Notice of Runic Inscriptions Discovered during Recent Excavations in the Orkneys Part 5

Professor Rafn gives nearly the same description of Gauk as Professor Munch. He reads Nos. xvi. and xviii. together. The words Fyrir vaestan haf, to the west of the sea, refer to the western countries, more especially the British Isles. The Palm-runes are rarely capable of being deciphered.

(_Note._--This No. is taken in conjunction with No. xvi. by Professor Rafn.--J. F.)

RIST, SA, MATHR, ER, RUNSTR, ER, FYRIR, VAESTAN HAF.

_(These runes) risted that man, in Runes most skilful o'er the Western Seas._

The Palm Runes on the first line indicate Thisar Runar--these Runes.--Professor STEPHENS.

RIST SA MATHR ER RUNSTR ER FYRIR UAESTAN HAF.

_That man engraved who is the best runed West of the Ocean._

No doubt the writer belonged to Orkney, or to some of the other Norwegian possessions. The Bough-runes are not easy to decipher.--Professor MUNCH.

No. XIX.

SIA, HOUGHR, UAR, FYRLATHIN HAELR, THAEIR, UORO, HUATER, SLITU, ORO, UT, NORTHR, ER, OLGHIT, MIKIT, THAT, UAR.

SIMON, SIGHRIK.

SIGRITH. INRONINSE aeI.

_This How was closed up--was quite abandoned. Out North is Fee (treasure) buried much. That was in Roninsey (North Ronaldshay Island)._

The writing is in different hands apparently, and it is probable that the How was abandoned when the inscriptions were engraved. The three names are most likely the names of the writers: they point to treasure buried in North Ronaldshay.--Professor STEPHENS.

(_Note._--North Ronaldshay is a wild island half-way between Kirkwall and the Fair Isle, and not easy of access.--J. F.)

No. XX.

LOTHEBROKRA SYNAR,{1} GHAENAR, MAEN, SAEM, THAEIR, UORO, FYRI, SIR,{2}-- IORSALAFARAR, BRUTU, ORKOUGH{3}--LIFMUT SA, LI, AI, ARIS, LOFTIR,{4}--HIR UAR, FI FOLGHIT MIKIT.{5} (RAEIST). SAEL ER, SA, ER, FINA, MA, THAN, OUTH, HIN, MIKLA.{6} OKO, NAEKN, BAR, FIRR, OUGHI, THISUM.{7}

{1}_Lothbrok's sons._ {2}_Doughty men as they were for them, or, what doughty men they were._ {3}_Ierusalem Farers (pilgrims) broke open Ork How_--{4}_Shelter mound; that ill (this bad retreat) aye ariseth lofty (still stands erect)._ {5}_Here was fee buried much._ {6}_Happy is he who find may that treasure the mickle (that great wealth)._ {7}_Otho Naern bare past part how this. Otho was carried past this How in the s.h.i.+p Naern._

Written apparently by seven different persons, perhaps some of Lothbrok's sons. This first writing was probably inscribed about the year 870 or 880, by the celebrated Scandinavian sea kings, and the others at a later period. One appears to complain of the mound itself--that bad retreat--perhaps on account of its affording shelter to the pirates who devastated the island; another inscription describes the breaking into the How by the Jerusalem travellers, and the later writings refer to the common belief at that time of the existence of concealed treasure. Naern is frequently used as a name for s.h.i.+ps in Scandinavia. The word Baeirt (at the end of the fourth line) is not in the same hand as the rest of this line, and can only be considered as a mere scribble.--Professor STEPHENS.

Nos. XIX. and XX.

These must be taken together. The two first lines in both numbers, the 3d in No. xix. and the 4th in No. xx., must be read in continuation.

SIA HOUHR UAR FYLATHIN H . . . R LOTHBROKAR SYNER, HAENAR, THAEIRUORO HUATER SLETUORO MAEN SAEM THAEIR UORO FYRISIR.

_This tumulus was formerly erected as tumulus_ (_for_ Lodbrok, if Haugr is read, or "_as that_ of" if we read hennar) _her sons they were gallant, hardly (there) were men (such as they were). For themselves_ (_i. e._ shewed themselves).

Then read line 3 in No. xx.--

IORSALAFARAR BRUTU ORKHAUG.

_The Jerusulem travellers broke the Orkhill._

Then line 3 in No. xix. and 4 in xx., 4 in xix. and 5 in xx., taken in continuation, give--

UTNORTHR ER FE FOLGIT MIKIT THAT ER LA EFTIR, HER VA FE FOLGIT MIKIT (RAEIST SIMON SIGB. . . . SIGRITH) SAELL ER SA ER FINNA MA THAN OUTH HIN MIKLA.

_North-westerly is much money absconded, that which lay behind, here was much money absconded (Simon----engraved); lucky is he who may find that great treasure._

The raeist Simon, etc., was written afterwards, and does not belong to the sentence.

The 6th and last line in No. xx. is--

OKONAEKN BAR FE UR HAUGI THESSUM.

_Okonaekn bore money out of (away from) this tumulus._

It seems, then, that it was supposed to have been originally erected for a mighty woman called Lodbrok, who had gallant sons, and that the Jerusalem pilgrims had dug into the Orkhill, which was probably a different place to this Maes-Howe, that the treasure contained there had been taken away, and that he would be lucky who found it. It also implies that Okonaekn carried off some of the treasure.--Professor MUNCH.

Nos. XIX. and XX.

SIA HoUHR, VAR FYR LATHIN HAELR LOTHBROKAR SYNER HAENAR THAEIR VoRO HVATIR SLIKT VoRO MAEN SAEM THAEIR VoRO FYRI SIR IORSALAFARAR BRUTU ORKHoUH LIFMND SAILIA IARLS UT NORTHR IR FE FOLHIT MIKIT THAT URLOFOIR HIR VAR FI FOLHGET MIKIT RAEIST SIMON SIHR IN THO INGI SIHRITH SAELIR SA IR FINA MA THAN OUTH HIN MIKLA. OGDONAEGN BAR FI YR OUHI THISUM.

_This barrow was formerly a sorcery hall, erected for Lodbrok; her sons were brave, such were men as they were for themselves (such we may call valiant men, such as they were in their achievements)._

_The Iorsalafarar (visitors of Jerusalem) broke open Orkhow . . . Earls._

_To the north-west a great treasure has been hid (but few believe that), a great treasure was hid here.[5] Simon sigr (victor) carved (the Runes) and afterwards Inge._

_Happy he who may discover this great wealth. Ogdonaegn carried away the goods from this barrow._

Ogdonagn is probably a Gaelic name, perhaps corresponding to the present O'Donavan, and the person alluded to may have been of Scottish or Irish origin.--Professor RAFN.

[Sidenote: _Plate XI._]

No. XXI.

ARNFITHR, RAEIST, RUNAR, THISAR, SONR STAINS.

_Arnfith risted Runes there, the son of Stain. Thruki Let._

The beginning of an unfinished formula.--Professor STEPHENS.

ARNFITHR, RAEIST RUNAR THISAR SORN STAEINS THRUKR LIT.