Thanks for your congratulations upon my birthday. I have now entered, awful thought! upon my 75th year.
God bless you, and believe me, my dear friend,
Ever faithfully yours,
WM. WORDSWORTH.
Mrs. Wordsworth begs her kind remembrance, as does Miss Fenwick, who is with us.[7]
II. UPON EPITAPHS.
(a) FROM 'THE FRIEND.'
(b and c) FROM THE AUTHOR'S MSS.
(a) UPON EPITAPHS.
From 'The Friend,' Feb. 22, 1810.
It needs scarcely be said, that an Epitaph presupposes a Monument, upon which it is to be engraven. Almost all Nations have wished that certain external signs should point out the places where their dead are interred. Among savage tribes unacquainted with letters this has mostly been done either by rude stones placed near the graves, or by mounds of earth raised over them. This custom proceeded obviously from a twofold desire; first, to guard the remains of the deceased from irreverent approach or from savage violation: and, secondly, to preserve their memory. 'Never any,' says Camden, 'neglected burial but some savage nations; as the Bactrians, which cast their dead to the dogs; some varlet philosophers, as Diogenes, who desired to be devoured of fishes; some dissolute courtiers, as Maecenas, who was wont to say, Non tumulum euro; sepelit natura relictos.