Yon gorgeous structure that they now drew near, Stood out in vast proportions, huge and bold, Whose architectural contour did appear Of various orders formed in beauty’s mould; Doric and Saxon did the eye behold, And columns fair Corinthian there uprose; With windows carved in Gothic semblance old; More like to what some gnome king would have chose,-- A genii’s palace seen at twilight eve’s repose. IX. No sooner had the motley gathered fry, Like swarm of bees toward the entrance strove, Than they with speed ’gan mount the steps hard by, That in one flight continuous rose above; When lo! the lofty portal ’gan to move, And ope its ponderous sides ’mid radiance bright. But ere right leave they had within to rove, They must be shorn of their ungainly plight, And doff their garments rude, and show more seemly sight. X. With that, the ragged troop were silent led To ante-room, to change their outward gear. Their strange conductor courtly bowed his head, And eke soon furnished each with robes to wear; While oft his eye, with sprightly gaze and leer, Watched the deep motion of their wond’ring sight, As deftly he the costliest made appear; And like some varlet or mischievous wight, So chuckled he Sir Page to see their alter’d plight. XI. He was, I ween, an elfish-looking wight, With satin doublet slashed of velvet rare; Agile in shape, half human and half sprite, And yet, withal, a page-like look and air, Showed gracefully, ’neath plumed cap he did wear. A goodly personage, to boot, was he, To shine at courts and royal favour share; Or doff right low, and drop on bended knee, Where lowly grace yblent with that of high degree. XII. Straightway he led them ’long the corridor, Like guests equipped to meet invite of host; Nor lingered they, but paced the marble floor, And followed close the imp-like gliding ghost, Whose flitting movements quick they almost lost, And cross’d the hall resplendent once again; Such circuit made as if exploring coast, When right before them stood the entrance plain, While in his pageship went an audience to obtain. XIII. He soon returned with gracious beck’ning smile, That show’d his mission had accomplished been, When he his lord’s fair pleasure spake awhile, In words announcing “They might enter in, And yet discreetly, and withouten din.” This was the tenor of his high command, “No Babel discord was allowed within, On sure infliction of a scourging brand;” For nought so chafed his Grace, whose nature else was bland. XIV.