were
substitutes
for
names of heathen gods, and magic spells for victory.
Beowulf
ceastra ... orðanc enta geweorc, _Gnomic Verses_, l. 2;
Sweet's Reader, p. 186.
ll. 1687-1697. "In this description of the writing on the sword, we see the
process of transition from heathen magic to the notions of Christian times
.... The history of the flood and of the giants ...
were
substitutes
for
names of heathen gods, and magic spells for victory.
"--E. Cf. Mohammedan
usage.
