Valgerður Erna Þorvaldsdóttir (ed.) 2007, ‘Anonymous Poems, Brúðkaupsvísur 14’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 539.
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svanni (noun m.): lady, woman
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spyrja (verb; spurði): ask; hear, find out
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sól (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): sun < Sólnjǫrðr (noun m.)
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sól (noun f.; °-ar, dat. -u/-; -ir): sun < Sólnjǫrðr (noun m.)
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Njǫrðr (noun m.): Njǫrðr < Sólnjǫrðr (noun m.)
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sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming
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sund (noun n.; °-s; -): sound, strait; swimming
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3. á (prep.): on, at
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lund (noun f.; °-ar; -ir/-ar(Rém 301³¹)): mind, way
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hví (adv.): why
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2. sæta (verb): mean, signify
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hryggð (noun f.; °-ar): sorrow
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1. hnoss (noun f.; °; -ir): treasure
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segja (verb): say, tell
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Skǫgul (noun f.): Skǫgul
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vér (pron.; °gen. vár, dat./acc. oss): we, us, our
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1. verða (verb): become, be
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láta (verb): let, have sth done
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2. vegr (noun m.; °-s/-ar, dat. -): honour < vegskorð (noun f.)
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skorð (noun f.): prop < vegskorð (noun f.)
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vík (noun f.): bay < víkeldr (noun m.): [inlet-pyre]
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vík (noun f.): bay < víkeldr (noun m.): [inlet-pyre]
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vík (noun f.): bay < víkeldr (noun m.): [inlet-pyre]
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eldr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-(HómÍsl¹(1993) 24v²⁴); -ar): fire < víkeldr (noun m.): [inlet-pyre]
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eldr (noun m.; °-s, dat. -i/-(HómÍsl¹(1993) 24v²⁴); -ar): fire < víkeldr (noun m.): [inlet-pyre]
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oflíkr (adj.): [unique]
[6] oflík ‘unique’: Lit. ‘too much like’. The meaning of this adj. is unclear. Mary is not being compared directly to anyone or anything, so the question remains: Who or what is she like? Possibly this is some kind of pun or litotes, ‘too like’ implying ‘not like’, that is, ‘unlike, unique, outstanding’, which seems a fitting way to describe the Virgin Mary. The prefix of- is needed to supply the correct number of syllables in the l.
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svara (verb): answer
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2. er (conj.): who, which, when
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segja (verb): say, tell
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2. vera (verb): be, is, was, were, are, am
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2. seiðr (noun m.): coalfish
[8] seiða (gen. pl.) ‘of coal-fish’: The saithe or coal-fish is a common determinant of kennings for the sea, cf. st. 15/4.
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2. seiðr (noun m.): coalfish
[8] seiða (gen. pl.) ‘of coal-fish’: The saithe or coal-fish is a common determinant of kennings for the sea, cf. st. 15/4.
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2. seiðr (noun m.): coalfish
[8] seiða (gen. pl.) ‘of coal-fish’: The saithe or coal-fish is a common determinant of kennings for the sea, cf. st. 15/4.
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2. við (prep.): with, against
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gull (noun n.): gold
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meiðr (noun m.): beam, tree
Interactive view: tap on words in the text for notes and glosses
Svanna spurði sól-Njörðr |
The Njörðr <god> of the sun of the straits [(lit. ‘sun-Njörðr of the straits’) GOLD > MAN] asked the woman in this way: ‘What is the reason for this sadness? Tell us [me], Skögul <valkyrie> of costly things [WOMAN]!’ The unique, noble prop of the fire of the bay of coal-fish [(lit. ‘prop of the bay-fire of coal-fish’) SEA > GOLD > WOMAN] let that [question] be answered to the tree of gold [MAN] with that which will be told.
[5-8]: This helmingr serves as an introduction to Mary’s lengthy answer in sts 15-20 to the young man’s question.
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