Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-01-21
The Lee Obsequies at winchester.

~ uOlulay, followed Oy an exquisite Poem
composed and read by Daniel B. Lucas, ESQ.
of this County, whose touching and pathetic
poetry on the war has already gained him {
wide renown. We annex the poem in full a
amended by the author. On orr first page il
is given as at first written, before being revised
and extended
BEVD Low TO Con the greatest man is dead!
Who CD bis courage added tender grace,
And Whit ia war he fired as be led
ln peace t1Ught patience to a warlike race.
BENr ruT, ls GsfEF the "a eatest man is gone
The E'st,-, spirit fed, our modern world ha:
-u.tut
As SOM, ripe shock Of corn, exposed to light
Aud early rain, is gathered ere the frost
Hath "uch-d single yellow blade with blight,
Before @ single golden grain IS lost
Tie la Iis autumn fell, ere age could tame.
Ripe through great actions, for eternal fame!
With trasa strategic hand, he scattered far
SIS ..rd,men sos with grain the fallow soil,
The seed ot victory in the field of war,
And rcaped "a harvest rich with Federal spoil
His skil Manassas Richmond couch, as should
TIE thunder OF Cold Harbor, twice baptized in
blood
Year after wear with giant arm he foiled
The supcrhumau odds he wrestled with
II piled bis Wet 'ries as the iians piled
Up mountains In the old Hellenic mv th.
Then .rom their summit smiled on those who stood
Below and said; 81 did for You the bes' could -
Asin mid ocean stands stable rock,
While his great breast throws back the brine he
braves,
Dedss the storm, and Yields not to its shock
Nor count, the stars, nor palterS % the waves,
~. al |.HrH a.ra 81. e..
With ,rortsereue, undauuted and sublime
Atl.-, the DAYS drew nigh when an should end!
Twas done. and all achieved that man could
dlre
A nation ON a narrow strip Of land
Avhoie Confederate world in ten miles square!
Nor lp'g ever sank IN q suhimer gloom,
From .aa's mount 20 CitbUgOn, from CithUron 10
Rome.
Though food was none, and what there was denied,
Their force outnrmbercd Oy the Federal dead,
The mlny-l1u-uaged host they still d-ied
lrc1ul uercd yet though hope itself had fled
Juc1uquersd. though they knew their cours, was
Unpaid. unclad, untentcd, and at last-undonel
Their, dressed our hero gaily, like groom,
lu that brave cloh with beauteOUs thread of
steel,
The wreath about HIS throat with sash and plume
And gold upon has arm, and silver at his heel,
And took the sword, De KEEP, so free from dole,
Aud gave it up as a brave man Yields his sou,
Sace $50 defeat, t-uer meaning have:
Nc o., -H soul chat makes tl- man or slave!
'Iis virtue dominates externally,
From her green heights %. Wiugiess victory
From Der green heights oc wiu-less victory,
Above Che clouds o.. dire calamity,
Our hero conc utret. only shoue the more,
As ll,t cc,ipscd, the mo0a burus ruddier than he
f,rel
Itisiu there the rude blrbarians trace
Who think tle worst the greatest OF our race ;
To Ice. Nepo,eon, Grant and Cesar seem
As u...i-s %, brass, beside the SOAR scheme
What though D.. sclrued IN effort to be great
Aspiring but o. serve vhert'cr the STAT.
Should deem DIS service most OBJ stand beer stead
l.caa De walked t4us lowly, we magnify him
dead.
What ,to-eh Oh scorned an pickering for place,
And held DO power that he did not grace
VIE. 'l,tre which his own obedience shed
b--.Hs. DE lived subordinate, we magriiy him
dead.
Vha. though o., vou.d not sep for worlds but
The lampof conscience uthis pathway clear,
A.. proved t.E. carIs tIlu faith is mauIiLaII.
because Dr. lived .hus parcE Sc magnify him
-.r..
Ills ,asa,ryios,, VIA; though no mans belief
tUu.. .-l.u a.s iureu.trlDls grief
Juu. a- last Be- llNlv laid his head
Because acsui-,cd grclt.y5w c magnify him dead.
What though Ie ucvcrstruck an enyious blow
Deceived a friend, or laid a rival low,
N.t Uus scl-viIjicatu- word BE said
Because Dr. far eHcci.ea u5, we magnify him dead
What enough au outward show OF colduess served,
SIS br thes,Hv Cine tender vheats preserved,
I.shi..i % -,Htieu.ss most softly bred
G.csr.s Dr. ar-d thus gently, We magnify him
dead.
Oh. f.r.d not war. but could not wen ranouac,
Tine a..- iau-. O. Virginia justly due;
a. c..u.rE m.u, there was soldier once,
il.u instinct brave, but brave from duty, too.
a great .e,t msstsrsd spirit, De o1tyiet
The --ity lss sauts which his age supplied.
But as gone. our paragon lies there!
For llu tl- oVLan-ma6iug cannous roar
lbeslHut. the drum, the Hie,aEd trumpet oiare-
The tutd-he.f and joy OF fght no more!
$50 more DIS hand shall guide QUE southern youth,
by l4b9r's patient steps, through travail unto
truth
f7s st1l io glory Hero Of our hearts.
Sleep sUeetl iu thy vaulted chapc, grave.
Tr.srI.uf0rO of the far-eXcelliur STAYS departs
Nut -. OBI. .l-trc ot the got.iAt brave
THY glory shall not vanish, but increase,
Taoa travest SON Of war, aud EI-sst child OF
u.lce-
lie .tu iu glory patient, prudent deep
%. central form iu our IMMORTAL strife,
Wi,h aa eternal weight OF glory, ,'eep
Witfn Beer breast who gave thee name aud life.
lie very still. uo more contend with odds.
Tran. .rleut among mcn-resuleudeut with the