TUB FIRST SIX CENTNRIES. 21 



some of the Pagan superstitions. See Mabillon, p. 75, and Morcelli, 

 Stil. ii. 71, 72. To me it is plain, that whatever difference of opinion 

 may arise as to the exact reading of this inscription to LeoparduF^ 

 there can be no question that in it his parents asked the Di Jlanes, 

 the Pagan deities of the unseen world after death, to receive with 

 favor their innocent son. Nor can there be any doubt that the in- 

 scription is Christian, for this is proved by the use of the terms — 

 in pacem, cum spirita santa. On the latter see Epitaph, n. 42 ; and 

 on the use of Christian terms in Pagan inscriptions, see notes on 

 Epitaphs 49, 88. 



(e) Specimen of Paleeography : — 93. 



(See Plate IV, 1.) 



{In 'Mas. Capitolin. ; De Rossi, n. 60. 

 Anime (Animse) innocenti Gaudentise, que (quae) vixit annos V, 

 menses VII, dies XXII, in 'pace. Merciirius pater jiliae d (eposita3) 

 f} idus Novemb. Urso et Polemio coss. 



" To an iunocent spirit Gaudentia, who lived five years, seven montlis, twenty- 

 two days, in peace. Her father Mercurius for his daughter buried on tlie sixth 

 day before the Ides of November, in the Consulship of Ursus and Polemius," 

 i. e. November 8th, 338 A. d. 



(/) Use of puer as applied to persons of mature age : — 94. 



VUSO ET POLEMIO CONSS NATVS PVER 

 NOMINE MERCVRIVS D IIII KAL APRILI 

 DEPOSITVS VII • KAL • SEPT • QVI VIXIT 

 ANN • XXIIII • M • VII • DXV • BENEM • INP 



(Pisauri ; e coem. Urbis ; De Rossi, n. 49.) 

 Urso et Pohmio Consulibus, natus pjier, nomine llercurius, die IV 

 Kalendas Apriles, depositus VII Kalendas Septembres, qui vixit anno^ 

 XXIV, menses VII, dies XV, benemerenti in pace. 



" In the Consulship of Ursus and Polemius {i. e. 338 a.d.) a boy was born by 

 name Mercurius, on the fourth day before the Calends of April {i. e. March 29th). 

 Buried on the seventh day before the l]!alends of September (?'. e. August 26th), 

 who lived twenty-four years, seven months, fifteen days ; to him well deserving 

 in peace." 



On first sight of this inscription, it seems strange that a person of 

 twenty-four years of age should be called puer, and that he should be 

 said to have been born and buried in the same year. The explanation 

 is that natus is used with reference to birth by baptism, estimated by 



