II.

On high hills top I saw a stately frame, An hundred cubits high by iust assize*, With hundreth pillours fronting faire the same, All wrought with diamond after Dorick wize. Nor brick nor marble was the wall in view, But shining christall, which from top to base Out of her womb a thousand rayons** threw On hundred steps of Afrike golds enchase.@ Golde was the parget,$ and the seeling bright Did shine all scaly with great plates of golde; The floore of iasp and emeraude was dight.% O worlds vainesse! Whiles thus I did behold, An earthquake shooke the hill from lowest seat, And overthrew this frame with ruine great.

[* _Assize_, measure.] [** _Rayons_, beams, rays.] [@ I.e. enchased with gold.] [$ _Parget_, varnish, plaster.] [% _Dight_, composed.]