular business, I shall not stay for a puppet-show.
I never was there, and could never go so agreeably; but then it would protract my absence three weeks, and I am impatient to be in my own cave, notwithstanding the wisdom I imbibe every day.
