But whatever may be the true explanation of these circumstances, the fact is at least certain that Cornelius was buried here; and above and below the opening of his tomb are fragments, still adhering to the wall, of large slabs of marble, containing a few letters of what were once important inscriptions. The upper inscription was unquestionably the work of Damasus. The letters of the lower, though closely resembling the Damasine type, yet present a few points of difference—sufficient to warrant the conjecture of De Rossi that they were executed by the same hand, but with slight variations, in order to mark that it belonged to another series of monuments. We subjoin a copy of both inscriptions, in the form in which De Rossi believes them to have been originally written. In the first inscription the difference of type will distinguish the earlier half of each line, which is a conjectural restoration, from the latter half which still remains _in situ_; and in estimating the degree of probability of the restorations, the reader should bear in mind two things: _first_, that the Damasine inscriptions were engraved with such mathematical precision that no emendations are admissible which would materially increase or diminish the number of letters in each line; and _secondly_, that whereas Damasus was in the habit of repeating himself very frequently in his epitaphs, several of De Rossi’s restorations are mere literal reproductions of some of his favourite forms of speech. Had the following epitaph been found in some ancient MS., and there attributed to Pope Damasus, we are confident that no critic would have seen reason to doubt its genuineness:— ASPICE, DESCENSU EXSTRUCTO TENEBRISQUE FUGATIS, CORNELI MONUMENTA VIDES TUMULUMQUE SACRATUM. HOC OPUS ÆGROTI DAMASI PRÆSTANTIA FECIT, ESSET UT ACCESSUS MELIOR, POPULISQUE PARATUM AUXILIUM SANCTI, ET VALEAS SI FUNDERE PURO CORDE PRECES, DAMASUS MELIOR CONSURGERE POSSET, QUEM NON LUCIS AMOR, TENUIT MAGE CURA LABORIS. “Behold, a new staircase having been made, and the darkness put to flight, You see the monuments of Cornelius and his sacred tomb. This work the zeal of Damasus has accomplished, at a time when he was sick; That so the means of approach might be better, and the aid of the saint Put more within the reach of the people; and that if you pour forth prayers From a pure heart, Damasus may rise up in better health; Though it has not been love of life, but rather anxiety for work, that has retained him in this life.” The second inscription De Rossi would restore as follows:— SIRICIUS PERFECIT OPUS, CONCLUSIT ET ARCAM MARMORE, CORNELI QUONIAM PIA MEMBRA RETENTAT