Известна, благодаря двухстрочному
рефрену
в конце каждой строфы, который, собственно, и дал имя песне:
Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves:
Britons never will be slaves.
Перевод:
Правь, Британия! Британия, правь волнами:
Британцы никогда не станут рабами.
В Викторианскую эпоху текст рефрена был изменён - второе
rule
("правь") было заменено на
rules
("правит"), а
will
на
shall
(придающее дополнительную значимость утверждению)
.
Оригинальный текст
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 will be slaves.
2
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.
Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves:
Britons never will 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 will 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 will 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 will be slaves.
6
The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coast repair;
Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown’d,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
Rule, Britannia! Britannia rule the waves:
Britons never will be slaves.
Примечания
Disher, Maurice Willson. Victorian Song, Phoenix House, 1955.