Classic Poem

Rise ! ye gallant youth of Britain,
Gather to your country's call,
On your hearts her name is written,
Rise to help her, one and all!
Cast away each feud and faction,
Brood not over wrong nor ill —
Rouse your virtues into action,
For we love our country still —
Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Raise that thrilling shout once more;
Rule, Britannia! Rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore!

France is coming, full of bluster,
Hot to wipe away her stain,
Therefore, brothers, here we muster
Just to give it her again!
And if foemen, blind with fury,
Dare to cross our ocean-gulf,
Wait not then for judge nor jury —
Shoot them as you would a wolf!
For Britannia, just Britannia,
Claims our chorus as before;
Rule, Britannia! Rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore.

They may writhe, for we have galled them
With our guns in every clime —
They may hate us, for we called them
Serfs and subjects in old time!
Boasting Gaul, we calmly scorn you
As old Æsop's bull the frogs;
Come and welcome! for we warn you,
We shall fling you to our dogs!
For Britannia, our Britannia,
Thunders with a lion's roar;
Rule, Britannia! Rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore.

See, uprear'd our holy standard!
Crowd around it, gallant hearts!
What? should Britain's fame be slander'd
As by fault on our parts?
Let the rabid Frenchman threaten,
Let the mad invader come,
We will hunt them out of Britain,
Or can die for hearth and home!
For Britannia, dear Britannia,
Wakes our chorus ever more —
Rule, Britannia! Rule, Britannia!
Conqueror over sea and shore.

Rise then, patriots! name endearing,
Flock from Scotland's moors and dales.
From the green glad fields of Erin,
From the mountain homes of Wales —
Rise! for sister England calls you,
Rise! our commonweal to serve,
Rise! while now the song enthralls you,
Thrilling every vein and nerve,
Hail, Britannia! hail, Britannia!
Conquer as thou didst of yore!
Rule, Britannia! Rule, Britannia!
Over every sea and shore.