O Washington! thrice glorious name,
What due rewards can man decree--
Empires are far below thy aim,
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O Washington! thrice glorious name,
What due rewards can man decree--
Empires are far below thy aim,
And scepters have no charms for thee;
Virtue alone has your regards,
And she must be your great reward.

'Twas his ambition, generous and great
A life to life's great end to consecrate.

'Twas his ambition, generous and great
A life to life's great end to consecrate.

The defender of his country--the founder of liberty,
The friend of man,
History and tradition are explored read more

The defender of his country--the founder of liberty,
The friend of man,
History and tradition are explored in vain
For a parallel to his character.
In the annals of modern greatness
He stands alone;
And the noblest names of antiquity
Lose their lustre in his presence.
Born the benefactor of mankind,
He united all the greatness necessary
To an illustrious career.
Nature made him great,
He made himself virtuous.

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington!
And if our American institutions had done nothing else, read more

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington!
And if our American institutions had done nothing else, that
alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind.

A nobleness to try for,
A name to live and die for.

A nobleness to try for,
A name to live and die for.

Simple and brave, his faith awoke
Ploughmen to struggle with their fate;
Armies won battles when he read more

Simple and brave, his faith awoke
Ploughmen to struggle with their fate;
Armies won battles when he spoke,
And out of Chaos sprang the state.

Washington--a fixed star in the firmament of great names, shining
without twinkling or obscuration, with clear, beneficent light.

Washington--a fixed star in the firmament of great names, shining
without twinkling or obscuration, with clear, beneficent light.

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his
countrymen.

First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his
countrymen.

While Washington hath left
His awful memory,
A light for after times.

While Washington hath left
His awful memory,
A light for after times.