And chequered marble paved the polished floors;
The roof, where storied tablature appeared,
On columns of Corinthian mould was reared;
Of shining porphyry the shafts were framed,
And round the hollow dome bright jewels flamed:
Apollo’s priests, before the holy shrine
Suppliant, poured forth their orisons divine;
To front the sun’s declining ray ’twas placed,
With golden harps and branching laurels graced:
Around the fane, engraved by Vulcan’s hand,