These exquisite lines were written by William Collins in 1746; but when Mallet annexed and printed them, without acknowledgment, the unfortunate author was in a lunatic asylum, and therefore quite incapable of protecting himself. When Mallet produced his version of "Alfred" for Garrick in 1751, he endeavoured to make folk believe that he wrote the words of the Ode, "Rule, Britannia." They had been printed in Edinburgh in a popular song-book, "The Charmer," with Thomson's initials, J. T., and by the friends of the poet were generally known to be his. Mallet's literary honesty or dishonesty is now generally appreciated, but it must not be forgotten that for years he posed as the author of the ballad "William and Margaret," and unflinchingly accepted all the encomiums passed upon him in connection with it. In 1880 William Chappell called attention to a folio black-letter sheet in the British Museum, which, with the exception of the first two lines, was identical with Mallet's print. The date of the publication of the Museum copy was 1711, Mallet's 1724, and the ballad is believed to have been popular when quoted by Fletcher in the "Knight of the Burning Pestle," in 1611. The celebrity of "Rule, Britannia" appears to have been immediate and general. Hanoverians and Jacobites adopted it as a popular ditty; the latter party produced several parodies, amongst them the chorus: Rule, Britannia, Britannia rise and fight, Restore your injured Monarch's right. The following words in a collection of songs called "The True Royalist" are directed to be sung to the tune, "When Britain first, at heav'n's command": Britannia, rouse at heav'n's command! And crown thy native Prince again; Then Peace shall bless thy happy land, And Plenty pour in from the main: Then shalt thou be--Britannia, thou shalt be From home and foreign tyrants free. Behold great Charles! thy godlike son, With majesty and sweetness crown'd; His worth th' admiring world doth own, And fame's loud trump proclaims the sound. Thy captain him, Britannia, him declare, Of kings and heroes he's the heir. The second hope young Hero claims, Th' extended empire of the main; His breast with fire and courage flames, With Nature's bounds to fix thy reign. He (Neptune-like), Britannia will defy All but the thunder of the sky. The happiest states must yield to thee, When free from dire corruption's thrall, Of land and sea, thou'lt Emp'ror be. Britannia, unite! Britannia must prevail, Her powerful hand must guide the scale. Then Britons, rouse! with trumpets' sound Proclaim this solemn, happy day! Let mirth, with cheerful music crown'd, Drive sullen thoughts and cares away! Come, Britons, sing! Britannia, draw thy sword, And use it for thy rightful lord. Another example will suffice: