Now Art has lost its mental charms

    France shall subdue¹ the world in arms.'

    So spoke² an Angel at my birth；

    Then said `Descend thou upon earth，

    Renew the Arts on Britain's shore，

    And France shall fall down and adore.

    With works of art their armies meet

    And War shall sink beneath thy feet.

    But if thy nation Arts refuse，

    And if they scorn the immortal³ Muse⁴，

    France shall the arts of peace restore

    And save thee from the ungrateful shore.'

    Spirit who lov'st Britannia's Isle

    Round which the fiends of commerce smile ——