Saturday 19 January 2013

"Rule Britannia"

RULE BRITANNIA

 When Britain first, at Heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang the strain :

Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves ;
Britons never will be slaves.

The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall ;
Whilst thou shalt flourish, great and free,
The dread and envy of them all :

Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves ;
Britons never will be slaves.

Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke ;
As the loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak :

Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves ;
Britons never will be slaves.

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame ;
All their attempts to hurl thee down
Will but arouse thy geii'rous flame,
And work their woe but thy renown :

Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves ;
Britons never will be slaves.


James Thomson

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