20 SEPTEMBER 1890, Page 18

THE EPITAPH ON COPERNICUS.

[TO THZ EDITOR OF TH2 " SPECTATOR."]

Sin,—The Sapphic stanza on the tomb of Copernicus, quoted from Hettinger in the Spectator of September 13th, albeit containing two false quantities, is of deep interest. In ease any of your readers be unfamiliar with Latin, may I, in default of a better English rendering, offer the following ?—

" Non parem Pauli gratiam require;

Veniam Petri neque posco : sod quam In crucis ligno dederas latroni Sedulus oro."

"Not the grace in Paul that wrought; Not the pardon Peter sought ; What of both, when nailed on tree, Thou the thief didst give—give me !"

—I am, Sir, &c.,