Could incantations explain some of the problems of the Voynich Manuscript

[JoJo_Jost]

Strong similarities to Voynichese:

"Merseburger Zaubersprüche" Merseburg Incantations’
3. Diplomatic reproduction of the two Old High German text sections in the upper part of

fol. 85

1 Eırıſ ſazun ıdıſı ſɑzun herɑ duoder ſumɑ
2 hɑpñ hepñıdun ſumɑherılezıdun ſumɑ clu
3 bodun umbıcuonıo uuıdı ınſprınc hɑpñ
4 bɑndun ınuɑr uıɡɑndun ·H·
5 Pʰ ol ende uuodɑn uuorun zıholzɑ du uuɑrñ
6 demobɑldereſ uolon ſınuuoz bırenkicſt
7 ñhubıɡuolen ſınhñɡunñ · ſunnɑ erɑſuıſter
8 ñhubıɡuolen frııɑ uollɑ erɑſuıſter ñhu
9 bıɡuolen uuodɑn ſohe uuolɑ condɑ
10 ſoſebenrenkı ſoſebluoñrenkı ſoſelıdı
11 renkı ben zıbenɑ bluoñ zıbluodɑ
12 lıd zıɡelıden ſoſeɡelımıdɑ ſın ·

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This is a wonderful example that fits almost perfectly into the typical patterns of Vyonich.

1. formulaic repetition with minimal variations.
Sequences such as ñhubiguolen ... ñhubiguolen ... biguolen work exactly like some Voynich chains (e.g. qokeey qokydy but also aiin / daiin) Same root structure, small shifts.

2. letter shift instead of genuine new creation.
bluoñ – bluoda, ben – bein – this is not a ‘new word’, but systematic modification. 

But it goes even closer to Voynichese:

5 [...] uuodɑn uuorun zıholzɑ du uuɑrñ
6 demobɑldereſ uolon ſınuuoz bırenkicſt

-> uuodan to uuorun to uuarn to uolon
Letter shift in perfection, exactly what we read in the Voynich manuscript

Example: we relate this line to 114v 31f

uuodɑn uuorun zıholzɑ du uuɑrñ demobɑldereſ uolon
okaiin    otaiin   otal qotar  kaiin  sheey             oaiin

a nearly perfekt match

3.: Alliteration + sound connection instead of syntax.

line 11 / 12  Zibena zibluoda zigeliden
<f19v 13>   ytar     ytchor    ytaiin

This is about sounds that are meant to sound ‘incantatory’, almost litany-like repetitions to give the spell a magical sound.

I think it is a strong indication that VMS could indeed be full of incantations and magic spells.



(just for information, the translation
Once upon a time, Idisen sat here and there.
Some bound chains, others restrained the army,
still others loosened the chains.

Then Phol and Wodan rode into the forest.
Then Balder's foal sprained its foot.

Then Sinthgunt, Sunna's sister, discussed it with him;
then Frija, Volla's sister, discussed it with him;
then Wodan discussed it with him, as he understood it:

Leg to leg,
blood to blood,
limb to limb,
so they should be joined together.