Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-11
SIC sEMpER TYRAxS1s.
BY FANNY DOWNING.

b1 FANNY OOWN1Nfs
They have torn off the crown from her beauti- |
full brow,
Yet she never seemed half SO majestic as now,
When she stands in the strength OF her sorrow
sublime,
AS she ever stood, noblest and best OF her time
Thew have wiped from the roll of their country
her name,
Co-existent with glory, co-equa1 with fame;
On the record of time it will grandly endure
As unchangeably bright as her honor is pure
They have stolen her crest, which for ages has
blazed,
And the motto she loves, from its surface
erased,
But vain is their malice. and futile their art,
For the seal of Virginia is stamped on the
heart!
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIs 1--we whisper it low,
While the hearts in our bosoms exultingly glow
As we think Of the time in its sure coming
course,
Wewill prove it by deeds with terrible force.
Not the we of this age!-WE shall pass from
our pain
Ere the bonds of Virginia are sundered in
twain;
Yet the day when her children will free her
shall dawn
Just as surely as earth in her orbit rolls on!
On her regal white shoulders they press down
their yoke,
But her mind is unfettered, her spirit unbroke
woman sore weakened, her form they con-
troll,
her soul!
Like vultures they swoop in clamorous
swarm,
And their talons imprint in her delicate form
Her treasures they coyet, yet b1acken and blot.
While parting her garments and casting the lot
As the Jews loved the Romons that horrible
night,
When the shechinah took from the Temple its
flight,
AS the Pole loves the Cossack, and Greeks lovt
the Turk,
We virginians love those who have comprised
this work!
Yes, we love them! AS Antony, righteous In
wrath,
Loved Brutus the m urderer polluting his path
When in brazen disgrace he defiantly stood,
His hands redly reeking with Cesar's warn
blood!
dead,
Its body apart from its innocent head,
Stung to madness by pain, and infuriate witt
In the depth of her anguish. loved Herod tn
Great!
Though our faces must wear in their presenc
no frown,
In our souls we despise them and trample then
down;
To Virginia in chains, we exultingly cling,
While we spurn them away as leprous thing
Not the wrath of day, nor season is ours;
At the white heat of passion it ceaselessly low
ers:
We will keep it aglow, and its red sparks shall
run
to son!
For Virginia has daughters, who stand at he
side,
And her spoilers in dignifed silence deride,
While serene in their strength, every feelin
controlled.
Into heroes the men Of the future they mould
IT'S true they are infants now hushed on th
breast,
But we teach them a lesson, no tyrant sha
wrest;
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIs we SOW with thei
prayers
They will reap with rejoicing the harvest
bears
To Virginia now PROSTATE the cross and thu
sword,
But her future is fair in the hands of the Lore
When His vengeance sweeps down in fer
tide,
She shall shine as the gold that is seven time
tried!
From Gods own chosen people, His arm Wa
removed,
While through Palestine Sisera ragged unrt
proved,
Till the work which the Lord had appcinte
was wrought,
When the stars in their courses for Debora
fought!
Thou Mother in Israel, Virginia, shall wake,
And thy bands of captivity captive shall take
At thy feet they shall bow, they shall croucl
they shall fall,
With SIC SEMPER TYRANNIs thou'lt tramp
them all!
They humble Virginia! AS well may they II
To suliy the stars on Heavens battlemen
high!
When they crumble to nothing VraGINI
shall shine
Eternal immutable glorious diyinei