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Title: A Description Of The Pine-Apple At Trowse
Author: James Parkerson [
More Titles by Parkerson]
Both beauty and art have exerted their skill,
You will find on a spot near the brow of a hill;
The hill is near Norwich and call’d Bracondale,
I stept into Vince’s myself to regale.
The landlord I found Sir adopted one plan,
To please all his customers all that he can;
Some Topsmen I found had come to the spot,
To look at their darlings, each good hardy Scot;
When business was o’er they did not decline,
To take a few bottles of Vince’s port wine;
The flavour was such they could not refrain,
To fill up a bumper again and again.
I found these good fellows are men of sense,
That to learning and knowledge may lay a pretence;
Most of these gentlemen always can find,
A stranger’s good converse to cherish the mind.
When they went away, in the garden, I stray’d,
And do not repent there a visit I paid,
There was pinks, there was roses, and cucumbers too,
And peas of the finest I ever did view:
The evergreens pleas’d me their odour was sweet,
And a thousand of other sweet shrubs did I meet,
But oh what sweet pleasures your mind to fulfil.
Is the view that you have on the top of the hill.
The river delighteth the mind and the eye
On which you see wherries constant pass by,
Besides there is barges that proudly do ride,
With packets to Yarmouth assisted by tide;
There’s low-lands and up-lands that gladden the sight,
And a thousand sweet objects the mind to delight
And such view of the city as must please the eye,
A thousand old buildings you there may descry;
Oh this is a garden I said to myself,
That was I a man that had plenty of wealth,
I would ramble to daily, myself to regale,
For Vince I well know have some fine flavour’d ale;
And those that have tasted his porter declare,
That two or three glasses the spirits will cheer;
Here’s Jamaca Rum that will gladden the heart
The flavour of which will much pleasure impart;
His Hollands you’d find would soon make you merry,
And your cheeks my good Sir look as red as a cherry;
But oh for his Brandy put that in a bowl,
With his very strong Rum & ’twould soon cheer the soul.
His best English Gin will banish all care,
If you take but enough I vow and declare;
He keeps Cows to afford you a little good stuff,
If you only will add to it Rum quite enough;
Besides with your Hautboys he will find you cream
Now do not suppose that this is a dream;
Step into Vince’s and you’ll find it true,
That what I have stated may be found by you;
For your steed or you poney there’s a stable I say,
That is kept clean and neat with the finest of hay.
And his friends from the north who do bullocks sell,
Know that he lodges their cattle quite well;
He has all the means to keep them clean & warm,
And shelter those creatures from rain & from storm
There’s plenty of acres to give them full scope,
And plenty of feed if their mouths they will ope;
Their bellies they may most rapidly fill,
To give them a plenty I know is his will;
I have oft heard him say that he great pleasure take,
In providing for stock for each owner’s sake,
And that he determines no pains he would spare,
To take care of cattle that’s under his care;
Indeed I believe that all his friends find,
To afford satisfaction he’s always inclin’d;
And all those that think proper at his house to stray,
Shall never have cause to complain when away:
He thanks all his friends for each favour that’s past,
And hopes that each visit will not be the last;
His efforts to please them he’ll strongly renew,
And each friend that call shall soon find it true;
Most fully determined such liquor to sell,
As all shall declare that they like it quite well;
I believe that in summer no spot is more fit,
To brace up the nerves to those that need it.
The air is so fine that it cherish the frame,
Besides there’s another great pleasure I’ll name,
But a very short mile and the journey is o’er,
Ere they can walk in at the Pine-apple door;
I mean for those friends who for pleasure do stray
That near is the distance as I have heard say,
I’m sure that no one will have cause to repine,
At the distance from Norwich when wheather is fine,
The garden produces such store sir in May,
As induce you to take some on going away;
Cucumbers and other things there you may buy,
So early I’m told as delighteth the eye,
To do it no pains nor expences he spare,
That Vince’s good friends may have something that’s rare;
Another thing early the Ladies to please,
He grows in the garden the sweetest of peas,
And if in the spring there are nice cooling showers,
The same time will send them the choisest of flowers,
The garden most people from Norwich invite,
As that is his pride and daily delight;
There are seats and good harbours your time to invite,
When smoaking your pipe to afford you delight,
The house tho’ not gaudy is always kept clean,
Or at least I do say as mostly is seen;
He keeps lively fires in winter I’m told,
To keep his good friends when there catching cold,
And oh his tobacco most people approve,
It handles you’ll find quite as soft as a dove;
His pipes are glaz’d high you will find at the end,
Such as you’d wish to bestow on a friend.
Indeed in the mansion no pains will he spare,
To gain him applause or your spirits to cheer;
He’s grateful to all both rich and poor,
That choose to step in at the Pine-apple door.
He wish all to spend no more than they please,
To joke, drink, and laugh, & be merry at ease,
Harmonious parties he likes for to see,
That delight in good friendship and sing a good glee,
A song now and then will enliven the heart,
And make us unwilling till late to depart.
[The end]
James Parkerson's poem: Description Of The Pine-Apple At Trowse
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