TRIVIA.
BOOK III.
Of Walking the Streets by Night.
O TRIVIA,Trivia: an epithet for the Greek deity Hecate, one of the Roman goddess Diana’s embodiments. Her cult was associated with night and with road junctions.
Goddes, leave these low Abodes,
And traverse o’er the wide Ethereal Roads,
Celestial Queen, put on thy Robes of Light,
Now CynthiaCynthia: another name for Diana, also known as Luna (the moon goddess).
nam’d, fair Regent of the Night.
At Sight of thee, the Villain sheathes his Sword,
Nor scales the Wall, to steal the wealthy Hoard.
E 3
Oh!
Oh! may thy Silver Lamp in Heav’n’s high Bow’r,
Direct my Footsteps in the Midnight Hour.
The Evening.
When Night first bids the twinkling Stars appear,
Or with her cloudy Vest inwraps the Air,
Then swarms the busie Street; with Caution tread
Where the Shop-Windows falling threat thy Head;
Now lab’rers home return, and join their Strength
To bear the tott’ring Plank, or Ladder’s Length.
Still fix thy Eyes intent upon the Throng,
And as the Passes open, wind along.
Of the Pass of St. Clements.
Where the fair Columns of Saint Clement stand,
Whose straiten’d Bounds encroach upon the
Strand;
Where the low penthouse bows the Walker’s Head,
And the rough Pavement wounds the yielding Tread;
Where