EPITAPHS.

Erk's Work, 1 February 1941, Page 10

EPITAPHS.

“Believe a woman, or an epitaph, Or any other thing that’s false.”

I’ve spent many hours in the days gone by, wandering through some old graveyards in the Mother Country looking for epitaphs on headstones. An epitaph is an inscription found on a tomb. The origin of these inscriptions is probably as old as the tombs. These epitaphs were first of all common among the Greeks and Romans.

As a general rule, Romans usually preceded their epitaphs with the initials which in Latin reads Diis Manibus, that is, “To the Nether Gods.” Then followed the name, office, and age of the particular person, and a conclusion which informed the reader by whom, or for what reasons the inscription was erected.

The use of epitaphs among the English nation started about the 11th century, and at that time were written in Latin. At the present time they are to be found in all current European languages. It is a very interesting pastime, on entering any churchyard, to scan the various graves and take note of the epitaphs inscribed thereon. On the one hand they will be found to be excellent examples of perfect poetry or prose, as the case may be, while on the other hand some of the inscriptions are apt to cause great amusement, due mostly perhaps to their ambiguity. Some of the following are typical examples of the aforementioned. This epitaph is one found in an Ulster churchyard:—

“Erected to the memory of John Phillips. Accidentally shot as a mark of affection by his brother.”

Again at Llanmynech, in Montgomeryshire, this amusing inscription greets the wanderer’s eye

“In memory of Margaret. Erected by her grieving children. What is home without a mother ? Peace, perfect peace!”

The next is really a “pun” on words, and is quite neatly composed. It relates to a solicitor by name John Strange, and runs as follows :—

“Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange.”

The above inscriptions are of the more humorous type. Note should, however, be taken of one or two of the more dignified and classical examples. An example of William Cowper’s epitaph on a dog named “Fop,” who belonged to a certain lady, shows what an affection existed between a dog and his mistress: —

“Though once a puppy and though Fop by name, Here moulders one whose bones some honour claim, Yes —the indignant shade of Fop replies,

And worn with vain pursuit, man also dies.”

In conclusion, it may be said that no article on epitaphs is complete without reference to the ’magnificent epitaph written by the immortal R. L. Stevenson for himself. On account of ill-health Stevenson was always travelling about to find a climate which would suit him. He died at Vailima, in the island of Samoa. In after-time a large tomb of the Samoan fashion, built of great blocks of cement, was placed upon his grave. On either side there is a bronze plate, the one bearing a token of respect in the Samoan language, the other bearing his own famous requiem : —

“Under the wide and starry sky, Dig the grave and let me lie, Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will. This be the verse you grave for me, Here he lies where he longed to be, Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter, home from the hill.”

I wonder what epitaph will be written over the airman who crashes with such force as to finish up 300 feet below ground level, as I did ... in the Link Trainer.