The Manchester gent and I had become acquainted at the table d'hôte of the "Four Seasons," and we happened to stroll into the Ræmerbad at the same time. Pointing to the mural tablet, he said—
"Mr. Porter, they say that is Latin."
"Yes," I replied, "you have been rightly informed."
"Could you untwist it, and tell us what it is about?"
"I shall try. To Æsculapius the healer, the soldiers of the fourteenth legion, in consequence of their health being restored, give, inscribe, and dedicate this votive tablet."
"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "those chaps were wide awake; and they knew how to pay a nice compliment, for of course this Skewlaypius was their regimental doctor."
I regretted that there was not another tablet extant declaratory of their veneration and devotion to Mars, for it would have elicited the interesting suggestion that his military rank was, at least, that of a colonel.
I recollect seeing on an ancient tower of octagonal form, near Andernach, an inscription, in reference to which I heard many conjectures, and some of them extremely absurd. It was as follows:—
"Siste paululum, ambula paululum, sedere vetitum est, et
dormire est mori."[12]
The conclusion at which I arrived was, that immediately beneath this direction a sentinel's station had been established, and that whether he stood, or walked "his lonely round," he was to bear in mind that to slumber on his post was inexcusable, and subjected him to the forfeiture of life.