known, have never failed to excite in the minds of Antiquaries the greatest interest; and men, whose knowledge in the Greek language has been the most profound, have not deemed it a task beneath their talents to endeavour to divest these remains of their obscurity.
The enclosed drawing exhibits with minute accuracy the figures and inscription. (See Pl. XIX.)
Before I give the inscription, it will be necessary to premise, that some of the letters have partly, and some wholly perished. The obliterations, however, are such as might readily be supplied by any person conversant with the metre and the language; and although, in the present instance, it is hoped nothing has been supplied but with considerable certainty, yet as the defects of the inscription are faithfully expressed in the drawing, if any error should have been committed, it may easily be discovered and amended.
Ὑιὸς Βίωνος Ἀπίων μὲν οὗν θάλε,
Ἅτεκνος, ἀώρος, ἔικοσι πλήσας ἔτη,
Καίτοι 'πὶ τουτοις ὀικτὸς ἐν τρίσ' ἡμέραις
Θανὼν ποθεινὸς τοῖς γονεῦσι γενόμενος·
Ὧ παστὸν ουθεὶς, ὀυχ' ὑμέναιον ᾒσε τις,
Οὐ λαμπάδ' ἥψε νυμφικὴν, γόοισὶδε
Καὶ δακρύοις πολλοῖσιν ἐνθάδ' ἤγαγον,
Οὗπερ κατοικεῖν δεῖ με τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον.
Μᾶλλονδὲ κλαύσας, πὰροδε, τὴν ἐμὴν τύχην,
Βαῖν' ὁῦ φιλόν σοι, καὶ τύχοις ὅσων θέλεις.
Filius Bionis Apion ergo florebat,
Expers prolis, immaturus, annis viginti completis,
Postea autem miserandus intra tres dies,
Suis parentibus desiderium, mortuus est:
Cui
