Eliza stretched upon the fun'ral pyre, Æneas bending with his aged sire: Troy flamed in burning gold, and o'er the throne "Arms and the man" in golden ciphers shone. Four swans sustain a car of silver bright,[83] 210 With heads advanced, and pinions stretched for flight:[84] Here, like some furious prophet, Pindar rode, And seem'd to labour with th' inspiring god. Across the harp a careless hand he flings, And boldly sinks into the sounding strings.[85] 215 The figured games of Greece the column grace, Neptune and Jove survey the rapid race. The youths hang o'er the chariots as they run; The fiery steeds seem starting from the stone; The champions in distorted postures threat,[86] 220 And all appeared irregularly great. Here happy Horace tuned th' Ausonian lyre To sweeter sounds, and tempered Pindar's fire: Pleased with Aleæus' manly rage t'infuse The softer spirit of the Sapphic muse.[87] 225 The polished pillar diff'rent sculptures grace; A work outlasting monumental brass. Here smiling loves and bacchanals appear, The Julian star,[88] and great Augustus here. The doves that round the infant poet spread 230 Myrtles and bays, hung hov'ring o'er his head. Here in a shrine that cast a dazzling light, Sat fixed in thought the mighty Stagirite; His sacred head a radiant zodiac crowned,[89] And various animals his sides surround;[90] 235 His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view Superior worlds,[91] and look all nature through. With equal rays immortal Tully shone, The Roman rostra decked the consul's throne: Gath'ring his flowing robe, he seemed to stand 240 In act to speak, and graceful stretched his hand.[92] Behind, Rome's genius waits with civic crowns, And the great father of his country owns. These massy columns in a circle rise, O'er which a pompous dome invades the skies:[93] 245 Scarce to the top I stretched my aching sight, So large it spread, and swelled to such a height. Full in the midst proud Fame's imperial seat[94] With jewels blazed, magnificently great; The vivid em'ralds there revive the eye, 250 The flaming rubies show their sanguine dye, Bright azure rays from lively sapphires stream, And lucid amber casts a golden gleam. With various-coloured light the pavement shone, And all on fire appeared the glowing throne; 255 The dome's high arch reflects the mingled blaze, And forms a rainbow of alternate rays. When on the goddess first I cast my sight, Scarce seemed her stature of a cubit's height;[95] But swelled to larger size, the more I gazed, 260