The general impression is rounded, weighty, even, and fluent.
The rounded effect is created by:
o is roughly 1:1, | c is roughly 1:1, | ||
e is roughly 1: |
while m is roughly 1:1 |
Roman Half-Uncial | |||
Insular Half-Uncial |
However, the letters look balanced because of the triangular serifs at the top. This distributes the weight of the letter more evenly about the vertical.
It looks weighty because:
Roman Half-Uncial | |||
Insular Half-Uncial |
and the ends of the ascenders and descenders are often slanted. |
It looks even because
The 'fluent' effect is created because:
This reads Et profetis (line 14). Here the cross stroke of the e has been pushed up to the head-line, so that it merges with the head-stroke of the t. |
This reads quae scribta (line 13). |
The combination of unfamiliar letter-shapes and conjoinings produces some misleading effects:
This reads hic aliquid (line 6). | |
The o+c-shaped a can look like a cc, while the open-bowed d can look like c+l. | |
This reads at illi (line 7). | |
The t and the following i could be mistaken for a modern 'handwritten' a. |
If you are confused, pick the sequence to pieces letter by letter. See for example the sequences at the beginning of lines 10 and 4:
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© MEG TWYCROSS 1999