University of Virginia Library

O Washington, thou dear illustrious chief,
Thou ornament and blessing to mankind,
The soldier's glory and thy country's pride,
Columbia's skillful guide
Thro' the dire contest, and her sweet relief
In all the sorrows of her state forlorn!
How has thy character refin'd,
Since first thy great career began,
Together in one glorious group combin'd
All the bright virtues that adorn
The Christian, Patriot, Hero or the Man,
Devout and humble, affable, sincere,
Religion's friend, to vice alone a foe,
Kindly susceptive of another's woe,
Reluctantly severe,
And with the noblest dispositions fraught,
Virtue thou hast by thy example taught,
Which all the good admire and all the bad revere
Nor from a thirst for vain applause,
Much less a sordid lust for gold or pow'r,
But a disinterested zeal,
Exalted souls alone can feel,
Hast thou devoted ev'ry hour
Of seven successive years,
Of active pains and anxious cares
To the defence of Freedom's injur'd cause
Amidst a num'rous crow'd
Of strenuous heroes heav'n had kindly giv'n,
To form thy splendid train,
Whose virtues fame aloud
Triumphantly proclaims,
Who have so nobly striv'n,
By brave exertions and exalted aims
Their country's freedom to maintain,
Against a lawless tyrant's lust,
And fix the pillars of the rising state,—
Sublime thou stoodst and eminently great,
The first in merit as in rank the first.
Amidst a cluster that salutes our eyes,
A constellation of distinguish'd names,
But chiefly that of the illustrious Green,
Thy fav'rite second in the arduous war,
Like a resplendent star
Of a superior size,
And with unrivall'd glory flames
In the Columbian skies .