This week's theme: the Moon. (Poem #724) Hymn to Diana Queen and
huntress, chaste and fair, Now the sun is laid to sleep, Seated
in thy silver chair, State in wonted manner keep: Hesperus
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 wishèd 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. [Glossary] Diana:
the Roman goddess of wild animals and the hunt. Corresponds to
the Greek Artemis, who in turn is associated with Selene, the
goddess of the moon. Cynthia: a surname of Artemis or Diana.
From Mount Cynthus, where she was born. Hesperus: the evening
star. Variously described by different authors as the father of
the Hesperides (the guardians of the golden apples) or of their
mother, Hesperis. Incide