Viewing Philip in a moral light, the most prominent and remarkable features in his character were his zeal and invincible attachment to dogs and cats, and his unbounded benevolence towards them, as well as towards his fellow-creatures.
Seek not to show the devious paths Phil trode, Nor tear his frailties from their dread abode, In modest sculpture let this tombstone tell, That much esteem'd he lived, and much regretted fell.
At Castleton, in the Peak of Derbyshire, is another curious epitaph, partly in English and partly in Latin, to the memory of an attorney-at-law named Micah Hall, who died in 1804. It is said to have been penned by himself, and is more epigrammatic than reverent. It is as follows:--
To The memory of MICAH HALL, Gentleman, Attorney-at-Law, Who died on the 14th of May, 1804, Aged 79 years.
Quid eram, nescitis; Quid sum, nescitis; Ubi abii, nescitis; Valete.
What I was you know not-- What I am you know not-- Whither I am gone you know not-- Go about your business.
In Sarnesfield churchyard, near Weobley, is the tombstone of John Abel, the celebrated architect of the market-houses of Hereford, Leominster, Knighton, and Brecknock, who died in the year 1694, having attained the ripe old age of ninety-seven. The memorial stone is adorned with three statues in kneeling posture, representing Abel and his two wives; and also displayed are the emblems of his profession--the rule, the compass, and the square--the whole being designed and sculptured by himself. The epitaph, a very quaint one, was also of his own writing, and runs thus:--
This craggy stone a covering is for an architector's bed; That lofty buildings raisèd high, yet now lyes low his head; His line and rule, so death concludes, are lockèd up in store; Build they who list, or they who wist, for he can build no more.
His house of clay could hold no longer May Heaven's joys build him a stronger. JOHN ABEL. Vive ut vivas in vitam æternam.
In the churchyard of Walcott, Norfolk, the following cynical epitaph may be seen:--
In memory of WILLIAM WISEMAN, who died 5th of August, 1834, aged 72 years.
Under this marble, or under this sill, Or under this turf, or e'en what you will, Whatever an heir, or a friend in his stead, Or any good creature, shall lay o'er my head, Lies one who ne'er cared, and still cares not a pin What they said, or may say, of the mortal within, But who, living and dying, serene, still, and free, Trusts in God that as well as he was he shall be.