Historical reference: Do not rely on this information. It is very old. About this collection
Epigram once denoted, as its etymology epi (upon) and gramma (writing) shows, an inscription, and then it came to mean a poetical inscription upon a temple, and then came to denote a short poem, sometimes satirical, but always of a witty nature, and often ending in a surprise. Such are the epigrams of Martial and Catullus. It has been said that an epigram should be like a bee: - "The body should always be little and sweet, And a sting should be left in its tail." A well-known example of epigram, adapted from Martial, is that running: - "I do not like thee, Dr. Fell, The reason why I cannot tell; But this alone I know- full well, I do not like thee, Dr. Fell."