f the subject. Their elegance consists in a nervous and expressive brevity; and sometimes they are clothed with an epigrammatic point. In these compositions, no mere epithet (properly so called) should be admitted; for here illustration would impair the strength, and render the sentiment too diffuse and languid. Words that are synonymous are also to be rejected.
Though the true characteristic of the epitaph is seriousness and gravity, yet we may find many that are jocular and ludicrous: some likewise have true metre and rhyme; while others are between prose and verse, without any certain measure, though the words are truly poetical; and the beauty of this last sort is generally heightened by an apt and judicious antithesis. We shall give examples of each.
The following epitaph on Sir Philip Sydney's sister, the countess of Pembroke, said to be written by the famous Ben Jonson, is remarkable for the noble thought with which it concludes.
On Mary Countess-dowager of PEMBROKE.
Underneath this marble hearse, Lies the subject of all verse, Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother: Death, ere thou half kill'd another Fair, and learn'd, and good as she, Time shall throw a dart at thee.
Take another epitaph of Ben Jonson's, on a beautiful and virtuous lady, which has been deservedly admired by very good judges.
Underneath this stone doth lie As much virtue as could die; Which when alive did vigour give To as much beauty as could live.
The following epitaph by Dr Samuel Johnson, on a musician much celebrated for his performance, will bear a comparison with these, or perhaps with anything of the kind in the English language.
Philips! whose touch harmonious could remove The pangs of guilty pow'r and hapless love, Rest here, distrest by poverty no more; Find here that calm thou gav'st so oft before; Sleep undisturb'd within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.
It is the just observation of an eminent critic, that the best subject for epitaphs is private virtue; virtue exerted in the same circumstances in which the bulk of mankind are placed, and which, therefore, may admit of many imitators. He that has delivered his country from oppression, or freed the world from ignorance and error, besides that he stands in no need of monumental panegyric, can excite the emulation of a very small number. The bare name of such men answers every purpose of a long inscription, because their achievements are universally known, and their fame is immortal.—But the virtues of him who has repelled the temptations of poverty, and declined to free himself from distress at the expense of his honour or his conscience, as they were practised in private, are fit to be told, because they may animate multitudes to the same firmness of heart and steadfastness of resolution. On this account, there are few epitaphs of more value than the following, which was written by Pope on Mrs Corbet, who died of a cancer in her breast.
Here rests a woman, good without pretence, Blest with plain reason, and with sober sense; No conquest she, but o'er herself desir'd; No arts essay'd, but not to be admir'd.