Each cheek changed to purple—so crimson before!
Their dewlaps all dabbled with red wine and ale,
And extremities cold as a live fish’s tale!
And there lay the Liv’ryman, breathless and lorn,
With waistcoat and new inexpressibles torn;
And the Hall was all silent, the band having flown,
And the waiters stared wildly on, sweating and blown.
And Cripplegate windows are loud in their wail,
And Mary-Axe orphans all trembling and pale!
For the Alderman glory has melted away,