EATH, on a folemn night of state,
In all his pomp of terror fate:
Th' attendants of his gloomy reign,
Diseases dire, a ghaftly train!
Croud the vaft Court.
A voice thus thunder'd from the throne.
This night our minister we name,
Let ev'ry fervant fpeak his claim;
Merit fhall bear this ebon wand,
All, at the word, stretch'd forth their hand.
Fever, with burning heat poffeft, Advanc'd, and for the wand addreft.
I to the weekly bills appeal,
Let those express my fervent zeal;
On ev'ry flight occafion near,
With violence I perfevere.
Next Gout appears with limping pace,
Pleads how he shifts from place to place;
From head to foot how fwift he flies,
And ev'ry joint and finew plies;
Still working when he seems fuppreft,
A moft tenacious stubborn guest.
A haggard Spectre from the crew
Crawls forth, and thus afferts his due.
'Tis I who taint the sweetest joy,
And in the fhape of love deftroy:
My thanks, funk eyes, and nofelefs face,
Prove my pretenfion to the place.
Stone urg'd his ever-growing force.
And, next, Confumption's meagre corfe,
With feeble voice, that fcarce was heard,
Broke with fhort coughs, his fuit preferr'd.
Let none object my ling'ring way,
I gain, like FABIUS, by delay;
Fatigue and weaken ev'ry foe
By long attack, fecure, though flow.
Plague represents his rapid power,
Who thinn'd a nation in an hour.
All spoke their claim, and hop'd the wand,
Now expectation hufh'd the band,
When thus the Monarch from the throne.
Merit was ever modeft known.
What, no Physician speak his right!
None here! but fees their toils requite.
Let then Intemp'rance take the wand,
Who fills with gold their zealous hand.
You, Fever, Gout, and all the reft,
(Whom wary men, as foes, deteft)
Forego your claim; no more pretend:
Intemp'rance is esteem'd a friend;,
He shares their mirth, their focial joys,
And, as a courted gueft, deftroys.
The charge on him muft justly fall,
Who fands employment for you all,
GARDNER, of peculiar tafte, On a young Hog his favour plac'd ; Who fed not with the common herd; His tray was to the hall preferr❜d. He wallow'd underneath the board, Or in his master's chamber fnor'd ;} Who fondly ftroak'd him ev'ry day, And taught him all the puppy's play. Where'er he went, the grunting friend Ne'er fail'd his pleasure to attend.
As on a time, the loving pair
Walk'd forth to tend the garden's care,
The Mafter thus addrefs'd the Swine:
My houfe, my garden, all is thine.
On turnips feaft whene'er you please,
And riot in my beans and peafe;
If the potatoe's tafte delights,
Or the red carrot's sweet invites,
Indulge thy morn and evening hours,
But let due care regard my flowers:
My tulips are my garden's pride,
What vaft expence thofe beds fupply'd!
The Hog by chance one morning roam'd
Where with new ale the veffels foam'd,
He munches now the fteaming grains,
Now with full fwill the liquor drains.
Intoxicating fumes arise;
He reels, he rolls his winking eyes;
Then ftagg'ring through the garden fcours,
And treads down painted ranks of flowers.
With delving fnout he turns the foil,
And cools his palate with the fpoil.
The Mafter came, the ruin spy'd,
Villain, fufpend thy rage, he cry'd.
Haft thou, thou moft ungrateful fot,
My charge, my only charge forgot?
What, all my flowers! No more he said,
But gaz'd, and figh'd, and hung his head.
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