CHAP. IV.
Of the Inſcriptions and Symbols carved on Sepulchres
Let us now proceed to the Inſcriptions
themſelves, the Uſe whereof was various,
and almoſt infinite among the Ancients, being
by them not only uſed in their Sepulchres, but
alſo in their Temples, and even in their private
Houſes. Symmachus tells us, that on the Pe
diments of their Temples they uſed to cut the
Name of the God to whom they dedicated,
and it is the Practice with our Countrymen to
inſcribe upon their Churches the Name of the
Saints, and the Year when they were conſe
crated to them; which I highly approve. Nor
is it foreign to our Subject to take Notice, that
when Crates the Philoſopher came to Cyzicus,
finding theſe Verſes wrote over the Door of al
moſt every private Houſe:
themſelves, the Uſe whereof was various,
and almoſt infinite among the Ancients, being
by them not only uſed in their Sepulchres, but
alſo in their Temples, and even in their private
Houſes. Symmachus tells us, that on the Pe
diments of their Temples they uſed to cut the
Name of the God to whom they dedicated,
and it is the Practice with our Countrymen to
inſcribe upon their Churches the Name of the
Saints, and the Year when they were conſe
crated to them; which I highly approve. Nor
is it foreign to our Subject to take Notice, that
when Crates the Philoſopher came to Cyzicus,
finding theſe Verſes wrote over the Door of al
moſt every private Houſe:
The mighty Hercules, the Son of Jove,
The Scourge of Monſters, dwells within theſe Walls.
Let nothing ill dare to approach the Place.
The Scourge of Monſters, dwells within theſe Walls.
Let nothing ill dare to approach the Place.
HE could not help laughing, and adviſed
them rather to write over their Doors: Here
dwells Poverty; thinking that would drive away
all Sorts of Monſters muſt faſter than Hercules
himſelf, though he were to live again. Epitaphs
on Sepulchres are either written, which are pro
perly Epigrams, or repreſented by Figures and
Symbols. Plato would not have an Epitaph
conſiſt of more than four Lines; and accord
ingly Ovid ſays:
them rather to write over their Doors: Here
dwells Poverty; thinking that would drive away
all Sorts of Monſters muſt faſter than Hercules
himſelf, though he were to live again. Epitaphs
on Sepulchres are either written, which are pro
perly Epigrams, or repreſented by Figures and
Symbols. Plato would not have an Epitaph
conſiſt of more than four Lines; and accord
ingly Ovid ſays:
On the rear'd Column be my Story wrote,
But brief, that every Paſſenger may read.
But brief, that every Paſſenger may read.
AND it is certain that Prolixity, though it
is to be condemned every where, is worſe in
this Caſe than any other: Or if the Inſcription
be of any Length, it ought to be extremely
elegant, and apt to raiſe Compaſſion, and ſo
pleaſing that you may not regret the Trouble
of reading it, but be fond of getting it by Heart,
and repeating it often. That of Omenea has
been much commended.
is to be condemned every where, is worſe in
this Caſe than any other: Or if the Inſcription
be of any Length, it ought to be extremely
elegant, and apt to raiſe Compaſſion, and ſo
pleaſing that you may not regret the Trouble
of reading it, but be fond of getting it by Heart,
and repeating it often. That of Omenea has
been much commended.
If cruel Fate allow'd the ſad Exchange
Of Life for Life, how chearfully for thee,
My beſt-lov'd Omenea had I died!
But ſince it muſt not be, theſe weeping Eyes
The hated Sun and painful Light ſhall fly,
To ſeek thee in the gloomy Realms below.
Of Life for Life, how chearfully for thee,
My beſt-lov'd Omenea had I died!
But ſince it muſt not be, theſe weeping Eyes
The hated Sun and painful Light ſhall fly,
To ſeek thee in the gloomy Realms below.
So this other:
Behold, O Citizens, the Buſt and Urn
Of ancient Ennius, your old Bard, who ſung
In lofty Notes your Fathers brave Exploits.
Let none with Tears or ſolemn funeral Pomp
Bewail my Death, for Ennius ſtill ſurvives,
Still honour'd lives upon the Tongue of Fame.
Of ancient Ennius, your old Bard, who ſung
In lofty Notes your Fathers brave Exploits.
Let none with Tears or ſolemn funeral Pomp
Bewail my Death, for Ennius ſtill ſurvives,
Still honour'd lives upon the Tongue of Fame.
ON the Tombs of thoſe that were ſlain at
Thermopylæ, was this Inſcription: O Paſſenger,
tell the Spartans that we lie here, obeying their
Commands. Nor is there any thing amiſs in
throwing in a Stroke of Pleaſantry upon ſuch
an Occaſion.
Thermopylæ, was this Inſcription: O Paſſenger,
tell the Spartans that we lie here, obeying their
Commands. Nor is there any thing amiſs in
throwing in a Stroke of Pleaſantry upon ſuch
an Occaſion.
Thy Journey, Traveller, a Moment ſtay
To view a Wonder ſtrange and ſeldom ſeen:
A Man and Wife that lie for once at Peace.
Thou ask'ſt our Name. Ne'er ſhalt thou know
from me.
Mind not my ſtutt'ring Husband; come to me:
His Name is Balbus, Bebbra mine. Ah Wife!
Will nothing ſtop that drunken Tongue of thine!
To view a Wonder ſtrange and ſeldom ſeen:
A Man and Wife that lie for once at Peace.
Thou ask'ſt our Name. Ne'er ſhalt thou know
from me.
Mind not my ſtutt'ring Husband; come to me:
His Name is Balbus, Bebbra mine. Ah Wife!
Will nothing ſtop that drunken Tongue of thine!
I AM extremely delighted with ſuch Inſcripti
ons. The Ancients uſed to gild the Letters
which they uſed in their Inſcriptions. The
Ægyptians employed Symbols in the following
Manner: They carved an Eye, by which they
underſtood God; a Vulture for Nature; a Bee
for King; a Circle for Time; an Ox for Peace,
and the like. And their Reaſon for expreſſing
their Senſe by theſe Symbols was, that Words
were underſtood only by the reſpective Nations
that talked the Language, and therefore In
ſcriptions in common Characters muſt in a ſhort
Time be loſt: As it has actually happened to
our Etrurian Characters: For among the Ruins
of ſeveral Towns, Caſtles and Burial-places, I
have ſeen Tomb-ſtones dug up with Inſcripti
ons on them, as is generally believed, in Etru
rian Characters, which are like both thoſe of
the Greeks and Latins; but no body can un
derſtand them: And the ſame, the Ægyptians
ſuppoſed, muſt be the Caſe with all Sorts of
ons. The Ancients uſed to gild the Letters
which they uſed in their Inſcriptions. The
Ægyptians employed Symbols in the following
Manner: They carved an Eye, by which they
underſtood God; a Vulture for Nature; a Bee
for King; a Circle for Time; an Ox for Peace,
and the like. And their Reaſon for expreſſing
their Senſe by theſe Symbols was, that Words
were underſtood only by the reſpective Nations
that talked the Language, and therefore In
ſcriptions in common Characters muſt in a ſhort
Time be loſt: As it has actually happened to
our Etrurian Characters: For among the Ruins
of ſeveral Towns, Caſtles and Burial-places, I
have ſeen Tomb-ſtones dug up with Inſcripti
ons on them, as is generally believed, in Etru
rian Characters, which are like both thoſe of
the Greeks and Latins; but no body can un
derſtand them: And the ſame, the Ægyptians
ſuppoſed, muſt be the Caſe with all Sorts of