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After lamenting the neglect of Epigram writing as a special 
branch of literature, the Lecturer proceeded to review the history 
of this form of poetry, dealing in turn with the ancient Greeks 
and Romans, the Medieval Latinists, and the Elizabethan Poets 
of England. Among the Greeks the Epigram had its origin in 
the inscriptions placed upon votive offerings which were dedicated 
to various gods and suspended in the temples. As such inscrip- 
tions were engraved either on bronze or marble tablets they were 
necessarily short; soon they were imitated for various purposes 
of society, e.g. the exchange of presents. The transition from 
this use of EKpigrams to a more general use was both natural and 
easy, until eventually the Epigram was in use for every purpose, 
both grave and gay, for which we can conceive it applicable. 
After reviewing the history of its origin and the early stages 
of its transition the Lecturer quoted many specimens of the 
Greek Hpigram of several classes, viz: votive, historical, funereal, 
literary, witty and satirical. He dwelt at some length on two 
historical Kpigrams of great renown, which celebrate the victory 
at Marathon and the defeat of Leonidas at Thermopyle. The 
latter is well known from the following translation of W. L. 
Bowles. 
“Go tell the Spartans, thou that passest by, 
That here obedient to their laws we lie.” 
In dealing with funereal Epigrams, or Epitaphs, the Lecturer 
dwelt with great emphasis upon the qualities necessary to con- 
stitute a good Epigram; he also illustrated the ancient Greek 
Epigrams by parallel instances from English poets. In this 
class of Kpigrams several were quoted, written by great poets to 
celebrate the fame of such men as Sophokles, Plato, Aristophanes ; 
and as parallels to these, Herrick’s lines on ‘‘ Ben Jonson,” and 
Dryden’s famous Epigram on ‘‘ John Milton,” which was very 
severely criticised by the Lecturer. 
The Roman and Medieval Latin Epigrams were described 
and illustrations given showing that they were merely imitations 
of the Greek and little more than literary exercises. 
The next portion of the lecture dealt with English Epigrams 
and numerous poems were quoted frou the various collections of 
Hpigrams published during the Elizabethan period; the works 
of Sir John Davies, Sir James Harrington and Ben Jonson in 
particular being laid under contribution. 
The following Epigram by Ben Jonson deserves quotation. 
‘OF LIFE AND DEATH. 
The ports of death are sins; of life, good deeds 
Through which our merit leads us to our needs; 
How wilful blind is he then, that should stray 
And hath it in his powers, to make his way ! 
