No. VIII
Ingibiorgh, Hin, Faret, Lutin, Hir, Mighil, ofl, ate.
Ingibiorgh, the fair lady. Many a woman hath fared skinclad (or bent) here, (who) great wealth owned.
Ingibiorgh probably resided here for safety, and, as the word Lutin signifies bent, it may refer to the low cells which are within the walls of the How. (Note.—The entrance also is very low and narrow.) The six Crypt Runes, or secret staves, represent the letters, A. Æ. R. L. I. K. R., and signify Aalikr or Erling, a proper name, or perhaps the beginning of some sentence.—Professor Stephens.
Inkibiorh, Hin, Fahra, ÆHkia Morhk, Kona,
Hæfer, Faret, Lut, in Hir Mikil Oflati.
Ingiburg, the fair widow! Many a woman has wandered stooping in here (although) ever so haughty.
The writer is probably recording the name of some fair woman, who has perhaps slighted him, and then reflects that the women who had been buried here, though ever so haughty, had been curbed by death. Ingibjorg, or Inkibiorh, is a common female name in the north. The other characters in the third line are known as Limouna, or Bough Runes. They were used in the later times of the Runic period, in the same manner as the Irish Ogum, but are not here intelligible. The writer probably intended to represent the chief vowels—A. E. I. O. Y. U. The Runic alphabet was divided into classes; the strokes on the left of the vertical line indicating the class, and those on the right the rune itself. Figures of fishes were occasionally in use, and were known as Fish-runes.—Professor Munch.
Ingibiorg Hin Fahra Æhkia a Morhg Kona Hæfir Farit Lut in Hir Mihkil Oflati. Ingibiorg, the fair widow, or Ingibiorg the Fair, the widow. Many a rather proud woman did walk here stooping (bent forward), or did walk stooping here in (into).
The Palm-runes underneath cannot be read in the usual manner; the first, third, and fourth of the runes being a, o, and i; the writer probably intended to give all the vowels, but some of the letters have been obviously miscarved, and have perhaps been altered and defaced at a later period by other persons. In the first of them a cross line has been added to shew that the letter or (a) is intended.—Professor Rafn.