1 28 Transactions. 



were made by Mr Repp to mean tliat " a baptismal font with 

 ornaments of eleven pounds weight was ofiered by authority of 

 the Therfusian fathers for the devastation of tlie fields, and 

 thirteen cows as an expiation for an injury." From other parts 

 of the inscription he supplied the names of the devastated locality, 

 " tlie dale of Ashlafr," a place that liad no more liistorical exist- 

 ence than its holy conservators, the Therfusian fathers ! The next 

 scholar who attempted to unravel the inscription was the learned 

 Professor Fin Magnusen, author of numerous works bearing on 

 the language and literature of the Scandinavian peoples, but 

 wholly unqualified to deal with an inscrijition of this kind in a 

 language of which he was ignorant. Nevertheless he attempted 

 it, and his paper may be found spread over 108 closely printed 

 pages of the " Report addressed by the Royal Society of Northern 

 Antiquaries to its British and American Members." He agreed 

 with Mr Repp in regarding the language as a mixture of Icelandic 

 and Anglo-Saxon, but differed toto cmlo from him in his transla- 

 tion. He based his reading on a wonderful engraving wliich he 

 designates the " Thorkelin Engraving," and which turns out to 

 be nothing more than the plate engraved by the Scottish artist, 

 Adam de Cardonnel, for the " Vetusta Monumenta," a work 

 published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1789. 

 Tlie words " Cadmon me fceuotho," Prof. Magnusen transformed 

 into " Offa, Voden's Kinsman," and gives us (p. 149 of Report) 

 his genealogy "according to the younger Edda." His translation 

 is as follows: — "I, Offa, Voden's kinsman, transfer to Eska's 

 descendant, to you two the property, field, meadow give we 

 Ashlof ! The words of the noble I below make known. To 

 Erinc young promised slie riches, estates good, I for the marriage 

 feast prepare in the meantime. ' Received he now,' — the noble 

 spoke, — ' the gift, and aye preside in the hall over the guests !' 

 I have magnanimity, I bring rings (riches) . . . These three 



estates Erincred possesses. Christ was among when to all 



we gave all that they owned — the married pair ; At their home, 

 the rich woman's, you were a guest, their down-dwelling — — 

 Give evei'y — • — The advice is willing [i.e., willingly given). 

 Back spoliation, if yet living on earth ! Well the Etheling 

 possesses now me this property. Saw I us my Son • Every 

 where again rule !" Matters were in tiiis condition when in 1838 

 the attention of Mr .J. M. Kemble, a distinguished Anglo-Saxon 

 scholar, having been turned to its decipherment, the true meaning 



