390

When Britain first, at Heavens command,arose from out the azure main,this was the charter, the charter of the land,and guardian angels sung the strain:“Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves!Britons never shall be slaves.“

The nations, not so blest as thee,must in their turns to tyrants fall,while Thou shalt flourish great and free,the dread and envy of them all.Rule, Britannia, etc.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,more dreadfull from each foreign stroke,as the loud blast that rends the skies,serves but to root thy native oak.Rule, Britannia! etc.

Thee haughty tyrants never shall tame.All their attempts to bend thee downwill but arouse thy generous flameand work their woe and thy renown.Rule, Britannia! etc.

To thee belongs the rural reign;thy cities shall with commerce shine;and thine shall be the subject main,and ev’ry shore it circles thine.Rule, Britannia! etc.

The Muses, still with freedom found,shall to thy happy coasts repair,

390

When Britain first, at Heavens command,arose from out the azure main,this was the charter, the charter of the land,and guardian angels sung the strain:“Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves!Britons never shall be slaves.“

The nations, not so blest as thee,must in their turns to tyrants fall,while Thou shalt flourish great and free,the dread and envy of them all.Rule, Britannia, etc.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,more dreadfull from each foreign stroke,as the loud blast that rends the skies,serves but to root thy native oak.Rule, Britannia! etc.

Thee haughty tyrants never shall tame.All their attempts to bend thee downwill but arouse thy generous flameand work their woe and thy renown.Rule, Britannia! etc.

To thee belongs the rural reign;thy cities shall with commerce shine;and thine shall be the subject main,and ev’ry shore it circles thine.Rule, Britannia! etc.

The Muses, still with freedom found,shall to thy happy coasts repair,