“Goddess serene, transcending every star!
Queen of the sky whose beams are seen afar!
By night heaven owns thy sway, by day the grove,
When as chaste Dian, here thou deign’st to rove.”
--_Byron._
Diana was the twin sister of Apollo. She had many lovers, but her heart
remained cold to all of them until one calm, clear night, in bending
down from her moon-car over the shadowy, dream-like earth, she beheld
Endymion sleeping. At once her heart was warmed by his surpassing
beauty, and gliding gently from her chariot, she kissed him and watched
lovingly over him while he slept.
“Chaste Artemis, who guides the lunar car,
The pale nocturnal vigils ever keeping,
Sped through the silent space from star to star,
And, blushing, stooped to kiss Endymion sleeping.”
--_Boyesen._
Partly awakened, Endymion rested his eyes for an instant upon the
bright maiden ere she vanished, but that one glance kindled a great
passion in his heart. Diana descended night after night to caress
him while he slept, and even while wrapped in slumber he watched for
her coming and enjoyed the bliss of her presence. At last she threw
over him the spell of eternal sleep and, that none might know of her
passion, concealed him in a cave, where she continued always to come
and gaze enraptured upon his face and press soft kisses upon his lips.
“Queen of the wide air; thou most lovely queen,
Of all the brightness that mine eyes have seen;
As thou exceedest all things in thy shrine,
So every tale does this sweet tale of thine.”
--_Keats._