court was four-square, and had a wall about it
peculiar to itself; the height of its buildings, although it were on the
outside forty cubits, [13] was hidden by the steps, and on the inside
that height was but twenty-five cubits; for it being built over against
a higher part of the hill with steps, it was no further to be entirely
discerned within, being covered by the hill itself. Beyond these
thirteen steps there was the distance of ten cubits; this was all plain;
whence there were other steps, each of five cubits a-piece, that led to
the gates, which gates on the north and south sides were eight, on each
of those sides four, and of necessity two on the east. For since there
was a partition built for the women on that side, as the proper place
wherein they were to worship, there was a necessity for a second gate
for them: this gate was cut out of its wall, over against the first
gate. There was also on the other sides one southern and one northern
gate, through which was a passage into the court of the women; for as
to the other gates, the women were not allowed to pass through them;
nor when they went through their own gate could they go beyond their own
wall. This place was allotted to the women of our own country, and
of other countries, provided they were of the same nation, and that
equally. The western part of this court had no gate at all, but the wall
was built entire on that side. But then the cloisters which were betwixt
the gates extended from the wall inward, before the chambers; for they
were supported by very fine and large pillars. These cloisters were
single, and, excepting their magnitude, were no way inferior to those of
the lower court.

3. Now nine of these gates were on every side covered over with gold and
silver, as were the jambs of their doors and their lintels; but there
was one gate that was without the [inward court of the] holy house,
which was of Corinthian brass, and greatly excelled those that were only
covered over with silver and gold. Each gate had two doors, whose height
was severally thirty cubits, and their breadth fifteen. However, they
had large spaces within of thirty cubits, and had on each side rooms,
and those, both in breadth and in length, built like towers, and their
height was above forty cubits. Two pillars did also support these rooms,
and were in circumference twelve cubits. Now the magnitudes of the other
gates were equal one to another; but that over the Corinthian g