When Britain first, at Heaven’s command
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
«Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
«Britons never will 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! rule 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! rule the waves:
«Britons never will be slaves.»
Thee haughty tyrants ne’er shall tame:
All their attempts to bend thee down,
Will but arouse thy generous flame;
But work their woe, and thy renown.
«Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
«Britons never will be slaves.»
To thee belongs the rural reign;
Thy cities shall with commerce shine:
All thine shall be the subject main,
And every shore it circles thine.
«Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
«Britons never will be slaves.»
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown’d,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
«Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
«Britons never will be slaves.»