"im eigenen Grab" deutet für mich nicht darauf hin, dass das Grab des Halters gemeint sein könnte. Wäre das der Fall, dürfte da eher "in MEINEM eigenen Grab" stehen.

Also ziemlich sicher "a grave of your own".

Sehe ich auch so. Das Problem ist, dass "trauernd" die Aktion des "Sprechenden" ist und damit "eigenen" in unmittelbarer Nähe erstmal automatisch auf ihn bezogen wird. Tatsächlich hatte ich nachgedacht, ob es vielleicht ein Familiengrab ist, von dem man schon weiß, dass man mal drin landen wird.

Bei "Trauernd leg' ich dich nieder im eigenen Grab aus Marmor" wäre mir das nicht passiert.

Thanks to all for the illuminating and thoughtful responses, and @Hecuba u noticed my ploy :) I deliberately didn't include the next line because I didn't want to risk 'leading' respondents' thoughts to the conclusion that it must mean 'my tomb' where we will be together in eternity (when I eventually join you there, my beloved furry pal, many years hence). So despite convincing arguments on both sides, I'm still not sure whose tomb it is... I can see a strong argument for it being the family mausoleum. I don't understand why the German is worded the way it is, as I'm reliably informed that the Latin doesn't specify or imply the tomb ownership. But I have to translate the German.

and @ igm yes, I think with the word order changed, the meaning is obvious. That way round. Unfortunately...

The G. translation employs ancient Greek meter—and notice the two dactylic feet opening each of ll. 1, 4–6. It explains, I would argue, why the translator didn’t write, e.g., "Trauernd leg' ich dich nieder im eigenen Grab aus Marmor" (#5)—because that would have broken the lovely run and lilt of the hexameter's twin-dactylic opening. So not “unfortunately” (#7), unless sense is all that counts for you.

Ich revidiere meine Meinung. Aufgrund des kompletten Textes ist doch eher das Familiengrab gemeint, in dem jetzt auch der Hund beigesetzt wird.

#9

---that would make it clearer; but the Latin presumably has no punctuation and except for the final period the G. perhaps mimics that (at least as it's cited on the website I linked).

---yes

Thanks again to all, the new and the repeat respondents - it's much clearer now and I'm happier to go with my initial interpretation of 'my grave' (or my family mausoleum, to be precise) rather than 'a grave of your own'. And special thanks to Bion also for the discussion of the structural elements of the piece - although in this case, yes, it was only the sense that counted for me :)