EPICRAM (ἐπικράμα, a writing), a short poem, treating only of one thing, and ending with some lively, ingenious, and natural thought. The excellence of epigram depends on conciseness and point. The Latins were the first to impart to the epigram the character of caustic piquancy, which constitutes its principal charm. Of their professed epigrammatists the best are Martial and Catullus; both of whom afford many specimens of good attempts, with a still greater number of failures. In both also licence of thought and expression degenerate so often into downright licentiousness that a modern reader hardly finds in the wit a compensation for the obscenity. Neither in France nor in England is there any other who has achieved renown solely as an epigrammatist. In the former country the best epigrams are those of Marot, T. B. Rousseau, Racine, Piron, Lebrun, and Chénier. The following is an epigram of Lebrun on a lady who affected wit and coquetry:

Cloé, belle et poète, a deux petits travers; Elle fait son visage et ne fait pas ses vers.

One of the best English epigrammatists is Pope. Some of his compositions in this vein are very happy. In a company where the members were amusing themselves with making rhymes, Pope asked Lord Chesterfield for the loan of his pencil, and wrote—

Accept a miracle; instead of wit, See two dull lines by Stanhope's pencil writ.

The next is on a person who made long epitaphs.

Friend, for your epitaphs I'm grieved; Where still so much is said, One half will never be believed, The other never read.

It happens curiously enough that the best of the English epigrammatists have also for the most part distinguished themselves as lyrists. See POETRY.