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4
RULE, BRITANNIA.
When Britain, first, at Heav'n's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
Arose from out the azure main;
This was the charter, the charter of the
land,
And guardian angels sung this strain:
Rule, Britannia, Britannia rule the waves
Britons never shall be slaves.
The nations, (not so blest as thee),
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
Whilst thou shalt flourish—shalt flourish great and free.
The dread and envy of them all.
Rule, Britannia, &c.
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke;
More dreadful from each foreign stroke;
As the loud blast that—loud blast that
tears the skies,
Serves but to root the native oak.
Rule, Britannia, &c.