Simon Vouet
French, 1590 - 1649
detail of Urania from
The Muses Urania and Calliope,
c. 1634, oil on panel,
Samuel H. Kress Collection

Urania, o'er her star-bespangled lyre,
With touch of majesty diffused her soul;
A thousand tones, that in the breast inspire,
Exalted feelings, o er the wires 'gan roll--
She sang of night that clothed the infant world,
In strains as solemn as its dark profound--
How at the call of Jove the mist unfurled,
And o'er the swelling vault--the glowing sky,
The new-born stars hung out their lamps on high,
And rolled their mighty orbs to music's sweetest sound.