[671] The latter works of Fabretti, Muratori, Orelli, Martigny, Cardinal Mai, and Perret contain numerous examples. These have all been laid under tribute in preparing these pages. [672] Nos pio fletu, date, perluamus Marmorum sulcos.--_Peristeph._, hymn vii. [673] We append the following examples by way of illustration: CALEVIVSBENDIDITAVINTRISOMVVBIPOSITIERANT VINIETCALVILIVSETLVCIVSINPA. Calevius sold to Avinius a place for three bodies, where both Cavilius and Lucius had (already) been placed in peace.--De Rossi, _Inscr. Christ._, No. 489. ΤΡΙΑΚΟΝΤΑΠΕΝΤΑΕΤΗϹΕΝΘΑΔΕΚΙΤΕΥΠΑΤΙΑ ΘΥΓΑΤΗΡΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΥΚΩϹΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΙϹϹΑ. Here lies Hypatia, thirty-five years of age, daughter of Antonius, a native of Constantinople.--De Rossi, No. 583. The originals are more difficult to decipher, but with a little practice it becomes comparatively easy. Sometimes the letters are of greatly varying sizes, as in the following: LoCvSavgvStileCToRis. The place of Augustus, the Reader. [674] See, also, the uncouthness of the epitaph of Martyrus, Fig. 19, and of Tesaris, Fig. 58. [675] The distinctions of case gradually disappear, the accusative and genitive are often used indiscriminately, and the former is frequently substituted for the ablative, as in the following phrases, _cum uxorem_, _cum fratrem_, _sine aliquam_, _pro caritatem_, _decessit de seculum_, etc. The transition into Italian is indicated by the prefixing the letter _i_, as in the words _ispiritus_, _iscribet_; by affixing _e_, as _posuete_ for _posuit_, and by the general softening of the pronunciation, as _santa_ for _sancta_, _meses_ for _menses_, and _sesies_ for _sexies_. The names _Stefano_ and _Filipo_ have also a very modern appearance. The misplacing of the aspirate is seen to be by no means a cockney peculiarity, as in the following examples:--_Hossa_, _hordine_, _Hosiris_, _helephantus_, _post hobitum_, _Hoctobris_, _heterna_, etc. In the following the _h_ is omitted: _Onorius_, _ora_, _omo_, _ilaris_, _ospitium_, _onestus_, _oc_, and _ic_. The permutation of the letters _t_ and _d_, and _v_ and _b_, is also common, as _adque_ for _atque_, and _bibit_ for _vivit_. We also find such forms as _vicxit_, _visit_, _bissit_, or _visse_, for _vixit_; _michi_ for _mihi_; _pake_ or _pache_ for _pace_; _opsequia_ for _obsequia_; _quisquenti_ for _quiescenti_; _depossio_ for _depositio_; _vocitus_ for _vocatus_; _pulla_ for _puella_; _omniorum_ for _omnium_; _restutus_ for _restitutus_; _pride_ for _pridie_; _que_ or _qae_ for _quæ_, and the like. Many of these peculiarities, however, are common to later pagan as well as to Christian inscriptions. [676] See Fig. 45.