The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 9

For beside these Lachrymatories, notable Lamps, with Vessels of Oyles and Aromatical Liquors attended n.o.ble Ossuaries. And some yet retaining a Vinosity[42] and spirit in them, which if any have tasted they have far exceeded the Palats of Antiquity. Liquors not to be computed by years of annual Magistrates, but by great conjunctions and the fatal periods of Kingdoms.[43] The draughts of Consulary date, were but crude unto these, and _Opimian_[44] Wine but in the muste unto them.

[41] c.u.m lacrymis posuere.

[42] Lazius.

[43] _About five hundred years._ Plato.

[44] Vinum Opiminianum annorum centum. _Petron._

In sundry graves and Sepulchres, we meet with Rings, Coynes, and Chalices; Ancient frugality was so severe, that they allowed no gold to attend the Corps, but onely that which served to fasten their teeth.[45]

Whether the _Opaline_ stone in this Urne were burnt upon the finger of the dead, or cast into the fire by some affectionate friend, it will consist with either custome. But other incinerable substances were found so fresh, that they could feel no sindge from fire. These upon view were judged to be wood, but sinking in water and tried by the fire, we found them to be bone or Ivory. In their hardnesse and yellow colour they most resembled Box, which in old expressions found the Epithete[46] of Eternal, and perhaps in such conservatories might have pa.s.sed uncorrupted.

[45] 12. Tabul. _l. xi._ de Jure sacro. Neve aurum addito, ast quoi auro dentes vincti erunt, im c.u.m illo sepelire et utere, se fraude esto.

[46] _Plin._ 1. xvi. Inter ???a ?sap? numerat Theophrastus.

That Bay-leaves were found green in the Tomb of S. _Humbert_,[47] after an hundred and fifty yeers, was looked upon as miraculous. Remarkable it was unto old Spectators, that the Cypresse of the Temple of _Diana_, lasted so many hundred years: The wood of the Ark and Olive Rod of _Aaron_ were older at the Captivity. But the Cypresse of the Ark of _Noah_, was the greatest vegetable Antiquity, if _Josephus_ were not deceived, by some fragments of it in his dayes. To omit the Moore-logs, and Firre-trees found underground in some parts of _England_; the undated ruines of winds, flouds or earthquakes; and which in _Flanders_ still shew from what quarter they fell, as generally lying in the North-East position.[48]

[47] Surius.

[48] Gorop. Beca.n.u.s in Niloscopio.

But though we found not these peeces to be Wood, according to first apprehension, yet we missed not altogether of some woody substance; for the bones were not so clearly pickt, but some coals were found amongst them; A way to make wood perpetual, and a fit a.s.sociat for metal, whereon was laid the foundation of the great _Ephesian_ Temple, and which were made the lasting tests of old boundaries, and Landmarks; Whilest we look on these we admire not observations of Coals found fresh, after four hundred years.[49] In a long deserted habitation,[50]

even Egge-shels have been found fresh, not tending to corruption.

[49] _Of_ Beringuccio nella pyrotechnia.

[50] _At_ Elmeham.

In the Monument of King _Childerick_, the Iron Reliques were found all rusty and crumbling into peeces. But our little Iron pins which fastened the ivory works, held well together, and lost not their Magneticall quality, though wanting a tenacious moisture for the firmer union of parts, although it be hardly drawn into fusion, yet that metal soon submitteth unto rust and dissolution. In the brazen peeces we admired not the duration but the freedom from rust, and ill savour; upon the hardest attrition, but now exposed unto the piercing Atomes of aire; in the s.p.a.ce of a few moneths, they begin to spot and betray their green entrals. We conceive not these Urns to have descended thus naked as they appear, or to have entred their graves without the old habit of flowers.

The Urne of _Philopmen_ was so laden with flowers and ribbons, that it afforded no sight of it self. The rigid _Lycurgus_ allowed Olive and Myrtle. The _Athenians_ might fairely except against the practise of _Democritus_ to be buried up in honey; as fearing to embezzle a great commodity of their Countrey, and the best of that kinde in _Europe_. But _Plato_ seemed too frugally politick, who allowed no larger monument then would contain four Heroick verses, and designed the most barren ground for sepulture: Though we cannot commend the goodnesse of that sepulchral ground, which was set at no higher rate then the mean salary of _Judas_. Though the earth had confounded the ashes of these Ossuaries, yet the bones were so smartly burnt, that some thin plates of bra.s.se were found half melted among them: whereby we apprehended they were not of the meanest carca.s.ses, perfunctorily fired as sometimes in military, and commonly in pestilence, burnings; or after the manner of abject corps, hudled forth and carelessly burnt, without the Esquiline Port at _Rome_; which was an affront continued upon _Tiberius_, while they but half burnt his body,[51] and in the Amphitheatre, according to the custome in notable Malefactors; whereas _Nero_ seemed not so much to fear his death, as that his head should be cut off and his body not burnt entire.

[51] _Sueton._ in vita Tib. et in Amphitheatro semiustulandum, _not._ Casaub.

Some finding many fragments of sculs in these Urnes, suspected a mixture of bones; In none we searched was there cause of such conjecture, though sometimes they declined not that practise; The ashes of _Domitian_[52] were mingled with those of _Julia_, of _Achilles_ with those of _Patroclus_: All Urnes contained not single ashes; Without confused burnings they affectionately compounded their bones; pa.s.sionately endeavouring to continue their living Unions. And when distance of death denied such conjunctions, unsatisfied affections conceived some satisfaction to be neighbours in the grave, to lye Urne by Urne, and touch but in their names. And many were so curious to continue their living relations, that they contrived large, and family Urnes, wherein the Ashes of their nearest friends and kindred might successively be received,[53] at least some parcels thereof, while their collateral memorials lay in _minor_ vessels about them.

[52] Sueton. in vita Domitian

[53] _S. the most learned and worthy Mr._ M. Casaubon _upon_ Antoninus.

Antiquity held too light thoughts from Objects of mortality, while some drew provocatives of mirth from Anatomies,[54] and Juglers shewed tricks with Skeletons. When Fidlers made not so pleasant mirth as Fencers, and men could sit with quiet stomacks while hanging was plaied before them.[55] Old considerations made few _memento's_ by sculs and bones upon their monuments. In the aegyptian Obelisks and Hieroglyphical figures, it is not easie to meet with bones. The sepulchral Lamps speak nothing lesse then sepulture; and in their literal draughts prove often obscene and antick peeces: Where we finde _D. M._[56] it is obvious to meet with sacrificing _patera's_, and vessels of libation, upon old sepulchral Monuments. In the Jewish _Hypogaeum_[57] and subterranean Cell at _Rome_, was little observable beside the variety of Lamps, and frequent draughts of the holy Candlestick. In authentick draughts of _Anthony_ and _Jerome_, we meet with thigh-bones and deaths heads; but the cemiterial Cels of ancient Christians and Martyrs, were filled with draughts of Scripture Stories; not declining the flourishes of Cypresse, Palms, and Olive; and the mystical Figures of Peac.o.c.ks, Doves and c.o.c.ks.

But iterately affecting the pourtraits of _Enoch_, _Lazarus_, _Jonas_, and the vision of _Ezechiel_, as hopeful draughts, and hinting imagery of the Resurrection; which is the life of the grave, and sweetens our habitations in the Land of _Moles_ and _Pismires_.

[54] Sic erimus cuncti, _etc._ Ergo dum vivimus vivamus.

[55] ??????? pa??e??. _A barbarous pastime at Feasts, when men stood upon a rolling Globe, with their necks in a Rope, and a knife in their hands, ready to cut it when the stone was rolled away, wherein if they failed, they lost their lives to the laughter of their spectators._ Athenaeus.

[56] Diis manibus.

[57] Bosio.

Gentile inscriptions precisely delivered the extent of mens lives, seldome the manner of their deaths, which history it self so often leaves obscure in the records of memorable persons. There is scarce any Philosopher but dies twice or thrice in _Laertius_; Nor almost any life without two or three deaths in _Plutarch_; which makes the tragical ends of n.o.ble persons more favourably resented by compa.s.sionate Readers, who finde some relief in the Election of such differences.

The certainty of death is attended with uncertainties, in time, manner, places. The variety of Monuments hath often obscured true graves: and _Cenotaphs_ confounded Sepulchres. For beside their real Tombs, many have found honorary and empty Sepulchres. The variety of _Homers_ Monuments made him of various Countreys. _Euripides_[58] had his Tomb in _Africa_, but his sepulture in _Macedonia_. And _Severus_[59] found his real Sepulchre in _Rome_, but his empty grave in _Gallia_.

[58] Pausan. in Atticis.

[59] _Lamprid._ in vit. Alexand. Severi.

[Sidenote: _The Commission of the_ Gothish _King_ Theodoric _for finding out sepulchrall treasure._ Ca.s.siodor. Var. _l._ 4.]

