of the heathens, chants expressive of triumphant faith were sung as the body was carried to the grave, where a simple service was held, and evergreens and flowers were strewn about the tomb (ll. 169, 170).  The earliest inscriptions are often roughly scratched on plaster, and consist merely of a name and age, or simple words like—­

          GEMELLA DORMIT IN PACE

     but later (cf. l. 171), they were engraved on small marble slabs.

25 In both thought and language this stanza, as vii. 16 et seq., is
     evidently reminiscent of Horace (Sat. 2, ii. 77):  Quin corpus
     onustum, etc.

          “The Body, too, with Yesterday’s excess
          Burthened and tired, shall the pure Soul depress,
          Weigh down this Portion of celestial Birth,
          This Breath of God, and fix it to the Earth.” 
                        (Francis).

51 Boldetti, in his work on the Catacombs (lib. i. cap. 59), says
     that on many occasions, when he was present at the opening of a
     grave, the assembled company were conscious of a spicy odour
     diffusing itself from the tomb.  Cf.  Tertullian (Apol. 42):  “The
     Arabs and Sabaeans knew well that we consume more of their precious
     merchandise for our dead than do the heathen for their gods.”

57 Prudentius’ firm faith in the resurrection of the body is also
     nobly expressed in the Apotheosis (ll. 1063 et seq.):—­

“Nosco meum in Christo corpus resurgere; quid me
Desperare iubes? veniam, quibus ille revenit
Calcata de morte viis:  quod credimus hoc est.

* * * * *

Pellite corde metum, mea membra, et credite vosmet Cum Christo reditura Deo; nam vos gerit ille Et secum revocat:  morbos ridete minaces:  Inflictos casus contemnite; tetra sepulcra Despuite; exsurgens quo Christus provocat, ite.”

Translation.

“I know in Christ my body shall arise;
Why bid me, then, despair? for I shall go
By that same path whereby my Lord returned,
Death trodden ’neath His feet:  this is my creed. 
Banish, my limbs, all terror; and believe
That ye with Christ our God shall yet return;
He beareth you and with Himself recalls. 
Laugh at the threats of sickness; scorn the blows
Of fate; despise the horrors of the tomb;
And fare ye where the risen Christ doth call.”

61 The poet expresses as a duty owed to Christ Himself the heathen
     obligation of casting three handfuls of earth upon a body discovered
     dead.