Page:The Temple of Fame - Pope (1715).pdf/46

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The Temple of Fame.

Each talk'd aloud, or in some secret Place,
And wild Impatience star'd in ev'ry Face:
The flying Rumours gather'd as they roll'd,
Scarce any Tale was sooner heard than told;
And all who told it, added something new,
And all who heard it, made Enlargements too,
In ev'ry Ear it spread, on ev'ry Tongue it grew.
Thus flying East and West, and North and South,
News travel'd with Increase from Mouth to Mouth;
So from a Spark, that kindled first by Chance,
With gath'ring Force the quick'ning Flames advance;
Till to the Clouds their curling Heads aspire,
And Tow'rs and Temples sink in Floods of Fire.

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