Codex Runicus
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The Codex Runicus is one of the few runic texts found on parchment. The codex is written around year 1300 and consists of a number of Danish laws, including the oldest preserved Nordic law, Skånske lov (The Scania Law) for the geographic region nowadays known as Scania.
One well known passage of the Skånske lov is:
- Haui that Skanunga ærliki mææn, toco vithar oræth aldrigh ææn
Which translates into (roughly): "Scanians are honourable men who dislike injustice."
At the end of Codex Runicus is also one of the oldest preserved folk songs with notes, Drømte mig en drøm i nat (I dreamt a dream tonight), about a girl who dreams about becoming a rich woman. This melody was used as a jingle in Danish radio for more than 50 years. The text reads:
- Drømde mik en drøm i nat,
- um silki ok ærlik pæl
(I dreamt a dream last night, of silk and fine fur.)
Codex Runicus has the signature AM 28 8vo and is stored in Den Arnamagnæanske Samling located in Copenhagen.
External link
- Codex Runicus at the Arnamagnæan Institute (http://www.hum.ku.dk/ami/am28.html)sv:Codex Runicus