ROMAN PAVEMENTS AND INTRECCI. 177 



But the strand of which the Christian example is composed 

 has both a beginning and an end, and therefore cannot, as 

 Mr. Barnes thinks it does, represent Eternity. 



This decorative interlacement, in highly intricate patterns, 

 occurs in the early churches of Armenia and Wallachia.* 



It adorns the coped lid of a stone coffin at Bakewell, of the 

 IX. cent., Illustration XIX. ; and forms a sort of raiment which 

 clothes human figures on a cross at Checkley, Staffordshire, 

 leading Bishop Browne to suggest that crosses constructed of 

 wicker-work may have originated such a design. f 



Indeed, the shafts of many crosses were covered with it, and 

 in " the Holy Rood," Caedmon's great poem, mention seems to 

 be made of it. 



Ic gesawe Saw I 



syllicre treow a rare tree, 



on lyft laedau rising on high 



ledhte bewundeu wrapt in light 



begoten mid golde ; as though covered with gold. 



Gimmas stoden (faegere) feowere, Four gemstones were placed 



aet foldan sceatum, at the corners of the socket 



Swylce Saer fife waeron and five too, there were 



uppe on ftam eaxlespanne. on the shoulder- yoke. 



Gesean ic Saw I 



wuldres treow this wondrous tree, 



wasdum geworftode, decked with raiment 



wynnum scinan. winsomely bright. 



Wccdum gewor^ode means * Adorned with weeds,' or clothing. 

 This word survives in the expression " widows' weeds." It is 

 from a root WAD to bind, and is allied to " wattle," a hurdle. 



It was of interlacements that were simply ornamental that the 

 poet spoke. But there were others of a different kind. 



2. Zoomorphic intrecci illustrated legends of divine powers 

 and of magical compulsion. A stone discovered in the church- 



Fergusson's Architecture, I, 477, 478, 495. He calls it " basket-pattern,' 

 f Arch. L, 287- 



