Grandly thou fillest the world's eye to-day,
My proud Virginia! When the gage was thrown—
The deadly gage of battle—thou, alone,
Strong in thy self-control, didst stoop to lay
The olive-branch thereon, and calmly pray
We might have peace, the rather. When the foe
Turned scornfully upon thee,—bade thee go,
And whistled up his war-hounds, then—the way
Of duty full before thee,—thou didst spring
Into the centre of the martial ring—
Thy brave blood boiling, and thy glorious eye,
Shot with heroic fire, and swear to claim
Sublimest victory in God's own name,—
Or, wrapped in robes of martyrdom,—to die!