CELTIC REMAINS IN ALGERIA. 81 



lately discovered family sepulchre and dwelling, cut out of the 

 precipitous limestone rock on which Constantina is built. The 

 mosaic pavement of the bath room and other parts, as well as of 

 a round table, representing fish in a pond, are still in good 

 preservation. There are several columbaria, and two large stone 

 cofiins of his wife and child on the floor. I saw there no Pagan 

 symbol. But a much more precious vestige of Christianity, is the 

 record of five martyrs, " graven with an iron pen in the rock for 

 ever." A Latin inscription of six lines commemorates these 

 humble faithful men, who were gardeners, probably in the fertile 

 vale below, where the rich leaves and flowers of the pomegranate 

 now colour the landscape; they were tortured at Constantine, 

 and put to death at Lambessa, probably in the reign of Valerian, 

 or during the short persecution of Aurelian. The inscription is 

 on a smooth piece of the clifi", about nine feet above the sloping 

 bed of rubbish over which one scrambles to read it. May no 

 human hands attempt to encumber by art the simplicity of this 

 touching record ! 



Epitaph on Prcecilius, whose mausoleum, cut out on the face of the precipice 

 on vihich Constantina (ancient Cirta) is iuilt, has lately been discovered. 



Hie ego qui taeeo versibus mea(m) vita(m) demonstro, 



Lucem clara(m) fruitus et tempora summa, 



Praeeilius, Cirtensi lare, argentarium exibui (sic) artem. 



Fydes (sic) in me mira fuit semper et Veritas omnis. 



Omnisbus (sic) communis ego : cui non misertus ubique ? 



Eisus, luxui'ia(m) semper fruitus cum caris amicis, 



Talem post obitum dominae Valeriae non inveni pudicae (sic) ' 



Vitam ; cum potui gratam, habui cum conjuge sanctum. 



Natales honeste meos centum celebravi felices. 



At venit postrema dies, ut spiritus inania mempra (sic) reli(n)quat ; 



Titulos quos legis vivus mee (sic) morti paravi, 



Ut voluit Fortuna ; nunquam me deseruit ipsa. 



Sequimini tales : hie vos ex(s)pecto venitae (sic). 



