What is the meaning of the simile “a bright girdle” in this excerpt from “dover beach” by matthew arnold?

the sea of faith
was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
but now i only hear
its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
retreating, to the breath

Can someone me answer this english question

"alice wondered a little at this,but she was too much in awe of the queen to disbelieve it".what is the effect of the author's word choice in this sentence?

Although alice walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, the color purple, ) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the national book award as well as the pulitzer prize (b) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the national book award and the pulitzer prize (c) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the national book award and the pulitzer prize (d) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the national book award and the pulitzer prize, brought her the widest acclaim (e) was published in 1982, winning both the national book award as well as the pulitzer prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim