Another interesting class of Christian inscriptions are those commemorating fraternal affection. The following are typical examples: IOVIANO KARISSIMO FECIT (sic) FRATRES PIENTISSIMAE (sic)—“To dearest Jovianus, his most affectionate brothers made this;” ΤΩ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΩ ΠΑΥΛΩ ΗΔΥΛΑΛΟϹ ΑΔΕΛΦΟΣ—“To the blessed Paul, his brother Hedulalos.”
In the accompanying poetical tribute to a sister the melancholy consolation of mourning the lost is beautifully referred to:
SVME SOROR CARMEN SOLATIA TRISTA (sic) FRATRIS
QVI SOLVS GEMITV HEC (sic) TIBI VERBA DEDIT
QUAE TEGITVR TVMVLO SI VIS COGNOSCERE LECTOR
SVBLIMES GESSIT SANGVINIS HAEC TITVLOS
MORIBVS HEC CRISTVM SEMPER COMITATA SVPERSTES
QVEM POST FATA SIBI CREDIDIT ESSE DVCEM.
Sister, take these verses, the sad comfort of your brother, who, in lonely lamentation, has given these words to you. Reader, if you
desire to know who is covered by this tomb, she bore names which told her high descent. She, when alive, always followed, in her conduct, Christ, who she believed would be her guide after death.