When Britain first, at Heaven's command, <br />Arose from out the azure main; <br />This was the charter of the land, <br />And guardian angels sung this strain: <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves." <br /> <br />The nations, not so blest as thee, <br />Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall: <br />While thou shalt flourish great and free, <br />The dread and envy of them all. <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves." <br /> <br />Still more majestic shalt thou rise, <br />More dreadful, from each foreign stroke: <br />As the loud blast that tears the skies, <br />Serves but to root thy native oak. <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves." <br /> <br />Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame: <br />All their attempts to bend thee down, <br />Will but arouse thy generous flame; <br />But work their woe, and thy renown. <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves." <br /> <br />To thee belongs the rural reign; <br />Thy cities shall with commerce shine: <br />All thine shall be the subject main, <br />And every shore it circles thine. <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves." <br /> <br />The Muses, still with freedom found, <br />Shall to thy happy coast repair: <br />Blest isle! with matchless beauty crown'd, <br />And manly hearts to guard the fair. <br />"Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; <br />Britons never will be slaves."<br /><br />James Thomson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rule-britannia/
