As to the inscription, Homais could think of nothing so fine as Sta viator , 21 and he got no further; he racked his brain, he constantly repeated Sta viator . At last he hit upon Amabilen conjugem calcas , 22 which was adopted.

A strange thing was that Bovary, while continually thinking of Emma, was forgetting her. He grew desperate as he felt this image fading from his memory in spite of all efforts to retain it. Yet every night he dreamt of her; it was always the same dream. He drew near her, but when he was about to clasp her she fell into decay in his arms.