Epitaph on John Bushby Esq

Epitaph on John Bushby Esq - form Summary

Epitaph as Moral Judgment

This two-line epitaph uses the concise, public form of a gravestone inscription to deliver a compact moral verdict. Its first clause establishes Bushby as an "honest man", while the second challenges even the Devil to cheat him, converting praise into a vivid test of integrity. As an epitaph, its brevity and blunt humor aim to fix a lasting reputation in a single memorable line. The form forces compression of character and judgment, making the statement both an intimate tribute and a public, almost legal, certification of honesty.