Bend though thou must, beneath his will,
Let not one abject moan have place;
But with majestic, silent grace,
Maintain thy regal bearing still.
VI.
Look back through all thy storied past,
And sit erect in conscious pride:—
No grander heroes ever died—
No sterner, battled to the last!
VII.
Weep, if thou wilt, with proud, sad mein,
Thy blasted hopes—thy peace undone,—
Yet brave, live on,—nor seek to shun
Thy fate, like Egypt's conquer'd Queen.
VIII.
Though forced a captive's place to fill,
In the triumphal train,—yet there,
Superbly, like Zenobia, wear
Thy chains,—Virginia Victrix still!