[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I think your correspondent,
Mr. William Thorne12,-, will find the epitaph he contributes to your columns in an old popular poetic dialogue, entitled the "Messenger of Mortality ; or, Life and Death Contrasted in a Dialogue Betwixt Death and a Lady." (See J. H. Dixon's "Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry.") After the lady has said her last say in the dialogue, a verse follows by way of moral :— "Thus may we see the high and mighty fall, Fur cruel death shows no respect at all."
And the last four lines are :— " The grave's the market-place where all men meet, Both rich and poor, as well as small and great; If life were merchandise that gold could boy, The rich would live, the poor alone would die."
In the edition edited by the late Robert Bell, he observes that "the last four lines of the present copy of 'heath and the Lady' are found inscribed on tomb-stones in village church- yards in every part of England. They are not contained, how- ever" (he adds) " in the broadside with which our reprint has been carefully collated."—I am, Sir, &c.,
King's Lynn, September 1st. A. S. PAGE.
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