Thee, haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame; All their attempts to bend thee down Will but arouse thy generous flame,-- But work their woe and thy renown. Rule, Britannia, Britannia rule the waves, Britons never shall be slaves. To thee belongs the rural reign, Thy cities shall with commerce shine; All thine shall be the subject main, And every shore encircles thine. Rule, Britannia, Britannia rule the waves, Britons never shall be slaves. The Muses, still with freedom found, Shall to thy happy coasts repair, Blessed Isle! With matchless beauty crowned, And manly hearts to guard the fair. Rule, Britannia, Britannia rule the waves, Britons never shall be slaves. --_James Thomson._ The poet Southey declares that this noble ode in honor of Great Britain will be the political hymn of that country as long as she maintains her political power. It had a peculiar origin. Dr. Thomas Arne, the great musical composer, composed the music for his _Masque of Alfred_, and it was first performed at Cliefden House, near Maidenhead, on August 1, 1740. Cliefden was then the residence of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the occasion was to commemorate the accession of George I. and in honor of the birthday of young Princess Augusta. Doctor Arne afterward altered it into an opera, and it was so performed at Drury Lane Theater on March 20, 1745, for the benefit of Mrs. Arne. In the advertisement of that performance Doctor Arne specially announces that _Rule Britannia_, which he calls "a celebrated ode," will be sung. We judge from this that it had even at that time gained great popularity.