Good News from New England, Poem 4 – Poem 5
A briefe deſcription of the Land, Beaſts, Birds, Trees, and Fruits.
VNlevel'd lies this land new found with hills and vallies low,
With many mixtures of ſuch mold where fruits do firtile grow.
Well watered with the pleaſant ſprings that from the hills ariſe,
The waters run with warbling tunes, with ſtones that in them lies.
To welcome weary travellers, reſting unneath the ſhade,
Of lofty banks, where lowly boughs, for them freſh harbour made.
The leſſer Rivelets rent themſelves into a wider way,
Where ſcouring torrents furious fall, through rocks their ſtreames doe ſtray.
SPRING.
AT end of March begins the Spring, by Sols new elivation,
Sealing away the earths white robe, dropping with ſweats vexation.
The Codfiſh, Holybut, & Baſſe, do ſport the rivers in,
And Alle wiſes with their crowding ſholes, in every creek do ſwim.
Leaving their ſpawn in ponds to thrive 'mongſt Pikes devouring jawes.
That ſwallow Trowts, Tench, Roach and Breme into their greedy mawes.
Pirch, Shad, and Eeles, there plenty full the panyard and the pan,
Smelts, Lobſters, Crab-fiſh, pranes and ſhrimps, with cockles muſſels clams.
Plenty of oyſters overgrow the flowed lands ſo thick,
That thouſand loads to lime are turn'd, to lay faſt ſtone and brick.
The Cormorants with greedy gut full faſt the fiſhes follow,
And Eagles with their piercing ſight look through the waters ſhallow.
Ducks, Hens, and Pheaſants often row upon the waters brim,
With plenty of their fellow fowles to welcome in the Spring.
Devouring fires burning black the earths old ruſty hew,
Like torch-bearers in gloomy night, their flames with wind ſore flew.
Like Phoenix rare, from aſhes old, of graſſe, doth graſſe ariſe,
The earth caſts off her mourning coate, gay clad like bride to eyes.
With herbs and divers precious plants for phyſicks operation,
Diverſity of fragrant flowers for ſences recreation.
SOMMER.
BEſpread with Roſes Sommer 'gins take place with haſty ſpeed,
Whoſe parching beate Strawberries coole doth moderation breed.
Ayre darkening ſholes of pigeons picke their berries ſweet and good,
The lovely Cherries birds entice, to feaſt themſelves in woods.
The Turkies, Partridge, Heath-hens and their young ones tracing paſſe,
The woods and medowes, Achorn eat, and hoppers in the graſſe.
Like Virgils knat musketo flies with buzzy humming dare
Aſſault the ſtouteſt with long trunke, both blood and bliſters reare.
When little lineaments the Sun, or winde doth feeble make
Yea cooling dewes their ſwarms allay, and ſtrength of ſtinging ſlake.
The little hum birds ſucking ſweet, from flowers draw their food,
Humilities in ſommer-time only find livelihood.
AƲTƲMNE.
GOod wholſome and delightfull food, variety & ſtore,
The Husband-man rejoycing keeps, with fruit the earths wombe boare.
Peas plenty, Barley, Oats and wheat, Rye richly ſtocking ſtands,
Such ſtore the plough-man late hath found, that they feed forreign lands.
Cucumbers, mellons, apples, peares, and plums do flouriſh faire,
Yea what delight and profit would, they ſtill are adding there.
Sixe ſorts of Oakes the land affords, Walnuts doe differ ſo,
That divers ſhapes their fruit retains, and food that in them grow.
Roots are not wanting, wild and tame, in gardens they encreaſe,
Ground nuts, ground beans, not gathered till, warmth doth the earth releaſe.
Grapes wanting vintage, common grow, fit for the travellers hand,
With food from berries multitude, that grow throughout the land.
WINTER.
SHarpe, ſudden, yet with lightſome looks doth winters cold come in,
With thicke, large Coat doth cloath the earth, both ſoft, ſmooth, white and trim.
The large tempeſtuous ſurges are bound in with frozen band,
Where ſhip did anker, men doe walke, and carts as on the land.
