Page:The Lusiad (Camões, tr. Mickle, 1791), Volume 2.djvu/164

Blaspheming heaven, he pierced the dread abode
Of ocean's lord, and sought the ocean's god.
Deep where the bases of the hills extend,
And earth's huge ribs of rock enormous bend,
Where roaring through the caverns roll the waves
Responsive as the aërial tempest raves,
The ocean's monarch, by the Nereid train,
And watery gods encircled, holds his reign.
Wide o'er the deep, which line could ne'er explore,
Shining with hoary sand of silver ore,
Extends the level, where the palace rears,
Its crystal towers, and emulates the spheres;
So starry bright the lofty turrets blaze,
And vie in lustre with the diamond's rays.
Adorn'd with pillars and with roofs of gold,
The golden gates their massy leaves unfold:
Inwrought with pearl the lordly pillars shine;
The sculptured walls confess a hand divine.
Here various colours in confusion lost,
Old Chaos' face and troubled image boast.
Here rising from the mass; distinct and clear,
Apart the four fair elements appear.
High o'er the rest ascends the blaze of fire,
Nor fed by matter did the rays aspire,
But glow'd ætherial, as the living flame,
Which, stolen from heaven, inspired the vital frame.
Next, all-embracing air was spread around,
Thin as the light, incapable of wound;

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