I implore your Majesty to ponder the matter well, and not to defer the remedy." His Majesty was sure to ponder the matter well, if that had been all.
Philip was good at pondering; but it was equally certain that the remedy would be deferred.

Meantime Alexander and his starving but heroic little army were left to fight their battles as they could.
His complaints were incessant, most reasonable, but unavailing.

With all the forces he could muster, by withdrawing from the neighbourhood of Ghent, Brussels, Vilvoorde, and from all the garrisons, every man that could be spared, he had not strength enough to guard his own posts.

To attempt to win back the important forts recently captured by the rebels on the Doel, was quite out of the question.

The pictures he painted of his army were indeed most dismal.
The Spaniards were so reduced by sickness that it was pitiful to see them.