- 1
- When Britain first, at Heaven's command
- Arose from out the azure main;
- This was the charter of the land,
- And guardian angels sung this strain:
- "Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
- "Britons never will be slaves."
- 4
- 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."
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- 2
- 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."
- 5
- 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."
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- 3
- 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."
- 6
- 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."
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