Hymn to Diana
Ben Jonson
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair.
Now the sun is laid to sleep,
Seated in thy silver chair,
State in wonted manner keep:
Hespersu entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright. Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia's shining orb was made
Heaven to clear when day did close:
Bless us then with wished sight,
Goddess excellently bright.
Lay thy bow of pearl apart,
And thy crystal-shining quiver;
Give unto the flying hart
Space to breathe, how short soever:
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess excellently bright.
--from Cynthia's Revels
Like "Slow, Slow, Fresh Fount", this song from Cynthia's Revels. Hesperus sings the hymn to Cynthia (or Diana), virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt.