Printed pamphlet in French about George III’s Jubilee, with ‘impromptu couplets’, 1809 (HO 42/105/56). George III was the first monarch to celebrate a Jubilee in much the same way as we do today.
You can download the full digitised document via Discovery, our online catalogue: Letters and papers
Transcription:
40
III.
Quand mille malédictions
Pleuvent sur les Napoléons,
Qu’on voit presque toute la terre
Trembler au bruit de leur tonnere, (bis.)
Bravons leurs foudres, leur courroux,
Et chantons tous, à pleine gorge, (ter.)
Vive, vive le bon Roi George.
IV.
Oui, tandis qu’on peste contre eux,
Partout, pour GEORGE, on fait des vœux,
Que dis-je? La France elle-même,
Abhorrant son Tyran suprême, (bis.)
Voudroit pouvoir s’unir à nous,
Et répéter, à pleine gorge, (ter.)
Vive, vive le bon Roi George.
V.
Epoux tendre, Roi vertueux,
Sous LUI, l’on ne peut qu’être heureux,
De ses amis ami sincère,
D’un Peuple libre il est le père, (bis.)
Et de ses droits le ferme Appui :
Aussi, sans cesse, à pleine gorge, (ter.)
Chantera-t-il le bon Roi George.
VI.
Puisse le Ciel, à nos accens,
A son Règne ajouter vingt-ans,
Avec une santé parfaite ;
Et, à la fin, ceindre sa tête (bis.)
De la couronne des Elus !
Dans l’entretems, à pleine gorge, (ter.)
Chantons, chantons le bon Roi George.
__________
40
III.
When a thousand maledictions
Rain down on the Napoleons,
When we see well-nigh all the earth
Tremble at the sound of their thunder, (twice)
We defy their lightning, their anger,
And we all sing, at the top of our lungs, (three times)
Long live, long live good King George.
IV.
Aye, whilst we curse against them,
Everywhere, for GEORGE, we make our vows,
What say I? France herself,
Abhorring her absolute Tyrant, (twice)
Wishes she could unite with us,
And repeat, at the top of her lungs, (three times)
Long live, long live good King George.
V.
Tender husband, virtuous King,
Under HIM, can one only be happy,
To his friends a friend sincere,
To a free Nation he is the father, (twice)
And of its rights the firm Support :
So, without end, at the top of its lungs, (three times)
Will it sing good King George.
VI.
May Heaven, at our voices,
To his Reign add twenty years,
With perfect health ;
And, at the end, gird his brow (twice)
With the crown of the Elect !
In the meanwhile, at the top of our lungs, (three times)
Sing we, sing we good King George.