Note 633 — Chapter XII · HEATHENDOM.
Reading edition
Namek úpp rúnar: Grimm seems to have some doubt of the accuracy of this translation. Deut. Myth. p. 136 (edition of 1844), but I think unnecessarily. At all events the invention of the Hugrúnar, or Runes, the possession of which makes men dear to their companions, is distinctly attributed to him in the Edda:
þær of hugdi Hroptr
af þeim legi
er lekiþ hafdi
or havfi Heiddravpnis
ok or horni Hoddropnis.
(Brynh.-qu. i. 13.)
But this is an additional point of approximation to the deities whom we consider identical with Hermes, and in some respects with Mercury, as for instance Thoth.