The Geeſe flye prating night and day, to tell the approaching ſeaſon,
Brought downe by gun ſhot from their flight unto the Indians geſon.
The tumbling beares intrapped are, mongſt houſes ſudden enter,
O'rethrowne by eager hunters, who purſue them in this venter.
The tripping Deer with length of leaps, do burſt through frozen ſnow,
Hunters purſue with bracket ſhooes, at length they weary grow.
Then down the dogs them ſudden draw, expos'd to hunters pleaſure,
Their fl…ſh well welcome, and their skins, are chiefe of Indian treaſure.
Whole kennels of devouring wolves both Deer and Swine deſtroy,
Yet ſcar'd by weakeſt children, they them the leſſe annoy.
The Suns bright preſence moſt dayes doth cheere man and beaſt with joy,
With hope of pleaſant ſprings approach to free from colds annoy.
With mineralls the earth is fraught, though Alcumiſts are wanting,
Which makes current mettle priz'd 'mongſt Merchants daily ſcanting.
Of their building, planting, and giving out of LANDS.
DElightfull to the eye did lye the woods and medowes greene,
The paths untrod by man and beaſt, both ſmooth and clenly ſeene.
Moſt men unlanded till this time, for large lands Eages ſue,
Had not reſtraint knockt of their bands, too big their fermes had grew.
Give eare I pray unto the praiſe ſet on a new Plantation,
Firſt for the medow ſirs ſays one, I have found ſuch a ſtation.
Where graſſe doth grow as high as I, round ſtalkes and very thicke,
No haſſocks but a bottom plain, Carts cannot therein ſtick.
Salt bay and freſh there thouſands are of acres I do deeme,
A gallant barbour there's for ſhips the beſt that yet is ſeene.
Boates may come up unto our doors, the Creeks convenient lye,
Fiſh plenty taken in them are, plains plowable hard by.
No buſh nor roots to hinder them, yet ſtately timber is,
In every ſwamp, yea uplands too, moſt clobberd trees I wis.
Clay there for bricke and tile, pot-earth with eaſe, and ſtore,
Some men ſuppoſe black lead is there, ſilver and copper o're.
Carry but guns, and wild fowle will be brought unto our diſhes,
Veniſon and Mooſe you there may catch according to your wiſhes.
All creatures thrive exceeding well, Goats, Swine, and ſheep for meat,
Horſe, Cows, and Calves encreaſe as well, ther's ſtore of Engliſh wheat.
Five, ſeven, or nine old Planters doe take up their ſtation firſt,
Whoſe property is not to ſhare unto themſelves the worſt.
Their Cottages like Crows neſts built, new commers goods attain,
For mens accommodation ſake, they truck their ſeats for gaine.
Come buy my houſe, here may you have, much medow at your dore,
'Twill dearer be if you ſtay till, the land be planted o're.
See you that garden plat inclos'd, Pumkins there hundreds are,
Parſnips and Roots, with Cabiges, grow in great plenty there.
Lay out an hundred pound or two, you ſhall have ſuch a ſeat,
When you have planted but one crop, you cannot want for meate.
This praiſe doth make the purchaſer his gold and ſilver throw,
Into his hand for houſe and land that yet he did not know.
Ʋnſeen, and yet ſudden bought, when once the ſale was ended,
His purchaſe makes him miſſe of more, with gifts he's not befriended.
One he hath friends to praiſe his parts, his lot ſhall larger be,
For uſefull men are highly priz'd, ſuch ſhall ſell two or three.
Sure much miſtaken, towns have been, for many have made prize,
Get all they can, ſell often, than, and thus old Planters riſe.
They build to ſell, and ſell to build, where they find towns are planting,
Till men no more the Sea paſſe o're, and Cuſtomers are wanting.
Then thoſe that boaſt their townes were full for company are longing,
Who lately fear'd land would fall ſhort, when men to them came thronging.
Inſatiate minds for medow, and beſt land they could attain,
Hath cauſed Townes, land lay by lot, I wiſh it were not vaine.