ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 215 



The following inscriptions appear on plate, the first in 

 cursive, the second in Roman type letters with abbrevia- 

 tions. T joined to H, T to E, H to E, and the usual 

 abbreviated THE : 



Grex pastore viro conjux natique parente 



orbati, lachrymis permaduere genas. 



Jussit amor lachrymas, prohibent spes firma fidesque, 



quae suadent talem non periisse virum. 



qualis erat quaerat si quisquam, musa parata est, 



non mendax paucis dicere qualis erat. 



pastor erat doctus gregis' et studiosus amansque 



conjugis, et sobolis, virque paterque suae. 



Musa, tace ; ejus nam laudes opera ipsa loquentur, 



quae bona vicinis sunt bene nota suis. 



Nomen et aetatem cupias si scire (benigne 



Hospes) narrabunt altera scripta tibi. 



HERE IIETH INTERRED THE BODY OF MR. THOMAS 

 BROWNE, CLERKE, WHO LIVED PARSON OF THIS PLACE 



SEAVEN AND TWENTIE YEARES AND BEINGE SIXTIE AND 

 SEAVEN YEARES OLD DEPARTED THIS LYFE THE 4TH DAY OF 



OCTOBER 1617. 



The above Latin inscription may thus be rendered* : 

 A flock deprived of its shepherd, a wife of her husband, and 

 sons of their father, have bedewed their cheeks with tears. 

 Love bade them weep, steadfast Hope and Faith forbid them, 

 which persuade them that such a man has not perished. If 

 anyone should ask, what kind of a man he was, my truthful 

 Muse is ready to say in a few words what kind he was. He 

 was a learned Shepherd of his flock, an affectionate and 

 loving husband to his wife, and father to his children. My 

 Muse, hold thy peace ! for his good works of themselves shall 

 sing his praises, his good works which are well known to 

 his neighbours. If you should want to know his name and 

 age (kind stranger), the other inscription will tell you. 



* By Mr. W. R. Prideaux, B.A. 



