The Oera Linda Book, from a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century — John Shaqi
The Oera Linda Book, from a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century
History
The Oera Linda Book, from a Manuscript of the Thirteenth Century
Frisian language -- Texts
One hundred and one years after the submersion of Aldland a people
came out of the East. That people was driven by another. Behind us,
in Twiskland (Germany), they fell into disputes, divided into two
parties, and each went its own way. Of the one no account has come to
us, but the other came in the back of our Schoonland, which was thinly
inhabited, particularly the upper part. Therefore they were able to
take possession of it without contest, and as they did no other harm,
we would not make war about it. Now that we have learned to know them,
we will describe their customs, and after that how matters went between
us. They were not wild people, like most of Finda's race; but, like the
Egyptians, they have priests and also statues in their churches. The
priests are the only rulers; they call themselves Magyars, and their
headman Magy. He is high priest and king in one. The rest of the people
are of no account, and in subjection to them. This people have not even
a name; but we call them Finns, because although all the festivals are
melancholy and bloody, they are so formal that we are inferior to them
in that respect. But still they are not to be envied, because they are
slaves to their priests, and still more to their creeds. They believe
that evil spirits abound everywhere, and enter into men and beasts,
but of Wr-alda's spirit they know nothing. They have weapons of stone,
the Magyars of copper. The Magyars affirm that they can exorcise
and recall the evil spirits, and this frightens the people, so that
you never see a cheerful face. When they were well established, the
Magyars sought our friendship, they praised our language and customs,
our cattle and iron weapons, which they would willingly have exchanged
for their gold and silver ornaments, and they always kept their people
within their own boundaries, and that outwitted our watchfulness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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