Chapter XIX: Rule Britannia

When Britain first at Heaven’s command
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of her land,
And guardian angels sang the strain:
_Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves!
Britons never shall 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!

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

Thee haughty tyrants ne’er shall tame;
All their attempts to bend thee down
Will but arouse thy generous flame,
And work their woe and thy renown.

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!

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! Britannia rules the waves!
Britons never shall be slaves!_

_James Thomson._

DYER

XX

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN

Here’s a health to the King and a lasting peace,
To faction an end, to wealth increase!
Come, let’s drink it while we have breath,
For there’s no drinking after death;--
And he that will this health deny,
_Down among the dead men--
Down among the dead men--
Down, down, down, down,
Down among the dead men let him lie!_

_John Dyer._

ANONYMOUS

XXI

GOD SAVE THE KING

God save our lord, the King,
Long live our noble King,--
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,--
God save the King!

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter his enemies,
And make them fall!
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks!
On Thee our hopes we fix,--
God save us all!

Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,--
Long may he reign!
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the King!

_Anonymous._

GARRICK