I saw ^this^ in a nearby cemetery. No letters or tributes were left.
Not even a miniature Enterprise.
I like visiting cemeteries, reading all that is left of most people. Some are simply names and dates, others have very touching memorials.
It makes me sad when some are unkept, stones are broken.
It reminds me of my own mortality.
A rather famous remembrance-
Not even a miniature Enterprise.
I like visiting cemeteries, reading all that is left of most people. Some are simply names and dates, others have very touching memorials.
It makes me sad when some are unkept, stones are broken.
It reminds me of my own mortality.
A rather famous remembrance-
'Remember me as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, so you must be,
Prepare for death and follow me.'
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, so you must be,
Prepare for death and follow me.'
The basis of the verse above is believed to have originated on the Canterbury tomb of Edward of Woodstock (1330-1376. aka 'Edward, the Black Prince')-
'‘Whoso thou be that passeth by
Where these corps entombed lie
Understand what I shall say
As at this time speak I may
Such as thou art, sometime was I
Such as I am, such shalt thou be
I little thought on th’ hour of death
So long as I enjoyed breath
Great riches here I did possess
Whereof I made great nobleness
I had gold, silver, wardrobes and
Great treasure, horses, houses, land
But now a caitiff, poor am I
Deep in the ground, lo here I lie.
My beauty great is all quite gone
My flesh is wasted to the bone
My house is narrow now and strong
Nothing but truth comes from my tongue
And if ye should see me this day
I do not think but ye will say
That I had never been a man
So much altered now I am
For God’s sake pray to th’ heavenly king
That he my soul to heaven will bring
And all they that pray and make accord
For me unto my God and Lord
God place there in his paradise
Wherein no wretched caitiff lies.’
Where these corps entombed lie
Understand what I shall say
As at this time speak I may
Such as thou art, sometime was I
Such as I am, such shalt thou be
I little thought on th’ hour of death
So long as I enjoyed breath
Great riches here I did possess
Whereof I made great nobleness
I had gold, silver, wardrobes and
Great treasure, horses, houses, land
But now a caitiff, poor am I
Deep in the ground, lo here I lie.
My beauty great is all quite gone
My flesh is wasted to the bone
My house is narrow now and strong
Nothing but truth comes from my tongue
And if ye should see me this day
I do not think but ye will say
That I had never been a man
So much altered now I am
For God’s sake pray to th’ heavenly king
That he my soul to heaven will bring
And all they that pray and make accord
For me unto my God and Lord
God place there in his paradise
Wherein no wretched caitiff lies.’
(Cited: ‘The New England Historical and Genealogical Register’, Volume 4)
There is also a similar version from Perthshire, Scotland in 1666-
'As. ye. ar. nou
So. onc. vas. Ay
As. Ay. am. so. sal
Ye. be. Remembre
Man. that. thou
Mist. dei.'
So. onc. vas. Ay
As. Ay. am. so. sal
Ye. be. Remembre
Man. that. thou
Mist. dei.'
(Cited: ‘Stones: A Guide to Some Remarkable
Eighteenth Century Gravestones’ by Betty Willsher
and Doreen Hunter)
Eighteenth Century Gravestones’ by Betty Willsher
and Doreen Hunter)