THE VILLAGE PREACHER

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 : 10
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.

BEN JONSON

THE VILLAGE PREACHER
NEAR yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,,
And still where many a garden flower grows wild; 20
There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher's modest mansion rose.
A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year ;
Remote from towns he ran his godly race,
Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change, his place;
101