Laudator Temporis Acti

Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), in The Phoenix Nest (London: John Jackson, 1593), p. 69:

Praisd be Dianas faire and harmles light,
Praisd be the dewes, wherwith she moists the ground;
Praisd be hir beames, the glorie of the night,
Praisd be hir powre, by which all powres abound.

Praisd be hir Nimphes, with whom she decks the woods,
Praisd be hir knights, in whom true honor liues,
Praisd be that force, by which she moves the floods,
Let that Diana shine, which all these giues.

In heaven Queene she is among the spheares,
In ay she Mistres like makes all things pure,
Eternitie in hir oft chaunge she beares,
She beautie is, by hir the faire endure.

Time weares hir not, she doth his chariot guide,
Mortalitie belowe hir orbe is plaste,
By hir the vertue of the starrs downe slide,
In hir is vertues perfect image cast.

    A knowledge pure it is hir worth to kno,
    With Circes let them dwell that thinke not so.

Ben Jonson (1572-1637), The Fountaine of Selfe-Love. Or Cynthias Revels (London: Walter Burre, 1601), Act V, Scene 1:

Qveene and Huntresse, chaste, and fayre,
Now the Sunne is layde to sleepe,
Seated, in thy siluer Chayre,
State in wonted maner keepe:
    Hesperus intreats thy light,
    Goddesse excellently bright.

Earth, let not thy enuious shade
Dare it selfe to interpose;
Cynthias shining Orbe was made
Heauen to cleare, when day did close:
    Blesse vs then with wished sight,
    Goddesse excellently bright.

Lay thy Bowe of Pearle apart.
And thy Christall-shining Quiuer;
Give vnto the flying Hart,
Space to breath, how short soeuer.
    Thou, that makst a day of night,
    Goddesse excellently Bright.