The Borough

The book The Borough is a collection of Poetry. The Difficulty of describing Town Scenery A Comparison with certain Views in the Country The River and Quay The Shipping and Business Shipbuilding Sea Boys and Port Views Village and Town Scenery again compared Walks from Town Cottage and adjoining Heath, &c. House of Sunday Entertainment The Sea: a Summer and Winter View A Shipwreck at Night, and its Effects on Shore Evening Amusements in the Borough An Apology for the imperfect View which can be given of these Subjects. "DESCRIBE the Borough" though our idle tribe May love description, can we so describe, That you shall fairly streets and buildings trace, And all that gives distinction to a place? This cannot be; yet moved by your request A part I paint let Fancy form the rest. Cities and towns, the various haunts of men, Require the pencil; they defy the pen: Could he who sang so well the Grecian fleet, So well have sung of alley, lane, or street? Can measured lines these various buildings show, The Town Hall Turning, or the Prospect Row? Can I the seats of wealth and want explore, And lengthen out my lays from door to door? Then let thy Fancy aid me I repair From this tall mansion of our last year's Mayor, Till we the outskirts of the Borough reach, And these half buried buildings next the beach, Where hang at open doors the net and cork, While squalid sea dames mend the meshy work.