LXXIV.—Of Funeral Pomp.

Thou who seekest to be careful of the pomp of death art in error.  As a servant of God, thou oughtest even in death to please Him.  Alas that the lifeless body should be adorned in death!  O true vanity, to desire honour for the dead!  A mind enchained to the world; not even in death devoted to Christ.  Thou knowest the proverbs.  He wished to be carried through the forum.  Thus ye, who are like to him, and living with untrained mind, wish to have a happy and blessed day at your death, that the people may come together, and that you may see praise with mourning.  Thou dost not foresee whither thou mayest deserve to go when dead.  Lo, they are following thee; and thou, perchance, art already burning, being driven to punishment.  What will the pomp benefit the dead man?  Thou shalt be accused, who seekest them on account of those gatherings.  Thou desirest to live under idols.  Thou deceivest thyself.

LXXIV.---DE POMPA FUNERIS.

De funeris pompa sollicitus esse qui quaeris, Erras, Dei servus adhuc in morte placere, Pro! exanimum corpus ornari funestum. O vanitas vera, cupere defunctis honorem. Mens mundi detenta, nec in morte Christo devota. Proverbia nosti: per forum efferri volebat. Adeo illi similes et fera mente viventes, Faustum felicemque diem in exitu vultis habere, Ut coeat populus, laudem cum luctu videre. Non provides quonam merearis ire defunctus. Ecce prosequuntur illi: tu jam forte cremaris Redactus in poenam. Quid proderit pompa defuncto? 0257B Incusatus eris qui ob ista collegia quaeris. Sub Vejove cupis vivere: te decipis ipsum.