| John Bartlett (18201905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919. |
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| William Wetmore Story. (18191895) |
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| 1 | I sing the hymn of the conquered, who fell in the Battle of Life, 1 The hymn of the wounded, the beaten, who died overwhelmed in the strife
. The hymn of the low and the humble, the weary, the broken in heart, Who strove and who failed, acting bravely a silent and desperate part. |
| Io Victis. |
| 2 | | And all but their faith overthrown. |
| Io Victis. |
| 3 | They only the victory win Who have fought the good fight and have vanquished the demon that tempts us within; Who have held to their faith unseduced by the prize that the world holds on high; Who have dared for a high cause to suffer, resist, fightif need be, to die. |
| Io Victis. |
| 4 | Of every noble work the silent part is best, Of all expression that which can not be expressed. |
| The Unexpressed. |
| 5 | Ah me! the vision has vanished, The music has died away! |
| Cleopatra. |
| | Note 1. Whitman: To a Foiled European Revolutionaire; Now it seems to me, when it can not be helped that defeat is great. [back] |
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