Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/181

 BEACTEATES, AND RUNIC INSCRIPTIONS. 127 after which a Latin W, and runic A concludes the word Jehova. " Then follows (No. 24) the Latin letter M to be read as ME. Then a Latin W, which must be read according to the pronunciation VE.^ Then the rune No. 26, which according to my projected alphabet is a monogram composed of L and A. The Latin letter W (No. 27), which follows, and the monogram composed of I and T (No. 28), give the word velavit. "The last two runes in this row, Q, M, (29, 30) are to be read ' quam,' as an ordinary Latin abbreviation of the period. In the next line we find, first under No. 38, a Latin C, then under No. 37, according to my alphabet, the runes A and E in a monogram. After these, under Nos. 3G, 35, 34, a Latin K, the runic U, and a Latin M, by which the word Coecum is completed. Lastly, there follows under 33, 32, and 31, a contracted word, commenced but not com- pleted — namely, a Latin I, the runic U as already shown under No. 35, and a Latin M, — therefore lUM, which I venture to complete as Jumentum. The inscription conse- quently reads ' Jehova me velavit quam coecum jumentum.' This therefore is a monument of the unfortunate King Ra- tislav of Moravia, who, as mentioned above, was condemned to death by Karlomann, but so far favoured by King Louis as only to have his eyes put out. " From the separate characters under letter D, we can only collect the statement of the period JEtate (in the monogram No. 44) and the number 5587. The very clear Latin mono- gram H M R (41, 42, 43), if it do not comprise the names of the allied Bohemian princes, Heriman and Mojslav, who took part in this sanguinary war of freedom, is perhaps the cypher of the fabricator of this monument. As the runes which precede this monogram represent LA united, and an H, we may read Lach Heriman Kniaz." I have now completed the task I proposed to myself of giving a general idea of the contents of these letters. They contain much curious matter, and a great deal of inge- nious conjecture. The most practical portion of the authors labours is certainly that relating to the bracteatcs ; but as his work displays evidence of considerable research and earnest- - It must be borne in mind that the author writes in German, in which language the letter W has the sound of the English V. VOL. vn. 3