Transactions. 125 
(Vulg. 8. Luke i. 28). The remainder of the passage is illegible. 
The next subject is “Jesus healing the man that was born 
blind :” “rT PRAETERIENS [IESVS] viDIT [HOMINEM CAECVM] A 
NATIVITATE ET §[ANAVIT EVM A]B INFIRMITA [TE]”* — “ And 
Jesus passing, saw a man blind from his birth, and healed him 
from his infirmity” (St. John ix. 1 et seq.) The next panel 
above contains a representation of Mary Magdalene anointing 
the feet of the Saviour: ‘“ ATTVLIT ALABASTRVM VNGVENTI ET 
STANS RETRO SECVS PEDES EIVS LACRIMIS COEPIT RIGARE PEDES 
EIVS ET CAPILLIS CAPITIS SVI TERGEBAT”—‘ She brought an 
alabaster vase of ointment, and standing behind, with tears began 
to wash His feet, and with the hair of her head did dry them ” 
(St. Luke vii. 37-8). On the Gosforth Cross, Cumberland, she 
is represented as carrying her vase of ointment, which, though 
particularly mentioned, is not shown on the Ruthwell monument.’ 
Above this panel is the salutation of Mary and Elizabeth. The 
inscription is too much obliterated to be read, but there can be 
no doubt that it is a quotation from the Vulgate relating to the 
subject as in the other cases. Again, where the stone curves 
inwards to the crossbeam, there is an archer pointing his arrow 
upwards. I am not sure what it means. Possibly it may repre- 
sent the sign of the Zodiac Sagittarius, which is a common 
feature in ancient sculpture. The arms being modern, we may 
pass them by and proceed to the top stone—the most interesting 
portion of the whole monument, as bearing the name of the 
immortal author—Cadmon,® the Milton of ancient England. 
This face of the top stone bears the figures of St. John and his 
eagle, with the opening words of his gospel, “‘ IN PRINCIPIO ERAT 
VERBUM.” We turn now to the southern side. The first panel, 
corresponding to the one on the northern side containing the 
Latin cross, appears to have contained two human figures, but 
they are too much obliterated to be made out. The second panel 
contains “The Flight into Egypt,” considerably mutilated, but 
showing the words—“ MARIA ET 10[sEPH],” “ Mary and Joseph,” 
round the margin. The next panel contains a subject from 
Jerome’s “ Life of St. Anthony.” The reference is to the inci- 
dent in the legendary life of St. Anthony, who for sixty years 
. * The words and letters within brackets are not now on the Cross, and are supplied 
from the Vulgate. The words et sanavit ewm ab injirmitate are not in the Vulgate. 
5 “ Memoires de la Societé Royale des Antiquaries du Nord,” 1884, p. 16. 
© I prefer to spell this name Cadmon instead of Ceedmon, as the former is the original 
Northumbrian form. 
