Surpassed the hues of diamond and of gold;
Till, from the top pyramidal extending,
Swam forth on crooked neck his eyes of flame,
Rang his sharp buzz, and on he slowly came.
XL.
Shouted the crowds, as they beheld him rise,
"The manittoo! The manittoo!" they cried.
In sooth, their demon, from his burning eyes,
Seemed looking forth, and his unlabored glide
Scarce earthly seemed, the while his glistering dyes
In mingling brilliance changed and multiplied,
And scarce the curves that moved him did untwist;
But o'er them floating, like a globe of mist,
XLI.
His quivering rattles buzzed. With curious eyes,
Williams beheld him gradually advance,
Then grasped a wand, then paused with fixed surprise,
To see the gorgeous radiance, moving, glance
The hues of heaven;—to see, now sink, now rise,
His bending spires,—his wavering colors dance;
And at each change of that deep thrilling hum
The motions change—the colors go and come.
XLII.
An odor, strange though not offensive, spread
About him, as he near and nearer drew;
But, piercing, keen, it filled our Founder's head,
Involved his brain, and passed his senses through;
Entranced he sate, while round him rose and played
Celestial hues, and music strange and new;—
The heavens, the earth, to various radiance turned,
And in a maze of mingling colors burned.
