Rule Britania
題名を訳すと「統治せよ、ブリタニア」となる、英国の愛国歌。 現代でも王国海軍公式行進曲であり、木造帆装軍艦の時代戦闘に突入する戦列艦の艦尾甲板でしばしば演奏された。 オーガスタ王女誕生を記念し、1740年に作られた「アルフレッド、仮面劇(ALfred, a Maque)」中の歌。 作曲から260年以上たつのに現代の英国ではコンサートホール(毎年夏のプロムス・ラスト・ナイト・コンサートなど典型的)やフットボールの試合会場でもいまだに歌われている。
作詞:ジェイムス・トムソン(James Thomson, 1700-1748) 作曲:トマス・オーガスティン・アーン(Thomas Augustine Arne, 1710-1778)
When Britain first, at heaven's command, Arose from out the azure main; This was the charter of the land, And guardian Angels sung this strain:
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.
The nations, not so blest as thee, Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall: While thou shalt flourish great and free, The dread and envy of them all.
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.
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.
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.
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.
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.
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.
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.
The Muses, still with freedom found, Shall to thy happy coast repair: Blest isle! with matchless beauty crowned, And manly hearts to guard the fair.
Chorus: Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves.