Codex Runicus
The
Codex Runicus is one of the few
runic texts found on
parchment. The
codex is written around year
1300 and consists a number of
Danish laws, including the oldes preserved Nordic law,
Skånske lov (The Scania Law) for the geographic region nowadays known as
Scania.
A famous 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 unjustice."
At the end of Codex Runicus is also one of the oldes 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 number AM 28 8vo and is stored in Copenhagen.
External link