AT Dead of Night when peaceful Spirits Sleep
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And undisturb'd, a peaceful Sabath keep,
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When only Fiends their baleful looks display,
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Impatient of Discoveries from the Day,
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The JUNTO sate, in the N------th------rian Dome,
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Studious of Mischiefs, and of Ills to come.
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The President as usual, fill'd the Chair,
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With serious Aspect, and Malignant Air,
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Diseas'd in Body, and disturb'd in Soul,
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The one as much unclean as t'other foul.
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On his Right Hand was Old Volpone plac'd,
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With Wealth, and everything but Merit grac'd;
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A Man whose Arts and undiscover'd Wiles
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Had vested him with wrong'd Britannias Spoyls,
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And whose all Powerful and Commanding WAND,
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Like Aaron's, had distress'd and vex'd the Land.
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The Mansion's stuttering Lord and Master next
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Was on the Left on his Posteriors fixt,
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And with a grinning Countenance survey'd
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What Schemes were drawn up, and what Plans were laid;
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As he made Signs and Tokens all was safe,
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By his extempore Smiles, and thoughtless Laugh.
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Near him the Bully Vice-Roy cock'd his Hat,
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And prattled like a Mountebank of State,
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Of Feats he o're the Herring-Pond had done,
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And Proselytes to Mother Faction won.
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Of breaking thro' a solemn Stipulation,
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And forcing Consciences, by way of Toleration.
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Nor was there Se---------ry from his Post,
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Without his intermedling all'd be lost;
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A Peer to be deduc'd to future Ages,
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For buying Books, and reading Title-Pages;
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For Elzevirs and Alduss entire,
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And being full as honest as his Sire.
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The sixth and last was a presumptuous Lord,
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More fit for College Crusts than Council-Board,
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A Pirate of a Peer, whose borrow'd Praise
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Proceeds from others Schemes, and others Lays;
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Since he now sits in Senate's Upper House
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By Murrays Projects, and by Priors Mouse.
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