“So far, so good; but the most abstruse remains unexplained,” said Thompson; “on the front of the sarcophagus was written: ‘What I have expended, I have; what I gave away, I have.’ How do you read these sayings?”
“I am afraid I cannot help you,” rejoined Lathom; “the story seems to be defective at this point, and we must fall back on the suggestions of the translator, of whom I have spoken before. Mr. Swan refers the words ‘What I have expended, I have’ to a judicious outlay of property, by which various benefits are reaped by the expender in the persons of his descendants; whilst the other words, ‘What I have given away, I have,’ he explains of the thanks of the poor and the blessings of heaven consequent on charitable gifts.”
“Your story reminds me of the old epitaph in Doncaster Church,” said Herbert, “which Gough gives in these words:
“‘Howe, howe, who is heare?
I, Robert of Doncaster, and Margaret my feare (wife),
That I spent, that I had;
That I gave, that I have;
That I left, that I lost:
A.D. 1579.
Quoth Robertus Byrkes,