Virginia. A Sonnet.

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!