ALEXANDER MORTVVS NON EST SED VIVIT

SVPER ASTRA ET CORPVS

IN HOC TVMVLO QVIESCIT VITAM EXPLEVIT SVB ANTONINO IMPE

QVI VBI MVLTVM BENEFITII ANTEVENIRE PRAEVIDERET PROGRATIA

ODIVM REDDIDIT GENVA ENIM FLECTENS VERO DEO SACRIFICATVRVS

AD SVPPLICIA DVCITVR O TEMPORA INFAVSTA QVIBVS INTER SACRA

ET VOTA NE IN CAVERNIS QVIDEM SALVARI POSSIMVS QVID MISERIVS

VITA SED QVID MISERIVS IN MORTE CVM AB AMICIS ET PARENTIBVS

SEPELIRI NEQVEANT TANDEM IN COELO CORUSCANT PARVM VIXIT QVI

VIXIT IN. X. TEM.

In Christ. Alexander is not dead, but lives beyond the stars, and his body rests in this tomb. He lived under the Emperor Antoninus, who, foreseeing that great benefit would result from his services, returned evil for good. For, while on his knees, and about to sacrifice to the true God, he was led away to execution. Oh, sad times! in which sacred rites and prayers, even in caverns, afford no protection to us. What can be more wretched than such a life? and what than such a death? when they could not be buried by their friends and relations.—At length they sparkle in heaven. He has scarcely lived who has lived in Christian times. A.D. 160.

From the cemetery of S. Callisto.

ROMANO. NEOFITO
BENEMERENTI QVI VI

XIT. ANNOS. VIII. DXV.
REQVIESCIT IN PACE DN

FL. GRATIANO. AVG. II. ET.

PETRONIO PROBO. CS.

To Romanus, the neophyte, the well-deserving, who lived eight years, fifteen days. He rests in the peace of the Lord. Flavius and Gratianus and Petronius Probus being consuls. A.D. 371.

HIC REQVIESCET IN SOMNO PACIS

MALA QVI VIXIT ANNOS XXXVIII. M. V. DV. ACCEPTA APVT DE IV. IDVS IVNIAS AETIO CONL.

Hic requiescet (requiescit) in somno pacis, Mala qui (quæ) vixit annos XXXVIII. menses V. dies V. Accepta aput (apud) De(um) IV idus Junias. Aetio Consule.

Here rests in the sleep of peace Mala, who lived 38 years, 5 months, 5 days. Received before God, on the fourth day before the Ides of June, in the consulship of Aetius. AD. 432.

NICEFORVS ANIMA

DVLCIS IN REFRIGERIO.

Nicephorus, a sweet soul, in a place of refreshment.

IN PACE

AVRELIO. FELICI QVI BIXIT CVM COIVCE
ANNOS X. VIII DVLCIS. IN COIVGIO

BONE MEMORIE BIXIT. ANNOS. L. V

RAPTVS ETERNE DOMVS. XII KAL. IENVARIAS.

In Peace

To Aurelius Felix, who lived with his wife eighteen years in sweetest wedlock. Of good memory. He lived fifty-five years. Snatched home eternally on the twelfth kalend of January.

PRIMITIVS IN PACE QVI POST

MVLTAS. ANGVSTIAS FORTISSIMVS MARTYR ET. VIXIT. ANNOS P.M. XXXVIII CONIVG. SVO PERDVLCISSIMO BENEMERENTI FECIT.

Primitius in peace: a most valiant martyr after many torments. Aged 38. His wife raised this to her dearest well-deserving husband.

ANCIENT MARBLES.

NOTHING can give us a greater idea of the luxury and magnificence of the ancient Romans than the variety of marbles brought from different parts of the world, and which were used to ornament and enrich their private houses and their temples. The choicest marbles from the quarries of Greece and Asia were transported to Rome, to adorn the forums and temples, and to form the columns and pavements of the temples and private houses.

Pliny opens his Chapter xxxvi. by noticing the luxury displayed in the use of the various kinds of marbles the leading folly of the day. 'Our forefathers,' Pliny writes, 'regarded as a prodigy the passage of the Alps by Hannibal, and more recently by the Cimbri; but at the present day these very mountains are cut asunder to yield us a thousand different marbles, promontories are thrown open to the sea, and the face of nature is being everywhere reduced to a level. We now carry away the barriers that were destined for the separation of one nation from another; we construct ships for the transport of our marbles, and, amid the waves-the most boister

ous element of Nature-we convey the summits of the mountains to and fro. Let each reflect, when he hears of the high prices set upon these things, when he sees those ponderous masses carted and carried away, how many there are whose life is passed far more happily without them. For what utility, or for what so-called pleasure, do mortals make themselves the agents, or, more truly speaking, the victims, of such undertakings, except in order that others may take their repose in the midst of variegated marbles? Indeed, while making these reflections, one cannot but feel ashamed of the men of ancient times. There has been as yet no law passed forbidding marble to be imported, or the seas to be traversed in search of it. It may possibly be observed, that this was because marble was not then introduced. Such, however, is not the fact; for in the ædileship of M. Scaurus, three .hundred and sixty columns were to be seen imported for the decorations of a temporary theatre, too, one that was destined to be in use for barely a single month. And yet the laws were silent thereon-in a spirit of indulgence for the amusement of the public, no doubt. But then, why such indulgence? or, how do vices more insidiously steal upon us than under the plea of serving the public? By what other way, in fact, did ivory, gold, and precious stones first come into use with private individuals? Can we say that there is now anything that we have reserved for the exclusive use of the gods? However, be it so; let us admit of this indulgence for the amusement of the public; but still, why did the laws maintain