“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:
'Rule, Britannia, rule the waves;
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.”

Alfred, Act II, sc. v (1740).

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James Thomson (poet) 50
Scottish writer (1700-1748) 1700–1748

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