Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-03-09
2 O E r r Y
GFrom the Metropolitan Record.
GENERAL 4. e. LEE.
W. ". WESTERN.

W. ". WESTERN. g
"IIs life was gentle,
And vet the elements so mixed in him
That Nature might stand up and say to all
The world, this was man. '-SHAK.
Eregi nonunsc,atSna oerrcaan'sss acre.
For him no martial pomp displays
It's regal splender to the gaze,
No willy courtiers sound his praise,
That ''thrift nay follow fawning y
Yet for him Ministries sound the lay,
And for him loving hearts still pray,
And Time is bright'nng into day
That fame which is but daHning.
Now, first in peace as first in war, ri
When foes his thunders felt afar,
And fortune nor reverse could mar s
What God had made sublime ;
The patriot hero well may claim 1
A place upon the scroll OF fame,a a
To write the purest brightest name
His age will give to time.
And Time that name will proudly bear,
And Christian hearts its lustre share,
And future ages will declare sssy
His glory now denied:
When Passion fiery hosts are scattered,
When Freedoms manacles are shattered
And Justice prisons down are battered,
His name will be our pride.
When leagucd oppression darkly poured,
And battles fearful conflict roared,
How often he the ranks restored
By words SO calm and brief?
When did he falter in the van?
When wrongcd he basely mortal man
Forget him Oh, we never can!
The South adores her chief.
Our country's IDOL ard its stay
When hope shed not enc blessed ray
Upon the dark and dismal aAy
Which palltd US in its GLOON
Is now become the beacon light
To guide the foot Of youth Alright
And cheer with radiance pare and bright
The darkness of our doom.
Immortal chieftsin, one of those
A century can scarce disclose
Who charm "two hosts, their friends and foes,
And homage wins of all
For thee we WOO the minstreps skill,
The measure Of thy fame to FIJI,
And love thee and adore thee still,
Regardless Of thy fall
So nobly great and purely good,
Before his very eeoes he stood;
They could not wrong him if they would,
And would not if they could.
Full fairly did he WELD his sword
Against an Overwhelming horde,
And now as nobly keeps his word,
AS Christian chicftain should.
He babe no gloomy, long farewell
To all his greatness when he fell,
For loud, and louder still must swell
The chorus Of his fame;
The monumental architrave
May some from dark oblivion save,
But here his country will engrare
Upon her heart his name.
Nor need her callous marbles keep
His images DER which to weep,
a richer crop his fame will reap
And garner from the heart,
The sweetest yield to mortals given
Beneath the canopy Of heaven,
And fairly for it hath he stri~en
And nobly played his part.
lis his, nor can the ruthless hand,
That scourges his unhappy land,
Upon his brow eer dare to brand M
The infamy Of traitor.
The nation that would faint his fame,
Or stain with treason his pure name,
Would steep its very soul in shame,
Oh! bow our hearts would hate her
Retired from the storms of state,
Serenely he endures his fate
As prisoned eagles will not mate,
He is himself alone;
And like the heaven brightest star,
His brilliancy is seen afar;
And though some clouds its rays may mar
None purer ever shone.
,Jonst6fru 81. 1865,