Rule, Britannia!

Rule Britannia! on brittiläinen patrioottinen laulu. Se perustuu James Thomsonin runoon "Rule Britannia" ja Thomas Arnen siihen säveltämään musiikkiin 1740.

Thomsonin runosta on kaksi suomennosta, Yrjö Jylhän suomennos on nimellä Hallitse, Britannia, ja se on julkaistu teoksessa Maailmankirjallisuuden kultainen kirja 3: englantilaisen kirjallisuuden kultainen kirja (WSOY, 1933) ja Eino Leinon suomennos on nimellä "Rule Britannia" teoksessa Kirjokeppi (Otava, 1949).

Sanat 

1
When Britain first at Heaven's command 
Arose from out the azure main; 
This was the charter of the land, 
And guardian angels sang this strain: 
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:  
Britons never shall be slaves. 

2
The nations not so blest as thee, 
Shall in their turns to tyrants fall; 
While thou shalt flourish great and free, 
The dread and envy of them all. 
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:  
Britons never shall be slaves. 

3
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,  
More dreadful from each foreign stroke; 
As the loud blast that tears the skies, 
Serves but to root thy native oak. 
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:  
Britons never shall be slaves. 

4
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. 

5
To thee belongs the rural reign; 
Thy cities shall with commerce shine;  
All thine shall be the subject main, 
And every shore it circles thine. 
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:  
Britons never shall be slaves. 

6
The Muses, still with freedom found,  
Shall to thy happy coast repair; 
O blest Isle! With matchless beauty crowned,  
And manly hearts to guide the fair. 
Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves:  
Britons never shall be slaves.

Lähteet

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Piano version (9KB, MIDI file)
Orchestral version (121KB, MP3 file)

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