They always travel in a fog; For if we majesty expose To vulgar eyes, too cheap it grows; 540 The force is lost, and free from awe, We spy and censure every flaw; But well preserved from public view, It always breaks forth fresh and new; Fierce as the sun in all his pride It shines, and not a spot's descried. Was Jove to lay his thunder by, And with his brethren of the sky Descend to earth, and frisk about, Like chattering N----[230] from rout to rout, 550 He would be found, with all his host, A nine days' wonder at the most. Would we in trim our honours wear, We must preserve them from the air; What is familiar men neglect, However worthy of respect. Did they not find a certain friend In Novelty to recommend, (Such we, by sad experience, find The wretched folly of mankind) 560 Venus might unattractive shine, And Hunter fix no eyes but mine. But Fame, who never cared a jot Whether she was admired or not, And never blush'd to show her face At any time in any place, In her own shape, without disguise, And visible to mortal eyes, On 'Change exact at seven o'clock Alighted on the weathercock, 570 Which, planted there time out of mind To note the changes of the wind, Might no improper emblem be Of her own mutability. Thrice did she sound her trump, (the same Which from the first belong'd to Fame, An old ill-favour'd instrument, With which the goddess was content, Though under a politer race Bagpipes might well supply its place) 580 And thrice, awaken'd by the sound, A general din prevail'd around; Confusion through the city pass'd, And Fear bestrode the dreadful blast. Those fragrant currents, which we meet Distilling soft through every street, Affrighted from the usual course, Ran murmuring upwards to their source; Statues wept tears of blood, as fast As when a Caesar breathed his last; 590 Horses, which always used to go A foot-pace in my Lord Mayor's show, Impetuous from their stable broke, And aldermen and oxen spoke. Halls felt the force, towers shook around, And steeples nodded to the ground; St Paul himself (strange sight!) was seen To bow as humbly as the Dean; The Mansion House, for ever placed A monument of City taste, 600 Trembled, and seem'd aloud to groan Through all that hideous weight of stone. To still the sound, or stop her ears, Remove the cause or sense of fears, Physic, in college seated high, Would anything but medicine try. No more in Pewterer's Hall[231] was heard The proper force of every word; Those seats were desolate become, A hapless Elocution dumb. 610 Form, city-born and city-bred, By strict Decorum ever led, Who threescore years had known the grace Of one dull, stiff, unvaried pace, Terror prevailing over Pride, Was seen to take a larger stride;