The Musical Birthday Series - March 12 - Thomas Augustine Arne

In honor of Thomas Augustine Arne's (12 March 1710– 5 March 1778) birthday, here is the first verse of "Rule, Britannia!" re-written as a limerick.

Britannia Redux

When Britain at Heaven’s command

Arose from the watery strand,

Britannia vowed

To never be bowed,

Or cumbered in slavery’s band.

(original text from The Poetical Works of James Thomson [Boston, 1854], from my collection)