1. The success of ‘Rule, Britannia!’ was phenomenal. When Alfred was revived in 1745, ‘Rule, Britannia!’ featured as the grand finale. It was sold on the streets in broadsides, sung in theatres by both actors and audience and bawled by Nelson’s sailors on board battleships. It formed part of Sir Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British Sea Songs, arranged by him in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar. The other movements included ‘Tom Bowling’, ‘The anchor’s weigh’d’, ‘The saucy Arethusa’, ‘Jack’s the lad’ (‘The sailor’s hornpipe’), ‘Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies’, Bishop’s ‘Home, sweet home’ and Handel’s ‘See, the conquering hero comes’. ‘Rule, Britannia!’ was performed – not as today – by the orchestra alone, with the organ joining in towards the end, with no solo voice and no chorus.

1. Thomson enjoyed the patronage of the Countess of Hertford (1699–1754) after the publication of ‘Winter’ (1726); part of ‘Spring’ was written as her guest at Marlborough Castle, Wiltshire.

2. dreary, cf. Deut. xxxii. 10.

3. Thomson imagines that the bittern puts its head under water, and then produces its booming sound by a violent blowing.

4. the Ram, the first sign of the zodiac, into which the sun enters at the vernal equinox.

5. Taurus, the second sign of the zodiac; cf. Virgil, Georgics, I, 217–18.

6. high.