Some Selections From “Here Lies” A Book About Graveyard Epitaphs
This book from 1900 whose full title is: Here Lies: Being a Collection of Ancient & Modern, Humorous and Queer Inscriptions from Tombstones compiled and edited by W.H. Howe, published by The New Amsterdam Book Company contains 197 pages of fascinating epitaphs, mostly from Great Britain. It was originally published in England in 1891 as Everybody’s Book of Epitaphs.
It’s difficult to believe that hundreds of years ago people were this creative about their own demise. Probably in many cases it was the friends and relatives of the deceased who were responsible for these final words etched in stone. Do you know what you would want written as your epitaph?
Here are a few of the better ones from this out of print gem:
Stephen Remnant
Here’s a Remnant of life, and a Remnant of death, Taken off both at once in a remnant of breath; To mortality this gives a happy release, For what was a Remnant proves now the Whole piece.
Mr. Edward Pardon (a bookseller)
Here lies poor Ned Pardon, from misery freed, Who long was a booksellers hack; He led such a damnable life in this world, I don’t think he’ll ever come back.Continue reading
