212 Southern Historical Society Papers,
That you who came from uplands And from beside the sea, Filled with love of Old Virginia, And the teachings of the free, May boast in sight of all men That you followed Robert Lee.
Peace has come. God gave his blessing On the fact and on the name ! The South speaks no invective, And she writes no word of blame ; But we call all men to witness That we stand up without shame !
Nay ! Send it forth to all the world That we stand up here with pride, With love for our living comrades And with praise for those who died ; And in this manly frame of mind Till death we will abide.
God and our consciences alone Give us measures of right and wrong. The race may fall unto the swift And the battle to the strong ; But the truth will shine in history And blossom into song.
Human grief full oft by glory Is assuaged and disappears When Its requiem swells with music Like the shock of shields and spears, And its passion is too full of pride To leave a space for tears.
And hence to-day, my Countrymen, We come, with undimmed eyes, In homage of the hero Lee, The good, the great, the wise ; And at his name our hearts will leap Till his last old soldier dies.
Ask me, if so you please, to paint Storm winds upon the sea ; Tell me to weigh great Cheops — Set volcanic forces free ; But bid me not, my Countrymen, To picture Robert Lee !
