To Anacreon in Heaven

To Anacreon in Heaven is the beginning of the first verse of The Anacreontic Song .

meaning

This song was the anthem of the Anacreontic Society in London of the 18th century . The tune of John Stafford Smith (1750–1836) is that of the national anthem of the United States . The hymn was sung as a drinking song within society from 1772 to 1792 . Its content is a homage to the poet Anakreon and his Baccantic style .

I.: To Anacreon in Heav'n,
Where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony
Sent a petition
That he their Inspirer
And Patron would be;
When this answer arrived
From the Jolly Old Grecian:
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name
And inspire you to boot,
refrain: And besides I'll instruct you,
Like me, to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. "
II.: The news through Olympus
Immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended
To give himself airs.
"If these Mortals are suffered
Their scheme to pursue,
The devil a Goddess,
Will stay above stairs.
Hark, already they cry,
In transports of joy,
'Away to the Sons
Of Anacreon we'll fly,
refrain: And there with good fellows,
We'll learn to intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus 'Vine.'

III.: The Yellow-Haired God
And his nine fusty Maids
From Helicon 's banks
Will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast
But of tenantless shades,
And the bi-forked hill
A mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do its errand,
And dam'me I'll swing
The Ringleaders I warrant.
refrain: I'll trim the young dogs,
For thus daring to twine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. "
IV.: Apollo rose up,
And said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good King of the Gods,
With My Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless" -
Then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitabile
Fulmen , you know!
Then over each head,
My laurels I'll spread,
So my sons from your Crackers
No mischief shall dread,
refrain: While, snug in their clubroom,
They jovially twine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. "

V.: Next Momus got up
With his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo
He'd cheerfully join -
"The full tide of Harmony
Still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch ,
And the Laugh shall be mine.
Then, Jove, be not jealous
Of these honest fellows. "
Cry'd Jove, "We relent,
Since the truth you now tell us:
refrain: And swear by Old Styx ,
That they long shall intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. "
VI.: Ye Sons of Anacreon,
Then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity,
Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support
What's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods,
And the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy,
United, and Free!
Chorus: And long may the Sons
Of Anacreon intwine
The Myrtle of Venus
With Bacchus' Vine. "

Mark Argent (Editor): Recollections of RJS Stevens: An Organist in Georgian London (Music in Georgian and Victorian Society) , Southern Illinois University Press, July 1992, ISBN 0-8093-1790-7

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