But when our Country's cause provokes to Arms, How martial music ev'ry bosom warms! So when the first bold vessel dar'd the seas, High on the stern the Thracian rais'd his strain, While Argo saw her kindred trees Descend from Pelion to the main. Transported demi-gods stood round, And men grew heroes at the sound, Enflam'd with glory's charms: Each chief his sev'nfold shield display'd, And half unsheath'd the shining blade: And seas, and rocks, and skies rebound, To arms, to arms, to arms!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), no title, appears in Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, no. 3, first published 1708 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Sir (1848 - 1918), "But when our country's cause provokes to arms", 1889 [ chorus and orchestra ], from Ode to St. Cecelia's Day, no. 4 [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Luca Antonio Pagnini) , no title, appears in Ode di Alessandro Pope in onore di Santa Cecilia, no. 3
Researcher for this page: John Fowler
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-04
Line count: 13
Word count: 84
Ma se civico dritto all’arme appella, Quai fiamme un suon guerrier ne’ petti sveglia! Certo allor quando il primo legno audace Le procelle affrontò, dall’alta poppa Musiche note il tracio Orfeo sciogliea ; E vedeva Argo le materne querce Scender dal Pelio in mar. Corona fangli I semidei. Ogni uom da’ carmi scosso Eroe diviene. A’ sovruman di Gloria Incanti s’accalora; ognun repente Il settemplice scudo imbraccia, e snuda II folgorante acciar, gridando: all’armi. E mare e terra e ciel risponde: all’armi.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Collezione d'opuscoli scientifici e letterarj ed estratti d'opere interessanti, Volume IV, Firenze, Stamperia di Borgo Ognissanti, 1807.
Authorship:
- by Luca Antonio Pagnini (1737 - 1814), no title, appears in Ode di Alessandro Pope in onore di Santa Cecilia, no. 3 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744), no title, appears in Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, no. 3, first published 1708
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-31
Line count: 13
Word count: 82