Epitaph XXXII. — On the Name of a certain Lucius Engraved on Marble

One letter shows up clearly, marked off with a double stop, and that single sign forms the praenomen thus: L: Next M is graved — somehow thus, I think, M; for the broken top is flaked away where the stone is cracked, and the whole letter cannot be seen. No one can know for certain whether a Marius, or Marcius, or Metellus lies here. With their forms mutilated, all the letters are confused, and when the characters are jumbled all their meaning is lost. Are we to wonder that man perishes? His monuments decay, and death comes even to his marbles and his names.