the base,
Proportioned equally by seuen and nine;
8 Nine was the circle set in heauens place,
All which compacted made a goodly +diapase+.

9 diapase > _Dyapase 1590 etc.: FE_

1 The frame thereof seemed partly circular,

frame > structure; architectural intent (see Hamilton 1980)

2 And part triangular, O work divine;
3 Those two the first and last proportions are,
4 The one imperfect, mortal, feminine;
5 The other immortal, perfect, masculine,
6 And, 'twixt them both, a quadrate was the base,

quadrate > rectangle

7 Proportioned equally by seven and nine;
8 Nine was the circle set in heaven's place,
9 All which, compacted, made a goodly diapason.

compacted > combined
goodly > fine, beautiful
diapason > harmony, concord

209.23

Therein two gates were placed seemly well:
2 The one before, by which all in did pas,
Did th'other far in workmanship excell;
4 For not of wood, nor of enduring bras,
But of more worthy substance fram'd it was;
6 Doubly disparted, it did locke and close,
That when it locked, none might thorough pas,
8 And when it opened, no man might it close,
Still open to their friends, and closed to their foes.

1 Therein two gates were placed seemly well:

two gates > [the mouth and the anus]
seemly > fittingly (i.e. in opposition)

2 The one before, by which all in did pas,

before > in front
pas > pass; pace

3 Did the other far in workmanship excel;
4 For not of wood, nor of enduring brass,
5 But of more worthy substance framed it was;

framed > fashioned, made

6 Doubly disparted, it did lock and close,

disparted > divided (i.e. into upper and lower jaws)

7 That when it locked, none might through pas,

That > [So that]
pas > (Takes the meaning alternate to that of "pas" in line 2, thus
allowing the rhyme)

8 And when it opened, no man might it close,
9 Still open to their friends, and closed to their foes.

Still > Continually

209.24

Of hewen stone the porch was fairely wrought,
2 Stone more of valew, and more smooth and fine,
Then Iet or Marble far from Ireland brought;
4 Ouer the which was cast a wandring vine,
Enchaced with a wanton yuie twine.
6 And ouer it a faire Portcullis hong,
Which to the gate directly did incline,
8 With comely compasse, and compacture strong,
Neither vnseemely short, nor yet exceeding long.

1 Of he