English poem
The flag of triumph yet again
by Anna Seward
The flag of triumph yet again Floats from the temple’s gilded height! Gay fires ascend!—the patriot strain Redoubled rends the vault of night! “Rule Britannia, rule the waves, “Britons never shall be slaves!
On green Ierne’s menaced strand Rebellion, darkly cowering, stood, And heard the charter’d song expand ’Mid skies of flame, o’er seas of blood, “Rule Britannia, &c.
Saw fell Invasion’s routed horde, Victorious WARREN, strike to thee, Loud as thy cannon’s thunder pour’d, And hail’d redeem’d Ierne free, Whose sons, while Britain rules the waves, To haughty France shall ne’er be slaves.
O SOURCE OF MERCIES! to thy name Shall Praise her grateful notes prolong, That thus ascends, in high acclaim, Thy favour’d nation’s hallow’d song, “Rule Britannia, rule the waves, “Britons never shall be slaves.”