Rule Britannia
Rule Britannia
Original Text
Thomas Augustine Arne, Alfred: a masque (London: A. Millar, 1740). MCC T4 A63 1740 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
1 When Britain first, at Heaven's command,
2 Arose from out the azure main;
3This was the charter of the land,
4 And guardian angels sung this strain:
5 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
6 Britons never will be slaves."
7 The nations, not so blest as thee,
8 Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall:
9While thou shalt flourish great and free,
10 The dread and envy of them all.
11 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
12 Britons never will be slaves."
13 Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
14 More dreadful, from each foreign stroke:
15As the loud blast that tears the skies,
16 Serves but to root thy native oak.
17 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
18 Britons never will be slaves."
19 Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame:
20 All their attempts to bend thee down,
21Will but arouse thy generous flame;
22 But work their woe, and thy renown.
23 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
24 Britons never will be slaves."
25 To thee belongs the rural reign;
26 Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
27All thine shall be the subject main,
28 And every shore it circles thine.
29 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
30 Britons never will be slaves."
31 The Muses, still with freedom found,
32 Shall to thy happy coast repair:
33Blest isle! with matchless beauty crown'd,
34 And manly hearts to guard the fair.
35 "Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
36 Britons never will be slaves."
Publication Start Year
1740
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP 1.658.
Rhyme