Overhead, on each cross, a bird of red gold,
full-voiced, not unsteady;
in every cross
a great gem of precious stone.
Every day an archangel
with his host from Heaven's king,
with harmony, with pure melody,
(gather) around each several cross.
Before each doorway is a lawn,
fair ..., of sure estimation,
I liken each one of them in extent[22]
to the earth together with its seas.
The circuit of each single lawn
with its silvern soil,[23]
with its swards, covered with goodly blossom,
with its beauteous plants.
Vast though you may deem
the extent of the spacious lawns,
a rampart of silver, undecaying,
has been formed about each several lawn.
The portals of the walls without
around the fortress on every side,
with its dwellings soundly placed,
affording abodes (?) for many thousands.
Eight portals in a series
so that they come together around the city,
I have not, in the way of knowledge,[24]
a simile for the extent of each portico.
Each portal abounding in plants,
with their bronze foundations,
a rampart of fair clay has been established
strongly about each portal.
Twelve ramparts—perfect the boundary (?)
of the portals, of the lawns,
without counting the three ramparts that are outside
around the chief city.
There are forty gateways in the heavenly habitation
with its kingly thrones;
three to each tranquil lawn,
and three to each portal.