Eclipse
Long past time for another moon poem, I think, and having missed the recent eclipse, here is an anti-eclipse versicle from Ben Jonson, who entreats the earth not to shadow something so ‘excellently bright’. This is a poem that thus carefully enweaves astronomy with mythology:
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 they envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia’s shining orb was made
Heaven to clear when day did close:
Bless us then with wishéd 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!
thebicyclops 