This version is taken from The Works of James Thomson by James Thomson, Published 1763, Vol II, p. 1 1, !

hi"h in"ludes the entire ori#inal te$t of Alfred. 1 %hen &ritain first, at 'eaven(s "ommand )rose from out the a*ure main+ This !as the "harter of the land, )nd #uardian an#els san# this strain, -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.2 The nations, not so blest as thee, 0ust, in their turns, to tyrants fall+ %hile thou shalt flourish #reat and free, The dread and envy of them all. -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.3 1till more ma2esti" shalt thou rise, 0ore dreadful, from ea"h forei#n stroke+ )s the loud blast that tears the skies, 1erves but to root thy native oak. -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.4 Thee hau#hty tyrants ne(er shall tame, )ll their attempts to bend thee do!n, %ill but arouse thy #enerous flame+ &ut !ork their !oe, and thy reno!n. -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.5 To thee belon#s the rural rei#n+ Thy "ities shall !ith "ommer"e shine, )ll thine shall be the sub2e"t main,

)nd every shore it "ir"les thine. -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.6 The 0uses, still !ith freedom found, 1hall to thy happy "oast repair+ &lest Isle/ %ith mat"hless beauty "ro!n(d, )nd manly hearts to #uard the fair. -.ule, &ritannia/ rule the !aves, -&ritons never !ill be slaves.-

)lthou#h the lyri"s are usually set out as above, the lines as set to the musi" are sun# in "ontemporary time a""ordin# to either of the follo!in# variants, Traditionally rendered, %hen &ritain fi3i3irst, at heaven(s "ommand, )ro3o3o3ose from out the a3a3a3*ure main, )rose, arose, arose from out the a3a*ure main, This !as the "harter, the "harter of the land, )nd #uardian a3a3an#els san# this strain, .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. The nations, no3o3o3o3ot so blest as thee, 0ust i3i3i3i3in their turn, to ty3y33yrants fall, 0ust in their turn, to ty3y3rants fall, %hile thou shalt flourish, shalt flourish #reat and free, The dread and e3e3e3e3nvy of them all. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves.

)nd no! "ommonly rendered in alternate form, %hen &ritain fi3i3irst, at heaven(s "ommand, )ro3o3o3o3ose from out the a3a3a3*ure main, )rose, arose from out the a*ure main, This !as the "harter, the "harter of the land, )nd #uardian a3a3an#els san# this strain, .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. 1till more ma2e3e3esti" shalt thou rise, 0ore dre3e3e3e3eadful from ea"h forei#n stroke, 0ore dreadful, dreadful from ea"h forei#n stroke, 4oud blast above us, loud blast that tears the skies 1erves but to ro3o3o3ot thy native oak. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves. .ule &ritannia/ &ritannia rule the !aves. &ritons never, never, never shall be slaves.

Variations, Never, never, never is sometimes sun# as a sin#le -never- over the same melodi" phrase 5an e$ample of a melisma6+ this bein# the ori#inal arran#ement by )rne.