VACUNA. By Mr. D—. SCEPTRE of ease! whose calm domain extends O'er the froze Chronian, or where lagging gales Fan to repose the Southern realms. O! whom More slaves obey than swarm about the courts Pekin, or Agra — universal queen! Me hap'ly slumb'ring all a summer's day, Thy meanest subject, often hast thou deign'd Gracious to visit. If thy poppy then Was e'er infus'd into my gifted quill, If e'er my nodding Muse was blest with pow'r, To doze the reader with her opiate verse — Come, goddess; but be gentle; not as when On studious heads attendant thou art seen Fast by the twinkling lamp, poring and pale Immers'd in meditation, sleep's great foe? Where the clue-guided casuist unwinds Perplexities; or Halley from his tower Converses with the stars: In other guize Thy presence I invoke. Serene approach, With forehead smooth, and sauntring gait; put on The smile unmeaning, or in sober mood Fix thy flat, musing, leaden eye: as looks Simplicius, when he stares and seems to think. Prompted by thee, Reservo keeps at home, Intent on books: he when alone applies The needle's reparation to his hose, Or studious slices paper. Taught by thee Dullman takes snuff, and ever and anon Turns o'er the page unread. Others more sage, Place, year, and printer not unnoted, well Examine the whole frontispiece, and if Yet stricter their enquiry, e'en proceed To leaves within, and curious there select Italicks, or consult the margin, pleas'd To find a hero or a tale: all else, The observation, maxim, inference Disturb the brain with thought — It sure were long To name thy sev'ral vot'ries, Pow'r supine, And all thy various haunts. Why should I speak Of coffee-house? or where the eunuch plays, Or Roscius in his buskin? These and more Thy crowded temples, where thou sit'st enshrin'd Glorious, thy incense ambergris, and time Thy sacrifice. — About thee cards and dice Lie scatter'd, and a thousand vassal beaux Officiate at thy worship. — Nor mean while Is solitude less thy peculiar sphere; There unattended you vouchsafe to shroud Your beauties, gentle Potentate; with me By vale or brook to loiter not displeas'd: Hear the stream's pebbled roar, and the sweet bee Humming her fairy-tunes, in praise of flowers; Or clam'rous rooks, on aged elm or oak, Aloft the cawing legislators sit, Debating, in full senate, points of state. My bower, my walks, my study all are thine, For thee my yews project their shade: my green Spreads her soft lap, my waters whisper sleep. Here thou may'st reign secure, nor hostile thought, Nor argument, nor logick's dire array Make inroad on thy kingdom's peace. — What tho' Malicious tongues me harmless represent, A traitor to thy throne: or that I hold Forbidden correspondence with the Nine, Plotting with Phoebus, and thy foes! What tho' Of satire they impeach me, strain severe! Thou know'st my innocence: 'tis true indeed I sometimes scribble, but 'tis thou inspir'st: In proof accept, O goddess, this my verse.