Graham, Alexander: Roman Africa: an outline of the history of the Roman occupation of North Africa ; based chiefly upon inscriptions and monumental remains in that country (London [u.a.], 1902)

Such epitaphs as these may be found in nearly all parts
of Roman Africa, but any list would be incomplete without
reference to a remarkable example of a compact inscription
found by Dr. Leclerc on an altar on the site of the Roman
station Tingurtia, now known as Tiaret (a modern town in
Algeria, on the lower slopes of Djebel Guezzoul).1

D ISM AN





IBVSTE





RRISQVI





CVMQVE





VIATOR





TRANSIE





RISET DI

Diis Manibus. Terris quicumque

viator

XERISX-VI

transieris et dixeris huic tumulo :

Rufine,

^fTVMVLO

have, sit tibi terra levis, et post

obitum

RVIIII-X-

item tuum sit tibi terra levis!

Vixit

VESITTI

annis sefttuaginta duobus.



BITERLE





VISETPOS





TOBITVM





ITETWMSIT





TIBITERR





ALEVIS





VALXXII





The wording recalls the less gracious couplet attributed to
Horace Walpole on the death of Sir John Vanbrugh :

Lie heavy on him, earth, for he
Laid many a heavy load on thee.

But here, in this gentle epitaph in memory of Rufinus, the
appeal to the passer-by is accompanied by the hope that, when
he too passes away, the earth may rest as lightly on his remains
as on those of the lamented Rufinus.

1 I.R.A. No. 3712. Vide Rev. arch. 1852, p. 442.