Erected to the memory of ROBERT PATERSON, the "Old Mortality" of Sir Walter Scott, who was buried here February, 1801.
"Why seeks he with unwearied toil Through death's dim walk to urge his way Reclaim his long asserted spoil, And lead oblivion into day."
Here is a picture of the stone placed over the grave of William Shakespeare, at Stratford-on-Avon, with its well-known and frequently quoted inscription:--
GOOD FREND FOR IESVS SAKE FORBEARE, TO DICC THE DVST ENCLOASED HEARE, BLESTE BE Y{ E} MAN Y{ T} SPARES THES STONES, AND CVRST BE HE Y{ T} MOVES MY BONES.]
At Loddon, in Norfolk, is buried one who, like the bard of Avon, had a great horror of his bones being removed. The epitaph is as follows:--
When on this spot affection's downcast eye, The lucid tribute shall no more bestow; When friendship's breast no more shall heave a sigh, In kind remembrance of the dust below; Should the rude sexton digging near this tomb, A place of rest for others to prepare, The vault beneath to violate presume; May some opposing Christian cry "Forbear"-- Forbear! rash mortal, as thou hop'st to rest When death shall lodge thee in thy destined bed, With ruthless spade, unkindly to molest The peaceful slumbers of the kindred dead.
In Tideswell churchyard, among several other singular gravestone inscriptions, the following occurs, and is worth reprinting:--
In memory of BRIAN, son of JOHN and MARTHA HAIGH, who died 22nd December, 1795, Aged 17 years.
Come, honest sexton, with thy spade, And let my grave be quickly made; Make my cold bed secure and deep, That, undisturbed, my bones may sleep. Until that great tremendous day, When from above a voice shall say,-- "Awake, ye dead, lift up your eyes, Your great Creator bids you rise!" Then, free from this polluted dust, I hope to be amongst the just.
Under the shadow of the ancient church of Bakewell, Derbyshire, is a stone containing a long inscription to the memory of John Dale, barber-surgeon, and his two wives, Elizabeth Foljambe and Sarah Bloodworth. It ends thus:--
Know posterity, that on the 8th of April, in the year of grace 1757, the rambling remains of the above JOHN DALE were, in the 86th yeare of his pilgrimage, laid upon his two wives.
This thing in life might raise some jealousy, Here all three lie together lovingly, But from embraces here no pleasure flows, Alike are here all human-joys and woes; Here Sarah's chiding John no longer hears, And old John's rambling Sarah no more fears; A period's come to all their toylsome lives, The good man's quiet; still are both his wives.