He that lay in a golden Urne[60] eminently above the earth, was not like to finde the quiet of these bones. Many of these Urnes were broke by a vulgar discoverer in hope of inclosed treasure. The ashes of _Marcellus_[61] were lost above ground, upon the like account. Where profit hath prompted, no age hath wanted such miners. For which the most barbarous Expilators found the most civil Rhetorick. Gold once out of the earth is no more due unto it; What was unreasonably committed to the ground is reasonably resumed from it: Let Monuments and rich Fabricks, not Riches adorn mens ashes. The commerce of the living is not to be transferred unto the dead: It is no injustice to take that which none complaines to lose, and no man is wronged where no man is possessor.

[60] _Traja.n.u.s._ Dion.

[61] _Plut._ in vit. Marcelli.

What virtue yet sleeps in this _terra d.a.m.nata_ and aged cinders, were petty magick to experiment; These crumbling reliques and long-fired particles superannate such expectations: Bones, hairs, nails, and teeth of the dead, were the treasures of old Sorcerers. In vain we revive such practices; Present superst.i.tion too visibly perpetuates the folly of our fore-fathers, wherein unto old Observation this Island was so compleat, that it might have instructed _Persia_.[62]

[62] Britannia hodie eam attonite celebrat tantis ceremoniis, ut dedisse Persis videri possit. _Plin. l. 29._

_Plato's_ historian of the other world, lies twelve dayes incorrupted, while his soul was viewing the large stations of the dead. How to keep the corps seven dayes from corruption by anointing and washing, without exenteration, were an hazardable peece of art, in our choisest practise.

How they made distinct separation of bones and ashes from fiery admixture, hath found no historical solution. Though they seemed to make a distinct collection, and overlooked not _Pyrrhus_ his toe. Some provision they might make by fictile Vessels, Coverings, Tiles, or flat stones, upon and about the body. And in the same Field, not far from these Urnes, many stones were found under ground, as also by careful separation of extraneous matter, composing and raking up the burnt bones with forks, observable in that notable lamp of _Galua.n.u.s_.

_Martia.n.u.s_,[63] who had the sight of the _Vas Ustrinum_, or vessel wherein they burnt the dead, found in the Esquiline Field at _Rome_, might have afforded clearer solution. But their insatisfaction herein begat that remarkable invention in the Funeral Pyres of some Princes, by incombustible sheets made with a texture of _Asbestos_, incremable flax, or Salamanders wool, which preserved their bones and ashes[64]

incommixed.

[63] Topographiae Roma ex Martiano. Erat et vas ustrinum appellatum quod in eo cadavera comburerenur. _Cap._ de Campo Esquilino.

[64] _To be seen in_ Licet. de reconditis veterum lucernis.

How the bulk of a man should sink into so few pounds of bones and ashes, may seem strange unto any who considers not its const.i.tution, and how slender a ma.s.s will remain upon an open and urging fire of the carnal composition. Even bones themselves reduced into ashes, do abate a notable proportion. And consisting much of a volatile salt, when that is fired out, make a light kind of cinders. Although their bulk be disproportionable to their weight, when the heavy principle of Salt is fired out, and the Earth almost onely remaineth; Observable in sallow, which makes more Ashes then Oake; and discovers the common fraud of selling Ashes by measure, and not by ponderation.

Some bones make best Skeletons,[65] some bodies quick and speediest ashes: Who would expect a quick flame from Hydropical _Herac.l.i.tus_? The poisoned Souldier when his Belly brake, put out two pyres in _Plutarch_.[66] But in the plague of _Athens_,[67] one private pyre served two or three Intruders; and the _Saracens_ burnt in large heaps, by the King of _Castile_,[68] shewed how little Fuel sufficeth. Though the Funeral pyre of _Patroclus_ took up an hundred foot,[69] a peece of an old boat burnt _Pompey_; And if the burthen of _Isaac_ were sufficient for an holocaust, a man may carry his own pyre.

[65] _Old bones according to_ Lyserus. _Those of young persons not tall nor fat according to_ Columbus.

[66] In vita. _Gracc._

[67] Thucydides.

[68] Laurent. Valla.

[69] ??at?ped?? ???a ? ???a.

From animals are drawn good burning lights, and good medicines[70]

against burning; Though the seminal humor seems of a contrary nature to fire, yet the body compleated proves a combustible lump, wherein fire findes flame even from bones, and some fuel almost from all parts.

Though the Metropolis[71] of humidity seems least disposed unto it, which might render the sculls of these Urnes less burned then other bones. But all flies or sinks before fire almost in all bodies. When the common ligament is dissolved, the attenuable parts ascend, the rest subside in coal, calx or ashes.

[70] Sperm ran. Alb. Ovor.