18 APRIL 1925, Page 18

EPITAPHS

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR ,--Why speak so scornfully of punning epitaphs? They were.good enough for Shakespeare, as his verses on Sir Thomas Stanley in Tonga -Church sufficiently show. The last lint

TlIns

" Standly, for whom this stands, shall stand in Heaven."

If the common version of the Combo epitaph is, as generally supposed, by Shakespeare, he again gives an example of a play on the name :- "Oh, ho ! quoth the Devil, 'tis my John 'a Combe."

In fact this is one of the commonest devices in lapidary literature, and I need only quote a well-known instance, 'anciently to be seen in Wonersh Church :- " And now, which long before he did desire, Caryll sings earrols in the Heavenly choir."

—I am, Sir, &c., C. R. IthsEs.

Petersfield.