by
Ben Jonson (1572 - 1637)
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair
Language: English
Our translations: CAT FRE NYN SPA
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
Heav'n 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 so-ever:
Thou that mak'st a day of night,
Goddess excellently bright.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019), "Hymn", 1957, published 1970 [ high voice and piano ], from 6 Elizabethan Songs, no. 6, New York, Boosey [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Hymn", op. 31 no. 5 (1943), published 1944, first performed 1943 [ tenor, horn, and strings or piano ], from Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, no. 5, London : Boosey & Hawkes [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Mary Grant Carmichael (1851 - 1935), "Hymn to Diana", 1877 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Hymn to Diana", first performed 1967 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Six Part-Songs [formerly: Four Part-Songs], no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Walter J. Lockitt , "Hymn to Diana", published [1919] [ chorus ], from Three Part Songs, no. 2, London : Weekes & Co [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Theodore Livingston Raynor (1909 - 1970), "Hymn To Diana", op. 434 (1955) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles Villiers Stanford, Sir (1852 - 1924), "Queen and Huntress", published 1923 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Jean-Pierre Granger) , "Hymne", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- NYN Norwegian (Nynorsk) (Are Frode Søholt) , "Hymne", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Pablo Sabat) , "Himno"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 93
Hymne
Language: French (Français) after the English
Reine et chasseresse, chaste et ravissante,
Alors que le soleil est allé dormir,
Assise sur ton siège d'argent,
Placée de manière coutumière :
Hespérie implore ta lumière,
Ô Déesse admirablement magnifique.
Terre, ne laisse pas ton ombre envieuse
Oser s'interposer ;
Le globe brillant de Cyntia fut créé
afin d'éclairer le ciel lorsque le jour s'éteint :
Gratifie nous alors de ton image désirée,
Déesse admirablement magnifique.
Dépose à l'écart ton arc de perles,
Ainsi que ton carquoi de crystal éclatant ;
Donne au cerf errant
Le temps de reprendre son souffle, aussi court qu'il soit :
Toi qui transforme la nuit en jour,
Déesse admirablement magnifique.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-11
Line count: 18
Word count: 102