The whole circumference a mile around; The form was circular; and all without A trench was sunk, to moat the place about. Within an amphitheatre appeared, Raised in degrees; to sixty paces reared; That when a man was placed in one degree, Height was allowed for him above to see. Eastward was built a gate of marble white; The like adorned the western opposite. A nobler object than this fabric was, Rome never saw, nor of so vast a space: For, rich with spoils of many a conquered land, All arts and artists Theseus could command: Who sold for hire, or wrought for better fame, The master-painters, and the carvers, came. So rose within the compass of the year An age's work, a glorious theatre. Then o'er its eastern gate was raised above A temple, sacred to the queen of love; An altar stood below; on either hand A priest with roses crowned, who held a myrtle wand. The dome of Mars was on the gate opposed, And on the north a turret was inclosed, Within the wall of alabaster white, } And crimson coral for the queen of night, } Who takes in sylvan sports her chaste delight. } Within these oratories might you see Rich carvings, portraitures, and imagery; Where every figure to the life expressed The godhead's power to whom it was addressed. In Venus' temple on the sides were seen The broken slumbers of enamoured men; Prayers that even spoke, and pity seemed to call, And issuing sighs that smoked along the wall; Complaints, and hot desires, the lover's hell, And scalding tears that wore a channel where they fell; And all around were nuptial bonds, the ties } Of love's assurance, and a train of lies, } That, made in lust, conclude in perjuries; } Beauty, and Youth, and Wealth, and Luxury, And spritely Hope, and short-enduring Joy; And Sorceries to raise the infernal powers, And Sigils framed in planetary hours; Expence, and after-thought, and idle care, And doubts of motley hue, and dark despair; Suspicions, and fantastical surmise, And Jealousy suffused, with jaundice in her eyes, Discolouring all she viewed, in tawny dressed, Down-looked, and with a cuckow on her fist. Opposed to her, on t'other side advance The costly feast, the carol, and the dance, Minstrels, and music, poetry, and play, And balls by night, and tournaments by day. All these were painted on the wall, and more; With acts and monuments of times before, And others added by prophetic doom, And lovers yet unborn, and loves to come; For there, the Idalian mount, and Citheron, The court of Venus, was in colours drawn; Before the palace-gate, in careless dress, And loose array, sat portress Idleness; There, by the fount, Narcissus pined alone; } There Sampson was, with wiser Solomon,[154] } And all the mighty names by love undone. }