(_For the Mirror._)
The origin of epitaphs, and the precise period when they were first
introduced, is involved in obscurity; but that they were in use several
centuries prior to the Christian era is indisputable. The invention of
them, however, has been attributed to the scholars of Linus, who,
according to Diogenes, was the son of Mercury and Urania; he was born at
Thebes, and instructed Hercules in the art of music; who, in a fit of
anger at the ridicule of Linus, on his awkwardness in holding the lyre,
struck him on the head with his instrument, and killed him. The scholars
of Linus lamented the death of their master, in a mournful kind of poem,
called from him _Aelinum_. These poems were afterwards designated
_Epitaphia_, from the two words [Greek: epi], _upon_, and [Greek: taphios],
_sepulchre_, being engraved on tombs, in honour or memory of the deceased,
and generally containing some eloge of his virtues or good qualities.
Among the Lacedaemonians, epitaphs were only allowed to men who died
bravely in battle; and to women, who were remarkable for their chastity.
The Romans often erected monuments to illustrious persons whilst living,
which were preserved with great veneration after their decease. In this
country, according to Sir Henry Chauncy, "Any person may erect a tomb,
sepulchre, or monument for the deceased in any church, chancel, chapel, or
churchyard, so that it is not to the hindrance of the celebration of
divine service; that the defacing of them is punishable at common law,
the party that built it being entitled to the action during his life, and
the heir of the deceased after his death."
Boxhornius has made a well chosen collection of Latin epitaphs, and F.
Labbe has also made a similar one in the French language, entitled,
"_Tresor des Epitaphes_." In our own language the collection of Toldewy is
the best; there are also several to be found among the writings of Camden
and Weaver, and in most of the county histories.
In epitaphs, the deceased person is sometimes introduced by way of
prosopopaeia, speaking to the living, of which the following is an
instance, wherein the defunct wife thus addresses her surviving husband:--
"Immatura peri; sed tu, felicior, annos
Vive tuos, conjux optime, vive meos."
The following epitaphs, out of several others, are worth preserving. That
of Alexander:--
"Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret orbis."