Transactions. 129 
of the inscription was ascertained. In a paper on ‘“ Anglo-Saxon 
Runes” (published in the “Archeologia,” vol. xxviii.), Mr Kemble 
demonstrated that the language of the inscription was Anglo- 
’ Saxon, and its construction rhythmical. He showed that the 
inscription began with the words “ Christ was on the Rood,” and 
was a poetical description of the passion of the Saviour. Two or 
three years afterwards Mr Kemble had the pleasure of seeing the 
entire poem, consisting of 310 lines, in their southern English 
dress, on their being published from an old English manuscript 
at Vercelli, now known as the Vercelli codex. As a proof of the 
accuracy of his translation, it may be mentioned that after 
examining the South English copy he had only three words of 
his translation to correct. The Vercelli codex was discovered by a 
German, Dr Blume, in the library of the Convent at Vercelli, 
and was copied by Mr B. Thorpe, the eminent Anglo-Saxon 
scholar, who was sent out by the Record Commission for that 
purpose. The codex contains six poems, namely—1, ‘A Legend 
of St. Andrew ;” 2, “The Fortunes of the Twelve Apostles ;” 
3, “The Departed Soul’s Address to the Body ;” 4, “A Frag- 
ment, Moral and Religious ;” 5, “A Dream of the Holy Rood ;” 
6, “‘Elene, or the Invention of the Cross.” The poems were 
printed under the editorship of Mr Thorpe, in a volume known 
as ‘“ Appendix to Mr Cooper’s Report on Feedera,” Appendix B. 
The poem represents the sleeping Christian suddenly awakened 
by the vision of the Cross, which appears in the sky guarded by 
angels, and manifesting, by various changes, its sympathy in the 
sufferings of the Redeemer. At length, being endowed with 
speech, the Cross itself addresses the sleeper in impassioned but 
dignified language, and describes its feelings on being made the 
instrument of the sufferings of the Son of God. It is from this 
beautiful part of the poem that the verses have been selected 
for inscription in Runes on the Ruthwell Cross. 
THE RUNIC INSCRIPTION. 
In the first column we have— 
“* On-geredz hinz 
God Almeyottig, 
tha he walde 
on galgu gistiga, 
modig fore 
alle men 
bug. . 
a 
29 
. 
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