H. A. B.

Matter-of-fact Epitaph.—May I venture to ask a place for the following very matter-of-fact epitaph in the English cemetery at Leghorn?

"Amstelodamensis situs est hic Burr. Johannes,

Quatuor è lustris qui modò cratus erat:

Ditior anne auro, an meritis hoc nescio: tantas

Cæca tamen Clotho non toleravit opes."

which may be thus freely rendered:

"Here lie the remains of a Dutchman named Burr. John,

Who baffled at twenty the skill of his surgeon;

Whether greater his merits or wealth, I doubt which is,