A Hymn to Diana
☽O☾
Statue of Diana as "The Spirit of Progress" atop a former Montgomery Ward administration building in Chicago,
silhouetted against the second night of a Harvest Moon
Queene, and Huntresse, chaste, and faire,
..Now the Sunne is laid to sleepe,
Seated, in thy silver chaire,
..State in wonted manner keepe:
Hesperus intreats thy light,
Goddesse, excellently bright.
Earth, let not thy envious shade
..Dare it selfe to interpose;
Cynthias shining orbe was made
..Heaven to cleere, when day did close:
Blesse us then with wishèd sight,
Goddesse, excellently bright.
Lay thy bow of pearle apart,
..And thy crystall-shining quiver;
Give unto the flying hart
..Space to breathe, how short soever:
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddesse, excellently bright.
~Written by Ben Jonson (1572-1617):
Hymn to <3 Diana❣
From Cynthias Revells (1601), Act V, Scene vi
