From "The Court Of Fancy"

'T was sultry noon; impatient of the heat
I sought the covert of a close retreat:
Soft by a bubbling fountain was I laid,
And o'er my head the spreading branches play'd,
When gentle slumber stole upon my eyes,
And busy Fiction bid this vision rise.
Methought I, pensive, unattended, stood,
Wrapt in the horrors of a desert wood:
Old Night and Silence spread their sway around,
And not a breeze disturb'd the dread profound.
To break the wild and gain the neighb'ring plain
Oft I essay'd, and oft essay'd in vain;
Still in intricate mazes round I run,
And ever ended where I first begun.
While thus I laboring strove t' explore my way,
Bright on my sense broke unexpected Day;
Retiring Night in haste withdrew her shade,
And sudden morn shone thro' the op'ning glade.
No more the scene a desert wild appear'd;
A smiling grove its vernal honors rear'd,
While sweetness on the balmy breezes hung,
And all around a joyful Mattin rung:
Soft was the strain as Zephyr in the grove,
Or purling streams that thro' the meadows rove;
Now wild in air the varying strain is tost,
In distant echoes then the sound is lost,
Again reviv'd, and lo the willing trees
Rise to the powerful numbers by degrees.
Trees now no more, robb'd of their verdant bloom,
They shine supporters of a spacious dome;
The wood to bright transparent crystal chang'd,
High fluted columns rise in order rang'd.
So to the magic of Amphion's lyre
Stones motion found, and Thebes was seen t' aspire,
The nodding forests 'rose with the soft sound,
And gilded turrets glitter'd all around:
Each wond'ring God bent from his heav'nly seat
To view what pow'rful music cou'd compleat.
High on a mountain was the pile disclos'd,
And spreading limes th' ascending walks composed;
While far below the waving woods declin'd,
Their verdant tops bow'd with the gentle wind.
Bright varying Novelty produc'd delight,
And Majesty and Beauty charm'd the sight.
Such are the scenes which Poets sweetly sing,
By Fancy taught to strike the trembling string.
Here Fancy's fane, near to the blest abode
Of all her kindred Gods, superior stood.
Dome upon dome it sparkl'd from on high,
Its lofty top lost in the azure sky.
By Fiction's hand th' amazing pile was rear'd;
In ev'ry part stupendous skill appeared:
In beautiful disorder, yet compleat,
The structure shone irregular and great;
The noble frontispiece of antique mold
Glitter'd with gems and blaz'd with burnish'd gold.
Now thro' the sounding vaults, self-op'ning, rung
The massy gates on golden hinges hung;
All the bright structure was disclos'd to view,
Magnificent with beauty ever new:
Trembling I stood absorb'd in dread surprize,
And sudden glory dim'd my aching eyes.
Unnumbered Pillars all around were plac'd,
Their capitals with artful sculpture grac'd.
Wide round the roof a fictious sky was rais'd;
A glorious Sun in the meridian blaz'd,
On the rich columns play'd his dazzling ray,
And all around diffus'd immortal day;
A shining Phoenix on th' effusive rays
Fix'd his aspiring eye with steady gaze.
Beneath appeared a chequer'd pavement, bright
With sparkling Jaspanyx and Chrysolite.
'Round, by creating Fiction's hand renew'd,
Gay visionary scenes in order stood;
TV obedient figures at her touch disclos'd,
And various tales the glowing walls compos'd.